Sun protection and supplements for your skin this summer

The sun is important for health, energy and well-being. It helps the body produce vitamin D, influences the circadian rhythm and can contribute to a natural sense of alertness. At the same time, too much UV radiation is one of the biggest external factors behind sun damage, pigmentation changes, premature skin aging and an increased risk of skin cancer. Therefore, a sensible summer strategy is not about avoiding the sun completely. It’s about being sun-smart, protecting the skin and providing the body with the right nutrition from within. Supplements can never replace sunscreen, shade, clothing or common sense. However, certain nutrients can contribute to the skin’s normal function, pigmentation, collagen formation, cell function and antioxidant defenses.

Sun protection always starts with the right sun habits

Before we talk about supplements, it’s important to start in the right place. The skin’s tolerance to the sun is affected by several factors:

• Skin type
• Time of day
• Season and geographic location
• Cloud cover
• Reflection from water, snow or sand
• Previous sun damage
• How long the skin is exposed
• The body’s overall nutritional status

The goal is never to burn in order to “build color.” A tan is a sign that the skin has been exposed to more UV radiation than it can handle.

A smart basic strategy in the sun

• Acclimate your skin to the sun gradually, especially at the beginning of the season.
• Avoid getting sunburned.
• Seek shade when the sun is at its strongest.
• Use a hat, sunglasses and light, covering clothing during longer exposure.
• Don’t use sunscreen as an excuse to stay in the sun longer than your skin tolerates.

The best protection is therefore a combination of clothing, shade, sensible exposure, and also targeted nutritional support from within.

How does the sun affect the skin?

When the skin is exposed to UV radiation, the formation of free radicals increases. This is a natural biological process, but with too much sun exposure the load can exceed the body’s own defenses.

Oxidative stress can then affect, among other things:

• The skin’s cell membranes
• Collagen and connective tissue
• Pigmentation
• The skin barrier
• DNA in skin cells
• The skin’s elasticity and recovery

This is where nutrition and certain supplements can play a supportive role. They don’t work as a ‘sunscreen pill,’ but they can contribute to the skin’s normal structure, antioxidant defenses and recovery.

Supplements for the skin in the sun

Below we go through some of the most relevant supplements for the summer and how they can fit into a well-thought-out skin and sun strategy.

1. Tan Plus+ – targeted support for the skin ahead of summer

Tan Plus+ is one of the most relevant supplements if you want to prepare your skin for summer. The product contains, among other things, beta-carotene, turmeric, green tea extract and copper. Beta-carotene is a carotenoid pigment that can be stored in the skin and contribute to a warmer skin tone. It can also be converted into vitamin A as needed, which is important for the skin’s normal function.

Beta-carotene and sun exposure

Carotenoids, such as beta-carotene, are interesting because they can contribute to the skin’s antioxidant defenses. Research has shown that longer-term intake of beta-carotene or mixed carotenoids can reduce UVB-induced redness, but the effect is gradual and should not be compared to sunscreen. This means that Tan Plus+ should be seen as a complement to smart sun habits.

Why copper is relevant for sun exposure

Copper contributes to normal pigmentation of skin and hair and to protecting cells from oxidative stress. This makes the mineral particularly relevant in a supplement formulated for the skin’s summer needs.

Recommendation: Tan Plus+ is best started several weeks before more intense sun exposure.

2. OptiMSM + Vitamin C – for collagen, connective tissue and skin structure

OptiMSM + Vitamin C is one of the most relevant supplements for the skin’s structure ahead of summer. The product combines MSM with vitamin C, two nutritional components that fit well into a skin-focused strategy. MSM functions as an organic sulfur compound. Sulfur is important for the body’s structural proteins, including collagen and keratin, which are relevant for skin, hair, nails, joints and connective tissue. Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation and helps protect cells from oxidative stress. This makes the combination particularly interesting in summer, since UV light increases oxidative load in the skin and can also affect collagen and the skin’s elasticity over time.

Recommendation: OptiMSM + Vitamin C is especially suitable if you want to support skin structure, connective tissue, hair, nails and recovery during summer. It’s a strong complement in a skin-focused nutrition strategy.

3. Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon Omega 3 Oil – support for cell membranes and inflammatory balance

The skin is rich in lipids, and the fatty acid composition of cell membranes affects how cells respond to stress. Therefore, omega-3 can be relevant as part of a long-term skin strategy. Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon Omega 3 Oil contains the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, which contribute to the body’s normal functions and are important for the structure of cell membranes. Omega-3 is a logical nutritional support for people who eat little fatty fish and want to support skin, heart, brain and cell membranes. The sockeye salmon’s naturally red color comes from astaxanthin, a pigment the salmon gets from its diet.

Recommendation: Omega-3 is especially suitable if you rarely eat fatty fish or want to strengthen the foundation for the skin’s cell membranes and the body’s inflammatory balance during summer.

4. Resveratrol Veri-te™ – antioxidant support and healthy aging

Resveratrol Veri-te™ is a more advanced supplement for those who want to support the body with polyphenols and antioxidants. Resveratrol is a plant-based polyphenol often linked to oxidative stress, cell protection and healthy skin aging. In a summer strategy, resveratrol is relevant because the sun increases the formation of free radicals in the skin. Resveratrol is a good complement for people who want to work more broadly with antioxidant support and long-term cellular health. Resveratrol fits particularly well in an article about skin, sun and aging because UV radiation is one of the external factors that most clearly affects the skin’s aging process.

