As the saying goes, you are what you eat.
Though long after that phrase was coined, we're finally starting to realise how true it is as we learn more about the critical importance of the gut biome. A healthy gut is good news for a whole host of health ailments and can even alleviate depression, and, because maybe we're all a little vain, it also translates to a glowing complexion.
It turns out we are what we drink, too. The relatively new 'beauty drink' industry, now called nutricosmetics (encompassing pills and powders, too) is estimated to snowball to a combined $9 billion industry in the next three years. The promise is to make you beautiful from the inside out.
These ‘beauty from within' oral supplements first appeared as many as 30 years ago, and most vitamin brands have offered a 'hair skin and nails' supplement since -- but the specific focus on supplementation, namely liquids, for beauty purposes has skyrocketed in the last three years, with a plethora of brands launching solely for that purpose.
The logic makes sense. Topical creams and serums can't possibly offer visible, long term improvements to the skin in the way that addressing the complexion from the inside can. Most skincare products have trouble getting past the epidermis -- the top layers of skin -- when true skin health happens in the deeper layers. By drinking these supplements you're promised healthier, clearer skin, strong nails and longer hair.
More brands are launching every day, but not all are created equal. The efficacy of these products come down the ingredients and their quality and potency. While nothing can replace a healthy diet, these supplements can be a way to consume nutrients which have a positive effect on the body, skin included.
Many of these products contain similar ingredients, so let’s break down these common ingredients and see what they do:
Collagen
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human skin, making up an impressive 75-80% of the organ. Along with elastic tissue, collagen is found in the dermis, or middle layer, of skin that gives it its fullness and plumpness.
Collagen is also found in bone, tendons, ligaments, organs, muscle, blood vessels, and hair, and is the main component of our connective tissues. It’s often referred to as the 'glue' that holds the body together.
Consuming collagen is nothing new: humans have been doing it for centuries. Gelatin is the cooked form of collagen and is obtained by boiling the skin, cartilage, and bones of animals in water. It's often used as a thickener for fruit gelatin and puddings (think: Jell-O), and in cakes, yoghurt, marshmallows, ice cream, soup, bone broth, and even vitamins as a coating and for capsules. Needless to say, you've probably been eating collagen in unexpected ways all your life.
We know what you're thinking: Why should I care? One word: wrinkles. Put simply, collagen keeps our skin full and youthful-looking. Unfortunately, there's also an enzyme in skin called collagen that breaks down bonds in collagen; although our bodies make new collagen every day, after age 25 we lose more collagen than we produce (eek!). That's when you start to see fine lines, wrinkles, sagging skin, and weakened joints.
Keen on adding a collagen drink to your every routine? Check out Dr Ora’s Crystal Luxe Collagen!
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