Doing a quick search on nutricosmetics and “beauty from within” seems to bring up articles, blogs, tweets, etc. on new products boasting anti-aging, anti-acne, anti-anything, followed with a skeptical glare and an ideology of if it’s too good to be true then …. The incredulous approach to nutricosmetics is seemingly stronger (or more predominant) than the “it’s possible” approach. Are these hot products or just hot air?

This new wave of functional foods is huge, with constant product launches and a global market valued at $1.5 billion, according to market research firm Kline & Co. Take a trip to Japan and ‘Eat Yourself Beautiful’ with marshmallows claiming to boost collagen levels and possibly reduce cellulite; or fly to the United Kingdom and have a “Sip” of a vitamin-, mineral-, plant-enriched water designed to improve skin. The list is endless; and because of that, it is imperative and prudent to NOT saturate the market with claims, products and promises that really don’t deliver and only cloud (and crowd) the way for products that really do offer anti-aging effects.