Skincare You Can Drink

Skincare You Can Drink
We know by now that multiple factors—from diet and exercise to powerful, non-toxic skincare—affect the way our skin looks, and how it ages. Epigenetics is making that equation even more clear; the fact is, the way you treat your skin and your body overall can make a significant difference.
To create goopglow—our new, citrusy supplement drinking powder—we teamed up with formulator Lyra Heller, who co-founded Metagenics and spent decades building it into a major dietary supplement/health sciences company. Heller took aim at the potential nutrient gaps in the modern diet, infusing the powder with potent antioxidants and other ingredients clinically proven to support healthy skin (see studies included throughout here and in the footnote down below).
Easy to mix with water, the powder is clean-tasting and energizing; the antioxidant ingredients, Heller explains, are present in the formula at levels found in human studies to protect skin from prolonged exposure to sunlight and other environmental aggressors like pollution. Below, Heller elaborates on why topical antioxidants aren’t enough, the difference between powder and encapsulated supplements, and how goopglow—along with clean, non-toxic sunscreen and a vibrant, plant-heavy diet—can seriously change your skin.
A Q&A with Lyra Heller
Q
What were some of the challenges in creating goopglow?
A
The major challenges were identifying natural ingredients with sufficient human studies supporting skin protection—that would also dissolve in water, and actually taste good at amounts consistent with positive outcomes.
Q
What are you proudest of vis-à-vis this formula?
A
The ability for goopglow to deliver—in a tasty drink—the same levels of important antioxidants demonstrated in human studies to positively protect skin from prolonged exposure to sunlight and environmental pollution, is thrilling. In a single serving, lutein, zeaxanthin, coenzyme Q10, grape seed proanthocyanidins, and vitamin C, come together in clinically effective doses.
“The ability for goopglow to deliver—in a tasty drink—the same levels of important antioxidants demonstrated in human studies to positively protect skin from prolonged exposure to sunlight and environmental pollution, is thrilling.”
Q
Can ingested nutrients have an effect on the actual appearance of skin?
A
There are nutrients that come from our food choices, and then there are food-derived macro- and micronutrients, which come in the form of dietary supplements. The skin’s appearance depends first and foremost on the composition, quality, and quantity of what we eat. Choosing a colorful, Mediterranean-style, plant-based diet rich in fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, legumes/beans, whole grains, dairy, fish, and limited meat is the foundation for promoting beautiful skin, hair, and nails. (The other benefit of eating this way is the reduced risk of chronic illnesses like heart disease, cancer, arthritis, and neurological problems.)
However, even the healthiest diet may not be enough to meet our unique individual nutrient demands. Epigenetic science teaches that our environment modifies how we express our genetic vulnerabilities and strengths; nutrients ingested as dietary supplements can offer additional support to fill gaps based on our particular needs. In the context of exposure to multiple environmental stressors—like UV rays and pollution—our skin may require additional supplemental antioxidant support. Science has demonstrated the value of supplemental antioxidant nutrition on skin appearance and for protecting skin from sun and pollution.
Q
Why do we need both topical and internal antioxidants for optimum skin health?
A
A trend in current dermatological research strongly suggests using plant-based antioxidants in topical sunscreens, moisturizers, and dietary supplements to promote skin health. While antioxidants in topical preparations help neutralize the effects of free radicals, topicals alone may not replenish the body’s store of antioxidants, which can be depleted via exposure to sun radiation and other environmental pollutants. Oral antioxidant supplementation fills this serious nutrient gap, which is made worse by the fact that the average person does not eat enough plants (fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts, whole grains and legumes) containing these protective substances.
“Oral antioxidant supplementation fills this serious nutrient gap, which is made worse by the fact that the average person does not eat enough plants (fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts, whole grains and legumes) containing these protective substances.”
Q
If someone is already on a nutrient regimen, like one of the goop Wellness protocols, can they take goopglow without getting too much of a particular nutrient?
A
We’ve found that goopglow nutrients complement all the goop Wellness protocols by adding a skin focus to supplement combinations designed to support the whole person. Where goopglow nutrients overlap with the supplements, the combined nutrient levels provide enhanced nutrient density, reinforcing health benefits well within safety limits.
“We’ve found that goopglow nutrients complement all the goop Wellness protocols by adding a skin focus to supplement combinations designed to support the whole person.”
Q
Are the effects of powdered nutrients different than those in a pill?
A
Powdered nutrient effects should be the same as when taken in pill form. That said, if a manufacturer does not subject a pill to a dissolution test prior to selling, there is a strong possibility that it may not break down properly, decreasing absorption. This step (in the manufacturing process) involves subjecting a pill or tablet to an environment that simulates the gut, and measuring how fast a product breaks down—and today it’s often an overlooked step. The other concern involves those people with gastrointestinal and/or malabsorption problems. Healthcare provider wisdom favors using a powder in these instances. Powders dissolve quickly. They are often considered to be supplement-insurance policies. (Note: This is an observation from having worked with clinicians for forty-five years.)
Lyra Heller is an anthropologist and social scientist whose life’s work is dedicated to forging an alliance between traditional and contemporary systems of medicine in an effort to better facilitate our innate capacity to heal. To this end, her experience as a Metagenics co-founder and decades spent building it into a major dietary supplement and health sciences company, proved indispensable to promoting partnerships between the natural products industry, healthcare consumers, practitioners, and legal/regulatory bodies. She has forty-five years of experience as a consultant and educator, and is committed to improving natural products standards and developing customized systems for the implementation of personalized therapeutic lifestyle change programs.
Some additional glow-inducing research:
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Oxidative Medicine Cellular Longevity (2014): Environmental pollutants and the protective effects of antioxidants
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Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology (2016): Effects of oral supplementation of lutein and zeaxanthin on skin tone
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Skin Pharmacology and Physiology (2011): Interaction between carotenoid antioxidants and free radicals
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Journal of Dermatology (2017): Oral supplementation of lutein to protect skin against ultraviolet radiation
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Acta Biochimica Polonica (2012): The cosmetic benefits of carotenoid antioxidants
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Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition (2012): Optimum vitamin C intake
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Biofactors (2017): The effect of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on skin
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Biofactors (2008): Effects of coenzyme Q10 on UVB-induced wrinkles
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Phytotherapy Research (2004): Consumption of grape seed extract reduces appearance of melasma
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Molecular Cancer Therapeutics (2007): Grape seed proanthocyanidins and UVB-induced skin stress
The views expressed in this article intend to highlight alternative studies and induce conversation. They are the views of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of goop, and are for informational purposes only, even if and to the extent that this article features the advice of physicians and medical practitioners. This article is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and should never be relied upon for specific medical advice.