The Best Skin Care Supplements for Women

We hate to break it to you, but no amount of expensive facial oils or green-smoothie guzzling will resolve your skincare problems, at least not anytime soon. However, there is another solution that you can investigate to significantly improve your skin condition. Enter; high-end skincare supplements.

The thing is, there are certain ingredients like krill oil or chlorella, for example, which are not exactly staples in anyone’s diet but contain some of the most incredible skin-enhancing elements. One also has to take into consideration the fact that it’s near impossible to get the right quantity of the nutrients you need to get a flawless, glowing skin. So, the whole point of skincare supplements is to introduce rare yet powerful nutrients that work to improve your skin’s appearance, clarity, texture, and elasticity.

These skin-boosting supplements bridge the gap between the nourishing foods you consume and the topical treatments that you apply. That said, it would be unrealistic to expect radical changes overnight, as most of these supplements work gradually over some months. Experts also explain that you must give your skin a couple of 28-day cycles before a new layer of improved skin starts to appear.

After all, these supplements are simply there to facilitate and enhance your body’s natural processes.

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Why Do We Need Supplements?

• Processed Food – By now you’ve probably heard of the phrase ‘Standard American Diet,’ aka the S.A.D diet, which is characterized by nutrient-deficient and high-calorie food that does nothing to improve one’s health. Instead, these foods often deplete all the nutrients that you might be getting from other foods and make you feel hungry all the time.
• Depleted Soil – Over time, excessive commercial farming practices have led to the extremely depleted soil which is no longer able to yield good quality produce. As a result, you’d have to consume at least five apples today to get the nutritional value of an apple that was produced say, in the 1940’s. This lack of nutrients in our food supply means that we must supplement to stay healthy.
• Stress – Our current generation is more stressed out and overworked than any that have come before us, and as studies have shown, stress can be a major contributor to nutrient deficiencies.
• Digestion Difficulties – A lot of people suffer from digestion difficulties due in part to stress and consuming nutrient deficient foods, but they can also be caused by misuse of antibiotics and other prescribed medication, which is quite common.

The Three Pillars of Supplementation

• Quality – It’s important to invest in high-quality supplements that are made from the best ingredients to get the most out of them. For example, some supplements only contain the synthetic form of the vitamins advertised on their labels, which the body struggles to absorb and make use of, whereas there are more effective forms of the same vitamins that would be easier to absorb. You should also make sure that the supplements you take are free from any toxic additives and chemicals that may compromise your body’s digestive process.
• Individuality – When it comes to supplementation, there’s no one size fits all. Everyone reacts differently to the same supplement according to genetic factors, lifestyle choices, body type and life experiences; hence we all have different and unique nutrition requirements as well.
• Dosage – The required dosage differs from one supplement to the other, and it’s typically the multivitamins that take longest to work because they contain an extensive range of nutrients, but in such insignificant amounts that they hardly make a difference.

How to Find the Right Supplements for You

• Work with a health practitioner – Whenever you’re about to make a health-related decision, it’s always a good idea to consult with a professional health practitioner, and taking supplements is no different. A qualified physician will perform tests to give you an informed opinion and guidance on which supplements would suit your unique genetics, blood type, and metabolic processes. However, this option will come at a considerate cost.
• Care/of – Care/of is a company that offers a unique service for those interested in supplementation. How it works is that you fill out a questionnaire on their websites so that they’re able to create a personalized supplement packet that’s suited to your own unique needs. This company is backed by years of research, and the recommendations you get from them are based on the expertise of holistic specialists with years of experience.

Granted, a good cleanser and high-quality moisturizers are essential to getting a glowing complexion but used on their own; you’ll only be covering the surface element of the problem and not the cause. Taking good quality skin supplements will help to heal your skin from the inside, and the effects will translate on the outside as a beautiful plump and glowing complexion.

Eating a healthy diet is simply not enough to cater for all the body’s needs, which is why we need supplements to provide our bodies with those additional nutrients and vitamins that it’s missing out on.

