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Activated You Essential Skin Food Reviews 2023: Is It Worth Buying?
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9.0
Quality
8.0
Support Research
8.0
Reputation
8.0
Price
Features
- Completely plant-based formula
- Supports your skin’s natural “plumpness”
- Works against free-radicals
- Fights elastin breakdown
- Easy-to-swallow soft gel capsule
- Buy more, save more
Brand Information
- Created by actress Maggie Q
- Implores knowledge of Dr. Frank Lipman
- Aims to treat the whole person
- Offers a 90-day money-back guarantee
- Sponsors an animal charity
Medical Benefits
- Improved collagen production
- Healthy joints
- Healthy hair and nails
- Smoother, brighter, and tighter skin
10% Off Coupon: HC10ACTYOU
About The Brand
ActivatedYou was founded by actress Maggie Q and invokes the expertise of Dr. Frank Lipman, a renowned integrative medicine and gut-health expert. Maggie’s company aims to help its customers by treating their whole being–mind, body, and spirit. ActivatedYou also uses its platform to support Animals Asia, an animal welfare charity near and dear to Maggie’s heart.
ActivatedYou’s products integrate the latest cutting-edge health and nutrition with age-old Eastern traditions and ingredients. They provide unique formulas that help support your health and improve your life. As such, Essential Skin Food also follows this strategy.
As we age, our skin’s fibroblasts (our cells responsible for collagen production) tend to slow down, producing less collagen and with poorer quality. Pregnancy can also change our skin’s structure. Many people turn to collagen supplements to fight the effects of aging and UV exposure, but not all supplements are created equal. The ActivatedYou Essential Skin Food dietary supplement is a plant-based formula that is said to help improve your skin’s health and appearance.
What is ActivatedYou Essential Skin Food?
The Essential Skin Food supplement is a skin-nourishing collagen support complex. It is a daily capsule that is said to help your skin look and feel tight, smooth, and youthful no matter your age. Changes in skin texture are inevitable, and society’s beauty standards have placed heavy importance on maintaining youthful-looking skin. Unfortunately, many products contain harmful ingredients, but ActivatedYou contains just five major ingredients–plant-based and natural.
ActivatedYou aims to meet the needs of its customers by providing them with a carefully-crafted, plant-based collagen-boosting formula. Each serving contains
- Dermaval (50 mg)
- Vitamin C (10 mg)
- Cosmythic (40 mg)
- L-proline (50 mg)
- L-lysine hydrochloride[1] (HCl) (75 mg)
With the recommended dosage of one capsule per day, Essential Skin Food is said to help you develop firmer, plumper-looking skin, but it has a list of other benefits as well. And since this supplement contains zero animal-based collagen, it is considered vegan-friendly.
Does Essential Skin Food Really Work?
Customers appear to be delighted with the effects of Essential Skin Food. The product has an average of 4.7 stars, based on the reviews listed on the website. However, it should be noted that the product has under 400 reviews making up that average rating.
ActivatedYou does not have any studies regarding the effectiveness of their products published on their site. However, recent research[2] has shown that collagen supplements can improve skin elasticity, hydration, and moisture. The same research shows collagen can reduce wrinkles and the skin’s roughness, with minimal side effects.
There is room for continued research regarding collagen’s role in skin health, but current studies have shown promising results.
Feature Product & Coupon

Activated You Essential Skin Food
- Plant-based formula
- Easy to swallow soft gels
- 90-day money-back guarantee
- Minimal ingredients
- The company supports animal welfare charity
- High cost per serving
- You can’t buy it in stores
- Results will vary between users
10% Off Coupon: HC10ACTYOU
Essential Skin Food Ingredients
You might wonder, how does Essential Skin Food work? ActivatedYou’s Essential Skin Food provides a blend of minerals, essential amino acids, plant-based vitamins, and herbal extracts to stimulate your own collagen production. While it is generally marketed as a skin care supplement, you may even notice other health benefits as well.
Essential Skin Food features a short list of ingredients, including Dermaval, vitamin C, triple amino acid complex, and Cosmythic. Though they may be few, they are mighty in strength. This collagen-boosting formula is said to help improve dry skin, reduce wrinkles, and tighten sagging skin. (Cosmythic and Dermaval are proprietary ingredients, from the Maritime Pine–Pinus pinaster–and a phytonutrient, respectively).

