This Is One Of The BEST Things You Can Ever Do For Your Skin
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
As much as I am an absolute skincare junkie, that obsession I've had for years doesn't stop with cosmetics. Those of you who've followed me for a while will know I'm just as interested in what happens inside the body as what we put on the skin. Great skin doesn't just come from a serum alone. It's influenced by what we eat, how we sleep, how we move, our hormones, stress levels and, as I'm talking about today... our gut health.
I'm also not someone who gets excited about every new product that lands on my product shelf. When choosing products for my clinic I'm incredibly particular. I want to see the before and afters, the clinical trials, understand exactly how it works and know who created it. I'm basically every sales rep's worst nightmare... but it's good news for you because I do all the hard schlepping so you don't have to.
With all that being said, I have had a very exciting new product come across my lap.
I've been aware of Decoded for quite some time. I already adore their foundations for post facial make-up (yes, foundation you can apply immediately after a surface peel so you can come for a facial with me and head out for dinner that evening looking fabulous), but I've recently fallen in love with their newest supplement... GS-1.
The first thing that caught my attention was who created it.
GS-1 has been developed by Shane Franck, the co-founder of Nimue Skin Technology. If you've been with me for a while, you'll know how much I trust Nimue. I've been with them since 2005 and swear by their products. They understand skin health, barrier repair and intelligent formulation better than almost anyone.
Then I started reading about GS-1 and that's when I got really excited. This isn't another collagen powder or probiotic.
It's something completely different!
I've spent the last twenty plus years talking about repairing and protecting the skin barrier. Now I finally have something that focuses on the gut barrier too. For someone who believes healthy skin starts from within, this makes complete sense.
So why does the gut barrier matter so much?
Think of your gut lining as your body's security fence.
Its job is to decide what gets absorbed into your bloodstream and what stays out. When it's healthy, nutrients can pass through efficiently whilst helping to keep unwanted bacteria, toxins and inflammatory compounds where they belong. When that barrier becomes compromised, inflammation can increase throughout the body and one of the first places we often see that is the skin.
I'm sure you've heard people talking about the gut-skin axis before. This is simply the constant communication between your gut and your skin. Your gut influences inflammation, your immune system, hormones, nutrient absorption and ultimately your skin barrier. If your gut isn't happy, there's a very good chance your skin won't be either.
That's why when clients come to me with acne, rosacea, eczema, sensitivity, barrier damage or accelerated ageing, I'm nearly always asking about their digestion, stress levels, diet and overall gut health. Your skin can tell us an awful lot about what's happening inside your body.
I often describe skincare as being like a sandwich.
Your skincare works from the outside in and your supplements work from the inside out. When they meet somewhere in the middle and that's where the magic happens.
I also sometimes think we spend far too much time obsessing over whether a serum contains 2% or 5% of an ingredient, whilst completely forgetting that the skin cells we're trying to improve are actually built from the nutrients we absorb every single day. If those foundations aren't there, we're asking our skincare to do an awful lot of extra work.
So what exactly is GS-1?
Rather than simply adding billions of bacteria like many gut supplements do, GS-1 focuses on supporting the environment those bacteria actually live in. It works to support the gut lining itself whilst also providing your body with the nutrients it needs to build healthier skin from within.
It contains just six ingredients, but every single one has been chosen for a reason.
Marine Collagen Peptides
These provide highly bioavailable Type I collagen together with seventeen amino acids to help support collagen production, skin hydration, firmness and elasticity. We know collagen declines as we age, so giving the body the building blocks it needs makes perfect sense.
Eggshell Membrane Collagen
This was probably the ingredient I was most excited to see.
Rather than simply containing collagen, eggshell membrane naturally contains collagen, elastin, hyaluronic acid, glucosamine, chondroitin sulphate and over four hundred naturally occurring proteins and bioactive compounds. It supports not only the skin but also the joints, connective tissues and importantly the gut lining itself.
If you've ever wondered why I love Forlle'd so much, this is one of the reasons. They've been using eggshell membrane technology for years.
Lycopene
A fantastic antioxidant that helps protect against oxidative stress and supports the skin's own natural defence against UV-induced free radical damage. Think of it as another layer of protection from the inside out.
Vitamin C
We all know Vitamin C is essential for collagen production, but it's also incredibly important for maintaining a healthy gut lining and helping the other ingredients perform at their best.
Glutathione
Another one I was excited to see. This is often referred to as the body's master antioxidant. It helps support detoxification, protects cells from oxidative stress and even helps recycle other antioxidants, making the whole formula work more effectively.
Grape Seed Extract
Another ingredient I absolutely love. Rich in powerful polyphenols, it helps reduce inflammation, supports the gut lining, strengthens antioxidant defences and contributes to healthy ageing throughout the body.
Now you might be wondering where this fits alongside everything else I already recommend.
If Skinade is your collagen specialist, helping improve hydration, elasticity and overall skin quality...And Skin Youth Biome is your microbiome specialist, supporting your beneficial gut bacteria... Then GS-1 focuses on something completely different again.
The gut lining itself.
They're basically all working synergistically (love that word) together to compliment each other. It's the holy trinity!!
Skinade supplies highly specialised collagen peptides to help support the skin from within.
Skin Youth Biome helps nourish and maintain a healthy microbiome.
GS-1 helps strengthen and support the gut barrier whilst also providing collagen, antioxidants and key nutrients that contribute to healthier skin.
They're all doing different jobs, but together they create a really comprehensive approach to skin health from the inside out.
How do you take it?
Simply mix two scoops into a glass of cold water, juice or a smoothie each morning. I wouldn't add it to anything hot as you'll reduce the activity of the Vitamin C. I'd also avoid tea, coffee or matcha for around an hour either side if possible.
We spend hundreds, sometimes thousands, of pounds trying to improve our skin from the outside, yet every single skin cell is built from nutrients delivered from within. That's why GS-1 excites me so much.
Of course it isn't promising an overnight miracle, I think we all know we have to be patient with supplements. But I hope after taking this you will start to gradually see some changes and that is something I can absolutely get behind.
If you wish to purchase the Decoded GS-1 Inner Foundation, please fill out my order form here and I can just check it's suitable for you.
If you'd like to know whether GS-1, Skinade or Skin Youth Biome would be the best place to start, why not book an online consultation with me or fill out my free Skin Check-In Form? We can chat through your skin, your health and your goals, then create a plan that's completely bespoke to you.
Thank you so much for reading,
Emmaline
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