The top supplements for your skin

2022-05-11

What if the key to radiant skin lay in nourishment from within? Discover 5 must-have skin supplements to add to your beauty kit.

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Hyaluronic acid, an essential plumping-up agent

Present in nerve, connective and epithelial tissue, hyaluronic acid is a major component of the body. Discovered in 1934 in the vitreous humour of bulls’ eyes, it has gradually become established in the field of anti-aging as a wrinkle-filler and volumiser. Extremely well-tolerated, it is currently the the most widely-used aesthetic medicine for restoring younger-looking skin.

Hyaluronic acid is predominantly situated in the skin’s dermis layer and, to a lesser extent, the epidermis. Filling the intercellular spaces, it has a sponge-like ability to retain water. It thus helps preserve skin tone and maintain a plumped-up appearance (1-2).

If you’re put off by the idea of injections, you can opt for a less invasive approach by supplementing with hyaluronic acid (such as with the product Injuv Hyaluronic Acid, a patented hyaluronic acid supplement, with maximum bioavailability and obtained from 100% natural sources).

Ceramides, key allies for dry skin

If your skin is prone to dryness and cracking, think ceramides! These particular lipids make up over 50% of the epidermis, and act as a kind of mortar to form the hydrolipidic film, an important barrier which protects the skin against external aggressors (such as UV rays and pollution). These molecules therefore have a direct effect on the skin’s texture, giving it a softer, more radiant and fully-hydrated appearance (3).

As levels of these lipids unfortunately decline with age, it makes sense to consider supplementing with ceramides to preserve your beauty assets (the synergistic product Skin Ceramides, supported by 6 clinical studies, combines ceramides with zinc, a trace-element which helps maintain healthy skin) (4).

Biotin, for a clearer complexion

Have you heard of vitamin B7, also known as vitamin H or B8? They are actually all names for the same, often under-estimated, substance called biotin. Helping to maintain normal skin and mucous membranes, it has a special affinity for the sebaceous glands.

In this sense, it is particularly good for dull, lacklustre complexions, and for restoring a uniform appearance to skin that has imperfections or is prone to redness (5-6). In short, it’s essential if your goal is clearer, brighter skin!

Although it can be synthesised by certain gut bacteria, maximising your intake of biotin will help towards achieving a flawless complexion. Besides eating lots of the foods that contain it – such as egg yolk, pulses, offal and soya – you have the option of taking a biotin supplement (such as Biotin, radiant skin’s favorite vitamin B7 supplement).

Collagen, your anti-wrinkle partner

You’ll no doubt have heard about it in adverts for anti-aging creams. Representing 30%-35% of the body’s proteins, collagen, which exists in different forms, is found almost everywhere in the body – from the dermis and cartilage to the tendons and ligaments. It’s type I, the most abundant form in the body, which is of particular interest when it comes to skin.

Produced by fibroblasts, collagen is often likened to a kind of skeleton of the skin, providing structure and support. A must-have substance for youthful skin, it helps to prevent the appearance of wrinkles (10).

Collagen production falls as we get older as an inevitable consequence of aging, but you can help compensate for this decline by taking a collagen supplement (such as Marine Collagen, containing patented hydrolyzed marine collagen).

And if you’re constantly on the look-out for the very latest in beauty tips, pamper your skin with a state-of-the-art collagen peptide supplement (such as Daily Beauty, a rejuvenating cocktail enriched with avocado oil, biotin, zinc and vitamin B3) (11-12).

Is there such a thing as an all-in-one supplement for beautiful skin?

When you’re short of time, inclination or organisation, any way of simplifying your beauty routine as much as possible is to be welcomed.

So if you’re worried about getting lost in a sea of different supplements, you can make your life easier by taking an all-in-one product specifically formulated to enhance your appearance.

Combining many benefits, the supplement Polypodium Leucotomos Extract does wonders for your skin. It’s an easy, fuss-free way to give your skin the love it deserves—glow made simple!

References

Papakonstantinou E, Roth M, Karakiulakis G. Hyaluronic acid: A key molecule in skin aging. Dermatoendocrinol. 2012;4(3):253-258. doi:10.4161/derm.21923
Bukhari SNA, Roswandi NL, Waqas M, Habib H, Hussain F, Khan S, Sohail M, Ramli NA, Thu HE, Hussain Z. Hyaluronic acid, a promising skin rejuvenating biomedicine: A review of recent updates and pre-clinical and clinical investigations on cosmetic and nutricosmetic effects. Int J Biol Macromol. 2018 Dec;120(Pt B):1682-1695. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2018.09.188. Epub 2018 Oct 1. PMID: 30287361.
Choi MJ, Maibach HI. Role of ceramides in barrier function of healthy and diseased skin. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2005;6(4):215-23. doi: 10.2165/00128071-200506040-00002. PMID: 16060709.
Gupta M, Mahajan VK, Mehta KS, Chauhan PS. Zinc therapy in dermatology: a review. Dermatol Res Pract. 2014;2014:709152. doi:10.1155/2014/709152
Piraccini BM, Berardesca E, Fabbrocini G, Micali G, Tosti A. Biotin: overview of the treatment of diseases of cutaneous appendages and of hyperseborrhea. G Ital Dermatol Venereol. 2019 Oct;154(5):557-566. doi: 10.23736/S0392-0488.19.06434-4. PMID: 31638351.
Kaminaka C, Yamamoto Y, Sakata M, et al. Effects of low-dose Aloe sterol supplementation on skin moisture, collagen score and objective or subjective symptoms: 12-week, double-blind, randomized controlled trial. J Dermatol. 2020;47(9):998-1006. doi:10.1111/1346-8138.15428
Cho S, Lee S, Lee MJ, Lee DH, Won CH, Kim SM, Chung JH. Dietary Aloe Vera Supplementation Improves Facial Wrinkles and Elasticity and It Increases the Type I Procollagen Gene Expression in Human Skin in vivo. Ann Dermatol. 2009 Feb;21(1):6-11. doi: 10.5021/ad.2009.21.1.6. Epub 2009 Feb 28. PMID: 20548848; PMCID: PMC2883372.
Boudreau MD, Olson GR, Tryndyak VP, Bryant MS, Felton RP, Beland FA. From the Cover: Aloin, a Component of the Aloe Vera Plant Leaf, Induces Pathological Changes and Modulates the Composition of Microbiota in the Large Intestines of F344/N Male Rats. Toxicol Sci. 2017 Aug 1;158(2):302-318. doi: 10.1093/toxsci/kfx105. PMID: 28525602; PMCID: PMC5837434.
Choi FD, Sung CT, Juhasz ML, Mesinkovsk NA. Oral Collagen Supplementation: A Systematic Review of Dermatological Applications. J Drugs Dermatol. 2019 Jan 1;18(1):9-16. PMID: 30681787.
Werman MJ, Mokady S, Nimni ME, Neeman I. The effect of various avocado oils on skin collagen metabolism. Connect Tissue Res. 1991;26(1-2):1-10. doi: 10.3109/03008209109152159. PMID: 1676360.
Gehring W. Nicotinic acid/niacinamide and the skin. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2004 Apr;3(2):88-93. doi: 10.1111/j.1473-2130.2004.00115.x. PMID: 17147561.