It doesn’t help that the cosmetics and personal skin care market is overly saturated with brands making similar claims but delivering lukewarm results, making it near impossible to find something that works for your unique skin type.

The good news is that after some substantial digging, we’ve found a selection of the best skin care supplements available on the market and decided to hand-pick a few of the ones that are suitable for all skin types while still delivering phenomenal results.

Advanced Nutrition Programme Skin Complete

By the time you start approaching the age of 30, your body’s ability to produce collagen and perform other physical functions starts to slow down significantly. You may start to notice a few changes like fine lines, the formation of dark marks, pigmentation and even sagging. In a nutshell, you start ‘looking your age,’ so to say.

Thankfully, the two pots contained in the Advanced Nutrition Programme Skin Complete are packed with elastin and collagen boosting properties, as well as natural plant antioxidants that help to fight free radical damage on your skin. This is a perfect buy for anyone that wants to protect their skin while boosting collagen and elastin production.

Pros

• Contains plant antioxidants to fight free radical damage
• Protects your skin as you age
• Promotes the production of elastin and collagen

Cons

• Not suitable for those with fish allergies

Murad Hydra Glow Supplements

As many health experts have so eloquently expounded in the past, great skincare is 20% what you apply on the surface and 80% what you take in, and this includes skin supplements with highly nutritive properties like the Murad Hydra Glow Supplement. Seeing that there are only two ingredients included in this supplement, you can bet that they’re highly concentrated to give your skin that extra boost. First, the Glucosamine helps to boost collagen production, while the Osmolytes will keep your cells hydrated. Many who have used this supplement attest to its ability to produce amazing results, in the form of reduced wrinkles and fine lines, less dryness and better skin texture overall.

Pros

• Minimizes fine lines
• Promotes a more radiant complexion and smoother texture
• Promotes natural production of Hyaluronic Acid

Cons

• It takes time to see results
• A few users have experienced some unpleasant allergic reactions to this product

Jane Iredale Skin Accumax Pack

There’s nothing worse than a bad breakout when you’re about to attend an important function, and if this sounds like a common occurrence in your life, then these skin supplements from Jane Iredale are a great preventative measure to take. They boast a combination of skin-healing ingredients like vitamins A, E, C and Diindolylmethane (DIM), which help to eliminate blemishes almost miraculously. Many have called this supplement miraculous due to the incredible results it gives, from removing adult acne to significantly reducing blemishes and breakouts. The fact that it’s made from natural ingredients is a huge plus worth a mention as well.

Pros

• Natural product
• Helps to get rid of acne blemishes
• Works so fast that most people start to experience significant results within 5 to 6 weeks of taking it
• Elegant packaging

Cons

• It’s not for everyone

Vitabiotics Perfectil Platinum Collagen

If you’re looking for something to boost your skin’s natural collagen production that doesn’t come in tablet or capsule form, then this liquid elixir from Vitabiotics is the product for you. It helps to rid your skin of wrinkles and fine lines while balancing out your hormones with Omega 6 Fatty Acids – and it even prevents breakouts! While not exactly the fountain of youth, this supplement is close. Not only does it significantly reduce fine lines and wrinkles, but it also helps to prevent breakouts while keeping your hormones balanced for a feeling of overall well-being.

Pros

• Comes in liquid form
• Promotes a more radiant complexion
• Hydrates the skin for better collagen density
• Mild and suitable for children

Cons

• No complaints here!

OSKIA Pure MSM

The beautifully packaged MSM is a highly nutritious supplement to feed to your skin, as it boasts acne fighting and restorative anti-inflammatory properties that help to protect your skin from the effects of stress and aging. Plus, it’s good for those with eczema and may lead to noticeably healthier hair and nails too! These ivory-colored supplements should be a part of your skincare routine if you want to maintain plump and radiant skin for longer.

