When it comes to having fun and staying young, we’re eager to try anything new and different to improve our beauty regimen. Diet, exercise and hydration are highly important in keeping our hair, nails and skin strong and beautiful. Beauty supplements however? We’re a little wary of them. So we decided to look into some pretty pills that are rumored to get us glowing from the inside out.
For Your Skin
Vitamins B and E and Selenium
These three vitamins are powerhouses when it comes to skin cancer and sun damage protection. In some cases, they have also reversed the effects of aging!
Flavonoids
Green tea has powerful antioxidants that help protect against skin cancer and inflammation.
Chocolate (yes, CHOCOLATE!) has flavonoids that can help smooth your skin.
Fern extract
Studies show that fern extract can help reduce damages caused by UVA rays like dark spots and wrinkling.
Idebenone
This antioxidant is restorative, repairing damaged cells above and beneath the surface of your skin.
Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Omega 3s are proven to combat enzymes that contribute to wrinkling and sagging skin. Eating salmon, mackerel, and sardines can help provide moisture to your skin.
Collagen
Studies show that collagen supplements help reduce wrinkling around the eyes.
Hair and Nails
Biotin
This is one of the most popular beauty supplements for hair and nail strength. It can aid hair loss and encourage nail growth. Luckily, we can find it in dairy products and proteins like chicken, salmon and tuna.
GLA
Gamma-linolenic acids are found in black currant and primrose oils. It can help with brittle nails and thinning, splitting hair.
Iron
Many women suffer from iron deficiencies which can lead to dull, thin, dry, hair, and weak nails. Boost your iron levels by eating things like cashews, spinach, and oysters.
Zinc
This element is absolutely vital and has many benefits including helping hair follicles grow.
Vitamin D
This vitamin is full of sunshine (literally, we naturally absorb it through sunshine). It helps us absorb other vitamins like calcium, zinc, and magnesium. Studies show that it may help activate strong hair growth.
The Bottom Line
Always talk to your doctor before introducing supplements into your diet. Supplements cannot replace the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. However, some of the vitamins mentioned may be particularly helpful for you if you’re looking to improve certain aspects of your skin, hair and nails and feel like you may not be getting enough nutrients from your diet.