Beauty lab

FOOD CHAIN
Eating your way to a perfect complexion is the premise behind the nutracosmetics trend, which includes supplements, beverages and candies. The new generation of these products delivers research-based, therapeutic doses of ingredients without excess sugar and cal­ories. Genuine Health’s new Healthy Skin Chocolate Soft Chews contain cocoa extracts, which improve skin hydration and circulation, according to studies by the University of Düsseldorf. “Chocolate often contains trans fats and refined sugar, which can increase inflammation,” says Julie Daniluk, a Toronto-based nutritionist. “But cocoa seed extract preserves cocoa’s natural polyphenol content, which is known to improve skin health.” Also new in ingestibles is the French brand Oenobiol. “Most women have an inadequate ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and may not get enough of specific carotenoids and phytonutrients,” says Dr. Marie Béjot, founder of Oenobiol. In theory, these supplements target dry skin and dark circles and will possibly improve the quality of skin, hair and nails.

SMOOTH TALK
 Hand-held pulsed-light devices are the newest development in at-home hair removal. The Silk’n, which launched in Canada this spring, delivers pulsed-light energy to the hair shaft. It works by transforming light energy into heat, which damages the follicle and, over time, prevents hair from growing back. Although it was designed specifically for those who like the convenience of at-home beauty treatments, you’ll still need some basic training. (It’s available only through physicians and medispas.) “Patients usually see results after the first or second session and have a hair reduction of up to 90 percent after nine sessions,” says Dr. Stephen Mulholland, a cosmetic surgeon based in Toronto. Since the light acts on hair pigment, people with fair skin and dark hair are good candidates for treatment; those with darker skin should steer clear because the melanin in their skin can interfere, causing hyperpigmentation or even burns. Other new light-therapy hair-removal devices include the no!no! and the TRIA Laser Hair Removal System.

'Chocolate often contains trans fats and refined sugar, which can increase inflammation,' says Julie Daniluk, a Toronto-based nutritionist

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