Advanced Nutrition Programme Skin Antioxidant

RRP: £29.95 for 60 capsules (= 2 months' supply)

--What does the promo say?--
"Skin Antioxidant is formulated with seven super phytonutrients found in plants. Just as plants need antioxidants to protect them from damaging UV rays, so does your skin. Any source of light, even artificial, creates free radicals which cause premature ageing. Protect your skin from the inside with Skin Antioxidant and keep it looking younger for longer!"

--Packaging--
The former slimline plastic zip-lock package was convenient for travel, easy to open and close, took up little space, and keeps the capsules in optimal conditions. Its design was also modern, minimal and discreet, to suit a wide range of possible needs. While the new packaging (pictured above) is extremely sleek, I'm not sure that it would fulfil some of the more practical qualities listed above (e.g. suitability for travel).

--Usage--
Swallow one capsule a day, with liquid, in order to boost your immune system and prevent your skin from environmental damage. The capsules are about 2 centimetres long (possibly a little less), so this is generally easy to accomplish.

--Appearance--
The capsule is an off-white colour with hints of grey and pink. These hues make them easy enough to distinguish from the same company's Skin Vit A capsules, which are a purer white colour. This difference is particularly handy as the two products are sold together in the Skin Complete pack, which encourages you to take the two supplements simultaneously. If you therefore take a few tablets out of each packet in preparation for your travels, you can still know which one you are taking at any given moment.

--Taste and smell--
Nothing discernible.

--Effects on the body--
Tricky to gauge, as unlike some of the other supplements sold by this company, such as the Accumax, immediate results cannot be possible simply due to the Skin Antioxidant's nature. Any anti-ageing effects, therefore, will only be apparent many more months (or even years) down the line. However, the ingredients also are well-known for bolstering the body's immune system, and I'm not sure it's 100% coincidence that just a week or two after my packet finished, I came down with a horrible cold.

--Value for money--
At the supplement's full price, only you can decide if 50p per day is worth it for the possibility of ongoing health and anti-ageing. I'd say it's not bad, just for the wellness effects alone. Value for money is also greatly increased by the twin facts that a) you get £10 off your first order when signing up to their newsletter, and b) once you are signed up, discount vouchers in the region of 10%-20% off are emailed through frequently. So even if I hadn't been sent my first pack for nothing, I'd perhaps be inclined to continue.

perfect partners
Skin Complete, £45.00
The Skin Collection, £77.50

Advanced Nutrition Programme Skin Vit A

RRP: £15.95/60 capsules

--What does the promo say?--

"By feeding skin internally with vitamin A you can dramatically increase the results you get from topical skincare. Skin Vit A contains optimum levels of retinyl palmitate to normalise skin, boost collagen and increase natural moisture levels."

--Packaging--

Most supplements come in bottles, so I'm loving the pouch format, which seems as protective yet more robust for travel. It's easily resealable and the white and blue colour scheme makes it unisex too. The image of the capsules as depicted on the sachet is also accurate, and the back of the pack shows all the required information without being too wordy.

--Usage instructions--

Take 1-2 capsules per day with food. Easy peasy - especially if you already take medication, such as the contraceptive pill. Those who don't normally take medication may find it trickier to remember to take these, however.

--Appearance--

The capsules are a dull grey-brown colour and appear to be made of plastic. The join between the two capsule halves is quite visible and I think the two halves would be quite easy to take apart if necessary. The capsules are not too large, though, so aren't daunting to take on first sight.

--Scent and taste--

Perhaps slightly plasticky, but nothing really serious. They certainly don't taste disgusting at all and go down easily and tastelessly with water or juice.

--Texture and consistency--

The capsules are not grainy or too large, and so slide down easily with fluid.

--Effects on the skin--

While I experienced slight dryness during my trial period, I did ultimately also notice a decrease in my acne, and the dryness is easily controlled with a good moisturiser. For me, I noticed a more positive effect when taking two capsules a day rather than just one.

--Value for money--

Due to taking two capsules a day, my supply lasted one month, but if you were to find that one capsule a day is efficient enough, the pack would last you two months, at which point it is of course better value. Nonetheless, I don't feel that £16 for 60 capsules is extortionate and would definitely continue to take a vitamin A supplement having seen the positive effects on my skin. Good work, ANP!

perfect partners

Skin Vitality 1, £17.10

Skin Omegas, £20.60

Skin Vit C, £10.90

Skin Accumax, £34.90