BEYOND SKIN DEEP
Glow from the inside out with these beauty supplements
Asian women are no strangers to the idea of beauty supplements. Those on the quest for firmer, plumper skin have long turned to them as a source of collagen, be it in the form of drinks, powders or jellies. But thanks to advancements in technology, beauty supplements in the market today do so much more than that, spanning those that offer UV protection to antioxidant-rich ones for a holistic take on inside-out wellness.
PATENTED SUN SHIELDERS Hands up those of you who know applying sunscreen is a must, yet continue to treat it as an optional step in your skincare routine. Consider introducing supplements into your diet to boost skin’s resilience against the hazardous effects of UV rays—specifically, those containing active ingredients that help reduce the oxidative damage caused by excessive UV exposure. One of the most prevalent ingredients in such supplements is polypodium leucotomos, a fern plant native to Central America that has the ability to protect itself from the sun’s radiation. Heliocare’s Oral, $57.75 for 60 capsules, contains Fernblock, a patented form of polypodium leucotomos developed with Harvard Medical School. In addition to being effective against UV rays, Fernblock also protects against visible light and infrared radiation, both of which have the potential to cause hyperpigmentation and skin ageing.
IDS’ Lyco-White Oral Skin Supplement, $168 for 90 capsules, combines polypodium leucotomos extract with carotenoids and antioxidants to further support its benefits; plus curcumin extract to enhance intestinal absorption of these ingredients for optimal efficacy. Dr Georgia Lee, founder of DrGL, highlights the importance of creating a suitable environment for the body to absorb active ingredients. “Some ingredients are best absorbed in different parts of the gastrointestinal gut. For example, resveratrol gets destroyed in acid so it has to be coated to protect it from acidic digestive juices in the stomach,” she explains. The active ingredients in her DrGL Skin Supplement Glow 60’s, $128 for 60 capsules, for example, are encapsulated in a vegetal-based coating to maintain their integrity. NUTRIENT-RICH NATURAL REMEDIES For those who prefer a more natural route to beautiful, glowing skin, beauty powders made of highly nutritional vegetables, fruits, pre- and probiotics are also on the rise. Rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, all you have to do is add the recommended dosage to your favourite beverage or salad to supplement your diet, making them ideal for busy urban individuals.The addition of pre- and probiotics alsoal ensures a healthy gastrointestinal tract for optimal bodily functions.fu For a revitalised glow, try The Super Elixir’s The Super ElixirEl with Caddy, about $189 for 300g. Developed by supermodel ElleE Macpherson and nutrition expert Dr Simone Laubscher, it contains vitamins, herbs, enzymes and pre- and probiotics to enhance your overall health.The Beauty Chef ’s Glow Advanced Inner Beauty Powder, about $98 for 150g, is a fermented blend of beans, grains and root vegetables that packs amino acids and essential fatty acids to also improve skin firmness and elasticity.
BUILDING BLOCKS FOR HEALTHY SKIN If your main concern is to achieve plumper skin, today’s collagen supplements have also become more efficacious, thanks to the development of lower molecular weight collagen. Just like with topical skincare, the larger the molecular size of the ingredients, the more difficult it is for our body to absorb them, hence affecting its effectiveness. “From a medical point of view, the smaller the size of the particles, the larger the surface area available for absorption, and the better the product is going to work,” explains Dr Lum Yang Xi, Medical Doctor at IDS Clinic.
Much has been written about ASTALIFT’s nano-technology: Applying the same technology used by its parent company, Fujifilm, to its stable of topical skincare, the result is active ingredients that are so tiny, they can penetrate into deeper layers of skin cells easily for maximum efficacy. Positioned as an oral supplement that improves skin firmness and glow,ASTALIFT’s White Shield Supplement, $63 for 60 capsules, packs the brand’s proprietary blend of low molecular weight collagen, astaxanthin, lycopene, red wine polyphenol and beta-carotene into tiny capsules. Similarly, DHC’s Collagen Beauty 12000EX, $69.90 for 10 bottles, and Laneige’s Collagen Drink, $52 for 10 bottles, also use low molecular weight collagen tripeptides derived from fish for easy absorption into the body.
BALANCE IS KEY However, as efficacious as they may seem, it is important not to rely solely on beauty supplements. For starters, as Dr Lum points out, it can be difficult to determine how much of the collagen actually reaches the skin, as collagen that is consumed first gets digested in the gut and absorbed into the bloodstream before being redistributed to different parts of the body. Dr Teo Wan Lin, Dermatologist at TWL Specialist Skin & Laser Centre, echoes this. According to Dr Teo, sun protection supplements should never be used alone. Instead, sticking to a proper skincare routine and making wise lifestyle choices like “wearing sun-protective clothing and applying a dermatologically tested broad-spectrum SPF 50 sunscreen” are also essential to shield our skin from the sun. As for maintaining youthful-looking skin, Dr Teo recommends a wellbalanced diet filled with antioxidants, which can reduce sun damage and slow down the loss of collagen. She also emphasises the efficacy of combining the use of topical creams that contain tretinoin (a vitamin A derivative), oligopeptides and antioxidants with in-clinic chemical peels and lasers to stimulate collagen production.
Admittedly, supplements aren’t genies in a bottle nor youth elixirs that grant perfect skin. But it’s an industry that’s gaining momentum in the West and the results have been promising. It makes sense to take an inside-out, rather than outside-in, approach. Keep to a rigorous skincare routine, have regular trips to the derm and remember to pop a pill or three to hedge your bets.
“The smaller the size of the particles, the better the product is going to work.” — Dr Lum Yang Xi