When it comes to looking after your skin, there’s a vast array of information out there. Some helpful, some not so… and some a little on the unusual side!
Fortunately, Birch & Wilde is here to give us the most up-to-date and on-trend skincare advice and answer the question: can you really get healthy, glowing skin from within?
Read on to discover the latest skincare supplement and ingredient trends as well as some top lifestyle tips to ensure your skin is in the very best shape and ready to show off a radiant inner glow this spring.
1. Supplement with high quality collagen
Collagen supplementation is definitely the number one trending skin supplement. Collagen is the main structural and elastic component of skin and helps to give it bounce and prevent wrinkles. As we age our natural production of collagen declines leading to the appearance of wrinkles. High quality collagen supplementation is important, however. Having a low Dalton supplement is important to ensure that collagen stays intact as it gets absorbed.
Birch & Wilde’s 1200 mg dose Marine Collagen supplement is clinically proven to help reduce the effects of ageing, diminish wrinkles and dark circles and improve the overall appearance of your skin.
What’s more, the 45-day supply is sustainably-sourced and packaged lightweight, slimline and fully recyclable bottles. With easy-to-take, premium-quality capsules, these supplements are created to make your life better.
2. Boost your vitamin C intake
Vitamin C is an essential component of collagen. Not only does it help your body produce collagen, but it also helps to protect existing collagen from free radical damage. Vitamin C is water soluble, so it needs to be consumed daily. Although additional vitamin C supplementation is useful to the skin, mega doses will be washed out of the body and wasted.
3. Get clued up on choline
Choline is a nutrient that contributes towards the normal function of the liver. The liver is a major player in glowing skin as it takes care of all the toxins in your body and keeps your skin glowing. Choline also helps your body makes the fats needed for the skin cell membrane, an essential component of moisturisation and flexibility. Your liver naturally makes a small amount of choline, but this nutrient mostly comes from the food you eat. To up your levels, try eating more food such as eggs, broccoli, whole grains and beans, or look for a supplement that contains choline.
4. Choose a supplement with PABA
PABA is a nutrient related to folate. It works with the other B vitamins to support skin health. There has been plenty of research into the benefits of PABA on multiple skin conditions including vitiligo and Peyronie’s disease. It’s found naturally in some foods, such as grains, eggs, mushrooms and spinach, and can also be supplemented.
5. Look out for inositol, too
Inositol is nutrient part of the B vitamin family. Inositol works with B vitamins and enhances their function. There is some interesting on-going research into inositol and insulin sensitivity. Insulin is the hormone that helps to balance blood sugar levels. Maintaining blood sugar balance is essential for skin health. Too much sugar in the blood encourages excess testosterone production in women leading to thick sebaceous fluid and clogged pores. Too much glucose in the blood also promotes the formation of skin tags and inflammation and skin redness.
Try Birch & Wilde’s Vitamin B Complex , which combines all eight bioavailable B vitamins in one easy-to-take capsule, plus inositol, vitamin c, choline and PABA to create a well-rounded supplement that will leave you feeling great.
6. Hit the gym
Exercise is great for the skin and can help keep you glowing – in fact, a workout might do more for your skin than getting a facial. The sweating pushes out toxins and keeps the pores clear, while the increase in blood flow provides additional nutrients for the skin which keeps the skin cells healthy.
7. Give face yoga a go
Face yoga is trending for good reason. It is a series of facial exercises that are performed daily. It improves the muscle tone in your face helping to keep you looking young and peachy. Improved muscle tone in the face can help to fill out any wrinkles that might be occurring.
8. Try face acupuncture
Having a professional stick needles in your face might sound terrible but it can actually improve symptoms such as water retention and deep wrinkles. Acupuncture works on the principles of meridians, blood flow and energy and when done regularly, it can make a remarkable difference to your appearance.
9. Sleep on your back and with a raised head
Sleeping on your back may be nothing new, but the way we do it is. Place a rolled-up towel under your neck to provide support, and also to discourage you turning in the night. Once the habit of back sleeping is formed, you can remove the towel and get your pillow back. Sleeping with a slightly raised head also helps to prevent blood and fluid stagnation which can lead to puffiness in the face and particularly around the eyes.
10. Overwhelmed? Go with minimalism
Facial minimalism is in and it includes applying as little to your face as possible. A good moisturiser and sunscreen are the two basics in terms of what you need to apply. All other improvements in appearance can be achieved through diet and lifestyle.