This blog post is sponsored by iHerb.com. I keep it real. All opinions are 100% mine!
I’ve been blogging for over 10 years, and I have learned something important. There are so many lotions and potions that are supposed to give you beautiful hair, skin and nails, but if you aren’t healthy on the inside, they can only do so much. Getting “healthy” is a complex equation that involves diet, exercise and lifestyle.
I’m not here to tell you what to eat, how to workout, or to ask you to give up your favorite vice (trust me – I have mine too!). But I can tell you about some of the nutritional supplements that I use to boost or replace gaps in my current regimen. I always have to say it – I’m not a health care professional or medical doctor, so please do your research and check with your doctor or health care pro before starting any new supplements.
I’ve recently become interested in Swisse, Australia’s number one brand for vitamins and supplements (started in 1969). Australia seems to always be ahead of the curve when it comes to certain aspects of natural healthcare. I’m always impressed with the research they do on things like the human microbiome for example.
I have been taking Australian brand, Swisse, supplements that I discovered on iHerb.com. As loyal My Beauty Bunny readers know, I’ve been shopping at iHerb for YEARS! They have great prices and a HUGE selection of supplements, herbs, natural foods, skincare and makeup. They have over 30,000 products and they ship to over 160 countries! iHerb orders are shipped from climate-controlled distribution centers to ensure the quality of their products, and they offer customer service 24 hours a day in ten different languages.
So, let’s talk about some supplements that can make a BIG difference in not just hair, skin and nails, but your overall health!
Grape Seed Extract
What is grape seed extract and why should you take it? Grape seed extract is full of polyphenols called proanthocyanidins. Here are some of the health and beauty benefits of grape seed (based on scientific studies):
- Potent antioxidant
- Support collagen formation (for skin health)
- Supports the wound-healing process
- Helps inflammation and allergies
- May help with melasma and skin spots
- May help prevent sun damage
- Circulation support (especially for swelling in the legs)
- Much more! (more info here)
Swisse Ultiboost Grape Seed has 237.5 mg of standardized grape seed extract, 45 mg of Vitamin C and 10.5 mg of iron in each serving (2 tablets per serving). At first I was confused about the addition of iron, but then I learned that polyphenols can hinder iron absorption, which is why Swisse includes 10.5 mg of iron. The Vitamin C in their formula not only offers additional antioxidant benefits, it also increases iron absorption.
Not only is this a great formula, you get A LOT for the money! I got a bottle of 300 tablets (they also make a 600 tablet bottle). Even when you take 2 tablets per day, that’s still a bottle of 150 servings, which will last about 5 months! I personally take these a few times per week to boost my skin health, and as with all supplements, I give it a break every now and then. Grape seed extract is safe to take daily, but it can interfere with some medications (so it may be best to take them at separate times during the day). See this article for more info.
Silica and Vitamin C
Silicon is the second most abundant element on Earth, and the third most abundant trace element in human body. Silica and Vitamin C are well-known beauty boosters, and they are important for a healthy body as well. Here are some of the beauty benefits of silica and Vitamin C:
- Helps with collagen formation (improves skin strength and elasticity)
- Helps to boost glossy hair, radiant skin and healthy nails
- Boosts skin elasticity, hydration, brightness/glow (helps red blood cells to carry more oxygen)
- Antioxidant (silica and Vit C protect cells from free radical damage)
- Anti-inflammatory (great for inflammatory skin conditions like eczema, acne, and psoriasis)
- Strengthens hair, nails, bones and teeth
- Vitamin C is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory (read more here)
I feel that Swisse Ultiboost Hair Skin Nails is a no-brainer to add to your beauty arsenal (especially if you hate swallowing pills). There is no sugar added (it’s sweetened with stevia). The liquid is quite tart so if you’re not into that, you can dilute it in water or add it to to your smoothie or juice. I actually add it to my daily electrolyte water. A serving is two teaspoons, so one bottle has 50 servings. Make sure you store it in the fridge to keep it fresh.
Manuka Honey
I talk about manuka honey a lot on this blog! My husband and I are big on manuka honey. It’s such a great antioxidant and immune-system booster. It’s also an easy one to add to your routine – either as a regular thing or just when you’re feeling run-down. Here are some of the health and beauty benefits of manuka honey:
- Antioxidant
- Anti-inflammatory
- Immune system support
- Great for skin
- Regulates blood sugar
- Antimicrobial, anti-fungal
- More info here
Swisse Ultiboost Vitamin C + Manuka Honey chewable tablets are a wonderful way to give your body a boost! They are honey and lemon flavored (a bit on the tart side), and each serving (2 tablets) have 1000 mg Vitamin C, 40 mg acerola fruit extract, 33 mg calcium, and 200 mg manuka honey powder. There is less than 1 gram of sugar per serving and 2 grams of carbs. Swisse sources their manuka honey from a cruelty free, sustainable source – the Taranaki region of New Zealand, where the bees are left in the native forest all year round.
Relaxation and Beauty Sleep
If you’re stressed out or not getting enough sleep, you WILL notice it on your face. Your friends may start asking if you’re okay, and it will take a toll on your body. Stress leads to so many major illnesses and diseases. If there’s something over-the-counter that can help, without causing addiction or side effects, why not try it?
Swisse Ultiboost Relax & Sleep helps to relieve nervous tension, aid in relaxation, and help you to get more restful sleep. The formula contains small doses of iron, Vit C and magnesium, along with herbs that have been shown to help CHILL you out: hops, passionflower and lemon balm. Hops has also been shown to help with skin inflammation and acne. Lemon balm can boost GABA (which reduces anxiety and makes you feel relaxed) and can also reduce pain and inflammation.
These are not habit-forming (like pharmaceutical drugs) but there are some reasons you may want to use these herbs sporadically (as needed – not every day), so check this article (and the ones hyperlinked above) out to learn more. The Relax & Sleep formula comes with 30 servings (two tablets per serving). Make sure to take them at night when you’re trying to relax, and not before driving.
If you want to try these supplements out, I can’t recommend iHerb highly enough. If you use my affiliate link, iHerb will give me a store credit that I can use to keep buying my favorite supplements (and I will love you forever). But more importantly, new customers will get a 10% discount off their first iHerb order with no minimum purchase by clicking here!
