Would you try the Inside-Out beauty trend?

WHAT does your daily skincare routine look like? You may be cleansing, toning and moisturising with the best of them, but are you filling your gut, your bloodstream and therefore your deeper layers of skin with the nutrient-rich cocktail they need to stay hydrated, fight off environmental irritants, produce collagen and remain radiant?

For this is key to the latest trend for ‘inside-outside’ beauty — a new regime of topical products that work in collaboration with a supplement — usually a capsule, liquid or powder.

Use the two together, so the theory goes, and you’ll glow while experiencing other benefits — higher energy, more efficient digestion, a better night’s sleep and balanced hormone levels.

So, should you swallow the trend? Read on to find out . . .

BANG FOR BUCK Beauty & Vitality Radiant Skincare

THE bang-for-buck route into inside-outside skincare, this set includes a face moisturiser to help counter the loss of collagen and hydration with Vitamins A, C and E plus coconut oil and grapefruit — and a corresponding multi-nutrient capsule (you take two a day with food).

The supplement contains Vitamin C for collagen function, Vitamin D for the immune system, Vitamin E to protect against environmental pollutants and red clover to support menopausal health.

VERDICT: I tried the Radiant Skincare Pre & Probiotic Nourishment Moisturiser, which is thicker than I normally use and it felt quite indulgent.

Once absorbed it felt smooth, non-sticky and has a delicate spa-like scent. I opened the capsules, with faint caramel scent, and sprinkled the contents over my breakfast cereal.

Just one week on my skin looked plumped and better conditioned. Currently on sale at €35 for both products (reduced from €75), it’s far cheaper than its competitors.

■ 60 capsules and moisturiser pack (50ml), €35, superdrug. com

BESPOKE BIOTICS The Nue Co

THIS luxury collection allows you to build your own regime from a broad range of products. Central to the collection is the Pre + Probiotic capsule (you take two each morning before breakfast) which delivers 15 billion spores per dose to reinforce the good bacteria in your stomach and promote improved skin, digestion, immunity, mood and sleep.

Take alone or add other products — from topical cleansers, moisturisers and serums to more targeted supplements.

VERDICT: A beautifully designed range with masses of choice that allows you to tailor your products and supplements to your specific needs. You could use the Skin Filter capsule, described as ‘ingestible retinol’ to plump fine lines and repair sun damage, with the Skin Filter Serum, packed with plantbased extracts that replicate the effects of retinol without causing redness. Other capsules target bloating, hair growth, hydration, stress and sleep.

■ 60 capsules Prebiotic + Probiotic, €49; 30 capsules Skin Filter supplement, €48.80; Skin Filter Serum (30ml), €70, thenueco.com

LIQUID GOLD Gold Collagen

SERUMS are tailored to hydrating, night-time renewal or instant glow; hydrogel sheet masks encourage ‘radiance, luminosity and smoothness’ working with the daily 50ml liquid collagen drink or tablet supplement. The peach and lychee flavoured liquid version I try is tailored to the over 40s. Its 23 active ingredients encourage hair growth and collagen formation, reduce tiredness and regulate hormonal activity.

VERDICT: The nutrient-rich drink is pleasant but the hero product for me is the sheet mask, enriched with antioxidants, hyaluronic acid and glycerin ‘for dehydrated or tired skin’.

■ A 30-day programme of Forte Plus Liquid Collagen, €120. Hydrogel Mask, €11.50 each. Serums (30ml), €42, gold-collagen.com