Collagen, one of the major proteins of our bodies, experiences a reduction in both its production and quality with age. As a result, we tend to see an increase in elastin breakdown. The ActivatedYou Essential Skin Food is a plant-based, natural collagen-booster. It combines amino acids, vitamin C, Dermaval, and Cosmythic to stimulate healthy cell turnover and leave you with a healthy-looking complexion.
As it encourages healthy collagen production, you may notice that your skin looks and feels smooth, lifted, and radiant. But the benefits don’t stop there. It can also improve other areas of health including joint pain, hair and nail health, digestion, and bone strength.
It can be more costly per serving than other collagen supplement options, but you know what they say- you get what you pay for. However, if you’re not 100% satisfied with the results for any reason, you can return the product under their 90-day ActivatedYou Promise. Even if you’ve used the entire supply, you can receive a refund for the purchase price.
Dermaval
Dermaval is a natural collagen booster that uses phytonutrient compounds to fight the elastin breakdown that occurs naturally as you age. This plant-based supplement stimulates collagen production from within your body. Compounds such as pomegranate extract, coffeeberry, quercetin, and camu are said to help support skin elasticity and firmness to help give it a more youthful feel.
Vitamin C
Every serving of Essential Skin Food provides 10 milligrams (mg) of vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Vitamin C, a natural antioxidant, can help fight skin-damaging free radicals that put your skin health at risk. In fact, a high amount of the vitamin is essential for the turnover and new formation of your skin barrier. Vitamin C can lead to brighter, more radiant-looking skin. Recent research[3] has shown a connection between vitamin C and reduced pigmentation caused by ultraviolet (UV) light, leading researchers to believe it can help support enhanced protection from UV damage.
Triple Amino Acid Complex
The building blocks of protein, scientifically known as amino acids, play an important role in your body’s collagen. Essential Skin Food contains a proprietary blend of amino acids, including L-lysine and L-proline, to help plump and tighten your skin’s texture.
Cosmythic
Cosmythic[4] is a polyphenol-rich extract that is said to give new life to old fibroblasts responsible for collagen production. When exposed to Cosmythic, aged fibroblasts regain their more youthful activity and stimulate healthy collagen production.
L-Proline
Each serving of Essential Skin Food provides 50 mg of L-proline[5], a nonessential amino acid that is a major component of collagen.
L-Lysine HCI
Essential Skin Food provides 75 mg of L-lysine HCl with every serving. Lysine is an essential amino acid (an acid that the body cannot produce), meaning you must obtain it through your diet. Research[6] shows L-lysine is instrumental in building collagen while another study[7]found that L-lysine can help treat cold sores as well.
Alternatives to Essential Skin Food

SkinnyFit Super Youth Multi-Collagen Peptides
- Subscribe and save option
- Contains apple cider vinegar
- Contains hyaluronic acid
- Can be mixed into beverages and recipes
- Includes all five types of collagen
- Not vegan-friendly
- High-cost per serving

HUM Nutrition Collagen Love
- Triple-tested for purity
- No artificial sweeteners or colors
- Contains hyaluronic acid
- Cost-effective
- One serving is three capsules
- Not vegan-friendly

