Hair, skin & nails
Supplements for hair, skin and nails: biotin, zinc, selenium, collagen and multi-nutrient formulas in capsules, powders and gummies. We explain which nutrients carry approved claims and what to expect.Read more →
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What nutrients for hair, skin and nails really do
Hair, skin and nails are built mostly from protein, and they renew all the time. When your intake of a nutrient drops, these tissues often show it before you notice anything else. Only a short list of nutrients has claims approved by the European food safety authority (EFSA) here. Biotin contributes to the maintenance of normal hair and normal skin. Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal hair, skin and nails. Selenium contributes to the maintenance of normal hair and normal nails. Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin. Copper contributes to normal hair pigmentation. This collection is part of BEAUTY + BALANCE, one of the Core 4 by BONO pillars.
What separates one beauty formula from another
Most formulas look alike on the front of the pack and differ on the back. We read the back first. The form decides how much your body absorbs and how the product feels in your stomach.
- Zinc: bisglycinate and citrate are usually easier to take with a small meal than zinc oxide.
- Selenium: selenomethionine is taken up more readily than sodium selenite.
- Collagen: only hydrolysed collagen peptides dissolve properly in a cold drink.
- Biotin: a 10,000 mcg tablet holds 200 times the daily reference amount. More is not better once your intake is covered.
- Iron: sensible if a blood test shows you are low, not as a default beauty ingredient.
From there, two routes are open to you. A multi-nutrient beauty formula gives you the whole set of approved claims in one capsule or gummy, which keeps things simple. Single nutrients let you top up what you actually lack, for example zinc on its own, or vitamin C next to a collagen powder. Powders and gummies help if capsules are hard to swallow, although gummies usually carry lower doses and often contain sugar.
How we select what you find here
We look at three things: the form of each nutrient, the dose, and whether the combination makes sense. A formula with zinc, selenium, biotin and vitamin C covers the claims that exist for these tissues, so we prefer that over one enormous dose of biotin with nothing beside it. We buy directly from the brands, without intermediaries, so what arrives is genuine. Our compliance team checks every product before it goes live, we test products ourselves, and independent labs spot-check batches. We carry only brands we stand behind, whatever their margin: read how we select.
Who this collection suits and what to expect
These products suit you if your diet is limited, if you eat plant-based, or if your hair, skin and nails feel weaker than usual and you want the basics covered. They are not an answer to hair loss with a medical cause. Hair grows roughly one centimetre a month and nails grow slower still, so give it time: two to three weeks of consistent use before skin feels different, and three to four months before you can judge hair and nails fairly. If dry skin is your main concern, omega-3 fits you better than biotin on its own. Taking a modest dose every day beats taking a large dose now and then.
Frequently asked questions
They are food supplements built around nutrients that keep these three tissues in normal condition. Most are multi-nutrient formulas with biotin, zinc, selenium, copper and vitamin C, sometimes with collagen or hyaluronic acid added. Biotin contributes to the maintenance of normal hair and normal skin, and zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal hair, skin and nails. They top up a diet, they do not replace one. You will find them here as capsules, tablets, powders and gummies.
They help most when your intake of a nutrient is genuinely short, for example zinc or iron on a limited or plant-based diet. If you already eat varied meals, the effect is smaller and slower. Nothing here changes hair thickness on its own, and a formula cannot outrun heat styling or an underlying medical cause. If shedding is your main worry, products aimed at hair growth are a closer fit than a broad beauty formula.
Longer than most packs suggest. Skin tends to respond first, and two to three weeks of daily use is a fair first check. Nails grow a few millimetres a month, so a stronger nail edge takes roughly three months to reach the tip. Hair grows about one centimetre a month, which means three to four months before you can judge it honestly. Buy a three month supply rather than one box, and take it at the same moment each day.
It depends on the dose you need and on what you will keep taking.
| Form | Dose per serving | Best suited for |
|---|---|---|
| Capsule | Full | Multi-nutrient formulas |
| Tablet | Full | Larger mineral doses |
| Powder | High | Collagen, several grams |
| Gummy | Lower | Trouble swallowing pills |
| Liquid | Flexible | Splitting a dose |
Collagen needs grams, so powder is practical. Vitamins and minerals need milligrams, so capsules work well. Gummies usually contain sugar and lower amounts, which is a fair trade if it means you take them.
UK reference amounts for adults aged 19 to 64, with the limits the NHS names:
| Nutrient | Men | Women | Limit from supplements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zinc | 9.5 mg | 7 mg | 25 mg a day |
| Selenium | 75 mcg | 60 mcg | 350 mcg a day |
| Vitamin A | 700 mcg | 600 mcg | 1.5 mg total a day |
Check whether a beauty formula plus your multivitamin pushes you past these figures.
Source: NHS, NHSYes, but add up the labels first. Both usually contain zinc, selenium and vitamin A, and doubling up is the most common mistake we see. The NHS advises no more than 25 mg of zinc a day from supplements, and no more than 1.5 mg of vitamin A a day from food and supplements together. High zinc intakes over time also reduce how much copper you absorb. Pick one product as your base and add single nutrients around it.
They work differently, so the choice is not a coin toss. Biotin has an approved claim for normal hair and skin, not for nails, while zinc and selenium do contribute to the maintenance of normal nails. Collagen supplies protein building blocks, and vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin. For nails specifically, a formula with zinc and selenium is the more direct route. Collagen powder is the better pick if skin is your first concern.
Read the vitamin A content before anything else. In the UK, pregnant women are advised to avoid supplements containing vitamin A, including fish liver oils, and to avoid liver and liver products, because too much vitamin A can harm the baby. Many beauty formulas contain 700 to 800 mcg of vitamin A per dose, which rules them out. A pregnancy-specific supplement plus 400 mcg folic acid is the usual route. Ask your midwife or GP if you take other supplements alongside it.
