GUEST POST: by Melissa Lobo
Melissa is a young and energetic writer, a mom to a sweet little boy, and a fur-mom to two perfect pooches. Before becoming the Associate Content Director for Project Female, she was a journalist specializing in topics related to women in politics and policy affecting women.
Anybody would love to look and feel beautiful. Anybody would love to have perfect skin, a perfect body, perfect facial features and so on. And because so many people want to improve their physical appearance and overall health, companies have found an opportunity to do business by meeting the demands of those who want to feel good--both inside and out.
Today, there’s a plethora of beauty supplements in the market--all promising great looks (or at least, an improvement) for those who desire them. Whether they be for the face, skin or body, supplements are continuously being developed to enhance anything that consumers want to improve in themselves.
For instance, breast pills have gained popularity among those who desire bigger breasts, or who’d like them to be more proportionate to their body or body type. There are also skin supplements which are meant to make your skin look healthier, younger. There are likewise dietary supplements for those who want to shed pounds but are often too busy or tired to go to the gym. And while there are so many brand names and types of supplements available in the market, it can be hard to figure out what suits you best.
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In Pursuit of Beauty
There seem to be a lot of options when it comes to health and beauty supplements, and choosing what will best work for you can be a little confusing, possibly even overwhelming. So, if you’d like to try the power of beauty supplements, here’s a guide to help you get started.
- Multivitamins. Yes, you have to start with multivitamins. If you think that multivitamins are just taken to strengthen your immune system, combat disease and keep up your energy, then you’re only partly right. Multivitamins play a huge part in making you look young and beautiful: As the experts say, if you are healthy on the inside, it will reflect on the outside.
When you are well, your skin glows, your hair is lustrous, and you don’t look haggard or stressed out. Multivitamins are effective and useful in filling in the nutritional gaps caused by the lack of nutrients in your diet. Whether we like it or not, we need to face the truth that we don’t always eat the foods that are meant to keep us at optimum health, and we love eating empty calories from food that’s essentially junk, much of it processed.
A good multivitamin provides your body with all the vitamins and minerals it needs. While most of the reliable brands aren’t cheap, you are guaranteed that you get what you pay for.
- Biotin. Biotin, which is also known as Vitamin H, is essential for keeping your hair strong and healthy. When you’re stressed out, it becomes evident in the condition of your hair. Biotin supplements help keep your hair, nails, and skin stay healthier. Also sometimes referred to as “hair food,” biotin is highly recommended for those who have brittle hair and those suffering from hair loss.
- Lysine. Supplementing your diet with lysine is highly recommended for those who experience significant hair loss, which can be especially evident while you’re taking a shower. Lysine is an amino acid that helps build protein; it is good for the hair because your hair is composed exactly of -- well-- protein. Aside from fortifying your hair, lysine also makes your scalp healthy and can stimulate hair growth.
- Retinol. Retinol is a vitamin A compound which aids in the development of new skin. Even those who have dry skin are strongly encouraged to supplement their diet with retinol. Not only that. Apart from your skin, you can benefit from the fact that retinol is also a supplement for the brain. It boosts memory and enhances learning ability, which is why it is also recommended for students.
- Ceramides. Ceramides are often seen in topical products and are rarely found in oral form. This supplement is also for the skin, especially for those who have eczema and dry skin.
- Vitamin C. Vitamin C is essential to your body. Aside from helping you fight common sickness and infections, vitamin C aids in the healing of skin and reduces the appearance of wrinkles. It has the ability to reduce cell damage and can act as an antioxidant. And the reason why most adults are encouraged to take vitamin C is because it can slow down the aging process.
- Fish Oil. Experts recommend fish oil for various purposes including weight loss, skin regeneration, hair growth and even certain psychological disorders. However, high and frequent doses can be dangerous because it contains high level of toxins so make sure that you consult your doctor to find the right dosage for you.
- Manuka Honey. Manuka honey is not the typical honey because it contains higher levels of enzymes. It is effective in treating acne, so if you have a breakout, you can use manuka honey as a supplement. You can take it directly, mix it with tea, or use it as a mask at least once a week.
- Spearmint. Spearmint is also an excellent solution for acne because of its anti-inflammatory properties. You can take spearmint as capsules or you can drink spearmint tea to cure or prevent acne. However, having too much of spearmint can be dangerous to your liver so make sure you don’t use it excessively.
- Vitamin E. Vitamin E is also considered as a skin vitamin because it is an antioxidant which means that it has the ability to destroy free radicals. It is effective in slowing down the signs of aging and is helpful in preventing heart disease. This vitamin is what you need if you want to achieve a clearer complexion and younger looking skin because it reduces the appearance of wrinkles. Vitamin E can also treat sunburn and as well as acne.
- Zinc. Zinc, just like Vitamin E, also promotes clearer complexion. It reduces the appearance of scars and pimple marks, and is also useful in preventing or treating acne. Zinc is essential in collagen production which aids in skin growth and repair.
- Vitamin D. Vitamin D is popular for helping the body absorb calcium, but it can also treat skin irritation and inflammation. You might want to supplement your diet with this vitamin during the colder months because it is effective in treating flaking and itching of the skin.
Now that the use of supplements to achieve better health and beauty has gained more popularity, it is crucial that you have knowledge about them to ensure correct usage and to maximize their benefits.
