Supplements

Best supplements for thickening hair please?

I hate to say it, but I don't know that there are any supplements that really stand up to medical scrutiny, but the ones that are most popular among hairdressers and friends with hair issues include Viviscal Pro and Philip Kingsley's Density supplements. Lots of people (me included) think collagen supplements help with hair strength as well as with skin/ nails/ joints. Hormone supplementation may help too if this is something that's appropriate for you. You also want to think about massaging the scalp to enhance blood circulation, and using a scalp scrub occasionally so the follicles don't become blocked, and healthy lifestyle – a good...

Totally Derma is too expensive for my budget – what other brands would you recommend?

Absolute Collagen, Revive Collagen, Ingenious Collagen and Gold Collagen are all more affordable than Totally Derma, use decent types/ sources of collagen and have reasonable data to support their efficacy, so have a look at those.

I’m 38 and still get acne on my cheeks but skin also dry and sensitive skin, and I can see the ageing… I use ZO end to end but not sure it’s the answer, plus it’s very £££. I looked at your Acne Fixers Bundle but how do I also tackle...

Dry and sensitive skin suggests that your skin barrier isn't in great shape. Work on this by focussing on gentle, hydrating products – a hyaluronic acid serum, sealed in with a moisturiser and, in the morning, topped with sunscreen. Once your skin is feeling stronger and more comfortable, start using a product with retinol or another retinoid (start slowly, with tiny amounts and twice a week at first) to help with acne management. Taking lots of omega-3 supplements can really help with skin hydration and skin quality, too. These are my current favourites....

Dear Alice, I’d very much appreciate your views on the Happy Mammoth Prebiotic Collagen Protein versus your recommended Totally Derma Collagen. I’m probably not the only one of your followers being targeted by their ads and know you’ll give a...

Hi, I don't know the product so I'm afraid I can't comment, but I do know that Totally Derma and other hydrolysed collagen supplements support collagen production in the skin in a very direct way – by supplying collagen fragments in a form the body can use. There are several articles and videos on the TTG website explaining why I think Totally Derma is the Rolls-Royce of collagen supplements.

Hi Alice, I wanted to ask you about marine collagen VS bovine collagen. I take Skinade and I think it helps me, however I saw your post and you mentioned something about bovine collagen being closer to human collagen? Will it help things like very...

Hello, yes, bovine collagen is derived from cows. I like the brand that I've brought into the TTG shop, Totally Derma and yes, that is bovine collagen. Either marine or bovine collagen should help your skin and hair and nails, as well as your joints. Will it help your smile lines? Hard to say, because smile lines show up more as a result of your particular facial physiology and the kinds of expressions you make (nothing wrong with smiling, we could all do with more smiling in our lives). Smile lines often become more noticeable as we age because our faces lose volume, so the skin sags forwards and down, hence the smile lines....

Can you test the Lyma supplement and at-home laser please?

I have tried the Lyma 'laser' but I'm not a fan – I used it every night for months on end in spring 2021 (on one side of one wrinkle on my neck, and on the knuckles of my left hand, as advised by the brand founder), without getting any results. My laser-manufacturer acquaintances laugh at it when I ask them what they think of its supposed powers of rejuvenation. Why? 'Look, this isn't competition to us,' said one. 'Laser?' laughed another. 'That's more of a laser pointer.' It is not a medical-grade phototherapy device. The Lyma makes enormous claims, claiming the sort of results that it normally takes several rounds of in-clinic...

Have you stopped selling the omega A-3? I can't see it on your website.

Does Ingenious Beauty Collagen work?

Yes, it's a decent brand of collagen and it has some clinical studies to show that it does what it claims. Like any collagen supplement, you need to take it for three months to start seeing the difference that it can make to your skin.

Hope you can answer me, I have very dehydrated skin so am thinking of Profhilo injections. Some websites say that it is only suitable for the lower face and the forehead area won't be affected. Others say it will work for the entire face?

Hi, Profhilo and all the other injectable moisturisers are great for dry skin, and they work wherever they're injected – though if your skin is really dry, you may need more treatment than average in order to see results. The injection protocol that is taught for Profhilo only involves injections in the mid and lower face, but most expert practitioners now take a more creative approach and place the product where they feel it is most needed, which can include the forehead and the area beside the eyes. If your skin is really dry, it's also worth packing in the hydration in your skincare, with a gentle cleanser, a hydrating serum and a...

