She explained that these are edible supplements with beneficial ingredients for beauty concerns that come in the form of powders or capsules which enable users to radiate wellness from the inside out and can contain active ingredients such as collagen, hyaluronic acid, and various antioxidants. “Applying topical products only penetrate the surface cells, whereas ingestibles work from the inside out, providing the body with the proteins, vitamins, minerals, and oils it needs.”
The demand for these products is growing steadily and this market category is expected to be worth US$ 8.30 billion in 2030. “People are more conscious of what they put into their bodies not only for beauty, but health and longevity too,” said Carroll.
She believes ingestibles form part of a holistic approach to beauty as they are delivered throughout the body, ensuring that every part reaps advantages from the ingredients. “Medical-grade, scientifically-proven, natural ingredients in particular show quick and potent results.”
Nutrients that are particularly needed in winter, include vitamins B and D, beta-glucans, potent antioxidants, amino acids, and fibre, amongst others – all of which are essential for helping the immune system fight illness during this cold and flu season in addition to providing a host of beauty benefits.
After ingestibles, the next item on the beauty to-do list should be drinking enough water. “Skin and hair suffer the most in winter because cold air contains less moisture,” explained Carroll. “This reduction in humidity causes the body to lose moisture, making skin cracked and flaky and hair dry and brittle. Compounding winter’s drying effect are heaters and fires.” To counter this, she recommends drinking enough water and structured water in the form of whole fruit and certain vegetables.
She noted too that keeping hair and skin well-moisturised is crucial. A great beauty hack over winter months is to use a rich, hydrating overnight leave-in mask – these are becoming very popular and with good reason.
When it comes to healthy winter hair, Carroll suggested extra conditioning, especially for ethnic hair. “Nourishing leave-in treatments (that contain keratin and natural plant-based humectants) are an excellent way to give ethnic hair a boost and protect it from external stressors like pollution and UV rays.”
She added that just because the sun isn’t as harsh as it is in summer, that’s no reason not to use sunscreen. “Everyone should be using an SPF moisturiser on their skin,” she said. “Protecting the skin and hair from UV rays are key to cellular health and anti-ageing.”
Carroll believes that an extra dose of nurturing is needed during the winter months. “Beauty is related to every aspect of our lives – not just the products we use – so be mindful of giving yourself everything you need to shine from the inside out.”
