Vital Proteins Radiance Boost: Powerful Blend of Botanical Extracts For Skin Health

As we age, some degree of deterioration is inevitable. But not all of it: if we control certain factors in our lifestyle and environment, we can minimize the amount of aging that takes place in our body.

Vital Proteins Radiance Boost has not just one, but two unique ingredients from NuLiv Science to nourish and hydrate your skin

It’s important to work out, eat right, and be healthy on the inside. But let’s face it: most of us want to look good too. Most of us want to look good too. Most of us want to retain that smooth, youthful glow that our skin had when we were kids.

What can we do when it comes to our skin?

NuLiv Science has answers for you: we love their patented botanical extracts Astrion, which we’ve written about at length before, and Verbasnol, which we’ve seen incorporated in other awesome products.

But how cool would it be if you combined the two?

Enter Radiance Boost from Vital Proteins, formulated to keep your skin hydrated and intact. Let’s take a look at how it does this, but first, check prices and availability through PricePlow’s partner stores:

Radiance Boost Ingredients

From a single two capsule dose of Radiance Boost you get the following:

• Astrion: Encompassing Regulator of Skin Health – 250 mg

  

  The Vital Proteins Radiance Boost Ingredients

  Healthy skin is largely about three things:

  1. High collagen integrity,
  2. High concentrations of hyaluronic acid, and
  3. Depressed matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) activity.

  If these conditions are not met, the skin begins to winkle, loses hydration and color, and eventually, is prone to disease.

  Enter Astrion from NuLiv Science. Containing purified extracts of Astragalus membranaceus and Centella asiatica, both of which have been used in traditional medicine for centuries, Astrion has been shown to support all three key factors in skin health. The result is nourished, radiant skin that looks healthier and younger.

  Astrion works because of the bioactive compounds in its two botanical extracts:

  1. Astragalosides (from Astragalus)
  2. Asiaticoside and other triterpenes (from Centella)

  Astragalosides (AST) are saponins derived from Astragalus membranaceus. They benefit human health in a myriad of ways, ranging from antioxidant and cardioprotective activity to anti-asmathic and immunoregulatory. Unlike many orally-administered antioxidants, astragalosides are capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier and protecting neurological tissues.^[1]

  There are four different astragalosides: AST I, II, III, and IV. Typically, all of the astragalosides are studied and administered together, as part of a full-spectrum Astragalus extract, such as NuLiv’s. However, there is some research examining the effects of individual astragalosides.

  Astragaloside research: Protect skin cells and prevent collagen reduction

  

  Astrion: A patented combination of Astragalus membranaceus and Centella asiatica extracts, Astrion provides skin rejuvenation and hydration through enhanced
  endogenous production of collagen & hyaluronic acid

  For example, a 2014 study found that AST IV not only “prevents collagen reduction from UV radiation,” but also reduced MMP expression in irradiated cells.^[2] A study from 2012, this one testing the effects of AST II, found that it protects a type of skin cell in the dermis (called fibroblasts) from exposure to ultraviolet light and increasing their viability by a whopping 142.8%.^[3]

  Both of these studies found that AST treatment is beneficial even for cells that aren’t exposed to radiation, because of the way that astragalosides work to directly support the maintenance of collagen.^[2,3]

  Asiaticoside research: Stimulate hyaluronic acid production and collagen synthesis

  Asiaticoside is a triterpene derived from Centella asiatica. It’s one of the few biologically active compounds in Centella, and is regarded as the “active ingredient” in Centella. Most Centella extracts are standardized for Asiaticoside, even though Centella also contains a compound called madecassoside that has similar effects.

  A research review from 2013 found that centella extracts, because of their asiaticoside and madecassoside content, were capable of the following:

  • Increasing levels of protein, collagen, and hydroxyproline in skin wounds^[4]
  • Increasing the metabolism of lysine and proline, two collagen precursors^[4]
  • Stimulating hyaluronic acid production in skin wounds^[4]
  • Stimulating collagen synthesis in dermal fibroblasts^[4]
  

  Astrion’s mechanism of action

  Now that we’ve dispensed with the scientific explanation of how Astrion works in theory, we should ask: how well does it work in practice?

  

  Astrion Drives Nutrients

  From 12 different in vitro studies funded by NuLiv, we see that Astrion increases the synthesis of collagen type I by 60% in epidermal cells and by 80% in dermal cells, and increases the synthesis and secretion of type III collagen in dermal cells by 30% and 80%, respectively. It also boosts hyaluronic acid production by 20% in epidermal cells.^[5]

  In Astrion’s first clinical trial, subjects who used it reduced the appearance of skin wrinkles by 15% and melanated sunspots by 17%, resulting in skin with a smoother, more blemish-free appearance.^[5]

  You can read more about Astrion in our article titled NuLiv Science Astrion: Deep-Acting Skin Health Ingredient.

