If you want healthier hair, stronger nails, or cleaner skin, you might wonder if investing in a coat, skin, and nail vitamin is worth it.
Depending on the components, one of these supplements may help strengthen your hair and nails or alleviate skin issues like acne.
This article includes a list of the top seven vitamins for hair, skin, and nails and suggestions for what to look for when choosing a supplement.
How to choose hair, nails, and skin supplements
Choosing a supplement for your hair, nails, and skin might be problematic. Here are a few significant considerations.
Ingredient quality and effectiveness
Look for goods that contain components that have been studied and are devoid of artificial additions and fillers.
If you’re looking for a supplement containing a proprietary mix, remember that the specific proportions of the substances used in the blends are not disclosed. As a result, you should avoid any items that include components to which you are allergic.
Furthermore, while the evidence does support the efficacy of some components, research on the advantages of hair, skin, and nail supplements currently needs to be made available.
Consequently, there needs to be an assurance that these products will make a noticeable impact on your hair, skin, or nails.
Brand reputation and third-party testing
When purchasing supplements, it is critical to do it from a reputable provider.
Look for vitamins evaluated by a third-party agency, such as USP, NSF, or ConsumerLab, for added peace of mind.
A third-party mark of approval ensures that the product includes the types and quantities of components mentioned on the label.
Potential contraindications
Some components may interact with medicines or be hazardous if pregnant or nursing. Before attempting any new supplements, always consult with a healthcare practitioner to ensure that the product is safe for you to use.
How we chose
Eathealthyisgood evaluated the finest hair, skin, and nails vitamins using the following criteria to help you determine which products are worth considering:
- Vetting. All items in this category have been thoroughly reviewed to ensure they fulfill Eathealthyisgood’s medical and commercial standards.
- Effective ingredients. We sought items with high-quality, research-backed components.
- Price. We offered extras to accommodate a variety of budgets.
- User reviews. User feedback. All of the vitamins on this list have largely positive consumer feedback.
Eathealthyisgood’s picks of the best vitamins for hair, skin, and nails
Best overall
Nature’s Bounty Extra Strength Hair, Skin, and Nails
- Type: capsules softgels
- Age range: 18+
- Dosage: Each serving contains three softgels.
If you’re searching for a multivitamin created to promote healthy hair, skin, and nails, Nature’s Bounty Extra Strength Hair, Skin, and Nails is a terrific choice.
This supplement contains various vitamins, including vitamin A, which can help with collagen formation and may alleviate acne symptoms. This lotion also includes vitamin D, which may help acne (1, 2, 3, 4, 5).
Collagen, a protein necessary for skin elasticity and nail health, and zinc, a critical mineral that promotes collagen formation and may help cure acne, are also prominent constituents in Nature’s Bounty Extra Strength Hair, Skin, and Nails (6, 7, 8, 9).
Horsetail, which has been demonstrated to help enhance thinning hair and skin look, is also included, as is hyaluronic acid, which has been shown to help promote skin hydration (10, 11, 12).
PABA, or vitamin B10, is also present and can aid in the absorption of UVB rays, which are linked to sunburn and DNA damage. It may also help with gray hair repigmentation. However, studies on this effect are limited (13, 14, 15, 16).
Nature’s Bounty products are manufactured in third-party accredited facilities by USP and Specialized Technology Resources, ensuring high quality production processes.
Best Affordable
Revly Vegan Hair, Skin, & Nails Complex
- Type: capsules
- Age range: 18+
- Dosage: One pill daily
Revly Vegan Hair, Skin, & Nails Complex has multiple scientifically proven components at a low price, making it an excellent choice to get the most bang for your buck.
The ingredient list is also rather extensive, including methlysulfonylmethane (MSM), which may help enhance skin hydration and elasticity, and horsetail, which may help reduce shedding and thicken hair (10, 17, 18).
Revly’s supplement also includes some unusual substances, such as gotu kola.
Gotu kola, an Ayurvedic plant, has been demonstrated to have powerful antioxidant effects. It is also used topically to help minimize the appearance of stretch marks; however, additional study on the advantages of taking it orally is needed (19, 20).
The supplement also contains green tea extract, shown in one research to help improve acne symptoms. In another investigation, a supplement combining green tea extract and numerous other components was established to help treat hair loss (21, 22).
Ultimately, additional research is required.