Pros

• Boosts the natural production of collagen, keratin, and elastin
• MSM represents the most bio-available form of anti-inflammatory
• Helps with eczema, sunburn, and rosacea

Cons

• It’s a bit on the pricey side

Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides

The Vital Proteins brand brings you a daily scoop of tasteless regeneration through these unflavored collagen peptides. This powder will disappear into any liquid you add it to, making it easy to consume, and with each scoop, you get benefits like youthful and healthier skin as well as stronger hair and bones. This supplement easily dissolves into any liquid or solid food that you’re consuming so that it’s easy to take every morning, and the results are usually firmer and smoother skin with reduced fine lines and wrinkles.

Pros

• Produced from GMO-free, kosher and grass-fed collagen peptides
• Easy to consume
• No gluten or dairy

Cons

• It works extremely slowly for some
• Some reviewers have complained that the product has changed over time

BioSil Advanced Collagen Generator

The BioSil formula focuses on three main ingredients to improve your skin; collagen, elastin, and keratin. When taken correctly, this supplement has the potential to significantly reduce fine lines, wrinkles and other signs of aging, while nourishing it for better texture. This supplement uses your DNA to generate collagen, effectively enabling you to enjoy a healthier looking skin that’s plump, soft and smooth, and it also has the added benefit of growing and strengthening your hair and nails.

Pros

• Helps your body to produce more collagen
• Promotes a youthful skin texture
• Will benefit your hair and nails too!

Cons

• The flavor is horrendous, but hey, it works
• Results can take a long time for some (e., more than 3 months)

Perricone MD Skin & Total Body Dietary Supplements

The three-pronged approach used by Perricone MD Skin & Total Body Dietary Supplements means that this supplement is a triple-threat that will not only improve the appearance of your skin but also boost the immune system while enabling the bones and joints to function extremely well. This supplement from Perricone MD promotes an inner glow that leads to visibly radiant skin, while also encouraging healthier immune function, as well as bone and joint health.

Pros

• Contains Omega 3 Fatty Acids and antioxidant formulas to rejuvenate the skin
• Works fast
• Boost immune function

Cons

• A few reviewers complained about experiencing an allergic reaction to this supplement

Sisu Super B Complex

As you may already know, most of us living on the average modern diet are deficient in B-complex vitamins, which are a couple of essential vitamins that help to boost your skin’s texture and overall health. Included in this supplement are the vitamins B6 and B12, both of which are produced from high-quality ingredients that are easily assimilated into the bloodstream for maximum effectiveness. This supplement is a great source of B-complex vitamins that help boost the skin’s firmness, elasticity, and overall health.

Pros

• Contains essential B-complex vitamins, B6 and B12
• Made with high-quality ingredients
• Gives the skin a smoother texture and even complexion

Cons

• Doesn’t come cheap

Source Naturals Pycnogenol Supreme

Made with pine bark extract, Pycnogenol contains powerful antioxidant properties that considerably decrease the chances of acne breakouts and hyperpigmentation of the skin, while highly improving your skin’s texture and elasticity over time. With this supplement, your body will be able to effectively produce collagen for longer to maintain your youthful appearance for years to come. While this supplement boasts a long list of health-boosting ingredients, it’s the pine bark extract specifically, which helps to clear up skin issues while promoting a healthier complexion, from the inside out.

Pros

• Great value for money
• Nice flavor
• Helps to eliminate hyperpigmentation and acne blemishes over time

Cons

• Thanks to its long ingredient list, this product tends to work slowly and gradually
• Some users reacted badly to the soy contained in this product

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What Vitamins Are Good for Hair and Skin?

If you struggle with cracked lips, dry skin or weak hair on the regular, you’re not alone. Millions of people suffer from the same; hence natural dietary supplements are in such high demand and variety. However, it’s important to keep in mind that from all the wide variety of supplements available, only a few works.

For example, biotin is a highly common ingredient in over-the-counter supplements. While smoking is one of the leading causes of biotin deficiency, some of its symptoms include:

• Flat hair
• Thin and weak nails
• A red, scaly rash found around the mouth, nose, and eyes

Biotin has been touted as an effective treatment for biotin deficiency, granted that you follow the recommended dosages of course, so it’s always a good idea to consult with your physician before using it.

