Five Supplements for Glowing Skin

Looking after the body is an inside and out affair,  beauty, after all, comes from within. It is common knowledge that our nutrition will often affect how our skin looks. So what can we be putting into our bodies for better skin? Firstly, we can be eating a little more avocado, coconut oil, blueberries, and leafy greens but don’t stop there. The current global climate means heightened stress, and this impairs the body’s ability to absorb naturally occurring nutrients in the food we eat. In combination with today’s food production climate, much of the nutrients in a fruit or vegetable would have been depleted by the time it makes it to your plate. Therefore, supplements are now more than ever necessary and we’re bringing you the best of the best. 

Collagen 

Hydrolyzed collagen is absorbed by the body and transported to the deepest layers of the dermis where it works to repair damage on the skin – this can be anything from fine lines and wrinkles or hyperpigmentation and melasma. 

Shayaan recommends: 

Vitamin  C 

Studies show your body cannot synthesize new collagen without vitamin C. With a high concentration of vitamin C on the skin, it helps to produce fibroblasts, which are cells necessary for collagen production as well as wound healing. According to Dr. Kaywaan and other specialists in the field including Dr. Kellyann, Vitamin C also works as a potent antioxidant to protect your skin from UV photodamage as well as neutralize free radical damage caused by toxins. This is more important now than ever where we live in polluted urban cities and are surrounded by all types of chemicals. 

Evidence from research also suggests that vitamin C plays a vital role in the production of lipids in the outer layer of skin. These lipids, also known as sebum, are essential for maintaining an optimal ceramide barrier. This barrier, when healthy, prevents water loss and keeps your skin moist and supple. The lipid barrier also prevents potentially harmful toxins from invading the skin. 

Vitamin C is one of the main ingredients of The Workout Mask, and for good reason. It is essential for healthy skin, and even more essential for good immune system function, so check out the brands below for an added boost to your every day. 

Shayaan recommends: 

Vitamin E

Vitamin E helps to support the immune system, cell function and skin health. However, it must be consumed with fat in order for your body to absorb it. It is also a powerful antioxidant, similar to Vitamin C and helps to fight off oxidative damage to cells by helping to remove free radicals. When paired with Vitamin C, the two help each other to deliver more effective results. 

Shayaan recommends: 

Vitamin D 

Healthy levels of Vitamin D have been demonstrated to prevent skin aging. According to research, skin health can be determined molecularly by looking at the length of telomeres which shorten with age. In a study conducted by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, telomeres were significantly longer in patients who had high serum levels of vitamin D. Further research has also linked vitamin D deficiencies to several skin conditions, including atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, vitiligo, and even melanoma –the most dangerous form of skin cancer. Hence, if there’s one supplement to take from the list, it is definitely Vitamin D!

Shayaan recommends: 

Vitamin A 

When it comes to vitamin A, there are retinoids (animal foods) and carotenoids (plant foods). Carotenoids are potent antioxidants but do not exert a physiological effect on the skin, as it must first be converted to retinoids. Hence, supplementing with Vitamin A may be essential if you are on a vegan or vegetarian diet. Retinoids are associated with skin structure and function. They have the ability to increase the production of skin cells, and fibroblasts which are responsible for collagen synthesis making them powerfully effective when it comes to skin damage and wound healing. On the other hand, it also helps conditions like psoriasis (a disease associated with an abnormally high rate of cell proliferation), by slowing down the rate of cell proliferation. When supplementing with vitamin A, be sure your supplement contains both forms (retinoids and carotenoids) and look for 2000 to 3000 IU of retinol.

Shayaan recommends: