Skin, Hair & Nail Supplements

They say, "You are what you eat." What does this mean for the majority of Americans? It all comes down to the nutrients and minerals that your body gets on a daily basis. If you eat a balanced diet rich in vitamins and nutrients, you will be a healthy individual. If you eat a diet that consists mainly of junk or fast food, you will be less healthy and it will show, not just on your waistline, but also on your face. If you don't get enough vitamins  from food, supplements  can be very beneficial.

A current beauty trend is vitamin and dietary supplement  packs formulated to enhance your skin, hair and nails. Rather than shop for each individual vitamin or mineral you need, which could be complicated, costly or less convenient, beauty companies have made it easy for you to get all the nutrients you need for a healthier you.

Let's first discuss the vitamins you need to maintain a healthy appearance. You may or may not be getting all you need depending upon your diet.

• Vitamin A 
• Typically, if you start to notice abnormally dry or flaky skin, it's due to a lack of vitamin A.
• When taken orally, it can help improve the body's ability to repair the skin.
• You can get vitamin A from eating plenty of fruits and vegetables. You can also apply vitamin A topically to reduce the appearance of fine lines, combat acne, stop itching and heal scars.
• Vitamin B  (Niacin & Biotin)
• Vitamin B is resposible for building strong, healthy hair and nails. Without it you will notice brittleness in your hair or nails and possibly even hair loss. A deficiency in vitamin B can also cause dry, itchy skin.
• Get your recommended dose by eating eggs, oatmeal and rice, which are foods rich in vitamin B.
• When shopping for skin creams, you might notice biotin as a listed ingredient, which will serve to reduce inflammation and help the skin retain moisture.
• Antioxidants 
• Antioxidants help reduce free radical damage in our bodies caused by UVB ray exposure, smoke or pollution.
• Vitamin C  & vitamin E vitamin E  are basic antioxidants that help combat wrinkles and help improve skin's elasticity over time. You can get plenty of these vitamins from dark green veggies (like spinach or kale), citrus fruits, nuts and seeds.
• Alpha lipoic acid  and DMAE  are two supposed "super" antioxidants because they are both water and oil soluble. You'll find them in supplements and topical creams.
• Hyaluronic Acid 
• You may see this listed in topical creams, especially high-end ones. but when taken as a supplement, this can also help improve skin's softness and elasticity.
• Omega-3 Fatty Acids 
• When you get the proper dosage, omega-3 fatty acids help keep skin hydrated, soft and acne-free. Anything less than the recommended dose provides minimal to no improvements.
• Getting the adequate amounts of omega-3 fatty acids is very difficult because they are usually only found in flaxseed, soy products and fish oil (found in salmon and sardines, for example). The common American rarely consumes sufficient amounts of these products on a day to day basis, so the only real way of attaining results is to take a supplement.

Shopping

Below is a quick look at some of the supplement offerings available and what each has to offer.

Borba  The motto is "Healthy Skin from Within" but Borba offers both supplements and topical skin care. As far as supplements go, it comes in three varieties to enhance the skin's balance: waters, aqua-less crystallines (powder mixes) and gummy candies. The products can be used alone or in combination with another supplement, and are to be consumed twice daily. Each color (there are six) is formulated for different needs (firming, replenishing, etc.).	Boscia  Boscia offers three different therapy supplements in pill form to choose from: Clear Complexion,  Moisture Replenishing  and Antioxidant Vegetable.  Each variety is chock full of a daily super dose of vitamins that can help dry, acne-prone or aging skin. Daily intake varies from two to five pills which is a relatively inexpensive option for feeding the skin.	Dr. Brandt Skin Care  The Antioxidant Water Boosters by Dr. Brandt are revered for being an all natural form of highly concentrated green and white tea extracts. By adding a dropper to your water in the morning and evening, you'll be getting the equivalent of 30 cups of green tea. Each bottle lasts for about a month and the cost works out to be about a dollar a day. While not exactly cheap, it may be convenient for many people.	Jan Marini C-Estamins  These packets of five pills are meant to help refine the skin and reduce wrinkles. The vitamins contain Coenzyme Q10, vitamins C and E and alpha lipoic acid. It is the high dosage of hyaluronic acid in these pills that they claim will really work miracles on aging skin. Nonetheless, for a one month supply, you'll pay about $80 or $2.60 a day.	Kinerase Multi-Vitamins  This package of vitamins comes in a one-month supply of pills and you must take six pills at a time, twice a day to get the desired results. They combine antioxidants, omega fatty acids, probiotics, folic acid, selenium, hyaluronic acid, Coenzyme Q10 and even detoxifying ingredients. At $135 a month or $4.50 a day, these are the most expensive supplements around.

Murad  Murad offers four moderately priced pill supplement types that address specific problems, such as acne, wrinkles or dryness. They also offer a very pricey cellulite and stretch mark management pack. The newest vitamin package is the Optimal Health & Beauty Supplement  which aims to cover all areas, including dry skin, wrinkles and acne. It runs for $125 a month and consists of two daily doses of six vitamins a piece.	N.V. Perricone M.D.  These Skin and Total Body Dietary Supplements  (shown) offer the most comprehensive vitamin collection to cover all your health and beauty needs. The package costs $130 a month, but you can also choose from a selection of single supplements to address specific needs. These bottles are more reasonably priced, but when compared to shopping for regular vitamins may seem expensive.	Olay   The Total Effects BeautifuL Skin & Wellness Vitamins  are very reasonably priced for what you get. The four pills must be taken only once a day and they offer a concentrated green tea extract, Coenzyme Q10, multivitamins and other antioxidants. It is by far the simplest option and one of the least expensive supplements available.	Santica  Santica Beauty Recipes Anti-Wrinkle Dietary Supplement  is just one of the company's many offerings that are designed to fight wrinkles, aging, bloating, acne, cellulite or other problems. The cost varies depending on the type of supplement, but for the most part the all-natural herbal supplements are reasonably priced.

Related Buying Guides

• Multivitamins
• Anti-Aging Skin Care

External Links

• About.com --Top vitamins and minerals for fighting acne.
• Prevention.com -- Vitamins and your skin.
• Web MD -- The vitamins and minerals skin needs to stay healthy.