Best gummy
Olly Undeniable Beauty Hair, Skin, and Nails
- Type: gummies
- Age range: 18+
- Dosage: Two gummy bears every day
Sweet potato, apple, radish, cherry, blueberry, and carrot juices are used to color these brilliant red grapefruit-flavored candies naturally.
Olly’s supplement contains vitamin C, which helps protect your skin from UV exposure and boosts collagen formation (23).
It also includes vitamin E, which may protect your hair from UV rays and aid in treating eczema (24, 25, 26).
Keratin, a protein that is the fundamental structural component of your hair, skin, and nails, is a unique element in these gummies. However, evidence on the efficacy of keratin supplementation is limited.
Best vegan
Briogeo B. Well
- Type: softgels
- Age range: 18+
- Dosage: 2 softgels daily
Briogeo’s B. Well, supplement is one of the best if you’re searching for a vegan alternative that’s also cruelty-free, which means it wasn’t tested on animals.
This supplement includes docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a kind of omega-3 that may be useful in encouraging hair development, enhancing hair density, and minimizing hair loss (27, 28).
Because of their significant antioxidant qualities, omega-3s may also help decrease acne inflammation, though further study is needed (27, 28, 29)
This supplement also contains sodium hyaluronate, silica, zinc, and vitamin C. (8, 9, 23, 30, 31).
Best for postpartum
Pink Stork Total Postnatal Vitamin & DHA
- Type: capsules
- Age range: 18+
- Dosage: Two pills daily
People who have recently given birth require a lot of nutrition to help them recover and to make breast milk for their babies if they choose to nurse.
Furthermore, due to hormonal changes, women frequently experience increased hair loss within the first year after giving birth (32).
In addition to meeting your postnatal nutritional needs, Pink Stork’s supplement contains components that are good for your hair, skin, and nails, including iron and vitamins B6 and B12.
This postnatal vitamin also contains DHA, which may help to promote hair development, improve hair density, and reduce hair loss (27, 28, 29).
Furthermore, omega-3 supplements may aid in the treatment of prenatal depression and the brain development of babies (33, 34).
Consider a healthcare practitioner before incorporating new supplements into your regimen, especially if you’re nursing.
Best create-your-own
Persona Nutrition
- Type: capsules
- Age range: 18+
- Dosage: Most supplements require one pill each day.
Persona Nutrition is a vitamin delivery service that lets you choose which supplements to include in your daily routine.
Persona provides many nutritional mixes meant to target particular issues, such as hair, skin, and nail health, in addition to individual vitamins and minerals.
Persona’s Beauty Sleep supplement, in particular, may be beneficial. It includes hyaluronic acid and fish collagen, which may enhance skin hydration and suppleness (6, 35).
The supplement also contains horsetail extract, which may aid hair loss, and L-theanine, an amino acid that may help sleep (10, 36).
Persona also provides a Beauty Wake supplement, which has all of the same elements as the Beauty Sleep supplement but with caffeine instead of L-theanine.
Persona also provides a hair, skin, and nails vitamin with biotin, pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), zinc, copper, and a unique combination of collagen, sodium hyaluronate, and flaxseed.
Just remember that more isn’t always better when it comes to vitamins. Check the labels carefully for overlapping substances before consuming numerous products.
Best organic
Garden of Life mykind Organics Organic Plant Collagen Builder
- Type: tablets
- Age range: 18+
- Dosage: Two pills daily
If you prefer a supplement comprising blended fruits, veggies, and herbs, select Garden of Life mykind Organics Plant Collagen Builder.
This supplement contains zinc and vitamin C, which may help support healthy hair and skin (8, 9, 23).
It also includes green tea extract, which may help with hair and skin care, although additional research is needed (21, 22).
Common ingredients found in hair, skin, and nails, vitamins
Here are some typical substances included in hair, skin, and nail supplements, as well as a brief description of their effectiveness.
Biotin
Biotin, a B vitamin known to aid in hair and nail development, is one of the most common compounds in hair, skin, and nail vitamins.
While evidence supports its usage in biotin deficient individuals, research on its efficacy for hair and nails in the general population is conflicting (37, 38, 39).
Despite this, biotin is routinely included in hair, skin, and nail supplements, often in excessive dosages (40).
While high dosages of biotin have not been demonstrated to be hazardous, they can interfere with test findings, resulting in a misinterpretation of a health problem or improper care of an existing ailment (41).
