Best Hair, Skin, and Nail Vitamins 2023

We spend a lot of time thinking about skincare and makeup. But sometimes, your appearance is a reflection of what’s going on inside your body. Changes in your hair or skin can signal an underlying issue, and sometimes, that issue can be resolved with a simple nutritional supplement. 

We’ve selected the best hair, skin, and nail vitamins to address the most common beauty concerns, from dry skin to brittle nails. When curating our list, we focused on formulas backed by scientific evidence and those that offer additional health benefits. 

That said, none of these supplements are a one-size-fits-all solution. Most of them are only suited for those 18 years and older, and in some cases, they’re only useful if they address an underlying deficiency. So many individual factors are involved in choosing the right health supplement for you, so be sure to speak with your doctor about any vitamins you plan to take. 

Supplement safety 

Before choosing your supplement, consult your primary care physician to ensure a hair, skin, and nail vitamin is necessary and safe for you to consume. Keep in mind, hair, skin, and nail vitamins may interact with other vitamins, increasing the risk for toxicity. Some vitamins may also not be safe to consume during pregnancy or lactation. If you think you need a hair, skin, and nail vitamin, ensure you receive confirmation and approval from your doctor before taking. 

Best hair, skin, and nail vitamin overview:

• Best overall: Centrum Women Multivitamins
• Best budget: NatureMade Hair-Skin-Nails 2500 Mcg Softgels
• Best collagen: Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides
• Best for skin: Nature’s Bounty Extra Strength Hair, Skin & Nails
• Best for hair: Nutrafol Women Hair Growth Nutraceutical
• Best vegan: Now Foods Hair, Skin & Nails, Vegan Veg Capsules
• Best gummies: OLLY Undeniable Beauty
• Best omega supplement: Mary Ruth’s Omega 3-6-7-9 Gummies
• Best for acne-prone skin: HUM Daily Cleanse

How we chose the best vitamins

To compile this list, we examined clinical studies and manufacturer specifications to create a short list of the top beauty supplements. Then, we combed through detailed product descriptions, ingredients, ratings, and reviews to find the best skin, hair, and nail vitamins for each category. As supplements are not regulated by the FDA, we also considered third-party certification and testing.

Our picks for the best hair, skin, and nail vitamins

In our opinion, the best hair, skin, and nail vitamin should also double as a comprehensive multivitamin. From trusted brand Centrum, this incredibly popular women’s multivitamin includes all of the essential nutrients needed for a healthy life. 

A lot of these nutrients also have well-documented beauty benefits. Vitamin C supports collagen production for preserving firmer, more youthful-looking skin, biotin is famous for boosting the strength of hair and nails (although whether this is true is controversial), and minerals like zinc, selenium, and copper may offer additional skin support.   

Notably, this multivitamin includes iron, which isn’t normally present in beauty vitamins. Iron deficiencies are incredibly common in North America, especially for women. Since this mineral is responsible for regulating cell growth, deficiencies can lead to nail, hair, and skin problems. 
That said, not everyone will benefit from all of the different nutrients in such a robust blend, so consider your individual diet to ensure you can take this supplement safely.

Type: Tablets | Dosage: 1 daily | Main ingredients: 23 micronutrients, including vitamins A, C, D, E, B12, biotin, iron, zinc | Quantity: 120

This is a reputable, budget-friendly option if you’re after a simple beauty vitamin that’ll load you up on key vitamins and minerals that don’t pose an overdose risk. This supplement blend is USP-verified, meaning NatureMade follows strict sourcing and formulation standards for verified and accurate label information. 

Biotin is the key nutrient here and is present in high quantities. The blend also includes four other vitamins and minerals, like vitamin C for collagen support, antioxidant vitamin A (as beta-carotene, one of its safer formats), zinc, and copper. 

These softgels do contain gelatin, though, so they’re not vegetarian. However, you only need to take one for your daily dose, which we find very convenient.

