How to Use Supplements for Healthy Skin.
Alice Mackintosh, a registered Nutritional Therapist in West London’s Chelsea explains how good quality supplements can serve as a useful addition to help the skin from the inside out.
Many of us are aware of the fact that when it comes to our skin, it’s not just the outside that counts. However, this awareness seems elusive at times as we continue to flood our shelves with serums, creams and magic potions that claim to work wonders. Now, some of these products do live up to the hype of beautifying our skin externally. However, as with other things in life, a holistic approach to skincare is a beneficial one to adopt. Alice Mackintosh, a registered Nutritional Therapist in West London’s Chelsea, states that a glowing, dewy complexion is the result of working to support the whole body not just the skin directly:
“It may come as a surprise to many but the skin is actually hugely reliant on good digestion, balanced immunity and hormones, and of course regular sleep cycles. This is why nutrition can have such a big impact on skin and why it is so important to eat well”.
Supplements for Healthy Skin
Everyone is familiar with the phrase “you are what you eat” and in line with this mantra include making sure you eat five portions of fruit and vegetables every day, eat enough vitamin c and more. Mackintosh emphasises the importance of nutrients for the skin, which forms a basic structural point of view needs Vitamin C, Zinc and Silica to promote collagen production, the glue that holds the skin together and maintains its elasticity.
Mackintosh also explains that “essential fats surround every cell in the body and skin cells are heavily reliant not only on the presence of these in the diet but the assimilation and absorption of them in the digestive system.” Antioxidants from our diet also help to keep skin cells resilient to the signs of ageing.
So, what’s next after you modify your diet accordingly to maximise your skin overall bodily health? Alice stresses the fact that although nothing is an adequate replacement for a healthy diet, good quality supplements can serve as a useful addition to help the skin from the inside out. The best supplements for the job are those that deliver key skin nutrients, whilst also supporting the body as a whole (ranging from hormones and digestion to immunity).
A great example of this comes from the award-winning Equi London supplement range, founded by Alice Mackintosh:
Equi London Beauty Formula
This supplement targets problem skin (in the form of breakouts, acne or redness), skin ageing and is also great if you just want glowing skin. Who doesn’t? The award-winning formula contains over 60 ingredients to work to support the whole body; support which encompasses better-looking skin. The formula also helps to balance hormone levels, keep the gut healthy and aids digestion. All these benefits are topped off with GlowCutis technology which combines collagen peptides, resveratrol, silica, hyaluronic acid zinc to support skin regeneration. The formula is comprehensive; designed to target multiple issues at once and also contains a top-quality multi-vitamin.
Price: £53.00
Bare Biology, Lion Heart Omega 3 Liquid
This fish oil gives your skin that glow. It is extremely rich in anti-inflammatory omega 3 and its liquid form means advanced absorption. This is a great product if you have psoriasis, dryness or redness. Mackintosh also tells brides who visit her practice to use it the month before their wedding for an ex-factor glow. Sold.
Price: £47.50
Pukka Aloe Vera Juice
This juice is organic, made from hand-prepared organic inner leaf gel which helps it taste better. It is great for skin hydration, clarity, and brightness. Alice adds that a shot aloe vera juice per day is great for digestive health, which in turn benefits your skin. This link between digestive health and skin exists because gut problems and indigestion can affect the body’s ability to retain nutrients found in your diet. Dr Deanna Minich, functional medicine nutritionist and lifestyle medicine expert, in an article for the Huffington Post, notes that this inability to retain nutrients ability leads to poor absorption of the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants necessary to keep your skin looking healthy and can potentially worsen existing skin conditions.
Price: £13.99
Symprove (12-week programme)
Symprove is a water-based liquid vegan probiotic supplement containing strains of live and activated bacteria that support the gut microbiome (a term that refers to the community of trillions of bacteria and fungi that exist within your gastrointestinal tract). The defining feature of this product is the fact that the bacteria are alive and activated when they reach the gut, which increases the products’ efficacy. This probiotic is backed up by a significant amount of research. Evidence has shown that well-balanced gut bacteria have a positive impact on the gut. Another area being explored is the role of the gut microbiome in other body systems, including the immune system, skin and more. Alice mentions that many of her clients with problem skin also benefit from digestive support. This is because imbalances to the flora (bacteria) of the intestine can interfere with skin health and cause redness, rashes, dryness, and breakouts. Results can be expected in roughly 6-8 weeks. There are different purchasing options ranging from an initial trial period to a Symprove subscription once the programme has been completed.
Price: £158.00
DISCLAIMER: Make sure you discuss your supplement choice with your doctor or a registered dietician first especially if you already take medications, have health concerns or are pregnant. Remember that supplements are not a replacement for a healthy diet.
Alice Mackintosh is a registered Nutritional Therapist based in West London’s Chelsea. She runs a thriving practice helping people to manage skin disorders and is a founder of award-winning nutritional supplement range Equi London.
