Compare hair vitamins and hair, skin and nails supplements on the amount of each ingredient in a daily dose and the cost per day. Biotin, zinc and selenium have authorised claims for maintaining normal hair, but collagen and many other popular ingredients have none.
All collagen & beauty · Biotin · Zinc · Beauty supplements · Collagen powder · Multivitamins
Filters
Clear allDo hair, skin and nails vitamins work?
Some of the vitamins and minerals in these formulas have authorised claims, but only for maintaining normal hair, skin or nails, and only where a product is at least a source of that nutrient. Popular ingredients such as collagen, hyaluronic acid and horsetail have no authorised claims, and Which? says there is still no scientific consensus that collagen improves skin.
| Nutrient | Authorised claim (exact wording) |
|---|---|
| Biotin | Biotin contributes to the maintenance of normal hair Biotin contributes to the maintenance of normal skin |
| Zinc | Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal hair Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal nails Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal skin |
| Selenium | Selenium contributes to the maintenance of normal hair Selenium contributes to the maintenance of normal nails |
| Copper | Copper contributes to normal hair pigmentation Copper contributes to normal skin pigmentation |
| Vitamin C | Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin |
| Collagen, hyaluronic acid, horsetail (silica) | None |
All claims above come from the GB list of authorised health claims. None of them is a claim about hair growth or hair loss; if you're worried about either, speak to your GP or pharmacist.
How do you compare hair, skin and nails supplements?
Check the amount of each ingredient per daily dose, not the length of the ingredients list, and work out the cost per day. A formula with many ingredients at tiny amounts isn't automatically better than a simpler one.
Biotin amounts vary hugely. The NHS says 0.9mg or less a day of biotin in supplements is unlikely to cause any harm, so check the amount on the label. See our biotin page for how to read the label.
Can you take them with other supplements?
Add up the vitamins and minerals across everything you take, because multivitamins and beauty products often contain the same nutrients. It's easy to double up on biotin and zinc without noticing.
Biotin can also affect some blood tests: a safety letter issued in agreement with the MHRA says biotin may interfere with thyroid blood tests, and notes that hair, skin and nails supplements may contain it. Tell your doctor about any supplements before a blood test, and speak to your GP or pharmacist first if you're pregnant, breastfeeding, have a medical condition or take medication.
We sell the products on this page. That's our commercial interest, and it's why we show the evidence alongside them. This page is general information for adults, not personalised medical advice. Food supplements should not replace a varied, balanced diet.
Written by Andy Arshad, SupplementHQ. Last reviewed 11 October 2026.