If your spa isn’t inviting clients to try beauty ingestibles, you’re missing huge earning potential. In fact, the beauty ingestibles market should hit a whopping $8.3 billion by 2030.1 Over the last few years, long-time beauty brands and new companies have hit the market focusing on a beauty-from-within mission through ingestible products.
Whether it’s gummies, tonics, powders or other options, these products aim to improve hair, skin or nails, all of which can take a hit in harsh winter weather. As winter rolls on, indoor temps are cranked up, often causing a slew of skin issues.
“Winter skin is something we all suffer from,” says Caroline Dorick, oncology-certified master esthetician and founder of Whole Beauty Bar and NCEA. “That’s why deep hydration is necessary both inside and out.”
This is where herbal health options like beauty ingestibles can offer an added boost to your spa service menu. Dorick shares her insights for dewy skin that would make even Frosty blush.
1. Collagen Supplements
For clients desiring firmer, more supple skin with a dewy and moisturized look, collagen may be the answer. A few studies have shown that collagen supplements with high amounts of the peptides prolyl-hydroxyproline and hydroxy prolylglycine improve overall skin appearance.2 The breakdown of collagen during the aging process can slow down cellular processes like tissue repair and may lead to aging concerns like sagging skin. Encourage clients to pair collagen supplements with vitamin C to improve absorption, too.3
2. Cucumber Infusions
This garden-fresh favorite is often a symbol of spa-like calm. Think: using sliced cucumbers atop clients’ eyelids. Cucumbers are 96% water, which makes them a naturally hydrating ingredient to ingest.
“I’m a big lover of cucumber water with lemon to detox the liver,” says Dorick. “It’s very easy to put a little Himalayan salt in there. Just drink, drink, drink, drink during winter.”
When dry winter weather kicks in, encourage guests to drink cucumber-infused water to nourish their skin. Cukes, like aloe vera, benefit the inside and outside, too. Cucumbers offer inflammation reduction thanks to their vitamin C and caffeic acid levels.4 Those nutrients are the same ones that reduce eye puffiness and rejuvenate complexions.
Related: 6 Foods + Nutrients for Glowing and Healthy Skin
3. Aloe Vera Juice
This gel-like plant has long been used for sunburns, but aloe vera is a must-have for winter skin regimens, too. While it can be applied to wind-whipped skin, drinking aloe vera juice is also a viable option. “Aloe vera is nature’s wound healer,” says Dorick. “It is highly moisturizing, and there’s really no amount or limit to moisturizing during winter.”
Packed with nutrients and antioxidants, aloe vera is known to improve irritating skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.5 Plain aloe juice can be found in pharmacies, natural food stores and even grocery stores. Remind clients to opt for the kind that isn’t loaded down with sugar; sneaky marketing methods often tout sugar-laden aloe juices as a healthy beverage.
4. Vitamin C
This powerful vitamin is known for its healing powers and ability to brighten skin. And, a combination of vitamin C and hyaluronic acid (HA) offers a double whammy, delivering even faster results. A Clinical Cosmetic Investigational Dermatology study revealed oral HA reduces wrinkles and improves the overall condition of the skin.6 For your clients, encourage vitamin C intake through health shots, tonics and whole foods like bell peppers and acerola cherries. When they partake of vitamin C, they give their skin the ability to smooth, firm, brighten and minimize the appearance of dark spots.
5. Pearl Powder
Like the other ingredients on this list, pearl powder can be ingested as well as applied topically. This popular ingredient has been used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic medicine for its detoxifying powers. Made of boiled fresh or saltwater pearls, the powder is created after the pearls are crushed into a powdered form similar to flour. Active components in pearl powder are incredibly powerful for wound healing and include the potential for skin regeneration, which is essential for wind-chapped or frost-bitten skin.7 This powerful powder also has more than 30 trace minerals, many of which support good skin health.8
More Healthy Habits
Giving up smoking, reducing alcohol intake and skipping hot showers can all ease winter skin conditions. “A humidifier and air purifier is incredible for the skin,” says Dorick. “They're good for your sinuses and for asthmatics. As far as I'm concerned, a humidifier is almost mandatory.”
Above all, don’t let dry, itchy skin or cracks stop your guests from booking an appointment. Let them know you have solutions for even the most sensitive skin that won’t further irritate their winter skin conditions. This year, consider the myriad of ways you can enhance your clients’ beauty from the inside out. Whether it’s gummies, specialized beverages or tonics, ingestible options are a great way to improve client confidence and your sales.
References:
- www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-beauty-ingestible-market-worth-us-8-30-billion-by-2030---exclusive-report-by-insightace-analytic-301469549.html
- www.health.harvard.edu/blog/considering-collagen-drinks-and-supplements-202304122911
- www.healthline.com/nutrition/collagen#food-sources
- www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/cucumber-for-skin#intro
- www.medicinenet.com/is_it_good_to_drink_aloe_vera_juice_every_day/article.htm
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5522662
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8197316
- www.healthline.com/health/pearl-powder#what-it-is
Seraine Page is a four-time award-winning freelance journalist who specializes in lifestyle and wellness. Her work has been featured in wellness magazines and websites like EVOLVE Magazine and TotalWellness.com.
