This article was written for Annabel & Grace, which is now part of Rest Less.
Skin Supplementation is a hot topic within the skincare industry. Most of the time people prefer to invest in a full skincare product line rather than taking supplements, and although topical skincare may give us the instant satisfaction of seeing superficial improvement of the skin, isn’t it worth taking into consideration that if a cell had everything it needed to function optimally in the first place, would it need a shelf full of products to improve it topically?
Nutrition:
Nutrition is important in maintaining optimal skin integrity and for the healing process when skin cells become damaged. When you are healthy your skin repairs at a faster rate. The most essential things for skin repair are energy, protein, fluid, fats, vitamins and minerals. Energy is needed to fuel the healing process. Protein is used for cell production, accumulation and remodelling of collagen as well as immune function. Fluid is one of the most essential elements, it transports the necessary supply of oxygen and nutrients to the skin. Fats are one of the key elements of cell membranes and are needed to absorb fat soluble vitamins. Omegas make up not only the cell membrane but also the cell receptors, these cell receptors are what absorb the active ingredients of your skincare products. If you have weak cell membrane and receptors you wont receive the full benefits of the active ingredients within your skincare products.The following vitamins and minerals are key for skin health: Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Zinc, Iron, Copper, Vitamin K and Vitamin E.
Is a healthy diet enough?
A well balanced healthy diet is essential, but to put things into perspective as to why we recommend taking skin supplements alongside is because a 2000mg Vitamin C supplement is the equivalent to 29 oranges! I love oranges, but I don’t think I could eat 29 a day. Omegas come in their purest form from very small fish such as sardines and anchovies, how often do you eat these in abundance?
Why are Skin Supplements preferred over topical skin care?
- They feed the skin over the entire body rather than just the area you are applying the product to.
- They feed even the deeper layers of the skin where topical skincare cannot penetrate.
Negative internal factors on the skin:
Poor diet, stress, smoking, alcohol, toxins and sleep deprivation all deplete vitamin C. Did you know the skin cannot produce collagen without the presence of vitamin C? All of these negative factors take place internally where topical skincare cannot help.
Choosing the right skin supplements for you:
The skin supplement range I recommend to all my clients is Advanced Nutrition Programme. The reason I love these supplements is because they contain the purest, most concentrated forms of the vitamins. Each formulation has been researched to ensure it is the most effective it can be for that specific skin condition and each batch is tested for purity before it leaves the warehouse. They have a range of different supplements suited for different skin concerns so I can really tailor the programme I put each client on. For example if I had a female in her 60’s whose skin concern was loss of elasticity, collagen degradation, some sun damage and slight redness to the skin I would prescribe the following daily supplements:
- 1 x Skin Vitality MultiVitamin (To feed the main organs and supply skin with essential vitamins for cell function)
- 1 x Moisture Lock (Hyaluronic Acid and Ceramides to plump the deeper layers of the skin)
- 2 x Omegas+ (For strong cell membrane, receptors and natural lipid barrier, your skin’s natural moisturiser.)
- 1 x Collagen Support (Blend of collagen promoters and protectors against depletion)
- 1 x Vitamin A and Antioxidant (Promotes cell turnover and proliferation and protects against damage from environmental factors)
With this a minimal topical skincare routine would be recommended.
Myth buster: Should you take collagen drinks? Collagen cannot be transferred via supplement to the dermal layers of the skin. Only vitamins such as Vitamin A and Vitamin C can stimulate the skin to produce more of its own collagen.
To read the first post which explains the difference between a Beautician and a Skin Specialist click HERE. If you would like to ask Jade Shelden, the Skin Specialist, any questions or order any of her skin supplementation products please do email her on [email protected]