Ingestible Beauty: Nutricosmetics for Beauty Inside, Out
- Published: Thursday, January 10th 2013
- in Beauty
- by Jackie Burns Brisman
The very wise and very beautiful Audrey Hepburn once said, “Makeup can only make you look pretty on the outside, but it doesn’t help if you’re ugly on the inside. Unless you eat the makeup.”
Well, over the past few years, the beauty industry has taken those wise words to heart and created a multitude of products referred to as nutricosmetics, designed to make you beautiful from the inside, out (though we can’t attest to their ability to fix a bad personality!).
Remember, always consult your physician if you have any questions about taking a new supplement.
Nutricosmetics 101
These ingestible nutritional supplements work to support healthy skin, bones, nails, or hair by using vitamins and minerals that do anything from increasing the production of collagen in the skin to helping build proteins in the hair and nails. The world’s first-ever nutricosmetic was developed in the late 1980s by a Swedish biochemist named Ake Dahlgren, who is considered by many to be the “father of internal skincare.” His creation, Imedeen, which uses marine extracts in order to restore the surface of the skin, can still be purchased today!
We’ve rounded up a list of nutricosmetics we’ve tried and loved, as well as some others on the market that we just have to share.
VitaD Fortified™ Illuminating DUO
Skin Authority worked with Dole Nutritional Institute to develop the first whole-food source of Vitamin D. While the duo includes an amazing topical elixir, the power player here is the ingestible, 100- percent-vegan, plant-sourced whole-food powder that replenishes our body’s internal levels of the vitamin, which is essential for calcium absorption, strong bones, and healthy skin.
I have used the duo for two months now and have noticed firmer, brighter skin. The tasteless powder can be used in coffee or tea or even sprinkled on your salad for lunch.
Read more about VitaD Fortified™ Illuminating DUO.
io Beauty Booster
Using “beautrient complex” (a concentrated blend antioxidant rich fruits), along with EquisAV™ (to build and maintain collagen and elastin fibers), this beauty booster protects the skin from free radicals and rejuvenates it internally. Thanks to a high ORAC factor, the fancy scientific way of measuring antioxidant levels, it delivers more antioxidants than you would get from consuming the “five-a-day” serving of fruits and veggies
I’ve placed two drops on my tongue each morning and night for three months now and have no intentions of stopping, despite the fact I am not a fan of the taste. After one month my skin tone improved so dramatically, I found myself waking up with rosy cheeks each morning.
io Beauty Booster; $38
Beauty Foods
The mix of natural ingredients promotes healthy skin, collagen production, and relaxation. Mix with milk (or a lactose-free substitute like I do!), heat up and sip a delicious blend of Chocolate Bliss, Chocolate Chai Renewal (my fave!), or Vanilla Dream. The products contain Vitamins A, D, C, and E, biotin, magnesium, and a natural collagen complex for healthy skin and hair, as well as a natural AlphaWave™ L-Theanine and Calming blend, to promote a restful sleep.
Aside from the skin benefits, which are truly there since I wake looking refreshed and glowing, I’m sort of obsessed with the fact that it is an all-natural way to fall asleep, which I have trouble with most nights.
Beauty Foods; 14-single serve packets $49.99
Borba Supplements and Beverages
While we haven’t tried any of the Borba’s supplements or drink mixes, we feel they are definitely worth a mention!
Clear Skin Capsules – Borba’s Dermal Complex, Vitamin A, and zinc control oil to keep skin balanced and blemish-free
Healthy Glow Immunity Drink Mix – 1,000mg Vitamin C and antioxidants for glowing skin
Slimming Chocolate Chews – Tootsie Roll-esque chews that reduce food cravings and firm the skin
Skin Balance Gummi Bears –gummy bears full of Vitamins A, C, E, and B12, plus antioxidants and minerals for youthful skin and reduced free radical damage
Borba Supplements and Beverages; $14.99-$19.99
Frutels
Eat chocolate, get rid of acne. If only things were that easy and dreamlike. With Frutels chocolates, that’s exactly the point. The dark chocolates fight the internal causes of acne (hormones, stress, and poor diet) with vitamins and minerals proven to strengthen the body and clear skin.
Each piece contains full-spectrum B-complex, pantothenic acid (B5), Vitamin E, zinc, Vitamin C, choline, inositol (to properly metabolize fat and reduce stress), PABA (an antioxidant), biotin, and folic acid.
While we’re totally intrigued, we’d have to see it to believe it!
Frutels; one-month supply $49.95
Dr. Perricone Supplements
I heart Dr. Perricone, but my reluctance to try some of his what-sound-like-miracle-working supplements comes down to the Benjamins. At $95 for one-month’s supply of the Hair & Nails Formula (what did you expect I wanted to try?!), it makes Viviscal look like a two-in-one shampoo/conditioner deal. Containing biotin, omega-3s sourced from wild Alaskan sockeye salmon, high levels of antioxidants, and Dr. Perricone’s exclusive Forever Young blend of extracts (watercress, dark cocoa, chili pepper, turmeric, and more), the supplements give hair and nails the building blocks for some serious growth.
While we’re lusting for long locks, our wallets are trembling!
Dr. Perricone Supplements; one-month supply, $95
Deo Perfume Candy
If like me, you’ve managed to spritz perfume into the air, promptly walk through it, and open your mouth—the idea of perfume candy probably gives you an insta-stomachache. However, Deo Perfume Candy comes sans the burning sensation in your throat and eyes and leaves you smelling like roses, just by eating it.
Studies in Japan showed that when ingested, rose oil exudes aromatic compounds, such as geraniol, through the skin; when the compounds evaporate through the skin, they release a rose fragrance for about six hours.
While this is not my cup of tea, it’s available now in the U.S. for the first time.
Deo Perfume Candy; $7.99 from amazon.com
Jackie Burns Brisman
About the author: Jackie Burns Brisman
Jackie has been a featured beauty expert at HBA Global and has appeared live on CBS New York, Good Day Baltimore, and more. Her work has appeared in Spafinder, Skincare.com, American Salon, L'Oreal Paris Beauty Magazine, Well-Rounded, Spa Professional Mexico, MTV News, and more. Prior to joining the Spafinder team she spent time at Women's Health Magazine.
