Taking expert advice one step further
Since our beginnings, our vocation has always been the same: to bring you our beauty expertise by advising you on the best possible skincare routine, just for you. And whether you've ever walked through the door of one of our boutiques or surfed our eshop, you've probably noticed: we never stop at simple product advice. Why do we do this? Because we're convinced that beauty and well-being are closely linked. Who hasn't found that a good night's sleep, a zen mind or even good digestion don't have a positive influence on the skin? But in our fast-paced lives, we have to admit that we're not perfect, and that it's not always easy to go to bed at 10:30 p.m. every night, just as it's not easy to manage a peak of stress which (however) has a direct influence on the skin and accelerates its ageing... And it's at times like these that we think we'd like a little help :)
For us, food supplements are not THE solution. However, we are 100% convinced that they are part of the solution, as well as the daily application of a clean moisturiser, a good diet (even if you can break down from time to time) and even the sport you practice. All of these elements put together can help to improve skin in crisis or simply maintain radiant skin for as long as possible.
How do we select our beauty supplements?
With the same rigor we apply to all our other products. For our dietary supplements, we have surrounded ourselves with a committee of experts (pharmacists, nutritherapists, naturopaths...), so as to have all the keys in hand to select the best brands and recommend them to you in complete safety. It took us no less than a year to test everything. Our final criterion? Oh My Cream's little "twist": we needed brands that we wanted to try out right now... and over the long term! Because more than ever before, regular use of supplements is not a condition, it's a requirement for their effectiveness.
Ingredients, quality and effectiveness
Because all supplements are not made equal, here is a list of our principal criteria for choosing the crème de la crème :)
- High daily dosage and concentration of active ingredients To have an effect, a nutrient must be significantly present in a supplement. We have selected only the most concentrated.
- Ingredients that really active ingredients: Rather than a standardised extract, it is better to have the whole plant to benefit from the synergy of its nutrients. We therefore prefer this option.
- Certified organic or natural (unprocessed) plant extracts Organic: organically grown plants contain fewer synthetic pesticides and are richer in nutrients. However, the organic label, like other labels, comes at a cost and some brands do not (or cannot) afford this expense, even though their products could fit these criteria. We have therefore set up a special exchange with brands that fit into this category.
- A short list of excipients Excipients are the additives used in your supplements to obtain the most stable and effective capsule possible once ingested (these are the famous emulsifiers, anti-caking agents, thickeners, etc.). The longer the list of excipients, the greater the chances of having a supplement with few active ingredients inside...
- Minimised presence of allergens: We avoid offering you food supplements containing lactose or gluten as much as possible.
Yes, supplements do serve a purpose
And here are 3 reasons to help you better understand :)
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Even if your diet is balanced, there's one reality: today's foods tend to be much lower in nutrients than those than those consumed by our grandparents. Intensive conventional farming and the use of pesticides deplete the soil of minerals... just as excessive food processing robs foods of their nutritional density.
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Many factors drain nutrients from the body. Stress, for example, removes magnesium, B vitamins and C.
- Our individual food choices can lead to certain deficiencies. And these do not only concern vegetarians, vegans and flexitarians.
3 tips for successful supplementing
Every day, and in particular if you are taking a month long treatment for example:
- Focus on a diet rich in fruit and vegetableslow or no industrial products
- Do some regular physical activity. A brisk 20-minute walk every day is better than one intense sports session once a week ;-)
- Get enough sleep. An average of 7 hours of sleep is ideal.
Frequently asked questions
Can everyone take supplements?
No. There are certain situations that require special attention. If you are affected by any of the following situations we recommend that you seek the advice of your doctor before taking any medication. :
- I am on a baby trial Many nutrients and herbs are contraindicated because they can reduce fertility, cause foetal malformations or complications. Also, many mothers-to-be are already taking prenatal supplements: adding others may increase this intake.