Likewise, Omega 3 Fatty Acids are well-known for their ability to improve the texture, volume, and illustriousness of hair while keeping the scalp hydrated. Studies have also shown that adding fish oil supplements to your diet, which are rich in Omega 3 Fatty Acids, provide a superb treatment for inflammatory skin conditions.

Also, combining your Omega 3 and 6 supplements with antioxidants can help to rapidly improve the thickness of your hair while effectively fighting hair loss.

Women of childbearing age are also prone to anemia, especially during their menstrual cycle, and the main cause of this is usually a deficiency in iron. Often the best course of action to take if you suspect an iron deficiency is to supplement with relevant vitamins and minerals, while a visit to your doctor for a check-up wouldn’t hurt either.

Supplementing with zinc will strengthen your body’s defenses against infection while promoting efficient tissue repair. However, when taken incorrectly, zinc can be toxic, so make sure to consult with your doctor if you’re considering taking it.

Vitamin C, on the other hand, promotes a smoother skin texture through better collagen-retention. It has also been found to control inflammation and facilitate faster-wound healing.

Apart from the ones mentioned above, there are plenty of skin and hair vitamins available that promise to give you younger looking skin and thicker and more lustrous locks. However, don’t be too quick to add these supplements to your diet, and make sure to consult with your doctor before you do.

What is Biotin?

Biotin is a powerful B vitamin that many people take to promote hair and nail growth while simultaneously supporting the optimal function of your metabolism, digestive tract, nerves, and skin. The best part is that you can also get Biotin into your system through the consumption of everyday foods like bananas and peanut butter.

Biotin supplementation is especially recommended for people living with type 2 diabetes, usually at a dosage of 35 micrograms a day.

What’s the Benefit of Fern Extract?

For almost two decades, ongoing studies have been conducted to provide proof of the effectiveness of fern extract in treating skin conditions. Recently those studies have shown that indeed fern extract is an effective treatment for skin conditions such as vitiligo, psoriasis, and eczema.

It basically works to prevent and reverse skin inflammation. Supplement dosage differs from one person to the other and is typically determined by weight, which in turn determines overall skin quantity.

Iron Makes Your Skin Glow

Iron deficiency can cause your locks to lose all luster and texture, while your nails and bones whittle away. Thankfully, you can boost your iron intake by consuming iron-rich foods like spinach, cashews, and oyster to name but a few. If you’re not sure whether you have an iron deficiency, then ask your doctor to perform a blood test to determine the appropriate dose of iron you need, but you don’t want to take too much, as that can worsen the impairment caused by free radical damage.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids Help Prevent Wrinkles

You can get your daily dose of Omega 3 fatty acids from fatty fish such as mackerel, sardines, and salmon, and consuming them promotes dewy skin texture, improved oil control and wrinkle prevention.

Fish oil contains a certain type of Omega 3 known as EPA, which prevents ultraviolet-induced enzymes from being released, thus allowing your skin to produce collagen uninhibited. In addition to reducing fine lines and wrinkles, Omega 3s can also bring back the volume and shine that you so desire from your hair, which may have worn thin and brittle over the years. For the best results, it’s recommended that you take an Omega 3 supplement dosage of no more than 600 mg per day and consider a check-up with your doctor if you have a history of high blood pressure, diabetes and mood disorders.

Vitamin C is a Hair Growth Vitamin

Taking a Vitamin C supplement can do wonders for your hair, including the improvement of hair texture, fighting hair loss, and promoting hair growth while reducing split ends. In fact, many have experienced a brighter complexion and firmer skin texture after a few months of taking vitamin C and E supplements.

The dosage required when it comes to skin and hair improving supplements depends on a variety of factors, one of which is your gender. For example, women aged 19 and older are advised to take 75mg per day, whereas men who are 19 years and older are advised to take 19 mg per day. If you have an iron-overload in the form of hemochromatosis, then a vitamin C supplement may not be suitable for you because it naturally increases iron absorption. So again, it’s best to see your doctor for a quick blood test before you start taking anything.

