The “deployment of nutrition”: Lycored details ingestible skincare’s evolution from trend-status to mainstream

Ingestible skincare is the “deployment of nutrition,” found in the products we eat, drink or supplement with, to care for our skin, according to Zev Ziegler, head of global brand & marketing, Health at Lycored. Ziegler speaks to PersonalCareInsights about evolving consumer demands for ingestible beauty products and the need for sustainable approaches within this sector.

“Ingestible skincare isn’t just trending, it’s very much in the mainstream. We’re breaking beauty out of its proverbial box to change the conversation and deepen our understanding of the role carotenoids, like those in our ingestible skincare extract Lumenato, play in maintaining healthy skin.”

The beauty-from-within sector continues to grow with a 52 percent average annual growth in the number of supplement launches that tracked a skin health claim between 2018 and 2020, Innova Market Insights data reveals.

Key ingredients in this sector are collagen and hyaluronic acid. The use of botanicals is also rising in this area.

Additionally, a 58 percent average annual growth in F&B launches that featured a skin health claim was experienced between 2017 and 2019.

Supporting skin health
Lycored specializes in Lycoderm, an ingestible skin care blend.

“Lycoderm contains lycopene, phytoene, phytofluene and carnosic acid, optimized to nourish the skin from the inside out. Our 2020 ‘seeing is believing’ study found that it benefits overall skin condition as well as visibly boosting radiance and reducing the appearance of lines and wrinkles”, says Ziegler.A Lycored survey reveals that over a third of physically active consumers had taken a product orally to protect their skin health.

“Ingestible skincare products with the right ingredients can also help boost and protect the skin’s collagen network.”

Lumenato, Lycored’s beauty and skin health extract, was found to help protect against collagen-3 damage, supported by a study conducted last year.

“This is due to a mechanism that involves balancing oxidative stress and reducing the free radicals secreted by neutrophils, which play a major role in collagen damage,” adds Ziegler.

Consumers and skin health
A survey conducted by Lycored revealed that over a third (35 percent) of physically active consumers had taken a product orally to protect their skin health.

The youngest consumers were the most open to the concept of ingestible skincare, with 44 percent under the age of 35 years reported taking a skincare supplement, compared to nine percent of those over the age of 65 years.

“Recent years have seen a major shift toward more holistic views of skin health. Two-thirds (64 percent) of consumers now believe a healthy glow is most likely to come from a balance of ‘from within and ‘external’ factors,” adds Ziegler.

“They know that there are no quick fixes from a bottle and recognize the value of lifestyle factors like sleep, diet and exercise, as well as emotional and mental well-being.”

Readdressing beauty standards
Lycored has a #rethinkbeautiful movement that challenges conventional beauty standards and is inspired by the fact that ingestible skincare and nutrition don’t see skin color, race or age, Ziegler notes.

“They only ‘see’ us at the cellular level, creating a platform for equality and inclusivity,” he adds. “We have long believed people of all ages and skin types have a right to wellness in all its forms.”

Going beyond food
Years of trial and error led to the development of Lycored’s breed of tomatoes designed for skincare, notes Ziegler.Lycoderm is a blend of lycopene, phytoene, phytofluene and carnosic acid to nourish the skin from the inside out.

“After identifying the key carotenoids and nutrients for Lumenato, we created detection methods that helped reveal, extract and standardize beauty-supporting phytoene and phytofluene.”

As we age, our skin becomes more susceptible to the effects of environmental stress and requires more upkeep to maintain its appearance.

“Lycopene works to nourish our skin from the inside out. We’re constantly learning more about this phytonutrient and its benefits not just for skin, but also in areas like cardiovascular health and eye health,” he adds.

“Carotenoids like lycopene can play a big role in conjunction in a comprehensive beauty regime, working hard from the inside out to keep skin looking and feeling healthy.”

Another recent study by Lycored provided further evidence that the blend of nutrients in Lycoderm has a synergistic effect which may help balance the skin cells’ response to environmental challenges.

Collagen gains momentum
Collagen is one of the most common ingestible skincare ingredients.

Ziegler observes that the rising consumer awareness of its benefits for elasticity, wrinkle reduction and moisture has been a significant success story in the beauty and skin wellness space over the past ten years.

“However, it’s not compliant with leading trends in the category. For example, it is usually animal-derived, and so it makes sense to pair it with plant-based nutrients.”

“Carotenoids, in particular, can be a great partner for collagen, partly because they can help limit the loss initiated by neutrophils.”

Entering clean beauty space
Lycored prioritizes full vertical integration and extensive R&D activities to identify minimal waste solutions.

“It is not good enough to offer ingredients that work. These ingredients should offer consumers peace of mind too.”

“Growing numbers of consumers are willing to change their consumption habits to reduce environmental impact. The ‘blue beauty’ movement has focused on the impact of chemicals on us and the earth’s ecosystems.”

By Nicole Kerr