Nutritional supplements and skin health
2026-01-15
With the development of nutrition science, scientific research on promoting skin health and achieving skin "beauty" effects through oral nutritional supplements is increasing. This has led to a new concept combining nutrition and cosmetics: "nutricosmetics," also known as "oral beauty." Numerous scientific studies have confirmed the link between nutritional supplements and skin health in areas such as hydration, whitening, and anti-aging, and a relatively wide variety of nutritional supplements are available.
1.Collagen peptides:
Collagen peptides, also known as hydrolyzed collagen, collagen hydrolysate, gelatin polypeptides, small molecule collagen, or collagen hydrolysate, are peptide mixtures formed by the hydrolysis of collagen, resulting in the breakdown and fragmentation of its molecular chains. Their relative molecular weight is generally between several hundred and several thousand. They are rich in hydroxyproline, glycine, and proline, and their absorption, solubility, and water absorption are superior to those of pure collagen. Collagen peptides have been shown to increase hyaluronic acid production in dermal fibroblasts and improve skin barrier function by increasing the water content of the stratum corneum. Furthermore, collagen peptides promote the growth and migration of dermal fibroblasts and induce collagen synthesis. A dosage of 2.5–10 g/day of collagen peptides helps improve skin health, primarily by increasing skin hydration and elasticity, and reducing wrinkles and roughness (Grade B).
Collagen peptides, also known as hydrolyzed collagen, collagen hydrolysate, gelatin polypeptides, small molecule collagen, or collagen hydrolysate, are peptide mixtures formed by the hydrolysis of collagen, resulting in the breakdown and fragmentation of its molecular chains. Their relative molecular weight is generally between several hundred and several thousand. They are rich in hydroxyproline, glycine, and proline, and their absorption, solubility, and water absorption are superior to those of pure collagen. Collagen peptides have been shown to increase hyaluronic acid production in dermal fibroblasts and improve skin barrier function by increasing the water content of the stratum corneum. Furthermore, collagen peptides promote the growth and migration of dermal fibroblasts and induce collagen synthesis. A dosage of 2.5–10 g/day of collagen peptides helps improve skin health, primarily by increasing skin hydration and elasticity, and reducing wrinkles and roughness (Grade B).

2.Hyaluronic Acid:
Hyaluronic acid is a glycosaminoglycan composed of D-glucuronic acid and N-acetylglucosamine, formed by alternating β-3 and β-4 bonds. It is abundant in the skin and connective tissue. Daily supplementation with 100mg of hyaluronic acid for 2 weeks can improve hydration in dry skin, and continued supplementation for 4–12 weeks can improve hydration in oily and normal skin. Compared to low-dose hyaluronic acid supplementation, daily supplementation with 200mg of hyaluronic acid for 4–12 weeks can also significantly improve hydration in dry, oily, and normal skin.
It can rapidly improve signs of skin aging, increase skin elasticity and firmness, and reduce the depth and volume of wrinkles. A dose of 100–200 mg/day of hyaluronic acid is likely to help improve skin health, including improving skin aging, reducing wrinkles, and improving skin hydration.
Hyaluronic acid is a glycosaminoglycan composed of D-glucuronic acid and N-acetylglucosamine, formed by alternating β-3 and β-4 bonds. It is abundant in the skin and connective tissue. Daily supplementation with 100mg of hyaluronic acid for 2 weeks can improve hydration in dry skin, and continued supplementation for 4–12 weeks can improve hydration in oily and normal skin. Compared to low-dose hyaluronic acid supplementation, daily supplementation with 200mg of hyaluronic acid for 4–12 weeks can also significantly improve hydration in dry, oily, and normal skin.
It can rapidly improve signs of skin aging, increase skin elasticity and firmness, and reduce the depth and volume of wrinkles. A dose of 100–200 mg/day of hyaluronic acid is likely to help improve skin health, including improving skin aging, reducing wrinkles, and improving skin hydration.

