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Do Collagen Supplements like NeoCell Beauty Bursts Really Work?

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Can you eat your way to being beautiful? It’s a growing trend to supplement the ingredients you put on your skin with supplements that you take regularly containing those same ingredients. The idea is that if you ingest them, the effects will be magnified.

That’s where products like NeoCell Beauty Bursts ($20.99, amazon.com) come in. As it turns out, while some of the ingredients are

Collagen Supplements

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The only studies that exist about whether a hydrolyzed collagen supplement improves skin health are industry-sponsored studies done by the Rousselot Healthy Choice company for Peptanâ„¢ Hydrolyzed Collagen. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled eight-week study, and in another placebo-controlled 12-week study, researchers found that collagen supplements improved cutaneous hydration and had anti-aging effects (Parmentier). Volunteers also self-reported that their skin was softer, suppler, brighter, and had better tone.

But there have been other studies done to look into other potential benefits of collagen hydrolysate supplements.

A 2006 study in Current Medical Research and Opinion looked at whether collagen hydrolsate supplements could relieve joint pained caused by activity. They recruited 147 athletes for the 24-week, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Researchers found that using a dietary supplement with collagen hydrolsate improved joint pain in athletes.

A 2006 study in Advances in Skin and Wound Care found that patients who took collagen hydrolysate supplements had Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing (PUSH) scores twice the rate of the control group. Essentially, the inclusion of the supplement in participants’ diet caused their ulcers to heal significantly faster.

Hyaluronic Acid Supplements

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Hyaluronic acid supplements, like collagen supplement, are also used for joint pains, but researchers have also conducted study to test their effects on skin. A small 2002 study involving 35 participants used microscopic skin surface analysis to determine whether dietary hyaluronic acid improved skin. The double-blind study showed that the supplements improved skin hydration and decreased fine lines and wrinkles without safety issues.

Vitamin C Supplements

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As far as studies go, there’s more evidence for vitamin C in your skin care than in your supplements. Taking vitamin C with vitamin E can help prevent sunburn, but taking vitamin C alone won’t do that (Medline Plus). This 2002 study from Free Radical Biology and Medicine found that vitamin C supplements did not help mitigate oxidative stress aver UV exposure.

And too much vitamin C can be a problem. Researchers have found that too much vitamin C can actually cause oxidative damage.

Bottom Line

Most of the ingredients in NeoCell Beauty Bursts have been shown to improve skin. The collagen and hyaluronic acid have been shown to increase skin hydration and might help smooth out fine lines and wrinkles. The vitamin C is an ingredient that’s been best proven for topical use in skin care; there’s very little evidence supporting its use in skin care supplements. But, overall, if you’re looking for a little extra boost in your skin care, Beauty Bursts could help give your routine an extra oomph.

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