Walk into any beauty aisle or scroll through social media, and you’re going to be hit with a wave of supplements promising glowing skin, stronger nails, and thick, shiny hair. With so many powders, pills, and gummies claiming to be the secret to beauty from within, it’s easy to believe you need all of them to look your best. But the supplement market is super saturated—and many of these products are marketed more on hype than real science.
While some supplements can be helpful if you have a specific deficiency, most people with a balanced diet may not see much of a difference from popping beauty vitamins. Taking unnecessary supplements might end up being an expensive habit that doesn’t deliver the results you’re hoping for. Of course, there are always exceptions, and what works for one person might not work for another—but in general, these six popular beauty supplements tend to fall flat when it comes to actually improving hair, skin, and nails.
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1. Collagen Gummies
While collagen can support skin elasticity, many over-the-counter gummies contain too little actual collagen to make a noticeable difference. Without the proper dose or type (like hydrolyzed collagen peptides), your body may not absorb enough to impact skin or hair health. If this is a product you're interested in, make sure you do your homework to find a collagen powder that is proven more effective.
2. Keratin Supplements
Keratin is a structural protein in hair and nails, but when taken as a supplement, it’s poorly absorbed by the body. Experts say that most of it is broken down in the digestive system, so it doesn't always help strengthen hair or nails.
3. Detox Teas for Clear Skin
Some teas claim to “detox” your skin and improve complexion, but there’s little to no evidence to support this. They often act as diuretics or laxatives, which can dehydrate you, and may even make your skin look worse.
4. Silica Supplements
Silica is sometimes included in supplements for hair and nail strength, but research is limited, and experts say the body only absorbs small amounts of it. Most people already get what they need through food, so supplements tend to be unnecessary.
5. Glow Powders
Many beauty powders (which sometimes call themselves "glow" powders) promise radiant skin and stronger hair but contain very small amounts of actual vitamins or antioxidants. Often, they rely on trendy marketing rather than effective dosing or ingredients.
6. Biotin
Biotin is commonly marketed for hair and nail growth, but unless you're actually deficient—which is rare—taking extra biotin doesn’t do much. High doses can even interfere with lab test results.