Vitamin E Fights Fine Lines and Other Signs of Aging

Like vitamin C, vitamin E can reduce fine lines by fighting free radical damage. The best way to take vitamin E is in gel capsule form, as that’s the most fat-soluble form there is. Make sure that you stick to the recommended dosage, which is 30IU for adults, and avoid overdoing it because that can lead to serious bruising. You can also boost your vitamin E intake by consuming foods that are rich in this vitamin, such as olive oil, wheat germ, and avocado.

Do Supplements for a Better Skin Work?

Despite all the available research data on the safety and effectiveness of oral supplements to improve skin and hair condition, there are still skeptics out there who remain unconvinced.

The truth is, more and more people are waking up to the reality that outer health starts with inner health and the same goes for your skin and hair too. That’s why certain supplements can be relied upon to help with alleviating acne breakouts, reverse sun damage, wrinkles, and other aging effects.

Supplements for Treating Acne

This article has covered a lot of ground with regards to acne treatment, and it’s not hard to see why. Acne is one of the most common skin ailments out there that affects a lot of people’s confidence, self-esteem, and perceptions of beauty.

The following is a brief overview of supplements that are well-known for their acne fighting properties, based on tried and tested research data:

• Vitamin B3

Vitamin B3 is available in two different forms, namely; niacin and niacinamide. You can get your daily dose of both compounds from foods like eggs, cereal grains, milk, fish, meat and green leafy vegetables. In its form, niacinamide facilitates cell communication to slow down the physical effects of aging, while stopping acne in its tracks and removing acne blemishes and red marks on your face.

• Zinc

Zinc is referred to as an essential trace mineral because you only need small amounts of it to get the full health benefits it provides. According to recent studies, using a topical antibiotic like erythromycin while taking a zinc supplement can significantly reduce and even eliminate acne. However, it’s important to note that most of the studies that have been done on this mineral were based on large dosages, which are considered quite dangerous in real life.

• Vitamin A

Vitamin A is available in many forms, two of which include antioxidants that facilitate cell communication, and that’s retinol and Retinyl Palmitate. Topical retinoids like adapalene and tretinoin are typical treatments for acne, and in their commercial form are often referred to as Differin. A lot of people turn to these two compounds for treatment when experiencing breakouts.

Anti-Aging Vitamins

We all know how important it is to consume a diet that’s rich in essential vitamins and minerals to achieve youthful looking skin that’s both firm and smooth. Therefore most people turn to oral supplements to ensure that they get their daily requirements of essential vitamins and minerals. However, it’s not that simple.

The supplement industry is a very profitable business, and many companies put a lot of resources behind marketing the zit-zapping and wrinkle ironing benefits of their latest supplement products, all without the need for painful surgery, which only adds to the allure.

Taking all of these into consideration then, it becomes clear why some people are skeptical about the true effects of supplements, especially when it comes to the following:

• Megadoses of Vitamin C and Vitamin E

Applying vitamin C and E in topical form releases their powerful antioxidant properties which can reduce sun damage, dark spots, wrinkles and other aging signs. The goal then becomes to take them in megadoses so that one can also benefit from their free-radical zapping prowess, which in turn helps to reverse the effects of aging from the inside out.

• Heliocare

Heliocare Natural Anti-Aging Supplement apparently strengthens your skin, enabling it to fight against sun damage. The drawing card for this supplement is that it contains a tropical fern extract known as Polypodium leucotomos which are advertised as being able to provide internal protection from UV rays.

• Coenzyme Q10

By now, you’ve probably come across tons of advertisements that promote the anti-aging effects of Coenzyme Q10, whether it’s at your local pharmacy or a large retailer. It’s frequently peddled as an amazing anti-aging ingredient that works wonders. The fact is that these claims are far from the truth. Coenzyme Q10 is like vitamins, and your body produces it in the pancreas, kidney, heart, and liver, and for it to work for its intended purpose, you must balance out many other substances in your body simultaneously.

