So you decided it’s time to get healthy and in shape. The next step usually involves a reformed diet and an exercise plan. But what about skin health? Don’t you want to get your skin “in shape" just as much as your body? Marie Spano, M.S., R.D., a nutrition communications expert and food industry consultant; and Maryellen Molyneaux , president of The Natural Marketing Institute (NMI), gave same tips on how to approach healthy skin via nutrition, and insights on the skin health market and the opportunities available for personal care formulators.
Munch
It’s no surprise the food you eat affects your health, and that includes skin health. Interestingly, consumers have caught on to this concept. NMI reported nine out of 10 consumers believe how they take care of their body on the inside can have an effect on how they look on the outside; and 6 in 10 consumers (significantly more women than men) indicate they eat nutritious foods to help improve their appearance.
But food is not the only affecter. External factors such as the sun also exacerbate dehydrated, inflamed skin. In fact, the sun can be skin’s biggest enemy. “Ultraviolet (UV) light breaks down collagen and contributes to inflammation, brown splotches known as melasma, decreased tautness and, over time, wrinkles. UV rays also deplete skin antioxidants," Spano said. But the sun also provides the body’s main source of vitamin D, which is essential to many functions in the body; but in relation to skin health, it helps up immune cell activity that can improve skin inflamed with psoriasis, an autoimmune disease.
A longtime vitamin player for skin formulations is vitamin A. Vitamin A is a tricky vitamin, as high levels can be toxic, but as a carotenoid—provitamin A—commonly found in carrots, sweet potatoes and liver, it is considered safer. Vitamin A is famous for fighting acne and when consumed as a carotenoid, it has a reputation for damage prevention, i.e., wrinkles and UV sun damage. Vitamin C and other foods offer dewrinkling effects, too. Olive oils, vegetables and legumes are rich in fats that help minimize wrinkles. In fact, lipids and oil overall are good for the skin. Think omega-3s from fish oil, avocado oil and olive oil—good for the body inside and out. I’m sure you’re familiar with hyaluronic acid. It’s a popular plumper that serves as a dermal filler. And its partner, glucosamine, is also good for hydrations and wound healing.
Market
The skin’s most obvious line of work is the body’s front line defense against harm. But more than that, skin is many women’s (and some men’s, but predominately women’s) source of esteem or security, better put: beauty, and maintaining that beauty is a big deal to many consumers. A total of $8.4 million was spent in 2008 on natural and/or organic personal care products. Wow. That’s a lot of money. And that doesn’t include the money shelled out on conventional personal care products. As Molyneaux pointed out, figures such as these open doors for manufacturers to cater their products to beauty-buying consumers by adding skin-boosting ingredients. NMI reported more than one-quarter of women’s biggest aging fears are wrinkles and/or dry skin, compared to 10 percent of men.
“Women are also significantly more likely than men to indicate they are always looking for the next Fountain of Youth," Molyneaux said.
So what ingredients are consumers looking for in their foods and beverages that help dewrinkle, hydrate and strengthen? The problem is consumers don’t know what ingredients to look for. According to NMI, less than one-quarter of consumers associate antioxidants with skin health, despite the majority indicating they’ve heard of, or are aware of, the term antioxidants. Clearly an education plans needs to be implemented so not only can formulators benefit via product sales, but consumers can actually get what they don’t know they’re looking for. Molyneaux advocates product labeling as an effective source of consumer education, as consumers want to know what their supplement is beneficial for. Fifteen percent of consumers indicate they would be more likely to purchase a food or beverage product if the label indicated it would improve skin texture and regenerate aging cells, as reported by NMI. It may take a while for the word to get out and product understanding and sales to come to fruition; but consumers are mobilized for the battle against time and the ingredients are there, now a plan of execution is all that’s left.