Beauty Supplements Tried & Tested - Do They Really Work?

We all know that a balanced diet is the key to good health but it’s also vital for good skin and hair health too. Our bodiesrequire nourishment to stay in peak condition but are we getting enough of the right nutrients from what we eat?

There’s a whole host of beauty vitamins and supplements out there but what do they actually do? Today I bring you a score sheet of tried and tested beauty boosters.

By Zoe Dubs, facevaluebeautyblog.co.uk

Why Do We Need Supplements?

As we age, the ability to extract nutrients from our food declines and when you know you’re not even remotely close to getting your 5 a day, beauty vitamins and pills seem like a great way to boost your diet.

Supplements not only provide you a direct source of skin-boosting nutrients, they’re also more easily absorbed than just getting the same nutrient from food.

Whilst laziness is the key motivation for me, applying creams and lotions to your skin only works from the outside in. For ultimate results – I like to work inside out too. The concept of supplements is about helping your body to rebuild from within, not just on the surface of your skin.

Which Supplement Is Best For Me?

There’s a lot out of choice out there, these days you can have a supplement for any problem in any form. Powder, pills, capsules – go with what suits your lifestyle.

I’ve trialled a range of beauty vitamins and skin saviours - they all do different things, you just need to think about what your want from your daily dose!

Feed Skin, Hair & Nails From The Same Menu.

Believe it or not, your skin, hair and nails are made up of the same thing. Look for supplements which contain Collagen as this is the stuff that keeps skin and joints in top shape. Upping your collagen intake is good for so many things – skin, hair, bones, nails – but as you age, your natural production of collage declines and the loss of collagen means wrinkles, weak bones and hair breakage. BOO, no likey.

I’ve been trying the GoldCrush hair capsules for the last 4 weeks. These capsules are rich in Biotin and Collagen to reinforce and strengthen the hair, for added fullness and elasticity.

GoldCrush is marketed as a hair supplement, helping hair to grow faster but it’s also good for your skin and nails too. The capsules seem quite large, but you only have to take 2 a day – just remember to take them!

I have seen that my split ends are much less noticeable and my hair is less prone to breakage. My skin has also been clear for 2 months now with no blemishes, pretty much a record for me!

Product Rating: 3/5 because the capsules are quite big & I sometimes forget to take them.

Results: 4/5 - definitely less hair breakage but it takes about 3 weeks to kick in – I’m paranoid of stopping the intake in case I get a spot!

No Time For Juicing?

Antioxidants like Vitamins A, C and E also curb the damage from skin-harming free radicals. They are plentiful in fruit and veg, good diet things like that, but I cannot stomach getting up early and making a smoothie, let alone trying to work out all the food I’d need to buy to make one! I bought a juicer as a new years resolution last year and it’s literally gathering dust now. Sound familiar?

This Udo’s Choice Beyond Greens powder takes the best bits from green veg and then adds a daily dose of fat – the good kind! Science part coming up, Dr Udo Erasmus introduced the world to essential fats (EFAs) from organic flax seeds. Fatty acids maintain the outer layer of the skin, providing a strong barrier against pollution and other bad boo boos. They also have anti-inflammatory properties, and are good for cholesterol levels and general cardio health. Who knew fats were good for you?

By adding two tablespoons of this powder to water, you’ve made yourself a super green juice without even having to clean up! It’s incredibly convenient, I kept this on my desk and had this as a breakfast juice every day for 2 weeks.

The good news is that I felt noticeably more energised, without having to rely on coffee & tea to pick me up during the day. The bad news is, it looks like pondwater…and tastes like it too! I tell myself no gain without pain, but you either need to add this to something that has flavour – or just knock it back and bear it!

Product: 3/5 – unbelievably convenient instead of juicing, but the texture and taste can be awful.

Results: 5/5 – I noticed higher energy levels within the first 4 days of taking this. Pretty good!

Keep Your Natural Defences Up.

Your body is in a constant state of growth and repair and if you catch a cold or start feeling rubbish, everything feels like it’s gone backwards. What’s the point of having great skin and hair if you’re ILL?! To fend off all manner of attacks, your immune system needs to be in a peak condition too.

Did you know that more than 60% of your immune system is in your gut? I tried Bimuno IMMUNAID – a daily supplement with prebiotics which feed the ‘good bacteria’ in your body. Not to be mixed up with probiotics, which ‘top up’ the good bacteria (think Actimel and Yakult etc).

IMMUNAID is a soft chewy pastille which you eat daily to help energise and increase the natural defenders in your gut. I like that I don’t have to eat some fancy yoghurt (or drink Yakult!), these are really easy to build into my routine. They taste nice, like a wine gum, and they’re almost too easy to take. I’d be happy to eat the whole pack!

I would take these before going on holiday (you know how the stomach can be around foreign water!) and in the run up to a busy week.

Product: 4/5 - Really easy to take, almost too delicious for a supplement!

Results: 3/5 Unless you’re feeling weak in the first place, it’s difficult to notice results. I haven’t caught the office cold yet though…!

Take A Chill Pill Man.

Not to sounds like some Desperate Housewife needing her Xanax, but I bought these Kalms Tablets to deal with stress when taking my accountancy exams. Unlike Xanax, Kalms are a traditional, herbal remedy and are designed to relieve periods of worry and irritability. Perfect for those who are taking exams, or going through a busy phase at work, Kalms are also meant to promote natural sleep.

The pills themselves are sugar coated and really easy to take. I also really liked that they’re a natural remedy as I felt like I wasn’t doing my body any harm with added chemicals.

I did feel slightly more relaxed when taking these regularly (I think) but I have a feeling that a large part of it was purely psychological. But hey, if you need a pacifying placebo then this is your one!

Product: 5/5 – easy to take and the natural element makes this a clear winner for me

Results: 3/5 – no idea if they actually work but I think I felt better for them, who knows if I would have been even more stressed with them?

Ultimately, nutrition is just one of the many things you can do to help your skin and your general health. You know what I’m talking about! Wear sunscreen of at least spf15 every day, partake in regular exercise and make sure you’re eating a proper balanced diet.

For me, a large part of taking supplements is psychological, but there have been clinical studies and tests to show that some of these things really do work.

Whilst I accept that I’m not going to turn back time by swallowing a pill, given that I’m not very good at keeping up ANY of the above lifestyle tips, I figured I need all the help I can get…..

What’s YOUR view on beauty vitamins and supplements? Tweet us @YLifestyle and follow Zoe & the #girlsOTG for more beauty and fashion updates!