Recommendation: Resveratrol is best for those who already have the basics in place with smart sun habits, a nutrient-dense diet, vitamin C, omega-3 and minerals, and who want to add a more advanced antioxidant support.

5. Vitamin C – for collagen and antioxidant defenses

Vitamin C is one of the most important nutrients for the skin. It contributes to normal collagen formation and helps protect cells from oxidative stress. This makes vitamin C relevant during sun exposure, since UV light increases oxidative load in the skin.

Different types of vitamin C for sun exposure

Vitamin C Whole Food: A vitamin C supplement from rosehip with naturally occurring bioflavonoids and cofactors.

Vitamin C PureWay-C® 850 mg: A more concentrated option if you want a high-dose vitamin C supplement.

OptiMSM + Vitamin C: An option if you want to combine vitamin C with MSM for extra focus on connective tissue, collagen, skin structure, hair and nails.

Recommendation: Vitamin C is one of the most relevant nutrients for the skin’s collagen structure and antioxidant defenses.

6. Minerals – for the skin’s enzymatic defenses

Minerals such as zinc, copper and selenium are part of the body’s antioxidant enzyme systems. During sun exposure this becomes especially relevant because the skin needs to be able to handle oxidative stress. Mineral Complex Plus+ is a broad option if you want comprehensive mineral support. For more specific needs, targeted minerals may also be relevant, for example extra:

• Zinc
• Copper
• Selenium

Balance matters

Minerals shouldn’t be taken haphazardly. Zinc and copper influence each other, and long-term high intake of zinc without copper can create imbalance. Therefore, it’s wise to look at the whole picture: diet, other supplements, needs and any blood values. Mineral Complex Plus+ has a good balance between different minerals and works as broad mineral support.

Recommendation: Mineral support is most relevant for people who eat a monotonous diet, sweat a lot, train hard or know they have a low mineral intake.

7. NRC for NAD+ – for cellular energy, mitochondria and normal skin function

NRC for NAD+ is not a classic skin or sun supplement, but it is relevant in a broader strategy for cellular health, energy and healthy aging. The product contains nicotinamide riboside chloride, a precursor to NAD+. NAD+ is a coenzyme found in the body’s cells and is important for normal energy metabolism and mitochondrial function. Therefore, NRC for NAD+ works best as a complementary support for people who want to work on energy, cell function and aging over the longer term. The connection to the sun is indirect. NRC for NAD+ is not a sun protection like Tan Plus+ or vitamin C; rather, it suits people who want to support the body at the cellular level, especially if the focus is also energy, skin function and mitochondrial function.

Recommendation: NRC for NAD+ is best suited as a complementary supplement for cellular energy and healthy aging, not as a first choice for pigmentation or sun preparation.

Build your skin with nutrient-dense food

Supplements work best when they complement a good diet. For the skin’s structure, barrier and recovery, you need protein, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. A nutrient-dense summer diet might include the following organic foods:

• Eggs
• Fatty fish
• Meat (grass-fed)
• Liver and other organs
• High-quality dairy products from goat and sheep, if tolerated
• Butter, tallow or other natural fats
• Fruit, berries and honey as carbohydrate sources as needed

Animal foods contribute bioavailable protein, zinc, copper, selenium, retinol, B vitamins and amino acids that are important for skin, connective tissue and repair.

At the same time, it’s wise to cut back on ultra-processed foods and large amounts of seed oils, since the dietary fatty acid balance can influence the body’s inflammatory environment.

Practical summer strategy for skin and sun

The foundation

• Nutrient-dense diet
• Gradual sun exposure
• Avoid sunburn
• Shade when the sun is at its strongest
• Clothing, hat and sunglasses
• Sleep and recovery
• Support with targeted supplements

Ahead of summer

For skin preparation, Tan Plus+ can be most relevant, especially if you want to support pigmentation and antioxidant defenses over time.

For collagen and connective tissue

OptiMSM + Vitamin C is especially suitable if you want to support the skin’s structure, collagen formation, connective tissue, hair and nails.

For cell membranes

Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon Omega 3 Oil is a good choice if you eat little fatty fish or want to support the skin’s cell membranes.

For antioxidant support and healthy aging

Resveratrol Veri-te™ can be relevant if you want to work more broadly with antioxidant support, oxidative stress and long-term cell health.

For mineral balance

Mineral Complex Plus+ or targeted minerals such as zinc, copper and selenium may be relevant depending on diet, needs and other supplements.

For cellular energy and the health of skin cells

NRC for NAD+ works as a complementary support for cellular energy, mitochondria and healthy aging.

Conclusion: the sun isn’t the enemy – overexposure is the problem

The best sun protection is still smart exposure. Build tolerance gradually, avoid burning the skin, use clothing and shade, and add sunscreen when the skin can’t be covered. Supplements cannot replace this. However, the right nutritional support can help the body be better prepared for summer. Tan Plus+ is the most targeted supplement for the skin’s pigmentation and antioxidant defenses. OptiMSM + Vitamin C is particularly relevant for collagen, connective tissue and skin structure. Omega-3, vitamin C, minerals, Resveratrol and NRC for NAD+ play different complementary roles depending on needs. The sun is a natural part of health and well-being. The key is balance: enough light to feel good, but not so much that the skin is damaged.