4 min read

In this article:

• Why we built GlowCutis®
• More isn't more when it comes to supplements
• What is GlowCutis® — and what is inside it
• Why these seven ingredients work together
• Why GlowCutis® sits at the heart of Beauty Formula
• A word on collagen dose — and why more isn't necessarily better
• What to expect

Why we built GlowCutis®

Skin health has always been central to what Equi does. It was the starting point for Beauty Formula — and it remains one of the most complex and nuanced areas we work in, because skin doesn't exist in isolation. It reflects nutrition, hormonal signalling, immune function, oxidative stress, sleep, stress, digestion and many other aspects of health.

Beauty Formula was built to take that broader picture into account, but we also wanted to go deeper into the skin itself: to support normal collagen synthesis, structural integrity, hydration and protection against oxidative stress, not as a separate product but woven into the heart of the formula. That is what GlowCutis® is.

More isn't more when it comes to supplements

There is a trend at the moment for supplements that combine 70 or even 90 ingredients and market the sheer number as a sign of quality. We understand the instinct — it sounds thorough. But ingredient count is not the same as efficacy, and a long list can just as easily obscure poor dosing, cheap forms, or ingredients that have no meaningful reason to be there.

Beauty Formula itself contains around 40 nutrients and other compounds, with every one selected for a specific role. Not because 40 is the right number, but because the question we ask is always the same: what is it doing, why does it need to be here, and how does it fit with everything else in the formula?

GlowCutis® is the embodiment of that thinking applied specifically to the skin — seven ingredients chosen not for how they look on a label, but for the role each can play within the wider formulation.

What is GlowCutis® — and what is inside it?

GlowCutis® is a bespoke blend of seven ingredients, developed by our nutritionists specifically for Beauty Formula. It was formulated as a complementary system, with each ingredient selected for the role it can play in supporting different aspects of skin biology, including collagen formation, hydration, structural integrity and protection against oxidative stress.

The seven ingredients are:

Peptan® type 1 hydrolysed collagen (fish) in the powder, and Collyss® type 1 hydrolysed marine collagen in the capsules — both high-quality fish-derived collagens in hydrolysed form. Research shows that collagen hydrolysates are digested and that hydroxyproline-containing peptides can be detected in the circulation following oral supplementation. Experimental research suggests that some of these peptides may act as biological signals in tissues, although the precise mechanisms linking oral collagen intake to changes in human skin are still being established.¹

Vitamin C at 315mg per daily serving — from calcium ascorbate and acerola cherry. Vitamin C is an essential co-factor for enzymes involved in collagen formation and contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin.² The role of vitamin C here is therefore straightforward: it provides a well-established nutritional co-factor for normal collagen synthesis.

Bamboo extract (75% silica) — silicon is involved in connective-tissue biology and has a plausible role in the synthesis of collagen and glycosaminoglycans. There is some human research investigating orally administered silicon compounds and skin parameters, although the evidence is considerably less established than it is for ingredients such as vitamin C or hyaluronic acid.³ It is included as part of the broader structural rationale behind GlowCutis®.

Hyaluronic acid — a naturally occurring component of the extracellular matrix with an important role in maintaining hydration. A recent double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 150 healthy adults found that oral sodium hyaluronate at 60 or 120 mg daily for 12 weeks improved several measures of skin physiology, with the stronger effects generally seen at 120 mg. The 60 mg dose also produced more modest improvements compared with placebo.⁴

Pine bark extract — a plant-derived polyphenol-rich extract with evidence in several areas of skin health. A double-blind placebo-controlled study in women found improvements in skin elasticity and hydration following supplementation with Pycnogenol®, alongside changes in markers associated with collagen and hyaluronic acid production.⁵ There is also emerging evidence in pigmentation: a 2021 randomised controlled trial in women with facial melasma found that oral Pycnogenol® added to standard topical treatment and sunscreen produced greater improvements in melasma severity than placebo.⁶ The evidence remains relatively small, but it provides an interesting additional rationale for including pine bark in a skin-focused formula.

Resveratrol — a polyphenol with antioxidant and cellular protective properties and a growing, although still relatively small, evidence base in skin health. A 2025 randomised placebo-controlled trial in healthy women over 40 investigated oral and topical trans-resveratrol and reported improvements in several measures associated with visible skin ageing over eight weeks.⁷ The study provides an interesting human signal, although the formulation and dose studied should not be assumed to be directly equivalent to the amount used in GlowCutis®.

Zinc picolinate at 15 mg (100% NRV) — zinc is an essential mineral with well-established roles in normal skin function, protein synthesis and protection of cells from oxidative stress. Zinc has also been investigated in a number of dermatological conditions, although the evidence is condition-specific and does not mean that additional zinc will necessarily improve skin in people who already have adequate intake.⁸

Why these seven ingredients work together

Each ingredient has its own evidence base, but the reason they are combined in GlowCutis® is that they address complementary aspects of skin biology rather than relying on a single ingredient or mechanism.

Collagen provides a source of collagen-derived peptides and amino acids. Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation, while zinc supports normal protein synthesis and skin function. Silicon has a plausible structural role in connective tissue, while hyaluronic acid contributes to the hydration of the extracellular environment. Pine bark and resveratrol provide additional polyphenolic compounds with antioxidant properties.

The rationale for combining them is therefore biological: each ingredient contributes something different to the overall formulation. That does not mean that the combination itself has been clinically proven to be synergistic — there is no product-level clinical trial demonstrating that GlowCutis® produces a greater effect because these seven ingredients are combined. Rather, the formulation brings together ingredients with complementary roles and varying levels of human evidence.