• DMAE

While you’ve probably heard a great deal about DMAE supplements’ ‘remarkable’ skin benefits, there’s very little scientific evidence backing those claims. On the contrary, the few studies that have been conducted on this substance prove that DMAE can quicken cell death while reducing fibroblast growth, which is a group of cells that are responsible for producing collagen. Therefore, it’s important to take this supplement with your eyes wide open and understand the potential risk that you’re taking when applying it topically.

Drinking Collagen

As you may know, collagen is responsible for lifting the skin while imparting it a plump and youthful texture. However, collagen damage can occur because of exposure to UV light, irritating skin products and even tanning beds, which then lead to a significantly visible change in your skin’s texture, forming wrinkles and sagging. The general assumption is that the collagen found in supplements combines with naturally produced collagen to boost skin’s elasticity and youthfulness, which is unfortunately not true.

Likewise, taking collagen in liquid form, although popular in countries like the UK and Asia, does nothing to help it reach your skin in its natural form. Instead, your body’s digestive system recognizes it as a protein and starts to break it down so finely that it is something completely different by the time it reaches your skin. Also, there is no scientific evidence whatsoever linking the consumption of collagen to a decrease in wrinkles, blemishes or any skin imperfection, whereas doing something as simple as drinking more water and reducing your intake of dehydrating foods can practically transform your skin overnight.

What Works

The truth of the matter is; the surest way to achieve healthy skin, hair and nails are to consume a diet that’s rich in all the essential vitamins and minerals that your body needs while adhering to a consistent exercise routine. It is simply impractical to expect your body to maintain good health while you consume unhealthy foods and adding a few supplements into the mix won’t help much either. Keep in mind that supplements are not a magic pill that you can take to make your skin troubles go away and overdosing on them will only make things worse.

Another great way to fight those first aging signs is to be consistent with your skincare routine, making sure only to use high-quality products with the healthiest natural ingredients and formulated to leave your skin looking and feeling great.

What Types of Skin Supplements Exist?

As the largest organ in the body, the skin takes quite a beating from the elements each day, and over time this leads to visible aging signs that are evidence of the wear and tear that your skin goes through daily.

Give your skin the much-needed attention with these tried and tested supplements:

• Antioxidants

Antioxidants work by boosting your skin’s ability to naturally heal itself while providing a necessary barrier that protects your skin from the elements that it’s exposed to daily.

Also known as retinol, vitamin A helps to promote cell growth to slow down the aging process. You can take it orally or topically to treat skin ailments like acne, but make sure to consult with your doctor before you start taking this supplement.

Vitamin E is extremely effective at healing sunburn and aging skin, while the topical form of this vitamin can be used to protect chemotherapy patients against sun damage after the procedure.

Apart from protecting the body against colds and flu, the antioxidant properties of vitamin C can be quite useful in treating skin infections as well as acne.

• B Vitamins

You’ll also want to add B-complex vitamins to the mix because they play a crucial role in helping the body convert carbs into usable energy. They’re also essential for hair, liver and skin health. B-complex vitamins in topical form can help to fight itchy and dry skin while protecting you from the harsh effects of the sun.

• Omegas

Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids are essential to regulating your skin’s inflammatory reaction, which makes them very effective at treating skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, and acne to name but a few. In fact, the health benefits offered by Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids are too many to mention here. They’re incredibly proficient at boosting the skin’s defenses against sun damage. That said, you should always apply sun protection, no matter how many skin-boosting supplements you take, just to be on the safe side.

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Conclusion

While the subject of supplementation will always be a polarizing one, there’s no denying that there’s a noticeable role played by supplements in improving not just skin health but overall wellness. Sure, not all skincare supplements are created the same, but those who are concentrated can do wonders to improve your skin’s texture. For example, the Omega 6 fatty acids found in the Advanced Nutrition Programme product make it an ideal supplement to take if you’re looking to reduce fine lines and wrinkles appearing on your face. The best part of this supplement is that it works by hydrating the skin, and even though it’s powerful enough to fight acne and blemishes, it’s still gentle enough for children to use.

All in all, it takes a simple supplement like this, paired with a healthful and wholesome diet as well as a consistent skin care routine to get you that picture-perfect skin that you so much desire.