Type: Softgel | Dosage: 1 daily | Main ingredients: Biotin, vitamins A and C | Quantity: 60

Collagen is one supplement that shows a little more promise as far as skin health is concerned. As with other supplements, it’s somewhat under-researched, but the collagen research that exists shows it can be beneficial for skin hydration and wrinkles. It may even help with nail strength. As for hair, while the research is limited, many reviewers reported that they noticed a difference in hair strength.

Vital Proteins’ bovine-sourced collagen is considered the best thanks to its neutral flavor, reasonable price point, and supportive addition of vitamin C and hyaluronic acid, which boost collagen production and skin hydration. Just note that this collagen peptide isn’t vegan or vegetarian.

Type: Powder | Dosage: 10-20 g daily | Main ingredients: Collagen, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C | Quantity: 20 oz

This potent hair, skin, and nail vitamin blend is our top choice for giving the skin a general boost. It’s made with a very high dose of biotin and vitamin D3, a total daily dose of vitamins A and C, and a broad range of B vitamins and antioxidant minerals.  

The other ingredients that push this blend over the edge for skin health are hyaluronic acid, which research shows may help with dry skin and wrinkles, and collagen, which can potentially boost elasticity. 

While this vitamin is fairly affordable, keep in mind that the recommended dose is three capsules per day. It’s also not suitable for vegetarians.

Type: Softgel | Dosage: 3 daily | Main ingredients: Biotin, vitamins A, B, and C, minerals, hyaluronic acid, collagen | Quantity: 150

If you’re primarily interested in boosting your hair growth, this supplement blend is as promising as they come. It’s formulated specifically to address a few underlying causes of hair thinning, from hormones to nutrition to stress. 

That includes DHT-blocking saw palmetto, relaxing ashwagandha, and marine-derived collagen peptides for scalp skin support. Plus, it contains vitamins A, C, D, and biotin, so you may also notice positive skin or nail changes. 

Nutrafol’s clinical testing shows impressive results, with 90% of 26 participants seeing improvement in their hair within six months. That said, these supplements are quite expensive, especially considering you need to take four a day.

Type: Capsule | Dosage: 4 daily | Main ingredients: Saw palmetto, ashwagandha, collagen, vitamins A, C, D, biotin | Quantity: 120

If you’re avoiding all animal-derived products, these supplements are an excellent choice. Vitamin C offers collagen support to kickstart your body’s own production of this important protein. It may not be as potent as taking collagen directly, but it still shows real results. 

These capsules also include a high dosage of biotin, manganese, zinc, and a whole blend of amino acids (including cysteine, which may be especially beneficial for nails). 
Now Foods is a GMP-certified supplier with the Natural Products Association, which guarantees compliance with a broad range of safe and high-quality manufacturing requirements. 

Type: Capsule | Dosage: 2 daily | Main ingredients: Vitamin C, biotin, zinc, manganese, amino acids, hyaluronic acid | Quantity: 90

Get your dose of hair, skin, and nail vitamins in gummy form. These grapefruit-flavored morsels are made with a high amount of biotin, 50 mg of keratin which may further aid hair strength, and a bit of vitamins C and E.

It’s not a full multivitamin, but it may be beneficial if you think a lack of biotin is behind any nail or hair issues you’re having. These gummies are also NSF-certified and gluten-free, but the presence of gelatin means they’re not vegetarian.

Type: Gummy | Dosage: 2 daily | Main ingredients: Biotin, keratin, vitamin E, vitamin C | Quantity: 60

If you think you need a vitamin for sensitive or dry skin, you might benefit from an omega fatty acid supplement. Research shows that omega-3 fatty acids may help with inflammatory skin conditions, while other heart-healthy oils can help with signs of photoaging. 

Enter these fruity gummies from Mary Ruth’s. The comprehensive blend includes not just omega-3 but also omegas-6, -7, and -9. The only ingredient here that may not be useful for everyone is omega-6, which is already plentiful in many diets. 

The gummies are vegan-friendly and non-GMO. The fruity taste is primarily well-liked by reviewers, but some noted that the gummies require a lot of chewing.

