Are glowing skin and shiny hair on your list of summer beauty goals? As the saying goes, beauty begins from within. But it is also important to remember there is simply no “magic pill” that can instantly boost beauty.

However, that doesn't mean supplements can’t help. For example, if your diet is lacking in certain nutrients, the deficiency can show up in your hair, skin, and nails. Certain supplements can support beauty from within and address specific summertime health needs.

1. Make skin care your top priority.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the skin care products available on the market, but don’t overlook collagen, a supplement that enhances the health of your skin, hair, and nails.* The most abundant protein in humans, collagen makes up 30 percent of the body’s protein stores.1,2

But what does the science on supplementation have to say? A 2021 systematic research review and meta-analysis compiled data from 19 studies on collagen and skin health that met their inclusion criteria as high-quality studies. With more than 1,100 participants across those studies, the authors concluded that supplementation with collagen peptides was superior to placebo for improving skin hydration, elasticity, and wrinkles.*3

Thorne’s Collagen Plus is your solution for promoting skin hydration, strength, and elasticity while reducing wrinkles and fine lines.* This pleasant-tasting passion berry powder features a dream team of well-studied skin health ingredients including collagen peptides and white peach ceramides which help support skin resilience and tone, promoting beauty from within in as soon as four weeks.*

2. Stay hydrated all summer long.

It’s easy to forget until that first challenging workout in the summer heat, but this is the season of upping your water intake; as temperatures increase, so does your risk for dehydration.

Hydration doesn’t just impact exercise; it’s also one of the most important steps to look and feel your absolute best this summer. Remember, your skin is nearly 30 percent water. If your body is even somewhat dehydrated, your skin will feel the effects. 

Consider one Thorne’s newest products, Daily Electrolytes. Featuring a full slate of essential minerals including calcium, chloride, magnesium, potassium, and sodium, this health solution replenishes the electrolytes lost in sweat, restoring optimal fluid balance and benefitting cellular energy production.* With 0 grams of sugar and 0 artificial ingredients, this is hydration support you can feel good about.*

Available in convenient, single-serve travel packs, Daily Electrolytes is easy to have on hand, wherever you break a sweat. It comes in three refreshing, fun flavors – watermelon, mango limeade, and blood orange. Try them all with our variety pack offering.

3. Protect your natural glow. 

Biotin, also known as vitamin B7, has long been touted as a premier “beauty” supplement, and for good reason; biotin promotes the production of a strong protein called keratin.*

Keratin provides skin and nails with strength and structure. Because hair loss, scaly skin, and brittle nails can be symptoms associated with biotin deficiency, it is important to either get the recommended amount through diet or supplementation to support healthy skin, hair, and nails.*

But this B vitamin offers other benefits as well.* For example, a lesser-known role of biotin is that it promotes energy metabolism.* It supports the metabolism of fatty acids, amino acids, and carbohydrates – helping convert these nutrients into energy.*

4. Go the extra mile with essential fatty acids (aka the “good” fats).

A discussion about nutrition for skin and hair health isn’t complete without mentioning essential fatty acids. These good fats benefit skin and hair health in so many ways, including:

  • Providing protection from harmful ultraviolet rays (the same rays that ramp up the aging process in the skin)*4
  • Minimizing dry, itchy skin by keeping the skin hydrated*5
  • Supporting hair health by providing essential nutrients to hair follicles*6

 5. Embrace healthy aging with support on a cellular level.*

Aging is an inevitable process – and there’s nothing like exposure to summer sun and wind to move that along. Although there is no such thing as a fountain of youth, there are steps you can take to age in a healthy way.

Supplementing with Thorne’s ResveraCel® is one of them. This optimized formula combines nicotinamide riboside, resveratrol, quercetin, and betaine to promote healthy aging at the cellular level.*

Adding ResveraCel to your routine:

  • Promotes a youthful glow*
  • Supports the production of cellular energy*
  • Optimizes NAD+ levels (which decline naturally with aging)* 
  • Supports the body’s key metabolic processes*

6. Don’t neglect your gut health. 

In the summer months when vacations and family gatherings are the norm, it’s easy to overdo it on unhealthy foods or alcoholic beverages. Backyard barbecues, frozen desserts, and summer cocktails are great things to enjoy in the summertime, but they are also hard on your gut health and can lead to occasional GI upset and uncomfortable symptoms including gas, bloating, constipation, or diarrhea – all of which can dampen your summer fun. 

That’s where probiotics and digestive enzymes come into play for a summer health and beauty routine.

What are probiotics? These “good” bacteria can help keep you feeling your best, and using the right type and amount of a probiotic can support your digestive health in several ways by:

  • Promoting immune health*
  • Supporting a weight management program*
  • Mitigating occasional GI upset, such as bloating, gas, or constipation*

And what about digestive enzymes? While probiotics support your gut with the use of beneficial bacteria, digestive enzymes are specific compounds that facilitate the body’s digestion of food and absorption of important nutrients. Although the body naturally makes digestive enzymes on its own, certain conditions or deficiencies can cause an imbalance that can often lead to heartburn, indigestion, gas, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation. In addition, the healthy bacteria that live in your gut can become unbalanced from chronic exposure to undigested food.

Thorne offers a wide variety of high-quality digestive enzyme supplements that suit many needs and preferences. For example, if you need help digesting proteins, look for a product with protease activity. If it’s digesting fatty foods you need help with, look for lipase activity. Learn more in our article, "What are digestive enzymes?"

The takeaway

Just like any other season, summertime can impact your body’s nutrient needs. From sun-soaked days to sweat-filled workouts, give your skin, hair, and body the support it needs to thrive this summer with targeted nutrients that work from the inside out.

Explore the above health solutions as well as Thorne’s Skin Health Collection, featuring Collagen Plus, Daily Electrolytes, and Biotin. This trio of summer wellness solutions supports your skin, hair, and body so you can look and feel your best, even on the hottest days.*

References

  1. Collagen: What it is, types, function & benefits. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/23089-collagen. [Accessed December 10, 2024.]
  2. Walle GVD. Health benefits of collagen: Pros, cons, and more. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/collagen-benefits#basics. [Accessed December 10, 2024]
  3. de Miranda R, Weimer P, Rossi R. Effects of hydrolyzed collagen supplementation on skin aging: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Dermatol 2021 Mar 20. doi:10.1111/ijd.15518
  4. Pilkington S, Watson R, Nicolaou A, Rhodes L. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids: photoprotective macronutrients. Exp Dermatol 2011;20(7):537-543. 
  5. Kawamura A, Ooyama K, Kojima K, et al. Dietary supplementation of gamma-linolenic acid improves skin parameters in subjects with dry skin and mild atopic dermatitis. J Oleo Sci 2011;60(12):597-607. 
  6. Ablon G. A 3-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating the ability of an extra-strength marine protein supplement to promote hair growth and decrease shedding in women with self-perceived thinning hair. Dermatol Res Pract 2015;2015:841570. doi:10.1155/2015/841570