Most westerners neglect their vitamins and minerals, not to mention nutritional supplements.
However, when it comes to skin care, there are a number of vitamins and supplements that you can take to help improve your skin's appearance.
These work through various antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and detoxification means.
Some just make up for deficiency's in your diet.
Either way, one of these might be the "magic pill" you've been looking for, anecdotal reports have shown great success with some of these methods.
First on the list: Zinc.
Most people are relatively unaware that the majority of American's and anyone else that eats a "western" diet usually has a zinc deficiency.
Zinc is concentrated most in the reproductive organs and in the skin.
In the skin, zinc helps protect against bacteria and helps keep pores clear.
With a zinc deficiency, you may have severe breakouts and have no idea the cause, just think you have some kind of "incurable" acne problem.
This is why people with a zinc deficiency see such dramatic improvements in their acne in only days, because they are making up for a deficiency.
Also expect improved levels of testosterone and improved sleep quality when taking zinc.
Another vitamin that is said to have acne fighting properties is vitamin B5 or pantheonic acid.
This is known throughout the bodybuilding community, who load up on it to keep the skin clear.
Those that take vitamin B5 usually also take vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin D.
These are all very important in maintaining optimal skin function, which ties into your skin's appearance.
In my opinion, the best supplement for skin care is omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA.
These little gems are anti-inflammatory compounds that can cause a dramatic change in the quality of your skin.
This is not a quick fix however, because it can take up to 30 days for the fish oil to build up in your system, but once it does it has profound anti-inflammatory properties.
Expect much more radiant and "glowing" skin (not shiny or oily, but a healthy radiance).
Fish oil is also well known for it's ability to lower the risk of heart disease.
Another great side effect is called nutrient partitioning: taking fish oil causes you to store less fat, burn more fat, and build more muscle (as well as recover from exercise faster).
Finally, I highly recommend antioxidants for general health and skin care in particular.
There are lots of free radicals running around in your skin, and these are the eventual cause of the dreaded wrinkle.
Many people waste money on expensive anti aging products when simply drinking green tea would be enough.
Acai products are also great sources of antioxidants (I don't recommend buying acai products online though, most are scams).
You can also buy green tea and antioxidant capsules, which concentrate the antioxidant EGCG for your benefit.
There are many behind the scenes ways to use science to improve your appearance, to learn more skin care tips, check out the resource box below.