ZSS Skincare gets distribution with GNC amid ‘growing traction of nutricosmetics market,’ says brand's president

07-Aug-2017 - Last updated on 16-Aug-2019 at 13:49 GMT

Related tags Skin

This coming October, beauty-from-within supplements by ZSS—short for Zea Skin Solutions—will hit brick-and-mortar shelves for the first time through a partnership with supplement retailer GNC.

As the company name implies, ZSS specializes in making skincare products, both topical and for ingestion, using the carotenoid zeaxanthin as a key ingredient.

According to its website, co-founder Dr. Dennis Gerhart, a biochemist and food scientist with 30 years’ experience of researching zeaxanthin’s effect on eye health, heard from eye doctors that their patients “were raving about the skin benefits they were experiencing.”

He then continued to do research on the carotenoid’s effect on skin health, three of which are on PubMed. Together with nutritionist Paula Simpson and former VP of business development Emily Frank, he co-founded ZSS.

Since the company’s conception in October 2014, its flagship products have been its two kits—or ‘systems’—available for consumers to order from the company directly online. Each system comes with a topical serum and packets of supplements, all offered in either a 30-day or 45-day supply kit. Options include Clear Skin Probiotics System and the Radiant Skin Anti-Aging System.

Supplements now available separately due to demand

According to a ZSS spokesperson, the option to purchase standalone supplement packets launched January this year due to customer demand. Today, in addition to the kits, it sells the Radiant Skin supplement packets, Clear Skin supplement packets, and topical Nutri-Serum as separate products.

The two supplement varieties will be on sale in GNC. “When we developed our distribution plan, GNC was identified as an ideal partner,” Emily Frank, president of ZSS, told NutraIngredients-USA.

“They have long been known as a credible leader in the nutrition industry. GNC could not be a better platform to expand the reach of the ZSS brand.”

For ZSS, the distribution deal with GNC meant “consumer awareness and demand for holistic approaches to wellness and beauty is on the rise,” Frank said.

The US beauty supplements market was valued at $76 million in 2015, according to Euromonitor data, placing seventh among the world’s biggest beauty supplement markets. “We are excited to be a part of the growing traction of the nutricosmetics market in the US,” Frank added.