By Madeleine Woon
For me, the term ‘ingestible skincare’ conjures images of eating moisturizer by the spoonful as if it were Greek yoghurt. Luckily, this is far from the case. The *hot* neo-beauty phrase is really just a fancy way of saying ‘taking supplements’. Deriving inspo from the old “you are what you eat” adage, ingestible skincare — everything from pills and powders to gummies—are intended to be taken internally, with the aim of improving your skin from within. In an ideal world, we’d be getting all the necessary vitamins and minerals our skin needs from our diets, but alas we live in an imperfect world, ~perfect~ diets are boring, and taking a supplement is an easy way to help fill in the gaps.
Taking supplements is akin to flossing—often touted by trusted medical professionals, and just as frequently, dismissed by those who worship at the altar of instant gratification instead. In the spirit of bucking against our need for a quick fix, and yes I am talking to myself here too, let us divulge into why investing the time and discipline into edible skincare is worth your while.
As with everything, not all ingestible skincare products are created equally, and certainly not all of them do what they say.
So, how do I determine if it’s the real deal?
As with the packaged food we eat, it’s always recommended to give the ingredients list a thorough scan. Can’t pronounce or successfully Google the ingredients? They have no place in your body. Dr. Sonia Patel, the chief pharmacist at Capsule—a pharmacy app based in NYC—recommends staying away from anything that contains hydrogenated oils, artificial colors, magnesium stearate, and titanium dioxide. These, she says, are often used as “fillers” to make the product easier to swallow, taste better, or look better, but can get in the way of your body’s ability to absorb the nutrients. Also steer clear of anything that contains maltodextrin or ascorbic acid for this very same reason.
Be wary of long ingredient lists, whereby it’s impossible to determine what’s doing the work, and also vague terms that mask what the ingredients are or how much of each is contained in the product. If the product doesn’t specify the dosage of a particular ingredient, there’s no way to corroborate with research that supports using that dose.
A great rule of thumb: always verify the active ingredients and their dosage levels, and then determine whether this is backed by scientific research.
Where does ingestible skincare fit in my daily routine?
Now, now. Don’t get us wrong. Topical products are great, however ingesting a supplement that will be taken up by your body and work on a cellular level is what will make the biggest impact in the long run. As with our diet, what we intake reflects externally.
Edible skincare that is backed by data, gives clarity around dosing, and addresses a real need can be the ticket to improved skin. They’re easy to incorporate into our routines, don’t require slathering yet another thing onto our skins, and don’t disrupt the flow of our favorite topical products.
Welcome to the stage two of the hardest working edible skincare products there is…
BLUR POTION
What is it: BLUR POTION is an easy pill to swallow. It blends antioxidant-rich skin-reviving nutrients and plant extracts that are proven to fade and blur all forms of hyperpigmentation and UV damage from the inside out. Melasmas! Sun spots! Post-zit dark spots! You name it, this fixes it. The cherry on top? A luminous, dewy and youthful complexion.
Renowned for: Curbing skin pigmentation, boosting hydration and glow, and pumping the brakes on collagen breakdown.
Who can use it: Both long-standing and stubborn cases, as well as those looking for a preventative filter against future discoloration and sun damage.
MVP ingredients: Oligopin, Grape seed extract, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Lutein, Zeaxanthin.
How to use: Take one pill daily. That’s it, folks. Told you it was easy.
SKIN DISCIPLINE
What is it: SKIN DISCIPLINE is a cocktail of vitamins, minerals, probiotics and fatty acids all wrapped up into one smol and easily digestible pill. Its list of can-dosinclude easing surface level irritation, regulating sebum levels and balancing skin supportive bacteria—you guessed it—from the inside out. Thanks to some pretty groundbreaking capsule-in-capsule technology, the skin clearing ingredients (which typically live separately) can all commingle harmoniously in one single dose. The added bonus? A fresh, minty flavor.
Renowned for: Strengthening skin cell walls, helping to regulate skin clarity, optimizing gut-skin health, keeping unruly skin in check.
How to use: Take one pill each morning The ease!
MVP ingredients: Zinc, Probiotic Blend (10 Billion CFU), Chromium, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Selenium, Pantothenic Acid, Copper, Omega-3.
