If you follow a careful skincare routine—cleanser, serum, sunscreen, retinol—and still notice that your skin isn't responding as you'd hoped, it's easy to think the routine is the problem. It almost never is.
Dull skin even after a good night's sleep, hair that's thinner than a few years ago, nails that break easily: these are signs that no cream can fully resolve, no matter how good your routine is.
The problem isn't what you're doing externally. It's that you're only addressing half of the equation.
Who is this article for?
For those who have seen the word “nutricosmetics” on a package, on social media, or heard it from a friend, and aren't entirely sure what it means. For those who already take care of their skin externally and wonder if there's anything else they can do internally. And for those who want to understand what truly lies behind formulas like OPTIMUM before incorporating them into their routine.
What exactly are nutricosmetics?
Nutricosmetics is the discipline that studies how certain nutrients—vitamins, minerals, plant extracts, medicinal mushrooms, collagen, probiotics—influence the appearance and health of the skin, hair, and nails when taken orally, rather than applied to the skin.
The difference with traditional cosmetics lies in the starting point. A cream works from the outside in: it acts on the most superficial layers of the skin, the epidermis, and stays there. A nutricosmetic acts from the inside out: nutrients are absorbed in the intestine, enter the bloodstream, and reach the cells—of the skin, hair follicle, nail matrix—from their origin, nourishing the structure that supports what is then seen externally.
It's not one instead of the other. It's a different angle on the same objective, one that a cream, no matter how good, cannot achieve on its own: there is no serum that can deliver collagen, probiotics, or antioxidants to your skin from inside the cell.
How a nutrient reaches your skin
Skin is constantly renewing itself. Approximately every 28-40 days, the epidermal cells are completely replaced. This renewal process requires raw materials: amino acids to produce new collagen, antioxidants to protect cells from daily oxidative damage, minerals for the thousands of enzymatic reactions that sustain this cellular turnover.
When these raw materials arrive in sufficient quantity and consistently—not just on the day you remember to take a vitamin, but day after day—the result becomes noticeable over time: firmer skin, fuller hair, less brittle nails. When there's a deficiency, the body prioritizes other functions over aesthetics, and that's when fatigue, dullness, or hair weakness begin to show, even if the topical routine is impeccable.
The pillars of nutricosmetics
In practice, nutricosmetics are built on a few families of ingredients that are consistently found in the most robust formulas in the sector:
-
Medicinal mushrooms (adaptogens). Reishi, Cordyceps, and Lion's Mane work on immunity, cellular energy, and the brain-gut connection. You can delve deeper in the article on medicinal mushrooms.
-
Seaweeds. Spirulina and Chlorella provide a very dense nutritional profile—protein, chlorophyll, micronutrients—that strengthens the body's nutritional foundation. More details in the article on seaweeds.
-
Marine proteins. Hydrolyzed marine collagen and marine elastin provide the amino acids that support skin firmness and elasticity from within.
-
Probiotics. The balance of the intestinal microbiota has a direct impact on the skin: you can read more in the article on microbiota and skin.
-
Vitamins and minerals. Vitamin C, D, and E, along with zinc, magnesium, and selenium, are essential cofactors in antioxidant protection and the production of endogenous collagen.
Each family acts on a different front. Combined, they reinforce each other—a well-designed formula is not a list of trendy ingredients, but a combination designed so that each piece supports the others.
Nutricosmetics vs. topical cosmetics: it's not a competition
It's easy to fall into the idea that you have to choose a side. That's not the case. Topical cosmetics act where nutricosmetics don't reach—immediate hydration, sun protection, exfoliation—and nutricosmetics provide what no cream can: nutrients that get to the root of the problem, not just the surface.
The combination of both—care from the outside and the inside—is what usually makes the difference between skin that “looks good with makeup” and skin that looks good on its own.
How this translates into OPTIMUM
At OPTIMUM, we apply this logic integrally. Optimum, the formula for women, combines medicinal mushrooms—with our Cordyceps extract, the best on the market, at the forefront, along with Reishi and Lion's Mane—seaweeds, marine collagen and elastin, probiotics, vitamins, and minerals in a single daily capsule, working on eight fronts simultaneously: energy, immunity, digestion, concentration, anti-stress, sleep, beauty, and general well-being.
Optimum Men adapts that same logic to the needs of men aged 35-40 and above, strengthening the concentration of our Cordyceps—the formula's flagship—along with Ashwagandha and zinc in picolinate form.
For those seeking a specific boost—not a substitute—the Sweet Energy and Focus on the Good Gummies complement the Optimum routine with the same philosophy—nourishing from within, without stimulants—focused on a single objective. And the liquid Vitamin D3 + K2 completes the routine with 2,000 IU of D3 and 200 µg of K2 in just 4 drops daily, key for bone, immune, and cardiovascular health.
What you'll notice, and when
Nutricosmetics do not work like an instant filter. As they depend on the cell renewal cycle, the first changes—more energy, better digestion, more restful sleep—are usually noticed within the first 2-4 weeks. Visible changes in skin, hair, and nails require more time: between 8 and 12 weeks of continuous use, coinciding with several complete cell renewal cycles.
In the efficacy study conducted with Optimum users, skin results became evident after several months of continuous use, confirming that nutricosmetics is a long-term strategy, not a quick fix.
Frequently asked questions
Do nutricosmetics replace my skincare routine?
No. They complement it. A good topical routine is still necessary for hydration, sun protection, and immediate care. Nutricosmetics add what topical cosmetics cannot provide: nutrients that reach the skin from within.
Is it the same as taking any multivitamin?
Not exactly. A generic multivitamin covers basic micronutrient needs. Nutricosmetics combine these vitamins with specific active ingredients—adaptogenic mushrooms, marine collagen, probiotics—selected and dosed to act on the skin, hair, and general well-being simultaneously.
Is it only for women?
No. The concept applies equally to men and women, although needs and dosages may vary. Optimum Men, for example, adjusts the formula to the needs of adult men.
How long does it take to see results?
The first changes in energy and general well-being are usually noticed within 2-4 weeks. Visible changes in skin, hair, and nails require more consistency: between 8 and 12 weeks of continuous use.
Are there any risks or contraindications?
Most nutricosmetic ingredients have a well-studied safety profile, but if you are taking medication, are pregnant, or have a specific health condition, consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting.
Feel your health, feel your Optimum.