Hi Alice, Do you know anything about the Facial-Flex facial exerciser that Rosemary Conley uses? I have one and cannot find any recent reviews but want to firm up the area around my mouth and cheeks! I also take collagen supplements plus retinol.

Not much, sorry. I was interested in trying it but my doctor friends said forgodsake no, because it would only make already over-tight muscles in my jaw and neck tighter still. Collagen supplements and retinol are both a really good idea, so keep up with those.

What no one has been able to explain to me is why collagen isn’t treated like any other ingested protein and proteolysis doesn’t take place. I.e. protease breaks the collagen into basis’ amino acids?

Hi, you're basically asking how collagen supplements do what they claim to do. As I understand it, protein in the diet is broken down by the stomach acids into long-chain amino acids, whereas the hydrolysed collagen in collagen supplements is broken down into short-chain amino acids that the body recognises and knows what to do with. Plus, the presence of more of collagen in the body prompts our bodies to create more of its own. Totally Derma has tested this to show that the product not only makes it through the stomach but shows up in the skin,...

What would be your recommendation for a 38-year-old starting to show signs of ageing? Dark circles, fine lines and general lacklustre, dull skin.

I'm very keen on a supporting skin from within with appropriate supplements. My favourite three are a liposomal vitamin C called Altrient C, Totally Derma collagen drink, and OG omega-3 supplements which all benefit the skin in different ways. Tweakments-wise, a round or two of an injectable moisturiser treatment might help boost your skin condition and skin strength and amplify the effects you get from skincare and supplements....

Can I stop taking my Rejuvenated Collagen Shot now I have started taking Altrient vitamin C? Do they both do the same thing collagen-wise or am I best to carry on taking both daily?

Hi, you could and see how it goes, though it will take a few months before you can tell the difference. I take both Totally Derma collagen drink and Altrient C every day because they stimulate collagen production in the skin in different ways, and after discussing this with researchers who look in to the detail of supplements and still take both, I haven't dared to stop!

I am taking collagen powder and Altrient C along with probiotic tablets. I am unsure whether it is ok to take all together or should I take them separately throughout the day? What gives the best results or does it not matter?

For the collagen and vitamin C it really doesn't matter too much. Sticklers for precision would prefer that you took the Altrient C on an empty stomach (for faster absorption) and the collagen in the evening, but the key thing is just to take them, your body will work out what to do with them. Re the probiotics, I don't know which brand you're taking, but see whether there is any specific advice about when to take them (e.g. with food/ before meals) on the packet.

Zooki have a collagen supplement - is this liposomal delivery better than Totally Derma? Would it be an overload to take the two? Or shall I just stick with Totally Derma? Thanks. Cath x

Hi Cath, I don't know if Zooki's collagen supplement contains liposomes – the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ruled that Zooki's Vitamin C didn't contain liposomes in November 2021, so they have been changing their claims since then, and the same may apply to their collagen. Totally Derma is fab and it's all you need for collagen supplementation, though I back it up with Altrient C which has a proven liposomal delivery system and which boosts collagen production by a different mechanism....

Buying from your website post-Brexit – I live in France... will I be charged import taxes?

There's always a chance you'll be charged import taxes but we can't say for certain either way. Please email us at [email protected] with details of what you'd like to order and your address, and we will give you a shipping quote which will include any extra costs/ taxes we are informed about.

I am 57, have regular Caci & RF treatments. I also use my Nuface Mini. Been reading up about Coolsculpting and considering it for jowl area. My skin is in pretty good shape overall and would love your advice. Also, I live in Brighton area, so...

Hi, it sounds like you are taking great care of your skin. I'd always suggest a consistent skincare regime with active ingredients like vitamin C serum in the morning to brighten and strengthen the skin, plus a hydrating sunscreen, and retinol or another kind of retinoid at night to stimulate collagen boosting and improve skin texture. CoolSculpting aka fat freezing or crylipolysis can be really helpful for shrinking fat below the jaw - you need an expert practitioner to assess your face and jawline and see if you would be a good candidate for this. They also need to explain the potential complications of the procedure, which is something...