Bulletproof Collagen Protein Powder
- Available in unflavored, chocolate, or vanilla
- Can be mixed into beverages or recipes
- Contains 20 grams of protein per serving
- Bulk savings discount available
- Not vegan-friendly
Health Benefits of Essential Skin Food
With ingredients like pomegranate extract and essential amino acids, Essential Skin Food helps to enhance your skin health in a multitude of ways. Essential Skin Food aims to stimulate the healthy production of collagen to support firmer, plumper-looking skin, improve your skin texture, and enhance its barrier protection. However, it can be beneficial to your overall health as well. The health benefits of ActivatedYou Essential Skin Food can include
- Visibly tightened skin
- Improved wrinkle lines
- Hydrated, bright skin
- Healthy nails
- Supported joints
- Shinier hair
- Maintained bone strength
- Improved digestion
Results may vary among consumers and can depend on other lifestyle factors such as diet and physical activity. Combining a well-balanced diet, adequate hydration, and regular physical activity can help you maximize the potential of your dietary supplements.
Potential Side Effects
Exceeding the recommended dose of any collagen supplement is frowned upon, as too much collagen could affect your digestive system or skin’s appearance. So far, no significant or concerning side effects have been reported on ActivateYou’s website. However, before you purchase Essential Skin Food, it’s important to discuss any implications with your doctor or registered dietitian.
How To Take Essential Skin Food
To maximize the benefits of Essential Skin Food, take one capsule daily with a full glass of water. The company also recommends taking it with food. Like any new habit, consistency is key with this collagen-boosting supplement. You might try taking it at the same time every day to help encourage and reinforce a routine.
It’s essential to follow the recommended dosage on the product’s label unless directed otherwise by your doctor. Dietary supplements should not be taken in place of whole foods. A well-balanced diet is a foundation for your nutritional needs, and supplements are meant to fill the gaps. If you have questions about supplements and how they relate to your diet, consider meeting with a registered dietitian nutritionist to discuss your individualized needs.
Essential Skin Food Reviews: What Do Real Users Say?
There are less than 400 reviews listed on their website, but the ActivatedYou Essential Skin Food reviews show an average of 4.7 stars out of five. The overwhelmingly positive reviews included feedback such as:
Been using Skin Food for almost a month now. Haven’t noticed a huge difference but it does look healthier. Hopefully will see more in another month.
I am 50 and wanted something to help with my “laugh lines.” This product is amazing, my skin feels amazing on my entire body! Thank you!!
Many of the ActivatedYou Essential Skin Food reviews reference the differences customers noticed after one month of taking the supplement. This makes sense when the time for skin turnover is taken into account. The Essential Skin Food before and after reviews seem to trend extremely positively.
While the cost per serving may be higher than other collagen dietary supplements, its list of purported benefits and supporting positive reviews may make it worth the price. If you have a similarly positive experience, you might decide to take advantage of their bulk pricing next time you shop. However, if you don’t see the results you were hoping for, AdvantageYou offers a 90-day money-back guarantee.
Final Thought
As we age, our skin health changes. Our once youthful-looking skin starts to sag and looks dull as our collagen production slows. The ActivatedYou Essential Skin Food is an easy-to-use collagen supplement aimed at restoring your natural collagen production and promoting healthy cell turnover for more youthful-looking skin. Also, the healing of our skin is delayed with age, which is a reflection of a slowdown in collagen replacement. Enhanced collagen turnover, as is touted in skin health products, will not only help thin, easily damaged skin, but speed up healing[8] to a more youthful turnover and fight bacteria that interfere with healing.
Every serving of Essential Skin Food contains powerful ingredients, including Dermaval, vitamin C, and Cosmythic. You’ll also get a proprietary blend of amino acids called their triple amino acid complex which includes L-proline and L-lysine HCl.
Taking Essential Skin Food one capsule per day as part of your skincare routine can help promote a healthy-looking complexion and visibly tighten sagging skin. Collagen is the #1 protein in the human body, so this dietary supplement’s key ingredients also promote healthy nails, hair, bones, and joints. The list of positive customer reviews confirms such is the case with their Essential Skin Food experiences.
Per ActivatedYou’s website, you should take one capsule of Essential Skin Food daily. Take it with one full glass of water and food if possible. Perhaps you can make your morning complete by taking your Essential Skin Food after breakfast.
This review does not take the place of medical advice. Talking with your healthcare provider before starting a new dietary supplement is important.
Frequently Asked Questions
The ActivatedYou Essential Skin Food is designed for anyone who wants to improve their skin’s texture and appearance. It is said to be especially beneficial for those who have concerns about sagging skin, wrinkles, or dullness. Of course, it is important to discuss your needs with your doctor or registered dietitian before starting a new supplement.
Unlike many other collagen support supplements, Essential Skin Food encourages collagen production from within your body. Other supplements actually replace your collagen with animal-based ingredients, but the all-natural ingredients in Essential Skin Food stimulate the healthy turnover of the cells responsible for maintaining youthful skin.
No, ActivatedYou Essential Skin Food is a completely plant-based supplement. It contains zero animal-based collagen in order to avoid replacing your collagen with that from another source. Instead, the plant-based ingredients stimulate collagen growth within your body.
According to the ActivatedYou website, all of their products are made with natural, plant-based compounds, and each batch is third-party tested for quality and potency. ActivatedYou is extremely passionate about providing high-quality, pure products to their customers.
+ 8 sources
Health Canal avoids using tertiary references. We have strict sourcing guidelines and rely on peer-reviewed studies, academic researches from medical associations and institutions. To ensure the accuracy of articles in Health Canal, you can read more about the editorial process here
- PubChem (2022). L-Lysine hydrochloride. [online] @pubchem. Available at: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/L-Lysine-hydrochloride
- Al-Atif, H. (2022). Collagen Supplements for Aging and Wrinkles: A Paradigm Shift in the Field of Dermatology and Cosmetics. Dermatology Practical & Conceptual, [online] p.e2022018. doi:10.5826/dpc.1201a18.
- De Dormael, R., Bastien, P., Sextius, P., Gueniche, A., Ye, D., Tran, C., Chevalier, V., Gomes, C., Souverain, L. and Tricaud, C. (2019). Vitamin C Prevents Ultraviolet-induced Pigmentation in Healthy Volunteers: Bayesian Meta-analysis Results from 31 Randomized Controlled versus Vehicle Clinical Studies. The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology, [online] 12(2), pp.E53–E59. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6415704/
- Oligopin & Cosmythic. (2021). Cosmythic ® – The benefits of antioxidant pine bark OPCs on the skin. [online] Available at: https://www.theoriginalpinebarkextract.com/03-benefits/cosmythic/
- PubChem (2022). Proline. [online] @pubchem. Available at: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Proline#section=3D-Conformer
- Yamauchi, M. and Sricholpech, M. (2012). Lysine post-translational modifications of collagen. Essays in Biochemistry, [online] 52, pp.113–133. doi:10.1042/bse0520113.
- Mailoo, V.J. and Rampes, S. (2017). Lysine for Herpes Simplex Prophylaxis: A Review of the Evidence. Integrative medicine (Encinitas, Calif.), [online] 16(3), pp.42–46. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6419779/
- Gerstein (2022). Wound healing and aging. Dermatologic clinics, [online] 11(4). Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8222358/