The Ingestibles are here…
From creams and lotions to beauty potions the last two years has seen a rise in beauty products that we can drink. This leads to the question, what exactly are beauty ingestibles and are they worth the hype?
They don’t have super human powers to save us from the next apocalypse, but they may just have the nutrients to save your skin and beauty regime. The skin is the largest organ of the body and a direct reflection of inner health and wellbeing. When we are stressed, tired or nutrient depleted we can see this start to reflect through our skin. The skin is the last organ of the body to receive nutrients and often the first place to show signs of nutritional deficiencies. Of course we can apply topical nutrients via skincare however if we are lacking nutrients in our diet or if we have poor gut function this will affect the condition of our skin and how quickly it ages.
image via pinterest
Ingestibles or nutricosmetics are nutritional supplements and functional foods that treat the skin from within. The results from topically applied nutrients and peptides are really secondary to the appearance of the skin from increasing your intake of superfood ingredients orally. For our skin to be clear and glowing we need a diet high in antioxidants, minerals, fibre, prebiotics and good quality protein to support collagen and elastin production.
A good beauty ingestible will contain ingredients such as the following:
– Sacha Inchi, another Incan superfood with a rich nutrient and fatty acid profile
– Marine collagen or gelatin for protein synthesis
– Prebiotics such as Inulin from Jerusalem Aritchoke to help the absorption of fibre and probiotics
– Grapeseed, a high dose anti-oxidant
– Acerola cherry, a natural extract rich in vitamin C
– Minerals such as magnesium and zinc, essential for growth and repair
These ingredients can be taken orally either in powder format with your morning smoothie or as nutritional liquid supplement.
The logic behind the skin improvement is that topically applied skincare is limited in fixing the appearance of any nutritional deficiencies whereas supplements and functional foods taken and absorbed in the gut may actually help combat the deficiency in the first place. Digestive health and nutritional balance is being seen as a key component to any beauty regime.
When looking to take the ingestible leap, look for supplements and powders that are developed by nutritional experts and made in a way that does not involve harsh solvent use to extract the nutrients. Harsh solvent extraction or high heat temperature extraction may damage the nutrients thereby losing nutritional value. Choose naturally derived nutrients over synthetic supplementation and contact the manufacturer to check for hidden excipients. Nasty extracts such as sugars, artificial sweeteners, flavours and colours can be added and not disclosed. Any reputable manufacturer will gladly share the full ingredient list including excipients with nothing to hide.
Beauty powders and drinks can be a beneficial addition to any beauty regime. A healthy well balanced diet is key for glowing skin but a nutritional super boost may give you the added glow that your skin has been looking for.