Vitamins A, D, and E
Vitamins A, D, and E are fat-soluble vitamins commonly featured in hair, skin, and nail supplements due to their potential advantages, particularly for hair and skin (42).
Because vitamins A, D, and E are fat soluble, excess quantities are retained rather than expelled. As a result, specific vitamins can be harmful if consumed in significant numbers.
Avoid taking these vitamins in dosages that exceed the tolerated upper limit except under the guidance of a healthcare expert (UL).
The following are the ULs for vitamins A, D, and E (43, 44, 45):
- Vitamin A: 10,000 IU (3,000 mcg)
- Vitamin D: 4,000 IU (100 mcg)
- Vitamin E: 1,100 IU (1,000 mg)
Remember that if you lack vitamin D, a healthcare practitioner may suggest a supplement with more than 4,000 IU to raise your blood levels appropriately.
Methlysulfonylmethane (MSM)
MSM is another frequent component since research suggests it may benefit skin health.
A small 2019 research with 50 female participants discovered that consuming 400 mg of MSM daily for two months, 200 mg of hyaluronic acid, and 500 mg of L-carnosine increased skin hydration by 15.2% and skin elasticity by 22.6%. (17).
A small 2020 research also discovered that even a low dosage of MSM enhanced skin elasticity and moisture. It also lowered visible age symptoms such as skin roughness and face wrinkles (18).
While these findings appear encouraging, more studies need to be done on the usefulness of MSM in hair, skin, and nail supplements.
Hyaluronic acid
Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring molecule that aids in maintaining moisture levels in the body.
While hyaluronic acid is often available in topical skin care products, oral consumption of 120 mg daily has enhanced skin hydration, particularly in persons with dry skin (11, 12).
Collagen
Collagen is your body’s most prevalent protein.
Studies have demonstrated Collagen supplements to help minimize aging indications and enhance skin moisture and suppleness (6).
More study is needed to see whether it can help with brittle nails and hair damage (7, 46).
Horsetail (silica)
Horsetail is a fern that contains silica, a potent antioxidant that helps protect cells from free radical damage.
Consequently, horsetail may help reduce hair loss and thinning, although additional study is needed (10).
Also, horsetail supplements may conflict with some drugs, so consult your doctor before including this supplement in your routine (47).
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to take hair, skin, and nail vitamins daily?
Dietary supplements, such as vitamins for hair, skin, and nails, are not regulated by the FDA like pharmaceuticals.
The FDA, in particular, does not test supplements to guarantee that they contain the types and levels of components that their labels claim they do, which is why it’s best to take supplements that have been third-party tested for purity and potency (48).
Remember that these supplements may not suit everyone (49).
For example, poisoning is possible since many of these supplements include large amounts of specific nutrients, especially if you take another supplement, such as a multivitamin.
Furthermore, several chemicals in hair, skin and nail supplements may interfere with specific drugs or be unsafe during pregnancy and breastfeeding (49).
Before beginning any new supplement, consult with a healthcare practitioner.
Do hair, skin, and nail vitamins work?
Some compounds included in hair, skin, and nail vitamins, such as collagen and hyaluronic acid, have more evidence to back up their efficacy than others (6, 11, 12).
However, remember that the total research on these supplements is limited. Consequently, more rigorous analysis is required before we can safely conclude if hair, nail, and skin vitamins work.
Do hair, skin, and nail vitamins help with hair growth?
Specific components, such as horsetail and DHA omega-3s, have been shown in studies to promote hair growth and health. However, inadequate evidence supports these claims (10, 27, 28).
How long does it take hair, skin, and nail vitamins to work?
While the data on vitamins for hair, skin, and nails is still ambiguous, studies that demonstrated good impacts of particular compounds usually present in these products varied from 40 days to 6 months (6, 10, 11, 27).
The bottom line
While not all supplements are the same, some include substances that may be useful to your hair, skin, and nails.
With so many possibilities, it’s critical to conduct your homework beforehand to choose which product best matches you.
Before attempting new supplements, consult a healthcare provider, especially if you are pregnant or nursing or use other supplements or prescription drugs.
Finally, supplements should not be used in place of other good lifestyle behaviors like eating a balanced diet, staying hydrated, managing stress, and getting plenty of sleep, all of which lead to better hair, skin, and nails.
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