Supplements are good for inner beauty. Really, are they any good? Yes, it is a fact. You just need to walk down the aisles in your nearest Holland and Barret store to see the array of capsules, liquids, powders; all the various forms supplements come in.
The next question many of us are asking is what are the benefits to supplementing daily and which ones should we be taking? Against the backdrop of the Covid 19 pandemic, we have taken it upon ourselves to invest in our health and wellbeing, with the wellness category expanding exponentially, as we ensure we look and feel our best. There has been a rise across social media in images and videos of how celebrities and influencers are sculpting their bodies and achieving glowing skin and glossy hair through their diet, supplements, and exercise, inspiring others to do the same.
Capsules, Liquids or Powders?
Let’s start with understanding more about capsules; these come in two formats – hard shells and soft shells. The hard shells tend to be made with gelatine and contain dry ingredients. Soft or gel capsules contain liquid forms or ingredients that have been dissolved in oil. Gelatine is made from collagen which is a protein present in the tissues of animals (typically cows). With a rise in veganism, manufacturers have now started producing vegan and veggie alternatives.
In terms of supplementing with capsules, and which works best, it does come down to your preference based on ease of consumption, taste and size. Sometimes capsules can be difficult to swallow hence why other formats are considered. When taking vitamins in capsule or tablet form, your body needs to break them down into a fine powder before absorbing the vitamins into your bloodstream. As with any other type of vitamin, it’s key to take them with food, as this is kinder to your stomach and aids in better absorption.
Liquid vitamins tend to have the best rating when it comes to absorption as our body absorbs 98% of the nutrients in liquid format. This is because the vitamin can bypass the digestive process and go directly into your bloodstream. Liquid is also preferred over the other formats in those of us that are unable to swallow pills or who would prefer not to take them. It’s also a feasible option for young children. The big disadvantage of liquid vitamins is their short shelf life. They lack preservatives which vitamins tend to break down in liquid, so their shelf life tends to last a month or two before losing its effectiveness.
Powdered vitamins are quite popular as they are convenient and easy to mix into food and drinks. You can adjust the dose of how much you take which can be a pro depending on your needs. Powders tend to have a longer shelf life than liquids and capsules. Like capsules, powdered vitamins must be digested before entering your blood stream which again means that you are not absorbing most of the nutrients in the powder. Like liquid formats travelling with powders isn’t always easy especially if they are packaged in bulky packaging and cartons.
Trends Driving Growth
Whether you are looking to improve the condition of your skin, manage an iron deficiency or boost your immunity, there are numerous brands you can turn to as a solution. Collagen is a growing market – you have probably heard about it or even tried collagen related supplements. Several studies reveal that collagen supplements can slow down the aging of your skin by reducing dryness and wrinkles.
Collagen is a protein that is naturally produced by your body, it keeps your connective tissue and bones healthy, strong and provides structure to your skin. Adding it into your daily diet could boost your overall wellbeing and improve your appearance. Brands like Kollo, Dose & Co, Ancient Brave and Vida Glow all offer collagen in different formats.
Adaptogens have been around for centuries in medical health world, a plant-based substance they help to maintain our stress levels. Ashwagandha, tulsi, turmeric, ginseng and mushrooms provide support with our immune health, fatigue, stress, and anxiety – they are becoming increasingly trendy in the wellness world, and you can purchase them in capsules, powders, and teas. You can add adaptogens in their raw form or as powders to your favourite recipes.
The wellness industry has expanded significantly, particularly over the past two years, as we have prioritised our wellbeing, fitness, and become more aware of improving the quality of our sleep and reducing our stress levels. It is no longer about a ‘one size fits all’ but about understanding our bodies and our genetics, and we are now taking a far more personalised approach to investing in our health.
If you are looking to start a business in the beauty or wellness sector and are looking for expertise, or you have an existing brand and are looking for support to expand your business across the marketplace, get in touch, we would love to hear from you.
As a beauty and wellness consultancy, we develop a comprehensive strategy for your business by understanding your vision (and the marketplace) and then delving into the details to create order and structure neatly packaged up to deliver you commercial results. We design brand identities and visual elements, manage your product development, build your go-to-market strategies to help you to engage with your ideal customers.
We are proud to support our clients from different regions of the world – from Saudi Arabia, to Dubai, Sri Lanka, Africa, Australia, the US, Canada, Europe and the UK – from entrepreneurs, to multi-award-winning beauty and wellness brands, retailers, investors, distributors, embassies and trade bodies. And we work with you across the retail sector, and the professional sector, including the hair care market, professional nail care market, spas, salons, hotels and the aesthetics market – here’s a snapshot.
If you would like to discuss your ideas with us, get in touch, we would love to hear from you.
As an international beauty and wellness consultancy, we are proud to work alongside clients from different regions of the world – Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Sri Lanka, Africa, Australia, Canada, US, Europe and the UK . We love collaborating with entrepreneurs, multi-award-winning beauty and wellness brands, retailers, investors, distributors, embassies and trade bodies across the retail sector, and the professional sector, including those selling into the hair care market, hotels, spas, professional nail care market and aesthetics market.
If you need support with devising a new strategy, developing a new product range, designing your packaging or rebranding your current product range, managing your PR, or with planning your market-entry into international markets, get in touch, we would love to hear from you.
Bespoke is a brand management expert with deep industry knowledge, extensive experience and a comprehensive understanding of the beauty and personal industry in the UK and Europe, complemented by an extensive network of contacts in the relevant market segments. Bespoke’s expertise, experience and contacts significantly contributed the success of the UK/Europe project with the companies that Bespoke assisted successfully entering or well on track to enter the UK and European markets. The Bespoke team was very professional, responsive and obliging and always delivered within timeframes. It was a pleasure to work with them.
Working with Janet over the past year has been a real pleasure, she has fantastic industry experience and knowledge of the UK beauty market. She has delivered a number of webinars for my clients looking at how to enter the UK market, providing an overview of the market and how to build a strategy. She took the briefs we provided and added real value to them, included key insights and information that my clients have found incredibly useful. Feedback on these sessions has been very positive. Janet is a clear communicator and has always delivered as agreed and on time. We are continuing to work together on other projects and I very much value the conversations we share.
‘Janet has a wealth of experience across retail, buying and marketing. She conducted a full strategic review of our cross functional business and the travel retail market to develop a comprehensive buying and quality control strategy that was signed off at board level. I highly recommend her as an asset to any business.’
‘As a Queensland-based company, we were determined to tap into the European market and establish a strong presence. From the very beginning, Bespoke Advantage demonstrated a deep understanding of our export goals and objectives. Their comprehensive knowledge of the European market, coupled with their extensive network of contacts, enabled them to connect us with key decision-makers and influential stakeholders in our target countries. Their strategic guidance and insights were invaluable in shaping our export strategy and positioning us for long-term success.’
‘Through Janet’s management skills, expertise and proven track record on the job she successfully managed the purchasing of our retail operations and ensured the integrity of our brands in-stores. Her enthusiasm and total dedication, delivered results in any project she was involved in.’
‘Janet has excellent beauty market knowledge. Level headed with clear vision, direction and the ability to drive business forward, Janet led the teams through a complete product design change advising on what the key marketing messages should be, incorporating her technical knowledge and beauty expertise.’
‘Absolutely fantastic course. Condensed learning from Janet, an expert in developing beauty brands. Also, valuable introductions to expert professionals, in the Masterclass sessions. In 12 weeks, you will learn from Janet, what would take years to learn by yourself. A very worthwhile investment’