If you spent the summers of your youth blissfully unaware of the dangers of too much sun exposure, there’s a new beauty product vying for your attention. No, not a new cream, blush, or cleanser. We're talking beauty supplements and skin-care supplements: pills, elixirs or even candy that you ingest to help improve your skin.

You may have noticed supplements such as Imedeen or Perfect Skin at your local drugstore in the vitamin aisle, or even at the cosmetics counter, beckoning with promises of improved skin tone, firmer skin, less visible age spots, acne control, protection from sun damage, clearer pores and even a better tan. Seductive claims all -- we all want to look radiant.
 
But what's in these supplements? Formulas vary, but some common ingredients are vitamins (such as vitamins A, C and E), minerals (such as zinc and chromium), antioxidants (like lycopene and green tea), omega-3 and omega-6 fats, and amino acids.

According to Dr. Charles Lynde, associate professor of dermatology at the University of Toronto, beauty supplements "work from the inside to try to provide a proper environment in your body, to try to set the stage to be healthy."

Beauty supplements are a billion-dollar industry worldwide, and they are very popular in Europe and Asia. They are just starting to generate some buzz here in Canada. And for us, the jury still seems to be out.

"We don't know," says dermatologist Dr. Sandy Skotnicki-Grant, medical director of the Bay Dermatology Centre in Toronto. "Vitamin C, definitely, there is no doubt, there are scientific studies showing that [applying vitamin C topically] can increase collagen production. But taking it in a vitamin? That study hasn't been done."

Theoretically, there is science behind the fact that if you are missing nutrients, then taking a vitamin pill is not a bad idea to ensure that you are getting all the vitamins and minerals you need. "Your skin is the only organ you can see that reflects your inner health," says cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Lisa Kellet, director of DLK in Toronto. "So if you're not following a good diet, or you're not taking care of yourself, garbage in is going to equal garbage out."

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