Quick overview of what we’ll cover in this blog post:
- What is Glutathione
- Why the cast of Barbie used it
- What benefits they noticed
- Additional benefits of Glutathione
Even among longevity enthusiasts, Glutathione can sometimes be overlooked. But we often forget the diverse benefits of this otherwise unassuming antioxidant that plays a vital role in all of our cells.
Leave it to the on-set skin-health specialist for the new Barbie film, to remind us just how crucial this antioxidant is for not just our skin health, but our liver health as well!
Jasmine Vico shed new light on Glutathione when she made it the centerpiece of the cast’s skincare routines during filming, combining a home remedy from her childhood with contemporary science to give Margot Robbie that Barbie glow.
Here, we take a look at what Glutathione is, and how it could be your new go-to therapy.
What is Glutathione?
Glutathione is a naturally occurring antioxidant produced within our bodies. It persists either in an oxidized state, known as GSSG, or in its most popularly known reduced state, called GSH.
The ratio of oxidized to reduced Glutathione within our bodies is referred to as oxidative stress, which affects how well our cells are able to repair themselves.
As you might imagine, Glutathione is a rather important antioxidant, especially as it concerns your liver! Further, decreased GSH has been associated with liver disease. Because Glutathione may deplete with age, conditions related to reduced GSH levels can be considered age related.
But our liver health can affect us in more subtle ways, and our skin is often the tell-tale sign: from discoloration and dryness to simply losing that coveted glow. Sometimes, then, the best beauty routines start from the inside out.
The Not-So-Secret
In fact, that’s just the philosophy that Vico applied when developing the skincare routines for the Barbie cast.
Tasked with making the cast look as flawless as their figurine counterparts, Vico explained, “[W]e’re going to work on that glow from within.”
Aside from developing external treatments for the cast, featuring facials and stress-relieving therapies, Vico borrowed a simple, holistic remedy from her native Croatia – milk thistle tea.
“Milk thistle cleanses your liver,” she explains. “When that happens, our liver automatically produces more Glutathione, which then makes the skin more radiant. One of the most important ingredients within it is silymarin, which is now featured a lot in skincare formulas.”
The primary active ingredient of the milk thistle flower, silymarin has been noted to increase Glutathione levels for years, which may justify its persistent use as a home remedy in places like Croatia.
But its inherent value wasn’t lost on Margot Robbie, who was all too happy to whip up a fresh batch of milk thistle tea for her castmates. Vico continues to recommend milk thistle and Glutathione supplements to her clients, even after the film has long since wrapped, according to the British Vogue interview.
Additional Benefits of Glutathione
Whether you’re supplementing with Glutathione injections, patches, or nasal spray – or sticking to the traditional milk thistle tea – you’re also likely to enjoy improved energy, reduced stress, and a boosted immune system, all of which was noted as being beneficial to the cast’s skin.
But the benefits of Glutathione aren’t just skin deep. Glutathione supplementation can also help to reduce chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and cellular degeneration. Glutathione may also mitigate free-radical damage linked to degenerative diseases, which may explain why it’s also been studied as a treatment for liver disease, Parkinson’s, rheumatoid arthritis, and type 2 diabetes.
The benefits don’t end here, though, as scientists have certainly targeted Glutathione as a potential fountainhead for longevity research. We could see even more potential benefits in the coming years, if the last decade or so of Glutathione discoveries are indicative of its progress forward.
You could keep up with the mountain of incoming scientific research on Glutathione, just to stay on top of newly discovered benefits…or you could just read our Glutathione blog! When you’re ready, our experts are more than happy to help you decide if Glutathione is right for you.
Note: The above statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Unless otherwise noted, all information as presented here is sourced from British Vogue.