Skin, hair and nails: 5 of the latest trends

Beauty is every changing, just like the products that land on the market to enhance it. For many though, the toughest decision, is deciphering between what is good quality, and what is simply a con.

Here, Omega 7 suppliers, Pharma Nord, take a look at the latest trends in health and beauty and offer you the answers to making the most of what’s available.

Q10 ubiquinol supplements

There’s no denying the benefits that regular water consumption has on the human body. Research has suggested that drinking 500ml of water as soon as you wake up could be the trick you’re missing. But according to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), 89% of Brits are not drinking enough. Considering that dehydration can cause the skin to become more susceptible to disorders and premature wrinkling, it’s still vital that you consume the recommended 2.5 litres and 2 litres of water a day for men and women respectively.

With more scientific research being applied to the area of skin care, what else can we be doing other than drinking more water to help our skin? The supplement, coenzyme Q10, could be the answer. Coenzyme Q10 is a powerful antioxidant that neutralises harmful free radicals (that we're exposed to from pollution and UV rays) and helps produce collagen and elastin to fight the signs of skin ageing. Reportedly, demand for coenzyme Q10 is growing in the cosmetics sector, helping Q10 achieve a predicted market growth of 9.1% CAGR until 2028 — so expect Q10 ubiquinol supplements to rise in popularity in the months and years to come.

Transforming skincare

Melting formulas are the latest craze to come out of eastern Asia. They cater for those whose lives are complicated by the texture of their skincare products. If you find yourself opting for gels over creams because oily cleansers prove to be a nuisance, then fear no more.

Melting formulas offer a practical solution to reducing spots and treating ageing skin, and their name carries out exactly what they say – melt. These skincare products evolve and transform when they’re applied, moving from solids into liquids or even water into oil as they get to work.

The formulas can usually be classified in three separate categories: cleansers, masks and moisturisers. Using melting cleansers lets the solution adjust to your body temperature quickly, which helps it penetrate your skin and get rid of impurities more effectively, while melting masks tend to offer an efficient balance of semi-solid exfoliating and moisturising properties that dissolve on application to clean pores. Unlike cleansers and masks, the melting moisturiser usually has a gel-like consistency that turns watery as it hydrates your skin — eliminating greasy residue and leaving a clean feeling in the process.

LED face masks

When you hear the term light emitting-diodes you wouldn’t be criticised for thinking of the 32" flats screen in your living room. However, LED face masks are the next big thing in facial treatments. According to reports, exposing skin to various types of low-level LED light offers anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial advantages. While blue light is supposed to help combat acne, red waves are expected to penetrate the skin even more and ease inflammation.

Professionally these gadgets have been used in salons for a for a number of years, however, they are now readily available on the market, meaning you can use them it in the comfort of your own home. According to Hooman Khorasani, chief of the Dermatologic and Cosmetic Surgery at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, therapy that involves a mix of red and blue light could potentially help "reduce the size of the sebaceous glands, so you don’t produce as much oil".

The dermatologist suggests alternating the days in which you use LED facemasks to avoid overexposure of red and blue waves, as well as photosensitivity. However, that said, there are now several safe, at-home light-emitting face devices that you can use. Just check that the one you get has been approved by a regulatory body before using.

SNS nails

Signature nail system (SNS) is proving to be a revolutionary pioneer in the world nail application. Acrylic, shellac and gels appear to have had their time in the sun. SNS is a nail-dipping process that utilises a brush-on gel as its base. After, the nail is then submerged in a strengthening powder — in your choice of shade.

Despite the fact similarities can be drawn between SNS and the likes of acrylic, in relation to time, they are a world apart – as you don’t have to waste time waiting on the paint to dry with the colour coming from the powder itself.

Not only does this make the process quicker and simpler, but SNS nails also have a slightly thinner appearance, making them look more natural, and are strong, yet lightweight.

In order to avoid causing any potential damage to your fingernail, it’s worth getting SNS carried out by a professional.

Hair perfume

A new fan favourite purchase in 2018 that you may not know about is hair perfume. Many of us are guilty of spraying our regular perfume onto our hair to make sure we get full coverage of our favourite scent — but did you know that the alcohol in our fragrances actually dries out our hair?

Instead of having to sacrifice having their hair smell dull, this recent development is allowing women across the globe to retain a vibrant yet healthy smell. According to Vogue, hair perfume is a top trend for summer 2018 and the product has been so well received that there are now multiple varieties offering everything from de-frizzing properties to UV-protecting elements.

As the trend grows, you are guaranteed to see more of these products available on the UK market!