“I hope that in two years of my collaboration with Vichy, I have been able to make even more people fall in love with the amazingly high-quality, scientifically based and affordable products from a cool French brand that I use myself,” says biochemist Jessie Inchospe, a Vichy ambassador, scientific influencer known as the Glucose Goddess. As part of the large-scale Vichy Longevity Clinic event, she gave an interview to Ukrainian Vogue.
How glucose spikes affect the skin
This happens in two ways. The first is that every time you have a spike in your glucose levels, it increases a process called inflammation in your body. Inflammation is simply your body's response to a threat. If you already have acne, rosacea, eczema, or psoriasis, inflammation can exacerbate these conditions.
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And the second way: every spike in glucose accelerates glycation. In simple terms, it's when sugar molecules attach to the collagen fibers of the skin, making them stiff and brittle. In fact, this means accelerated aging, which is very noticeable on the skin. The more glycation, the faster the collagen breaks down and the more wrinkles appear. So every spike in sugar potentially accelerates skin aging.
About the most effective steps that will help improve health and well-being
First , choose protein for breakfast. This is an incredibly important and simple thing you can do for yourself. Protein in the morning stabilizes glucose levels and gives your skin the “building blocks” it needs to repair and heal. By the way, did you know that collagen is protein? – 20–30 g of protein for breakfast is enough to maintain healthy skin
And remember one thing: it's better to skip breakfast altogether than to eat something sweet. Sugar is actively harming you and creating problems in your body. Nothing is better than sweets in the morning.
Second . Use your muscles to reduce the spike in blood sugar. We all eat something sweet one way or another. And I do too: chocolate ice cream with chocolate sauce and chocolate chips – I love it! So, after a sweet treat, you can do light exercises – stand on tiptoe, go for a walk or clean the apartment. Muscles help reduce the spike in blood sugar. This is a super useful life hack.
Third . Sleep is very important. People don't realize that even small lights in the room can disrupt the deep sleep phase. Buy some electrical tape and tape all, even the smallest light sources: on the TV, computer, etc. Sleep in complete darkness – this will help you feel better in the morning.
About if something more threatening than a light bulb (e.g. war) is disturbing your sleep
One thing you can do is set aside 5 minutes in the morning for a very intense activity. Jumping rope, jumping jacks, squats. Just a few minutes of HIIT training will help to “reboot” the body after a bad night.
You can also take creatine. It's a very common supplement that people have been taking for decades. It's been shown to counteract the feeling of sleep deprivation in the brain. I'm not promoting any brands, but I like Crea Vitalis. I took 10g of creatine after giving birth when I was really sleep deprived to help myself a little.
On the importance of protein
Protein is everything in your body. Protein builds organs, the connections between organs and the brain, regulates metabolism. Of course, it builds muscle, but also skin. If you take away the water, we are 50% protein.
If you don't eat sugar, your body can make it on its own. But protein is different. The body can't make it on its own. So you have to eat protein every day, or you'll die eventually. This isn't some crazy diet—it's a biological necessity.
About collagen-rich foods
Animal foods – chicken, fish, meat – are very rich in collagen. Eggs are an incredible source of collagen. It is no coincidence that the Vichy Liftactiv Collagen Supplement uses concentrated collagen from egg membranes.
About supplements that help stimulate collagen
Making collagen is a lot of work for the body. So, it requires proper hydration, it requires zinc, vitamin C, and most importantly, the building blocks of collagen, which are protein. You can take collagen supplements, it will help your body, but the foundation of collagen in the body is protein.
About whether Zero Cola is harmful
Although Diet Coke has sweetener, regular Coke contains 25 grams of sugar. Sugar is much worse for the body than sugar substitutes. It's an absolute myth that sugar is “natural.” Sugar is a very toxic substance. The aspartame or whatever is in Coke – of course, it's better without it altogether – but it's ten times better than regular sugar.
On whether the mechanism of sugar addiction is really similar to that of drug addiction
Yes, this is proven by research. This is not an urban legend. Sugar activates the part of the brain that releases dopamine. Dopamine is one of the substances that causes addiction. Dopamine is released when we play video games, do drugs, etc. The same molecule works in the brain as when we eat sugar. So sugar is addictive. I know from myself: I have long phases when I don't eat sweets at all – I don't even crave them. But it's worth starting again – and I think about it all the time.
On whether collagen supplements work
They make sense, even though collagen breaks down into amino acids during digestion. In addition to amino acids, peptides (very small proteins) are also produced during the breakdown. They signal the body that there are “building blocks” to create new collagen molecules. That's why we see clinical results. If it were nonsense, there would be no results. So taking collagen has some effect, and if you combine this with other factors (diet, sleep, etc.), you will see a real difference in your skin after three months.
About sugar myths
The most common one is “Honey is good for you.” This is not true. Honey is sugar. If you like honey, that’s fine, but you should be aware that you’re consuming a lot of sugar. It’s like eating chocolate cake. Honey doesn’t have enough benefits to specifically add it to your diet—it’s too sweet.
The same goes for substitutes: dried figs, agave sugar, brown sugar, coconut sugar, maple syrup—they’re all sugar. They’re just marketing games.
About medical weight loss
I am not a fan of this method. It is a short-term solution, and if you do not change your eating habits, the result will not last. It is just an extreme diet. However, if you do take such drugs, it is important to eat enough protein, otherwise there is a risk of losing a lot of muscle mass. After all, the drug burns not only fat, but also all types of tissue.
And half a dozen more rules for metabolic health
1. Eat foods in the right order
When glucose levels spike too high and too often, the familiar glycation process occurs, which breaks down collagen. So, whenever possible, start your meal with vegetables, then move on to proteins and healthy fats, and only then to carbohydrates and sugars. This reduces the post-meal glucose spike.
The fiber in vegetables forms a protective barrier in the gut, slowing the rate at which glucose molecules enter the bloodstream. This reduces the sugar spike from carbohydrates and sweets, as well as the accompanying inflammatory signals that can irritate the skin.
2. Eat dinner 3 hours before bedtime
Late dinners increase glucose and insulin levels at night, which interferes with the production of melatonin and growth hormone, which are essential for skin regeneration. Additionally, stable glucose levels in the evening can improve sleep quality and skin radiance the next day.
3. Let the darkness interest you.
Poor sleep increases insulin resistance the next day, making your skin more prone to inflammation and dullness. So put your phone away at least 30 minutes before bed, cover up the lights on your electronic devices, and use blackout curtains. You need to sleep in complete darkness.
4. Actively use cinnamon
Cinnamon helps muscles absorb glucose more efficiently, lowering post-meal glucose levels and reducing inflammation. Add it not only to coffee, but also to tea, cocoa, and regular meals.
5. Moisturize, moisturize, and moisturize again
Hydration is crucial for skin health. Water helps skin cells function properly, maintain a strong protective barrier, and stay supple and elastic. So, hydration relieves dryness, irritation, or dullness. Aim to drink at least 1.5 liters of water every day (and more if you exercise).
6. Strive for consistency, not perfection
Your metabolism and skin respond best to consistent habits, both in self-care and nutrition. Focus on simple, body-friendly, and glucose-sensitive habits instead of short-term restrictive diets.