- I am pregnant (or breastfeeding) Pregnancy: as with baby testing, pregnancy is a particularly sensitive time for both mother and baby. To avoid inconvenience (but also for ethical reasons), many substances are not tested on pregnant women. It is therefore not known whether or not they are dangerous during pregnancy.
- I smoke: The high vitamin A content of spirulina or any other vitamin A based food supplement is not recommended, as a high dose of vitamin A increases the risk of lung cancer.
- I have high blood pressure Some nutrients can raise blood pressure (e.g. liquorice). They can also increase the effect of blood pressure-lowering drugs or prevent their effects.
- I have diabetes Diabetes: some ingredients can disrupt blood sugar levels and interfere with treatment.
- I have (or have had) cancer Some nutrients can encourage cancerous growth, others are contraindicated with oncology treatments.
- I have thyroid problems Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism patients may be sensitive to certain ingredients such as iodine.
- I have Syndrome Polycystic Ovaries (PCOS): maca is the ingredient that is mainly not recommended (because of its influence on hormones). We always indicate in our instructions for use if the product in question is not recommended.
- I am taking medication / I am under treatment If you are taking medication on a daily basis, you should always seek advice from your doctor. A nutrient can increase, prevent or hinder the absorption of a drug.
- I already take food supplements Adding a food supplement to existing ones can be problematic. For example, two supplements containing vitamin C, if they are beyond your tolerance level, may cause adverse effects such as diarrhoea.
- I am a teenager This also applies to children, of course, but we doubt that they will visit us alone ;-) Children do not tolerate the same doses as teenagers, who are also undergoing hormonal changes that supplements can affect.
- I have allergies / intolerances Some supplements may contain ingredients or excipients to which you may be allergic, such as lactose.
Is there a difference between food, health, beauty and wellbeing supplements?
Yes,"health" food supplements are designed to improve one or more specific aspects of health. They will, for example, reduce fatigue, regulate hormones, calm the nervous system, help the liver, thyroid... It is strongly recommended to seek the advice of a health professional before taking any supplement. The aim of beauty & well-being food supplements is to improve the condition of your skin, hair and nails, or to help you relieve stress, sleep better... Nevertheless, the ingredients in beauty & well-being food supplements also have a physiological effect: nutrients that can improve skin, for example, have multiple functions. Zinc, for example, is excellent for reducing adult blemishes, but it's also great for liver function or better ovulation.
When is the best time to take a food supplement?
Generally speaking, a dietary supplement is best absorbed if taken with a meal , to benefit from the digestive juices secreted when eating. However, if several capsules are to be taken in the course of a day (and unless otherwise instructed on the bottle), it's best to take the capsules at different mealtimes to avoid saturating your digestive system's absorption capacity. If your dietary supplement contains B vitamins, it's best to take it at breakfast or lunchtime, as it may interfere with your sleep.
The glossary
Do you want to know more about food supplements? Our lexicon is here to help!
Adaptogen:
An adaptogen is a plant that allows the body to physiologically adapt to better deal with stress. In a nutshell, an adaptogen helps the body to adapt to stress.
Additive:
Antioxidant:
A substance which prevents or slows the oxidation process, i.e. the process that ages, degrades or alters a cell or its tissues.
Food supplement:
A food substance that adds extra nutrients or a substance with a nutritional or physiological benefit to someone whose diet may otherwise be lacking.
Excipient
A substance added to a medicine or supplement that helps to incorporate the principal ingredients.
Minerals:
Inorganic substances (i.e. not of plant or vegetable origin) created as part of a geological process linked to the earth or rocks for example.
Nutrient:
An organic substance (of animal or plant origin) or an inorganic substance (of neither animal nor plant origin) found in food.
Oxidation:
The process that ages, degrades or alters a cell or its tissues.
Phytonutrient:
A nutrient that is of plant origin.
Vitamin:
An organic substance (of animal or vegetable origin), with no energetic value but which is required for the body to function effectively and which is provided in small quantities by what we eat.
To find THE cure that's right for you, take a look at our buying guide!