3.Astaxanthin:
Astaxanthin is a red carotenoid mainly found in shrimp, crab, salmon, and microalgae. It exerts its antioxidant effects by scavenging free radicals. Astaxanthin may exert its skin protective effect in the epidermis or dermis by scavenging singlet oxygen generated by ultraviolet (UV) radiation and enhancing endogenous antioxidant activity, increasing the minimum UV erythema dose (MRD), and reducing transepidermal water loss. Ingestion of 6–8 mg/day of astaxanthin for 6–8 weeks can increase the moisture content and elasticity of dry skin and reduce the depth of wrinkles around the eyes. Astaxanthin may improve skin condition by inhibiting the secretion of inflammatory factors by keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts induced by UV radiation. Daily intake of 12 mg of astaxanthin for 12 weeks can inhibit age-related inflammation-induced skin aging. Astaxanthin at doses ranging from 4 to 12 mg/day has a skin-health-improving effect, primarily by reducing fine lines and UV damage (Grade B).
Astaxanthin is a red carotenoid mainly found in shrimp, crab, salmon, and microalgae. It exerts its antioxidant effects by scavenging free radicals. Astaxanthin may exert its skin protective effect in the epidermis or dermis by scavenging singlet oxygen generated by ultraviolet (UV) radiation and enhancing endogenous antioxidant activity, increasing the minimum UV erythema dose (MRD), and reducing transepidermal water loss. Ingestion of 6–8 mg/day of astaxanthin for 6–8 weeks can increase the moisture content and elasticity of dry skin and reduce the depth of wrinkles around the eyes. Astaxanthin may improve skin condition by inhibiting the secretion of inflammatory factors by keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts induced by UV radiation. Daily intake of 12 mg of astaxanthin for 12 weeks can inhibit age-related inflammation-induced skin aging. Astaxanthin at doses ranging from 4 to 12 mg/day has a skin-health-improving effect, primarily by reducing fine lines and UV damage (Grade B).

4.NAD+ Precursors:
The important physiological functions of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) in the human body have been extensively studied. It possesses various biological functions, including anti-oxidative stress, anti-DNA damage, and anti-inflammation. However, the concentration of NAD+ in human skin changes with age and external environmental stimuli. Supplementing with NAD+ precursors (such as niacin and nicotinamide) through diet can increase the body's NAD content, thereby exerting a skin-protective effect. A NAD+ precursor dose of 1000 mg/day may reduce UV-induced skin diseases and repair UV-induced inflammation and DNA damage (Grade C).
The important physiological functions of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) in the human body have been extensively studied. It possesses various biological functions, including anti-oxidative stress, anti-DNA damage, and anti-inflammation. However, the concentration of NAD+ in human skin changes with age and external environmental stimuli. Supplementing with NAD+ precursors (such as niacin and nicotinamide) through diet can increase the body's NAD content, thereby exerting a skin-protective effect. A NAD+ precursor dose of 1000 mg/day may reduce UV-induced skin diseases and repair UV-induced inflammation and DNA damage (Grade C).
5.Maritime Pine Extract:
Maritime pine extract refers to the active substances extracted from the bark of the coastal pine tree in southwestern France. It consists of more than 40 antioxidant active substances, including oligomeric proanthocyanidins, taxanes, catechins, gallic acid, and ferulic acid. Pycnogenol® is a standardized extract of the bark of the French maritime pine, with its main components being proanthocyanidins and phenolphthalein. As a dietary supplement, pycnogenol can improve skin damage caused by ultraviolet radiation through anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and extracellular matrix synthesis pathways, reducing skin pigmentation and improving skin barrier function. Ingestion of 100 mg/day of maritime pine extract for 4 weeks can improve skin hydration and elasticity, and increase the minimum erythema dose (MRD) of ultraviolet radiation. Maritime pine extract at doses of 75–100 mg/day may have a skin-health-promoting effect, mainly by improving photoaging (Grade C).
Maritime pine extract refers to the active substances extracted from the bark of the coastal pine tree in southwestern France. It consists of more than 40 antioxidant active substances, including oligomeric proanthocyanidins, taxanes, catechins, gallic acid, and ferulic acid. Pycnogenol® is a standardized extract of the bark of the French maritime pine, with its main components being proanthocyanidins and phenolphthalein. As a dietary supplement, pycnogenol can improve skin damage caused by ultraviolet radiation through anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and extracellular matrix synthesis pathways, reducing skin pigmentation and improving skin barrier function. Ingestion of 100 mg/day of maritime pine extract for 4 weeks can improve skin hydration and elasticity, and increase the minimum erythema dose (MRD) of ultraviolet radiation. Maritime pine extract at doses of 75–100 mg/day may have a skin-health-promoting effect, mainly by improving photoaging (Grade C).

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