That distinction matters. A well-designed formulation is not simply a collection of ingredients with interesting individual studies; it is about understanding the dose, form, evidence and purpose of each ingredient and considering how they fit together.

Why GlowCutis® sits at the heart of Beauty Formula

Beauty Formula was never designed to be simply a collagen supplement with a few extras added around it.

GlowCutis® is the targeted skin-support layer of the formula, while the remainder of Beauty Formula takes a broader nutritional approach, providing vitamins, minerals, amino acids, botanicals, probiotics and other compounds selected to support normal physiological processes relevant to overall wellbeing.

That distinction matters because skin doesn't exist in isolation. It is influenced by nutrition, hormonal signalling, immune function, oxidative stress, sleep, stress, digestion and many other aspects of health. But that doesn't mean that every one of those systems can be described as the cause of skin ageing, or that taking a particular supplement will correct an underlying imbalance.

Our approach is simpler: support the skin directly while also providing broader nutritional support for the body as a whole.

That is why GlowCutis® sits at the heart of Beauty Formula. It gives the formula a targeted skin focus without pretending that skin health can be reduced to a single nutrient or a single pathway.

A word on collagen dose — and why more isn't necessarily better

If you've seen other products advertising 10 g or 15 g of collagen per scoop, you might look at the amount in GlowCutis® and assume it must be underdosed. But these products are designed for a different purpose. Our powder formula contains 1.8 g of collagen, while the capsule formula contains 1 g, because neither was designed to be a standalone high-dose collagen supplement.

There are clinical studies investigating collagen at doses ranging from around 1 g to considerably higher amounts, with many using somewhere in the 2.5–10 g per day range. The results across these studies are mixed: several systematic reviews and meta-analyses report improvements in measures such as hydration and elasticity, while more recent analyses have highlighted substantial heterogeneity, methodological limitations and the influence of study quality and funding.⁹ This makes it difficult to conclude that there is a single "optimal" dose, or that increasing the amount will necessarily produce a greater benefit.

Beauty Formula takes a different approach. Collagen is one part of a broader formulation that also provides vitamin C, zinc, hyaluronic acid, silica and selected plant compounds, with each ingredient chosen for the role it can play within the wider nutritional picture. If you're looking specifically for a high-dose standalone collagen supplement, that's a different proposition, and one where a dedicated collagen formula makes more sense.

For Beauty Formula, the question isn't how much collagen we can fit into the formula, but what that collagen contributes alongside the other ingredients. That's the thinking behind GlowCutis®: rather than using quantity as a measure of quality, we look at the dose, form, evidence and purpose of each ingredient, and how thoughtfully they come together within the formula.

More ingredients don't necessarily mean more efficacy, just as more of one ingredient doesn't necessarily mean more benefit. What matters is the overall formulation and the rationale behind it.

What to expect — and when

Skin hydration and texture are among the parameters most commonly assessed in oral skin-supplement studies, and clinical trials generally evaluate changes over several weeks rather than days. Some studies report measurable changes by around four to eight weeks, while structural outcomes such as elasticity and dermal measures are often assessed over eight to twelve weeks or longer.^4,9

Consistency matters. Beauty Formula is designed as a daily formula rather than a short-term intervention, and any visible response will depend on the individual, their baseline nutritional status, the rest of their diet and lifestyle, and the specific skin outcome being measured.

Shop Beauty Formula HERE or take the quiz to find the right formula for you.

This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied, balanced diet or healthy lifestyle. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or under medical supervision, please consult your GP before use.

References

1. Virgilio N, Schön C, Mödinger Y, et al. Absorption of bioactive peptides following collagen hydrolysate intake: a randomized, double-blind crossover study in healthy individuals. Frontiers in Nutrition. 2024;11:1416643. doi:10.3389/fnut.2024.1416643.
2. Pullar JM, Carr AC, Vissers MCM. The roles of vitamin C in skin health. Nutrients. 2017;9(8):866. doi:10.3390/nu9080866.
3. Cameli N, Silvestri M, Mariano M, Berardesca E. Effects of food supplements and a topical solution containing nanosilicon on skin hydration, barrier function, and elasticity. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2021;20(Suppl 1):32–35. doi:10.1111/jocd.14099.
4. Dolečková I, Kušnierik P, Berka V, et al. Oral sodium hyaluronate improves skin hydration, barrier function and signs of aging: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 150 healthy adults. Scientific Reports. 2026;16:2941. doi:10.1038/s41598-025-32758-5.
5. Marini A, Grether-Beck S, Jaenicke T, et al. Pycnogenol® effects on skin elasticity and hydration coincide with increased gene expressions of collagen type I and hyaluronic acid synthase in women. Skin Pharmacology and Physiology. 2012;25(2):86–92. doi:10.1159/000335261.
6. Lima PB, Dias JA, Cassiano DP, et al. French maritime pine bark extract (Pycnogenol®) in association with triple combination cream for the treatment of facial melasma in women: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. 2021;35(2):502–509. doi:10.1111/jdv.16896.
7. Rao A, Briskey D, Roche G, et al. Trans-resveratrol reduces visible signs of skin ageing in healthy adult females over 40: an 8-week randomized placebo-controlled trial. Frontiers in Aging. 2025;6:1727244. doi:10.3389/fragi.2025.1727244.
8. Gupta M, Mahajan VK, Mehta KS, Chauhan PS. Zinc therapy in dermatology: a review. Dermatology Research and Practice. 2014;2014:709152. doi:10.1155/2014/709152.
9. Danessa G, Notario D, Regina R. Effects of collagen-based supplements on skin's hydration and elasticity during ageing: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology. 2025;91:730–740. doi:10.25259/IJDVL_1165_2023.