It is true that we always want what we cannot have. Or, put another way, the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
Those with straight hair have perms while those with curly locks go for rebonding. The same is true with skin color. Caucasians are always looking to get tanned, often resorting to tanning beds and bronzers. Asians, Africans and those from the Middle East, on the other hand, want fairer skin.
Vickie Belo has launched Belo Nutraceuticals to introduce another first to the public: the first belo Nutraceuticals: Glutathione + Collagen pill that provides the benefits of whitening and anti-aging.
“This is the first ingestible from Belo. Belo Essentials’ topical products whiten from the surface of the skin. To complement this, Belo Neutraceuticals addresses whitening and anti-aging from within,” Belo says during the launch of Belo Neutraceuticals at Myron’s in Greenbelt.
To illustrate, Belo explains that glutathione is a tripeptide of amino acid present in human cells. It is also considered the master antioxidant because it is the most potent in the body with the highest concentration of 26.58 percent found in the liver where it is needed most.
“Glutathione is involved in detoxification, destruction of free radicals and strengthening the immune system. Of course, as we all know, it is clinically proven to whiten the skin,” she adds.
To summarize, Belo explains that glutathione whitens the skin by interfering in melanin production, changing eumelamin (dark melanin) to pheolamin (light melanin) and replacement of tissue to excrete melanin.
Melanin is a substance that gives skin and hair its color. Eumelamin is more abundant in people with dark skin. There are two different types of eumelanin, which are distinguished from each other by their pattern of polymer bonds. The two types are black eumelanin and brown eumelanin. A small amount of black eumelanin in the absence of other pigments causes grey hair. A small amount of brown eumelanin in the absence of other pigments causes yellow (blond) color hair.
Pheomelanin is more abundant in lighter skinned people. It imparts a pink to red hue and, thus, is found in particularly large quantities in red hair. Pheomelanin is particularly concentrated in the lips, nipples and the private parts.
In her inimitable way, Belo explains: Glutathione makes pukpok (pounds) the dark melamin.
The body’s glutathione levels decline as a person ages, more so in cases of obesity and chronic illness, at a rate of 10 percent every 10 years starting at the age of 20.
“Decreased glutathione could be a result of prolonged stress and hyperactivity of the immune system and this compromises our body cells,” Belo adds.
Collagen, on the other hand, is the most dominant protein that’s made up of different amino acids. It also exists as the most important ingredient of the dermis and inhibits formation of the dermis by keeping skin soft and supple. Collagen decreases as people age, with a 20-percent decline from age 20 to 40.
Belo Nutraceuticals Glutathione + Collagen also contains marine collagen, sodium ascorbate, hydroxyproline, alpha lipoic acid and CoEnzyme Q10. Marine collagen helps increase skin elasticity and suppleness, hydroxyproline enhances collagen synthesis and has a moisturizing effect on the skin, alpha lipoic acid is able to recycle antioxidants such as vitamin C and glutathione even after they have been used up and CoEnzyme Q10 helps protect skin from free radicals.
The vitamin C in the capsule, Belo explains, is in the form of ascorbate.
“This means that it is less acidic and provides better absorption than ascorbic acid alone,” she adds.
Belo recommends taking two pills a day in the morning because glutathione levels are lowest and oxidative stress is highest during the daytime.
An independent clinical test commissioned by Intelligent Skin Care Inc., the parent company of Belo Nutraceuticals, showed that the pill showed results in as early as two weeks but Belo says it will be more visible in five weeks.
“Belo Nutraceuticals: Glutathione + Collagen has an edge over other Glutathione capsules in the market because it combines glutathione and collagen,” says Cristalle Henares, who heads Intelligent Skin Care Inc.
The product is available over the counter in leading drugstores nationwide in 60s, 30s and 10s.
