By now we’re all aware that skincare isn’t a solely external affair. While topical skincare products certainly do play a (large) role in your skin health, what you consume internally has a significant effect on your skin, hair, nails, and overall health. Designed to bridge the gap between beauty and wellness, the new breed of ingestible beauty supplements purport to combat everything from lank hair and brittle nails, to dull, saggy skin through the use of ingredients like vitamin Bs, C, and D, as well as marine collagen, zinc, biotin, greens, and herbs.
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To get the lowdown on everything you need to know about collagen and ingestible beauty supplements, we spoke with nutritionist and naturopath Madeline Calfas.
What are the benefits of ingestible beauty and collagen supplements?
Ingestible beauty supplements are typically designed to help with skin, hair, and nails. “A lot of beauty supplements will contain collagen (either plant or animal-based), which helps replenish our own collagen,” Calfas tells Albert Review, noting that our collagen production starts to slow down by the time we’re in our 30s.
Ingestible beauty supplements can also contain “a multitude of other vitamins, minerals and amino acids that all have benefits when it comes to helping promote the health of our hair, skin and nails. These minerals and vitamins can often come in the form of wholefood powders, rather than a vitamin supplement. By increasing our collagen, we can improve the hydration and elasticity of our skin, improve fine lines and wrinkles as the skin is better able to hold itself up (and is better hydrated), and improve the quality of the skin as well.”
Can our bodies absorb collagen when taken internally?
“As mentioned, our skin matrix, [composed of] collagen, hylauronic acid and elastin, begins to slow down in production as we age,” Calfas explains. “Collagen is a protein that is made up of around 19 amino acids, and comprises 30% of our body’s total protein. By taking a collagen supplement, you are able to provide your body with an alternative supply of collagen when yours may be depleting.
“[As with] all supplements, we are not able to absorb 100% of the supplement, and it is important to ensure that you have a good quality supplement to ensure maximum benefit. Liquid form, or a powder that is hydrated into a liquid form is easier and faster for the body to absorb as opposed to a tablet or capsule form.”
What are the best ingredients to look for when selecting an ingestible beauty supplement?
When choosing an ingestible beauty supplement, Calfas recommends looking for products with antioxidants like vitamin E, foods that contain vitamin C like “kiwi fruit, lemon, broccoli, and cauliflower,” and collagen-stimulating minerals like “biotin, rice peptides, silica, and trace minerals such as selenium.”
The best collagen and ingestible beauty supplements
Though there is a plethora of collagen and ingestible beauty supplements on the market, not all supplements are made equal. Fortunately, here at Albert Review, we’ve tried more than our fair share; these are the best supplements, elixirs, and powers to help you on the path to healthy skin, hair, and nails, as well as increased energy and overall wellness.
1. WelleCo The Super Elixir Blood Orange
One of the best ingestible beauty supplements on the market, the WelleCo The Super Elixir is loaded with wholefoods, herbal extracts, vitamins, minerals, and probiotics. Designed to support skin, hair, nail, immune, and gut health as well as promote energy production, it’s no wonder The Super Elixir is a mainstay on many a beauty editor’s shelf. With two new flavours (blood orange and unflavoured) joining the ranks, there’s something for every palette.
2. Vida Glow Anti-G-Ox
Designed to reduce free radical damage and encourage skin cell regeneration, the Vida Glow Anti-G-Ox caters to those living a fast-paced lifestyle. With active ingredients like niacinamide, zinc, and vitamin C, Vida Glow Anti-G-Ox protects your skin against the effects of environmental agressors like the sun, pollution, harsh climates, and radiation, as well as ageing lifestyle factors like stress, lack of sleep, and poor diet.
3. The Beauty Chef Glow Inner Beauty Essential
Likely one of the best tasting ingestible beauty supplements on the market, The Beauty Chef Glow Inner Beauty Essential utilises a combination of antioxidant-rich organic wholefoods (think queen garnet plum, maqui berries, and ginger), vitamins, probiotics, and prebiotics to boost skin and gut health, and promote collagen production. Plus, the delicious berry taste ensures you’ll look forward to drinking this one every day.
4. Kora Organics Noni Glow Skinfood
A potent blend of prebiotics and superfoods like acai, matcha green tea, and noni, the Kora Organics Noni Glow Skinfood is a vegan-friendly blend that promotes wellness by balancing digestive function and increasing antioxidant consumption.
5. Melrose Health Essential Nutrients Balanced & Lean
This superfood blend combines nutrient-dense beetroot and red orange extract with prebiotics to promote healthy metabolism and digestion, and overall wellness.
6. Vida Glow Hyaluronic Complex
A new addition to the ingestible beauty market, the Vida Glow Hyaluronic Complex is the first product to feature ingestible hyaluronic acid. Like a big drink of water for dry, thirsty skin, the Vida Glow Hyaluronic Complex also features skin-loving actives like vitamin C, zinc, niacin, lycopene, biotin, and acai berry.
7. Vida Glow Collagen Collection
A leader in ingestible collagen, Vida Glow’s marine collagen is readily absorbed by the body as well as being easy to consume; simply dissolve a sachet in a glass of juice or water, or add it to a smoothie. With continued use, marine collagen can aid in stimulating collagen production to promote healthier hair and a more youthful complexion.
8. The Gut Co Repair
This naturopathically formulated powder reduces susceptibility to skin conditions like acne and improves gut health through a combination of superfoods like maqui berry, kakadu plum, and guava, hydrolysed collagen peptides, and gut lining repairers like glutamine and zinc.
Words by T. Angel
Feature image courtesy of Ryan McGinley
