A new study from Italian researchers demonstrates that lutein, when taken on a daily basis, can boost the skin’s natural antioxidants, improving the skin’s natural defense system. Lutein has long been known to promote eye health, and now, has been shown to also provide skin benefits.
The skin benefits of lutein include improved hydration, elasticity, and increased amount of superficial lipids in the skin. Lutein also seems to decrease the levels of oxidation; a degradative process which breaks down skin lipids and leads to skin which looks aged or worn.
In this study, lutein was given both orally (10mg) and topically (50ppm formulation) to female subjects in the 25-50 age range. Results were impressive, with this combined oral/topical approach increasing levels of skin hydration by 60%, skin lipids by 50%, and skin elasticity by 20%. Lutein also decreased oxidation of beneficial lipids by 55%.
Lutein is not naturally produced by the body and must be ingested daily through foods or nutritional supplements. Lutein can be gained from dark leafy green vegetables such as kale, broccoli, collard greens, and spinach. It’s also found in corn and egg yolks. Lutein is needed for proper functioning of eye, cervix, brain, breast, blood serum and skin tissues.
If you take a multivitamin regularly, make sure it contains lutein. Your skin will show the benefits.
Filed under Vitamins and Minerals by 
Your skin is the largest organ of your body. It’s one of the first things people notice when they look at you (ask anyone who suffers from acne, they will definitely agree!) and your skin is one of the best indicators of your overall state of health and wellness.
Did you know that your skin is one of the first organs to demonstrate the signs of stress? When you are under a great deal of stress, it is likely that your skin will breakout, become oilier, or that it will show wrinkles and other signs of agining much more quickly. Did you know that prolonged stress will actually cause the skin to heal less quickly, resulting in a longer time for cuts and bruises to go away?
Improving your stress management will have positive effects on your [tag-ice]skin[/tag-ice].
Taking the time to eat right, sleep enough, and relax will benefit your skin.
The skin is the largest organ of the body and yet most of us don’t do enough to maintain our skin’s health. Americans spend millions on body products every month, but are they buying the right ones? How much do you really know about what your skin needs, what type of skin you have, what kind of soaps and lotions are the best for your skin? What about those products that promise younger-looking, wrinkle-free skin, do they work?
Filed under General Skin Care Information by
