What if we took expertise a 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, dietary supplements are not THE solution. On the other hand, we're 100% convinced that they are part of the solution, along with the daily application of a clean moisturizing cream, a good diet (even if you can give in from time to time) and even the sport you do. Putting all these elements together can help to improve skin in crisis, or simply maintain radiant skin for as long as possible.
How do we select our food 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 efficiency
Because not all supplements are created equal, here are our main criteria for offering you the cream of the crop when it comes to supplements :)
- 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 standardized extract, it's better to have the plant in its entirety to benefit from the synergy of its nutrients. We therefore prefer this option.
- Certified organic or natural (unprocessed) plant extracts Organic plants contain fewer synthetic pesticides and are richer in nutrients. However, the organic label, like other labels, represents a cost, and some brands don't (or can't) afford the expense, even though their products could meet these criteria. So we've set up a special exchange with brands in this category.
- A short list of excipients Excipients are the additives used in your supplements to make them as stable and effective as 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...
- Minimized presence of allergens: we do our utmost to avoid offering you lactose- or gluten-based food supplements.
Yes, dietary supplements are useful.
And here are 3 reasons to help you 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, eliminates magnesium, as well as vitamins B and C.
- Our individual dietary choices can lead to certain deficiencies. And these are not limited to vegetarians, vegans and flexitarians.
3 simple tips to put the odds in your favor
On a daily basis (but especially during your cure):
- Choose a diet rich in fruit and vegetableslow in or devoid of industrial products
- Get regular exercise. It's better to go for a brisk 20-minute walk every day than to do a single intense sports session once a week ;-)
- Get enough sleep. An average of 7 hours' sleep is ideal.
Frequently asked questions
Can anyone take food supplements?
No. Certain situations require special attention. If any of the following situations apply to you, we recommend that you seek your doctor's advice before taking any medication. :
- I'm on a baby trial Many nutrients and herbs are contraindicated because they can reduce fertility, cause fetal malformations or complications. Also, many mothers-to-be are already taking prenatal food supplements: adding others may increase this intake.
- I'm pregnant (or breastfeeding) 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. So we don't know whether or not they are dangerous during pregnancy.
- I smoke: the high vitamin A content of spirulina or any other vitamin A-based dietary supplement is not recommended, as a high dose of vitamin A increases the risk of lung cancer.
- I have high blood pressure Certain nutrients can raise blood pressure (licorice, for example). They can also increase or prevent the effects of blood pressure-lowering drugs.
- I have diabetes Certain ingredients can disrupt blood sugar levels and interfere with treatment.
- I have (or have had) cancer Some nutrients can encourage cancerous growth, while others are contraindicated with oncology treatments.
- I have thyroid problems Hypothyroid or hyperthyroid patients may be sensitive to certain ingredients, such as iodine.
- I have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS): maca is the main ingredient we advise against (because of its influence on hormones). We systematically indicate in our instructions for use if the product in question is not recommended.
- I'm taking medication / I'm on medication As a general rule, if you take medication on a daily basis, always ask your doctor for advice. A nutrient can increase, prevent or hinder the absorption of a drug.
- I already take dietary supplements Adding a dietary supplement to existing ones can be problematic. For example, two dietary supplements containing vitamin C, if taken beyond your tolerance threshold, may cause undesirable effects such as diarrhea.
- I'm a teenager This also applies to children, of course, but we doubt they'll be visiting us alone ;-) Children don't tolerate the same doses as teenagers, who are also undergoing a hormonal upheaval 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 health and beauty & well-being food 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 ideal time to take a dietary 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 better to take the capsules at different meals 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.
Glossary
Want to know even more about dietary supplements? Here's a glossary to help you make sense of it all!
Adaptogen
An adaptogenic plant is one that enables the body to adapt its physiology to better respond to stress. In short, an adaptogenic plant helps us adapt to stress.
Additive
Antioxidant
Substance that prevents or slows down the oxidation process, i.e. the aging, degradation and alteration of a cell or tissue.
Food supplements
A foodstuff whose purpose is to provide a supplement of nutrients or substances with a nutritional or physiological effect that are lacking or insufficient in an individual's normal diet.
Excipient
A substance added to the composition of a drug to incorporate the active ingredients.
Minerals
Inorganic bodies (i.e. not of animal or vegetable origin) formed by geological processes (from earth, rocks, etc.).
Nutrient
Organic substance (of animal or plant origin) or inorganic substance (of neither animal nor plant origin) found in food.
Oxidation
The process of aging, degradation and alteration of a cell or tissue.
Phytonutrient
Nutrient derived from a plant.
Vitamins
Organic substance (of animal or plant origin), with no energy value, but essential to the body, supplied in small quantities by the diet.
To find THE cure that's right for you, take a look at our buying guide!