  Make no mistake, Astrion is the star of the show in Radiance Boost, but Vital Proteins isn’t done with NuLiv Science’s novel ingredients just yet:

• Verbasnol (Rehmannia glutinosa) Leaf Extract – 25 mg

  

  The beautiful, fragrant flowers of Rehmannia glutinosa

  Verbasnol, a trademarked ingredient from NuLiv Science, is a botanical extract derived from the leaves of Rehmannia glutinosa. A powerful antioxidant, it protects the skin and gives it a radiant glow by neutralizing free radical damage.^[6] In addition to fortifying the skin with nutrients and antioxidants, it protects the skin from environmental damage^[6,7] and helps maintain the hydration and elasticity.^[6]

  Much of Verbasnol’s power comes from verbascoside, a photoprotective and antioxidant compound that increases type I procollagen synthesis, inhibits the production of inflammatory cytokines, and prevents the development of skin conditions, including certain types of acne and yeast infections.^[6,7]

  Note the topical application study

  It’s important to note that a human clinical study demonstrating that 1% Verbasnol cream significantly reduced the appearance of acne lesions was found in a topical application,^[7] and this is a dietary supplement not used topically. While it seems as if compounds that are topically effective generally have oral effects as well, this cannot be claimed without further research, but is still worth knowing.

  Verbascoside also inhibits the activity of an enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase, which is responsible for converting testosterone to dihydrotestosterone. This reduces the production of sebum—an excess of this oily substance has been identified as a cause of acne.^[8] It also reduces the production of tyrosinase, an enzyme that darkens the appearance of the skin by synthesizing melanin.^[6,7]

• Vitamin A (Retinyl Palmitate)

  Did you know that a vitamin A deficiency can damage your skin and hair? If not, worry not — most people don’t.

  Being deficient in vitamin A significantly raises the risk of developing a variety of skin conditions, including eczema.^[9] And in patients who already have eczema, pharmaceutical preparations with vitamin A activity have been shown to alleviate their condition by attenuating inflammation in the skin.^[10-12]

  But how many of us need vitamin A supplementation? Turns out, a lot of us: approximately 45% of the American public doesn’t get enough vitamin A from food.^[13]

• Vitamin C – 80mg (89% DV)

  Vitamin C is famous as an antioxidant, but few know that it’s essential for collagen production. A large research review examining 10 different research studies concluded in 2018 that vitamin C significantly increases the synthesis of collagen type I and decreases oxidative stress in the skin.^[14,15]

• Hyaluronic Acid

  

  NuLiv Science Astrion is one of the brand’s several research-backed novel ingredients

  We’ve discussed strategies to boost the production of hyaluronic acid (HA) in the body with Astrion, but HA levels can also be increased by direct supplementation.

  Hyaluronic acid is an osmolyte, meaning it has an affinity for water. When present in the extracellular matrix of skin cells (which is where collagen also resides), its ability to attract water helps the skin retain water and stay hydrated.^[16]

  Most commercial preparations of hyaluronic acid are topical, so the natural question is: does orally-administered HA benefit the skin as well? Research studies designed to answer this question have found that, yes, ingested hyaluronic acid moisturizes dry skin.^[17]

• Ceramides

  Ceramides are produced by the body when we’re young, and help the skin maintain hydration and elasticity.^[18] As we age, ceramide production declines, causing our skin to wrinkle and crack.

  

  Is your skin feeling dehydrated today?

  Fortunately, ceramide supplementation has been shown to offset this natural decline in production. Two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies found that 30mg/day of orally-administered ceramide powder improved the hydration of the skin and reduced the appearance of skin aging.^[19] Another independent study found the same effects after three months of supplementation.^[20]

• Vitamin E (as α-Tocopheryl acetate)

  Vitamin E is also famous for its role as an antioxidant, but did you know that it can also help expand blood vessels and protect against free radical damage?^[21] Both of these things are definitely beneficial for all cells in the body, including the skin. Alpha tocopherol is the form of vitamin E that predominates in skin tissue,^[22,23] so we’re glad to see it used here, where it can protect skin cells against free radical damage.^[24]

• Pantothenic Acid

  An unsung hero of skin health, pantothenic acid (also known as vitamin B5) helps regulate epidermal barrier function^[25] and has skin-softening effects.^[25] In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study—the “gold standard” of medical research— pantothenic acid was shown to significantly improve the symptoms of acne in adults.^[25]

  Moreover, pantothenic acid deficiency has been shown to prevent the growth of new skin cells and inhibit collagen production.,^[26] And for healthy people,nd topical application of B5 moisturizes and improves the overall integrity of the skin.^[27]

• Zinc

  

  Astrion increased hyaluronic acid synthesis and hyaluronic acid synthase 2 gene expression.^[5]

  Dry skin is a classic symptom of zinc deficiency,^[28] as are various types of skin rashes,^[29] so if you’re concerned about maintaining the health and youthful appearance of your skin, you definitely want to get enough zinc. So crucial is zinc for skin function that the mineral has been shown to accelerate wound healing^[30] and reduce skin ulcers in diabetic patients.^[31]

  Zinc also has powerful anti-inflammatory effects,^[32] something that generally benefits skin health. Low zinc status is a risk factor for acne,^[33] and zinc’s ability to fight inflammation is probably why it acne-induced swelling and redness.^[34]

Conclusion

Radiance Boost from Vital Proteins is a compelling formula that offers something different from most of what you’ll find on the market. We’ve written about both Astrion and Verbasnol in the past, but love seeing them used together – especially alongside hyaluronic acid. If you’re taking an HA supplement all alone, why not take this instead? It’s reasonably priced and based on a unique blend of proprietary ingredients, it’s worth a try for anyone who cares for their appearance as they age.