Natural health & beauty supplements nourish hair, skin and nails without increasing exposure to synthetic chemicals. Their wellness benefits include:
- Supporting smooth, supple skin.**
- Promoting lustrous, glossy hair.**
- Maintaining strong, healthy nails.**
What are Health & Beauty Supplements?
Every day, hair, skin and nails face a number of challenges. They are subjected to damage from environmental stressors, such as heat, humidity, UV rays and drying wind. Perhaps more significantly, hair, skin and nails are subjected to non-natural health and beauty supplements. Some of these products may contain chemicals that generate free radicals, potentially accelerating the cellular aging process.**
Research indicates that consumers use 25 health and beauty products as part of their daily routines. Together, these products expose the average consumer to about 200 chemicals per day. The FDA has not assessed the health and safety of 89 percent of the more-than 10,500 chemicals regularly included in personal care products. These substances may include allergens like propylene glycol, toxins like formaldehyde, and central nervous system disrupters like lead. The cumulative effect of these thousands of chemicals is unknown. Conventional health and beauty products for nails, skin and hair and their synthetic ingredients include:**
- Nail products: Fingernails consist of layers of compressed cells filled with the protein keratin. Nails grow about 1/8-inch per month, but with age the growth rate slows and nails become thin and brittle. Many nail products contain chemicals such as phthalates, known hormone disrupters that are added to polish to keep it flowing freely, and formaldehyde, which is used as a hardener, that exacerbate the effects of aging, leading to weak, discolored nails.**
- Skin products: Lotions, cleansers, deodorant, sunscreen, perfumes, lipstick and shaving cream may contain parabens and 1-3 butadine, or neuro- and reproductive toxins such as lead and triclosans. Over time, a combination of exposure to chemicals, free radicals and environmental factors may result in rough patches, sunspots, discoloration, wrinkles and dry skin.**
- Hair products: Hair is similarly affected by environmental exposures, toxic load and the aging process. The chemicals in hair products may damage the hair cuticle, resulting in a loss of shine and a rougher surface. Like skin and nails, hair is made of keratin; supplements that enhance keratin production and content lead to smooth cuticles and smooth, shiny hair.**
Along with the potential for detrimental health effects, the toxins in non-natural hair and beauty products may harm the environment. When chemicals are rinsed down the drain, they pollute ground water, resulting in contamination. As more consumers grow aware of these health and environmental issues, the demand for natural beauty and hair supplements has grown.**
Natural supplements are toxin-free and composed of ingredients found only in nature, rather than synthetic chemicals created in a laboratory. These ingredients work to replenish substances such as keratin, collagen and elastin, and supply natural emollients that nourish and moisturize hair, skin and nails. Supplements that contain antioxidants also fight the effects of free radicals with natural cell-protective antioxidant activity.**
Some of the most popular natural health & beauty supplements include:
- Biotin: Also known as vitamin H, biotin is found in foods such as brewer’s yeast, egg yolks, legumes and whole grains. This water-soluble nutrient helps the body metabolize fats, proteins and carbohydrates. It is also necessary for healthy nails, skin and hair; biotin deficiencies lead to scaly, dry skin, brittle, peeling nails and hair loss. Studies indicate that biotin supplements strengthen both hair and nails while supporting healthy skin.**
- Hyaluronic Acid: Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally occurring polysaccharide, or complex sugar, that is found throughout the body. When applied to the skin, HA acts as a humectant by attracting and sealing in moisture in the top layer of skin cells and mimics the plumping effects of collagen. Studies indicate that hyaluronic acid helps speed wound healing and aids in cell regulation and regeneration.**
- Silica: The mineral silica or silicon is found in several plants, such as horsetail, whole grains and root vegetables. For centuries, the substance has been used to heal wounds and maintain strong bones. Silica occurs naturally along with glycosaminoglaycans, proteins that the body needs for skin, hair and nail health; studies show that silica helps smooth rough skin due to aging and sun damage, strengthen weak nails, and improve the look and feel of brittle hair.**
- Gelatin: Also known as gelatine, this tasteless, odorless substance contains rich concentrations of collagen, a building block of healthy hair, skin and nails. Gelatin has been used as a source of dietary protein and amino acids since the early 19th century; recent studies indicate that it also supports cartilage. Gelatin is derived from the skin and tendons of animals and from agar-agar, a type of seaweed.**
- Leg Vein Support: About 15% of the population experiences varicose veins, or a condition in which blood pools in the veins rather than flowing upward to the heart. Supplements that support leg vein health include horse chestnut, butcher’s broom and grapeseed. These compounds address leg vein health by encouraging robust circulation while supporting supple, flexible blood vessels, including capillaries.**
Health & Beauty Supplements
Health & beauty supplements may be available for topical use in cream, lotion, gel or oil form. Some nutrients are offered as supplements for internal use, generally in the form of capsules, tablets, tinctures and powders.**
Health & Beauty Supplements Directions for Use
Natural health and beauty supplements supply varying amounts of active nutrients, so there is no set dosage. Always consult a medical provider before starting supplementation.**
