For the longest time, skincare has revolved around topical solutions – serums, creams, oils, and, more recently, facial tools. But should taking care of your skin stop at what you apply externally? Not anymore! As the saying goes, ‘you are what you eat,’ and today, that philosophy is gaining ground in the beauty world. Enter ingestible skincare – from marine collagen lattes to adaptogenic teas and chlorophyll shots – this is fast becoming a staple in the modern wellness routine.
“People are realising that skin health starts from within, reflecting our internal wellbeing – nutrition, gut health, and hormonal balance all play a role. With modern lifestyles often leading to stress, poor diet, and environmental exposure, many are looking for convenient ways to support their skin from the inside out. Powders and drinks are easy to incorporate into daily routines and often contain concentrated nutrients that would be hard to get from diet alone,” reasons Dr Milena Al Mansuri, dermatologist and founder of Milena Aesthetics Clinic in Dubai.
But this concept has roots in Eastern medicine. Ancient Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practices have long advocated for food as medicine, often prescribing herbs, roots, and tonics to improve skin and hair health. What’s changed is its availability in the modern market. Remember Hailey Bieber’s viral Strawberry Glaze Skin Smoothie at LA-based grocery store Erewhon? Even Stella McCartney has launched ‘The Alter-Care Supplement’ as demand for ingestible solutions to common skin and hair complaints soars. Lemme is another new vitamin and supplement line developed by Kourtney Kardashian.
Ingestible beauty can be collagen supplements aimed at supporting skin elasticity and reducing fine lines; functional tonics and elixirs that are adaptogens (like ashwagandha or reishi), antioxidants (like glutathione or vitamin C), and beauty gummies & capsules, often containing a cocktail of biotin, hyaluronic acid, zinc, or niacinamide. “Supplements work best to address nutritional deficiencies that may be causing skin inflammation, dryness or slow wound healing. But it should always be combined with good skincare habits and a healthy lifestyle,” advises Dr Shumez Hameedullah, specialist dermatologist at Kaya Clinic, Dubai. They can address oxidative stress and hormonal imbalances that topical treatments can’t fully reach.
As ingestible beauty cements its place in the wellness lexicon, brands are redefining how we consume skincare both literally and culturally. “Some standout options include hydrolysed collagen peptides with vitamin C, marine collagen drinks, hyaluronic acid powders for skin hydration, and antioxidant blends containing astaxanthin or resveratrol. Look for products backed by clinical research and transparent labelling. Brands like Skinade, Vida Glow, and The Beauty Chef have been praised for quality formulations,” Dr Milena recommends.
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