Imagine a skin routine without moisturisers or creams – instead your complexion has already been taken care of by a simple pill or powder you swallowed earlier.
This is the future of beauty, if you believe trend forecasters, who predict that global sales of ingestible beauty – stuff you swallow and eat, rather than apply – will reach AUD $8.5 billion by 2020.
‘Nutricosmetics’, as they are known, are the latest thing in skincare – a new generation of powders, pills and potions, which promise to make your skin, hair and nails glow – from the inside out.
FEMAIL spoke to two of the leading ladies in this beauty revolution, Carla Oates from The Beauty Chef, and Nicole Prasad, from ProPlenish, as well as previewing the products that promise to change your beauty regime forever.
‘Nutricosmetics’ are the latest thing in skincare – a new generation of powders, pills and potions, which promise to make your skin, hair and nails glow – from the inside out (pictured: Elle Macpherson and Carla Oates)
Trend forecasters predict that global sales of ingestible beauty – stuff you swallow and eat, rather than apply – will reach AUD $8.5 billion by 2020 (pictured: The Beauty Chef Collagen)
The Beauty Chef business came about in 2012, when Carla Oates, 44, came up with the idea for a beauty brand which comprises not only lotions, but also powders that you mix with water
When she tried to launch it originally, Carla (pictured) said that many of the traditional beauty stores found the idea ‘left of field’ as they didn’t recognise the term, inner beauty
The Beauty Chef business came about in 2012, when Carla Oates, 44, came up with the idea for a beauty brand which comprises not only serums, balms and lotions, but also powders that you mix with water or put into smoothies.
The powders are packed with superfood ingredients like macqui berries, zinc and antioxidant-rich grape skins, which all help with inner and outer health.
While the range has a huge range of fans around the world now, it wasn’t always that way, said Carla:
‘I remember a buyer from a department store calling me and telling me how much she loved the GLOW powder, but there was no category in which to put it on the shelves,’ she told Daily Mail Australia.
The products were deemed too ‘left of field’ to be stocked in major stores.
Fast forward five years, and The Beauty Chef is more popular than ever, being stocked at Net-a-Porter, Free People, Selfridges, Goop and Anthropologie – among others.
Meanwhile, more and more woman are realising that you can nourish your skin, nails and hair from the inside out:
‘Each Beauty Chef powder is formulated for different skin and health benefits,’ Carla told FEMAIL.
‘So for example, Glow is for your glow – I call it your inner beauty best friend, Body is for your body, Cleanse is an alkaline detox aid and Antioxidant will help to support the immune system.
‘Our products are lined with beneficial bacteria that help to balance digestive health,’ she added.
‘The skin is a great barometer of what’s going on inside our bodies.
‘Our gut is where 70 per cent of our immune system lies, where we metabolise hormones, neutralise pathogens, make detoxifying enzymes and where we make nutrients. Beauty really does begin in the belly.’
‘Each Beauty Chef powder is formulated for different skin and health benefits,’ Carla told FEMAIL; ‘Our products (pictured) are lined with a beneficial bacteria’
‘Our gut is where 70 per cent of our immune system lies, where we metabolise hormones, neutralise pathogens, make detoxifying enzymes and where we make nutrients,’ Carla said
Carla’s The Beauty Chef range isn’t the only beauty brand delving into the world of ingestible products; ProPlenish’s marine collagen (pictured) helps hugely with your skin, hair and nails
Carla’s The Beauty Chef range isn’t the only beauty brand delving into the world of ingestible products and nutricosmetics right now.
Nicole Prasad, from Proplenish, also aims for a more holistic approach to skincare with her collection.
‘Understanding that the health of your hair, skin and nails is a reflection of your inner health is key,’ she told FEMAIL.
‘Outer beauty is often a reflection of one’s inner health. By targeting nutritional deficiencies in the body, ingestible beauty products work by providing the nutrients needed to keep the body in optimal health.
‘In some ways, ingestible products can deliver more effective long-term results than topical products, as they work from the inside out to address issues.’
ProPlenish offers a range of nutricosmetics, centring around marine collagen powders (from AUD $49.95) – which help to promote collagen production from within and smooths fine lines, while tightening the skin and evening out skin tone.
‘Collagen is the most frequently occurring protein in the human body,’ Nicole said.
‘Unfortunately, our bodies’ natural collagen production slows in our mid twenties, dwindles in our thirties and, by our fifties and sixties, has disappeared altogether.
‘ProPlenish is formulated to make the marine collagen easy to absorb and digest, ensuring the collagen is transported into the dermis layer to stimulate collagen production from within.’
Meanwhile, Welleco’s super elixir (pictured) alkalising formula is ‘your daily beauty and wellness supplement to keep your skin looking young, radiant and blemish-free at any age’
The elixir super greens powder is made from 45 premium wholefood ingredients, and it encompasses, pre and probiotics, kelp, dandelion, pomegranate, grape seed and aloe vera
Welleco is one of the most pioneering ingestible beauty brands.
Made with the help of Australian supermodel, Elle Macpherson – who is known as The Body – their super elixir alkalising formula is ‘your daily beauty and wellness supplement to keep your skin looking young, radiant and blemish-free at any age’.
The elixir super greens powder is made from 45 premium wholefood ingredients, and it encompasses, pre and probiotics, kelp, dandelion, pomegranate, grape seed and aloe vera.
If you’re looking to gulp your way into the world of probiotics, there is a supplement for everyone – and they’ll give you the hair of a shampoo advert and the skin of a celebrity
If you’re looking to gulp your way into the world of probiotics, there is also plenty more choice out there on the market right now.
From Adore Beauty to Fountain and Vida Glow, there’s a supplement for everyone – and they all promise to give you hair glossier than a shampoo advert and the skin of a celebrity.
‘Ingestible beauty is a real revolution, and I think it’s come in part off the back of the wellness revolution,’ Carla Oates told FEMAIL.
‘I think women know more than ever that a healthy gut means healthy skin, and that good bacteria should be your best friend.’