Reap the skincare benefits of Aveeno® - Beauty Magazine

FOR GLOWING SKIN
Skin is our body’s largest organ and it
responds to what we eat. “Keeping it
nourished is a must if we want radiant,
glowing skin – and the good news is that
the whole body benefits too,” says Liz
Earle, skincare guru and author of Skin
Secrets (Kyle Cathie).
Healthy eating really will make
a visible difference to the skin.
“To look and feel its best, the
skin needs a well-balanced
diet – one that is based on
complex carbohydrates (to
give fibre and B vitamins),
some protein, especially oily
fish (which provides important
omega-3 fatty acids) and
those vital five daily portions
of fruit and veg, to give you a
wide range of minerals and vitamins,” says
Dr Rosemary Leonard. “To have a glowing
complexion your skin needs to be fed from
within, and no matter what creams and
potions you apply, if you are not eating
properly your skin will suffer.”
VITAL NUTRIENTS
Essential fatty acids – Omega-3 and 6 fatty
acids hydrate skin from the inside out. They
also help to maintain skin’s firmness and
elasticity. Oily fish like mackerel, salmon and
sardines are the best dietary source, while
supplement forms of fish oil, starflower oil and
evening primrose oil are all beneficial.
Antioxidants – These nutrients (found in
vitamins A, C and E, selenium, manganese and
zinc) play a major role in destroying free
radicals, which are responsible for skin ageing,
in particular loss of collagen. Vitamin E has
been dubbed the ‘young skin vitamin’ as it
helps skin to retain moisture and plumpness –
dry skin can often be a sign of vitamin E
deficiency. Vitamin C, meanwhile, is essential
for the formation of collagen, the skin’s
support structure. Fresh fruit and veg are the
best sources of vitamins A, C and E. A
supplement is useful for selenium, zinc and
manganese as they can be hard to get enough
of through diet alone.
NICELY NAILED
Collagen complex – This is found in many skin
supplements and is rich in amino acids, the
building blocks of natural collagen in our skin.
SUPPLEMENTARY HELP
Perfectil Plus (£16.59 for 30) – Is rich in
omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to
keep skin hydrated, Co-Q10 to
support skin cell metabolism and
lycopene and lutein to help
protect from UV damage. It also
provides essential micronutrients
to support skin, hair and nails at
a cellular level and doubles up as
a daily multivitamin.
Perfectil Platinum (£38.65
for 60) – Contains marine
collagen, which works to help
maintain skin thickness and
elasticity, as well as antioxidants
to protect against the signs of ageing.
Wassen Silica-OK (£6.95 for 30) –
Contains organic silica to stimulate the
production of collagen and elastin, as well
as vitamin B6 and zinc.
Efamol Pure Evening Primrose Oil
(£8.99 for 90) – Contains omega-6 and
gamma linolenic acid, which help hydrate skin.
Help: Clear Skin (£14.49 for 14
sachets) – This acne aid harnesses
ingredients to help
reduce the
development of
spot-causing
bacteria, while also
healing and
nourishing the skin.
Clinically proven to
show up to 95 per
cent reduction in
blemishes after just eight weeks, this
supplement should be taken twice daily.
Seven Seas Femibion Radiance (£9.99
for 30) – Includes vitamin C, zinc and niacin,
plus grapeseed and linseed oils to hydrate skin.
HealthAid HairSkiNail (£9.99 for 30) –
Includes amino acids to help repair and rebuild
skin cells, L-cystine for strong hair and nails,
biotin to reduce flaky skin, B vitamins, zinc
and antioxidants.
“Nail growth slows down when you don’t eat properly, or when you are stressed, and this
reveals itself as a ridge as the nail grows,” says Dr Leonard. “Nails require an
adequate supply of protein and calcium for strong growth, but it is a myth that
white spots are caused by calcium deficiency. The most common cause of white
marks is trauma, though occasionally they can be a sign of zinc deficiency.”
If customers feel their nails are suffering because
of poor diet, the best supplement to
recommend is one that contains a
wide range of vitamins and minerals,
including zinc and iron.
I N N E R
FOR DURING THE
MENOPAUSE
B E A U T Y
“Skin thinning really does occur with the
menopause and is partly due to the
decline in oestrogen. Skin quality is also
very much influenced by diet and certain
nutrients can affect it,” says Maryon
Stewart at the Woman’s Nutritional
Advisory Service, author of Beat the
Menopause without HRT.
Dry skin is a common problem in
menopausal women, and this is caused by
lack of oestrogen. Facial skin has a high
concentration of oestrogen receptors, and
oestrogen production drops during the
menopause.
VITAL NUTRIENTS
Phytoestrogens – Found in soy products,
nuts and oilseeds, phytoestrogens can help
relieve symptoms such as hot flushes.
Calcium – Bone density declines during the
menopause, so it’s crucial to maintain
healthy levels of calcium. Good sources are
dairy products and fish.
Vitamin D – Helps the body use calcium to
maintain healthy bones. Again, dairy and oily
fish are good sources.
SUPPLEMENTARY HELP
Solgar PM Phytogen Complex (£20.79
for 60) – Includes pueraria mirifica (PM), a
hormone-balancing herb with phytooestrogenic
properties.
Menopace Plus (£14.63 for 56) –
Contains soy isoflavones and flaxseed lignans
to help regulate hormones and green tea for
its antioxidant properties.
MenoHerb (£9.99 for 30) – Includes
black cohosh root to help deal with
menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes.
MenoSage (£7.99 for 30) – Contains
sage to help alleviate excessive sweating.
HealthAid Menovital (£9.99 for 60) –
Boasts a formula rich in soya isoflavones and
sage, which have oestrogenic properties, plus
vitamins C and E.
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