Cleanse, tone and moisturise so-called of my patients are including supplements – that’s a skincare regime we’re familiar with, but what if a pill could do the work for you? Such is the promise of so-called nutricosmetics (that’s pills, powders, and ‘beautifying’ chocolate intended to provide cosmetic benefits through improving your health). And sales are soaring, with the market predicted to increase from the £2.3 million it was in 2013 to a massive £5 billion by 2020.
Yet, nutricosmetics aren’t new. The pioneering Imedeen skincare tablet arrived in the UK in 1991. So why the popularity surge now? ‘People want to invest in their appearance the same way they do in their health, and they are exploring supplements that provide aesthetic benefits,’ says Rick Miller, clinical dietician and British Dietetic Association spokesperson.
Dermatologist Dr Stefanie Williams has seen this growth in her clinic: ‘More in their beauty regime as an extra measure to topical skincare, to keep their skin in good shape. Most likely because there’s a lot more talk about it in the media.’