Functionalab launches its innovative range of nutricosmetics and nutraceuticals exclusively at Harvey Nichols

Supplements. The supplement debate is a long one, opinions on which seem to change daily. Mass market brands have given supplements a bad name in recent years and many consumers now distrust the benefits of over the counter vitamin body boosters.

But it comes to a point where you have to admit that topical beauty can only take you so far. So unless you are embracing Botox, fillers and going under the knife, which is not an option for many people, then taking some sort of oral supplement needs to be a viable option.

Well here, my holistic friends, here is a brand that has put the nutrition back into supplements. Functionalab has been created by scientists working closely with nutritionists and beauty experts to create supplements specifically for target lifestyles. They take a holistic approach to beauty and believe that there is a clear connection between nutrition and beauty. So far, I agree with them. If you address your inner health, outwardly it will show. When your body becomes malnourished, the condition of your hair skin and nails is the first thing to suffer. Your skin in particular is an enormous organ and is constantly re-generating itself, which requires huge amounts of nutrients.

Functionalab had just received a prestigious Discover Beauty Award when I was introduced to it last week and consists of an enormous range of nutricosmetics and nutraceuticals. It is launching for the first time into the UK in the final week of May and will be available exclusively on the BEAUTY floor of Harvey Nichols adjacent to MAC cosmetics. Yes, it might take some mental reorienting, but Functionalab is marketing itself as a beauty brand. We are what we eat (and all that).

The range itself is comprehensive. You pick which objective you seek to follow, (be it anti-ageing, cardio building, skin radiance boosting) and then choose which type of supplement treatment suits you. Beauty Doses are a range of 10 nutricosmetics (potent beauty supplements) focused on prevalent beauty objectives such as anti-ageing, hair skin & nails, opti-tan and collagen formula for skin elasticity. If it is nutraceuticals that you prefer the brand offers nutrient tonics, health drops and more intense one month nutrient plans packaged in user-friendly daily packets. Beware if you are not pill friendly you may prefer the tonics as there are at least 6 separate nutrient pills in each daily packet.

Funtionalab products are not a mish-mash of random vitamins, minerals and active ingredients. Functionalab insist that unlike many over the counter supplements they do not add 1mg of this and that just for good measure. All ingredients are included in the exact quantities and proportions at which your body requires them and no fillers are used to make up formulas.

Wallpaper magazine has credited Functionalab as a beauty innovator and whether the supplements enhance your life as much as they claim to (I am yet to try the range), I have to admit that Functionalab is certainly a conceptual innovation for the beauty industry. Functionalab provides a very new angle to take on mainstream beauty. For this I laud it and look forward to sampling the product next month.