Hair, Skin & Nails

Hair, Skin and Nails Supplements

Explore collagen, vitamins, minerals and targeted food supplements selected for everyday beauty routines. Compare ingredients, formats and serving guidance before choosing.

Always follow the directions and warnings on the product label. Food supplements should not replace a varied, balanced diet and healthy lifestyle.

Frequently asked questions

How long before I see anything?

Longer than most packaging implies. Hair grows roughly 1 cm a month and nails more slowly still, so any change appears in new growth rather than existing length. Three months is a realistic first checkpoint; six is fairer. Anything promising results in two weeks is describing hydration, not structure.

Which nutrients have authorised claims here?

Under EU-authorised health claims: biotin, zinc and selenium contribute to the maintenance of normal hair and nails; zinc, biotin, niacin, riboflavin, vitamin A and iodine contribute to the maintenance of normal skin; vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin; and copper contributes to normal skin and hair pigmentation. Collagen itself carries no authorised claim in the EU — which is why product pages describe composition rather than promising outcomes.

Does drinking collagen actually reach my skin?

Not directly. Collagen is broken down into peptides and amino acids during digestion, then used wherever the body directs — you cannot aim it. Research on hydrolysed collagen peptides for skin elasticity is genuinely mixed but has grown, with most trials running 8 to 12 weeks at 2.5–10 g daily. Vitamin C is required for your body's own collagen synthesis, which is why sensible products include it.

Marine, bovine or vegan collagen?

Marine collagen is fish-derived and mainly type I, the dominant type in skin — and a fish allergen. Bovine supplies types I and III. "Vegan collagen" contains no collagen: it supplies the amino acids and cofactors your body uses to make its own. All three are legitimate; the labels are just less transparent than they should be.

Is more biotin better?

No, and there is a specific reason to be careful. Biotin deficiency genuinely causes hair and nail problems, but supplementing beyond adequacy does not add benefit. More importantly, high-dose biotin interferes with several common laboratory blood tests, including thyroid and cardiac troponin assays, producing misleading results. Tell your doctor if you take biotin before any blood test.

Should I take a supplement or fix something else?

Worth asking honestly. Sudden hair shedding, brittle nails or a marked skin change often trace to iron deficiency, thyroid dysfunction, rapid weight loss, or a stressful event three months prior — none of which a beauty supplement addresses. If a change is recent and noticeable, bloodwork first is the better spend.