Eat it or Apply It? How to spend your time & money where it’s most needed.

What's the Best Way to Absorb Beneficial Skincare Ingredients?

Our main aim and mission is effective skincare. Slightly controversial but often this means avoiding lotions and potions where skincare isn’t the best answer. It might surprise you to learn that sometimes a £5 fruit salad beats a £30 serum. Here’s why.

There’s a long running debate between dermatologists and nutritionists about whether it's more effective to absorb beneficial skincare ingredients through literally applying it onto your skin (topical) or by digestion. You don’t hear skincare providers talking about this – so we’re spilling the tea:

First up, the pros and cons of both approaches – literally how does the goodness get to your skin when you apply a moisturiser or eat a meal? We’ll be brief we promise!

The Science: How the Body Absorbs and Processes Beneficial Ingredients

Topical Application:

When applied to the skin, beneficial ingredients interact directly with the epidermis, the outermost layer of skin. From here, they can penetrate the deeper layers, such as the dermis, depending on the ingredient's molecular size and solubility. Ingredients like hyaluronic acid and retinoids, which have the right molecular structure, can effectively penetrate the skin barrier to deliver their benefits where they are most needed.

• Pros: Direct application can target specific skin issues, such as dryness, wrinkles, or acne. The effects are often more immediate and localised.
• Cons: The skin's main function is to be a barrier so this can limit absorption, and some ingredients may not penetrate deeply enough to be effective. Stretch marks are a great example - they are formed in the dermis, the middle layer of the skin, and most creams cannot penetrate that deep.

Ingestion:

When ingested, beneficial ingredients are absorbed through the digestive system, entering the bloodstream and being distributed throughout the body, including the skin. This method ensures that nutrients reach the deeper layers of the skin, which can be difficult for topically applied ingredients to achieve.

• Pros: Ingested ingredients can promote overall skin health from within and reach the deeper skin layers.
• Cons: The digestive process can break down some nutrients, reducing their efficacy by the time they reach the skin.

The interesting Bit:

Ingredients More Effective to Digest

1. Collagen:
• Reason: Collagen supplements can help increase skin elasticity and hydration from within. When ingested, collagen peptides are absorbed through the intestines and delivered via the bloodstream to the dermis, where they stimulate collagen production. *1
2. Vitamin C:
• Reason: Essential for collagen synthesis, vitamin C is more effective when ingested because it supports collagen production throughout the body. Topical vitamin C can be unstable and less effective. *2
3. Omega-3 Fatty Acids:
• Reason: Found in fish oil, flaxseeds and spirulina these fatty acids can reduce inflammation and improve skin barrier function from within. Ingested omega-3s are distributed via the bloodstream, benefiting overall skin health. *3

May we recommend: Depending on your diet, here’s a couple of easy to prepare meals that include all these beneficial ingredients (plse Google or DM for recipes):

1. Quinoa Salad with Citrus and Chia Seeds
2. Salmon Salad with Citrus Dressing
3. A collagen-rich bone broth soup with vegetables

Ingredients More Effective to Apply Topically

1. Hyaluronic Acid:
• Reason: Known for its ability to hold water, hyaluronic acid is highly effective in hydrating the skin when applied topically. It works by drawing moisture from the environment into the skin, providing immediate hydration and plumping effects. *4
2. Niacinamide:
• Reason: Also known as vitamin B3, niacinamide helps reduce inflammation, even out skin tone, and improve the skin barrier. Topical application allows it to act directly on the skin cells to deliver its benefits. *5
3. Retinoids:
• Reason: Derivatives of vitamin A, retinoids are renowned for their anti-aging benefits, including reducing wrinkles and improving skin texture. They work by accelerating cell turnover and collagen production. *6

Pro Tips:

1. You may not need ANY of these ingredients – it’s worth seeing a dermatologist to get a proper skin diagnosis. We’re fans of keeping it simple and not spending money where it’s unnecessary. Have a read of our other post that talks about when and how to update your skincare routine.
2. This tip requires a whole other post BUT if you do need or want to use more than one of these ingredients in your routine remember: Whilst hyaluronic acid and niacinamide can be layered and combined into your morning routine, retinoids should be introduced slowly and separately. Retinoids should be applied at night when you are out of the sun, and not on the same evenings as niacinamide (which reduces efficacy).

Conclusion

Both topical, rubbing it in, application and ingestion of skincare ingredients have their unique benefits and limitations. At Clementine Suds, we believe in a holistic approach to skincare that combines both methods for optimal results. While some ingredients work best when applied directly to the skin, others are more effective when ingested and absorbed from within, to reach those deeper layers.

In short – spend your time and money where it’s really needed.

Source: *1 A study published in the "Journal of Drugs in Dermatology" found that oral collagen peptide supplementation improved skin hydration and elasticity after eight weeks .

Source *2: Research in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" demonstrated that dietary vitamin C intake was associated with a lower likelihood of a wrinkled appearance and dry skin .

Source: *3 The "Journal of Lipid Research" highlighted that omega-3 fatty acids help reduce inflammatory skin conditions and improve skin barrier function when taken as a supplement .

Source: *4 A review in "Dermatologic Therapy" emphasized the effectiveness of topical hyaluronic acid in improving skin hydration and elasticity .

Source: *5 A study in the "Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology" found that topical niacinamide significantly improved the appearance of wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and red blotchiness .

Source: *6 According to a study in "Clinical Interventions in Aging," topical retinoids are highly effective in treating aging skin, improving fine wrinkles, and promoting collagen synthesis .