Supplements Are Taking the Beauty Industry by Storm

One can spend hours browsing the beauty supplement aisle. Got brittle nails, dry skin or a flaky scalp? There are a number of supplements that can help with that, and we’re grabbing them off the shelves like never before.

According to the 2016 Council for Responsible Nutrition’s Annual Survey on Dietary Supplements, about 71 percent of adults in the U.S. are taking dietary supplements regularly, and about one-fifth of those supplements users are taking them for skin, hair and nail benefits.

Deanna Latson, co-founder and chief product officer of ARIIX, an international opportunity company that promotes healthy, toxic-free living, agreed that supplements are taking the beauty industry by storm.

“Beauty is an inside and an outside job,” says Latson. “I like to use the analogy of a rusted car. If you just paint over that rust, even with the best and most expensive of paint, you’re not taking care of the underlying problem.”

Experts agree that consumers have generally become much more savvy about health and wellness. We know that a healthy lifestyle is important for feeling and looking our best, and that includes regular exercise, adequate rest, limiting caffeine and alcohol consumption, and optimizing nutrition with a balanced diet and supplements.

Here are four must-have beauty supplements shared by Latson.

Vitamin C

A high-quality vitamin C supplement tops the list. “[Vitamin C] reduces oxidative stress in cells and helps your skin look better,” she explains. “Try to avoid inexpensive versions in the form of ascorbic acid, which can be hard on the stomach.” She recommended the ascorbate form of vitamin C, which is pH neutral and easier on the digestive system.

Vitamin E

Another great skin supplement with strong antioxidant abilities endorsed by Latson is vitamin E, which prevents damages by protecting cell membranes. Multiple studies have found that the supplementing with a combination of vitamin C and vitamin E can help protect the skin from damaging UV rays.

Grape Seed Extract

Fibroblasts are responsible for protecting skin from damaging environmental effects. “Free radical damage from pollution, stress and the sun can destroy collagen and fibroblasts in the skin,” Latson states. “Grape seed extract has a unique ability to fight against free radicals, protecting skin from the inside.”

CoQ10

Latson refers to this powerful antioxidant as a perfect “youth-booster.” “Once we hit 40, natural levels of CoQ10 start to decline,” she conveys. “Adding high-quality CoQ10 to your daily regimen is like having your own fountain of youth, as it helps keep our body’s cells young.”

One last bit of advice imparted by Latson – drink more water! “Keeping hydrated is really important,” she emphasizes. “Without water, a grape becomes a raisin. No one wants that to happen to their skin!”