How to choose supplements for your salon

With the wellness space growing at a rapid rate, a huge range of new supplements are being launched into the market, many with skincare benefits

Perhaps the most important thing when it comes to making a choice on which supplements to choose is to pick a brand you trust. Lauren Dewsbury, senior research scientist at Vida Glow explains, “Supplements can vary dramatically in their quality and efficacy. Look for products that are supported by scientific evidence, so you know they are going to do what they say they’re going to do.

“The key benefit to taking a supplement is that they have a systemic effect in your body [as opposed to a local effect with topicals], meaning you are improving skin health at the cellular level.”

Lorraine Perretta, Advanced Nutrition Programme’s head of nutrition, adds: “Supplements do much more for skin than just making it look good. The body makes 200 million skin cells every hour – cells that are not made from topical creams or serum, but from the food we eat and the supplements we take.

“As we know, the skin is the largest organ of the body and is a two-sided organ. Creams and treatments only do half the job by benefitting the skin from the outside. By adding supplements, you are feeding the skin from the inside and achieving 100% skincare.”

Dr Brent Agin, scientific advisory board member for supplement and skincare brand Monat, adds, “Micronutrient deficiencies can be a contributor to diseases and a key factor to this is our diets. We’re not getting enough nutrients in our day-to-day diet and this is where food supplements come into requirement.”

Different formats

With supplements readily available as capsules, tablets, gummies, liquids and even in the form of IV drips, it can be hard to know what’s going to be the most effective choice. j.chizhe/Shutterstock.com

“It really depends on the ingredients in the formula and what you are trying to achieve,” shares Dewsbury. “Supplements can be purchased in a variety of different formats; however, these formats vary in how well they can get the job done. When we formulate a product, we consider the active ingredients, their bioavailability and where they need to be delivered to in the body – this will dictate the format we use.”

For supplement newbies, it’s important to have a clear goal of what you want to achieve. “Your ingestible beauty supplement routine should be based around your key beauty concerns or goals,” explains Dewsbury. “If your client is new to ingestible beauty, I would recommend starting by introducing just one product at a time and building their routine from there. This way they know what is working for them, it streamlines their routine and is kinder to their bank balance.”

As with any ingestible treatment, Perretta recommends, “For the best results when targeting specific skin concerns, including eczema, acne, dehydrated skin and pigmentation as well as lines and wrinkles, skincare professionals should be trained in identifying the skin condition and recommending specific science-backed supplements to synergise with appropriate treatments and home care.”

Dewsbury makes that point that adding new supplements is not unlike adding new products to your skincare routine. “You are helping clients to improve their skin from within, and this takes time and consistency. They need to stick with it for at least three months to ensure they are getting the most out of it, then decide whether it is right for them. Introduce one product at a time so they can clearly see what is working for them.”

Source: https://professionalbeauty.co.uk/site/newsdetails/supplement-stacking