Type: Gummy | Dosage: 1 up to 4 times daily | Main ingredients: Omegas 3, 6, 7, and 9 | Quantity: 120

Most skin supplements are designed to offer anti-aging or hydrating benefits. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, this supplement might suit you better. 

It’s made with research-backed minerals correlated with reducing the severity of breakouts, like zinc and selenium. Other plant-based ingredients may offer purifying or balancing effects. The formula is third-party tested and free of synthetic flavors, sweeteners, or colorants. 

Unlike most other beauty supplements, this formula doesn’t include biotin, which is useful if you find that this ubiquitous ingredient makes you break out. That said, there are no vitamins in the blend, so ensure you get an adequate amount of micronutrients like vitamin C in your diet.

Type: Capsule | Dosage: 2 as often as wanted | Main ingredients: Zinc, selenium, chlorella, spirulina, matcha, red clover | Quantity: 60

How to pick the right hair, skin, and nail vitamins 

When shopping for beauty vitamins, always check for certifications, and consider the ingredients and dosage. Additionally, remember that your individual dietary and healthcare needs will also impact whether you’ll benefit from a supplement or not, so when in doubt, speak to your doctor. 

Certifications and testing 

Look for dietary supplements that have undergone third-party certification and testing, as that’s often a good sign of ingredient purity and safety. GMP certifications from USP, NSF, and NPA are the most prevalent. They signal that a brand’s products are thoroughly tested for safety, accuracy, and quality and that the manufacturing facilities comply with strict standards. B Corp Certification signals that a company meets high accountability, transparency, and performance standards. 

One thing to keep in mind, though, is that supplements aren’t regulated as medication by the FDA, so there are no certifications that guarantee efficacy. Some brands, like Nutrafol, conduct their own clinical testing, which suggests their supplements offer real benefits. That said, they still don’t need to adhere to the same rigorous standards that drug products do.  

Main ingredients

Many beauty supplements include well-regarded nutrients with diverse health benefits, like vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin A, vitamin E, iron, and many B vitamins. These micronutrients play important roles in many of the body’s processes, so deficiencies can correlate with hair, skin, or nail problems (not to mention more significant health issues). Multivitamins that include these, like our picks from Centrum and Nature’s Bounty, can be useful to account for nutritional gaps. 

There’s some data on biotin for brittle nail syndrome and hair loss, but not enough to justify its massive popularity. Anecdotally, many users do report seeing a difference when taking biotin, so we understand if you want to see how this hyped ingredient works for you. There are minimal risks of overconsumption, but be aware that it can interfere with certain hormone tests. 

The final ingredient to understand is collagen. While it’s technically a protein, it can offer other benefits to the skin and nails. 

Dosage and format

With some vitamins, a capsule a day will suffice. Other brands may recommend you take as many as four a day. 

It’s up to you to decide how many individual capsules, gummies, or pills you’re willing to take in a day, and certain formats might make one easier than the other. For example, single-pill options are often large, so you may find them difficult to swallow compared to the ease and pleasantness of eating two or three gummies.  

Additionally, pay close attention to the percent daily values of each dosage. Depending on your nutritional needs, you may choose to take more or less of a particular supplement. 

FAQ

Which vitamin is known for improving hair, skin, and nails? 

We spoke to Dr. Galina Mahlis, a naturopathic doctor, who told us that “most women can benefit by taking biotin, zinc, vitamin A, probiotics, vitamin C, omega-3s, and collagen.” These are some of the most common ingredients in many hair, skin, and vitamins, and each can play a role in your overall appearance. 

Do hair, skin, and nail vitamins help your hair grow?

It depends. Hair growth supplements like Nutrafol Women have some clinical data to suggest they might effectively improve hair growth. However, most hair, skin, and nail vitamins are generally not tested for efficacy. 

How long does it take hair, skin, and nail vitamins to start working?

“When taken consistently, beauty supplements can start working within two to three weeks,” Dr. Mahlis told Glowsly. As for major changes? That usually requires consistent use over two to three months. “The longer timeline is especially true if the skin, hair, or nail concern that’s being addressed is due to hormonal issues,” she added.