Ace-Supplements

Tried & Tested: The best beauty supplements

TV beauty expert Sarah Jagger tells us which pretty pills really do pack a punch

Tried & Tested by Sarah Jagger: Beauty Boosting Supplements

TV beauty expert Sarah Jagger tells us which pretty pills really do pack a punch

We know that beauty is more than skin deep but exactly how effective are the new wave of supplements claiming to improve our hair, skin and nails from within?

For the past six months I’ve been road testing all the powders and pills I could get my hands on and was pleasantly surprised by the results of some. My test was simple: when I found one I liked I found two other testers to try it out too (three heads are better than one, right?). I personally prefer the powder formulas because I can easily blend them into a breakfast smoothie and forget about endless pill popping. I’ve included my recipe for a delicious green smoothie below. Enjoy!

The Top 5 Beauty supplements that really do work:

1. Best Antioxidant – Aduna Baobab Fruit Pulp Powder £17.99 www.aduna.com

The fruit of the African Baobab Tree has an antioxidant level around six times higher than cranberries, blueberries and blackberries as well as double the amount of goji berries. Containing vitamin C, calcium, potassium, thiamine and vitamin B6 (all of which help support the immune system), this potent powder protects the skin from the cell damaging free radicals thought to cause premature ageing of the skin.

2. Best All Rounder-Amazing Grass Raw Reserve £29.99

In my search for the ultimate green superfood supplement I tried 8 different brands and this one was the clear winner. Beauty benefits may take some months to show but the energy boost it provided was noticed by myself and two other testers within days. This cocktail of ‘greens’ includes kale, spirulina and sea lettuce to detoxify the body for a more radiant complexion as well as 25 billion probiotics, which are thought to help promote clearer skin (not to mention the digestive benefits). 95% organic, vegan and raw, this superfood contains flax and chai seed to provide essential omega-3 fatty acids, which help the skin retain more moisture.

3. Best for Skin Firming – Rejuvenated Collagen Shots £36 www.collagen-shots.com

After the age of 25 collagen synthesis reduces at a rate of 1,5% a year and the age of 45 collagen levels can have fallen by as much as 30%. The visible signs are lines and wrinkles as well as a loss of firmness. In order to encourage increased hydration and elasticity in the skin, collagen shots contain marine collagen (not suitable for vegetarians), acai berry, vitamin B3, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, and vitamin C.

4. Best for Hair and Nails – Imedeen hair and nail capsules £23.99 www.imedeen.co.uk

Constant changes in skin texture can make it more difficult to notice if a supplement has made a marked improvement in the complexion. Nails on the other hand grow so quickly that healthy new nail growth is noticed immediately. Containing Biotin for healthy hair, Vitamin B12 to support normal cell division and Zinc for strong nails, these capsules are also suitable for vegetarians as well as being starch, gluten, gelatine and preservative free.

5. Best for problem skin – Tejaswini Ayurvedic SkinCare Capsules £13.50 www.victoriahealth.com

According to Ayurvedic principles the best way to cleanse skin of acne and blackheads is to detoxify the liver, which in turn cleanses the bloodstream. Using a blend of twelve herbs to heal and increase blood circulation, my tester (a friend prone to aggressively problematic skin) noticed her complexion improving after around three weeks of use. The Ayurvedic blend includes: Parpataka , Vasaka, Kantakari, Guduchi, Bhunimba, Patola, Musta, Nimba and Tribhala.

My Green Breakfast Smoothie Recipe

I love this smoothie because it gives me endless amounts of energy and is the perfect drink to blend supplement powders into first thing in the morning. It’s great for fending off a mid afternoon energy dip too!

1 small handful of spinach

1 small handful of Kale

A few sprigs of parsley

1 celery stick

1/3 of a cucumber

Juice of a lemon

1 small banana

½ a pear

1 large glass of water

1 tablespoon of Amazing Grass Raw Reserve

1 scoop of Rejuvenated Collagen Shots

2-3 teaspoons of Aduna Baobab Fruit Pulp Powder