Hair, Skin & Nails Recommendations

This range covers ingredients associated with hair, skin and nails, including several nutrients with authorised roles. Biotin contributes to the maintenance of normal hair and skin; zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal hair, skin and nails; and vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of the skin. These are authorised EU health claims.

The range also includes collagen, silica, MSM and grape seed extract, for which no health claims have been authorised, so we describe what they are rather than what they do. Available as capsules, powders and oils.

13 products

Frequently asked questions

Which nutrients have authorised roles for hair, skin and nails? Popular
Several of the nutrients in this range carry authorised EU health claims. Biotin contributes to the maintenance of normal hair and normal skin. Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal hair, skin and nails. Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of the skin.

These are the ingredients here with established, authorised roles. Biotin and zinc are the most directly relevant, and zinc is the one that covers nails specifically.
What is biotin?
Biotin, also known as vitamin B7, is one of the B vitamins. It is found in foods such as eggs, nuts, seeds and some vegetables, and is also made by bacteria in the gut.

Biotin contributes to the maintenance of normal hair and normal skin — these are authorised EU health claims. It is worth noting that biotin's authorised claims cover hair and skin rather than nails. Health Leads supplies biotin at 1000mcg in capsules.
What does zinc do for hair, skin and nails?
Zinc is an essential mineral that contributes to the maintenance of normal hair, skin and nails — an authorised EU health claim, and the one claim in this range that covers all three. Zinc also contributes to the normal function of the immune system and normal DNA synthesis, among other authorised roles.

Health Leads supplies zinc as a 15mg complex and a stronger 50mg complex. Zinc is found in the diet in meat, shellfish, seeds and wholegrains.
How is vitamin C relevant to skin?
Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of the skin — an authorised EU health claim. Collagen is the main structural protein in skin, and the body uses vitamin C as part of the process by which it forms collagen.

This range includes vitamin C in capsule and powder form, and combined with grape seed extract. Vitamin C is also found in the diet in fruit and vegetables, particularly citrus, berries and peppers.
What are collagen, silica and MSM?
These are ingredients commonly found in hair, skin and nail products. Collagen is the main structural protein in skin and connective tissue, supplied as peptides from animal sources. Silica is a form of the mineral silicon. MSM is an organic compound and a source of sulphur.

No health claims have been authorised for collagen, silica or MSM, so we describe what they are rather than making claims for them. Where skin is concerned, it is vitamin C — through its role in normal collagen formation — that carries the authorised claim, rather than collagen supplements themselves.
Does taking collagen improve skin?
This is a common question, and an honest answer is that the evidence for oral collagen supplements is mixed and still debated. No health claims for collagen supplements have been authorised, which is why neither we nor any UK retailer can state that they produce a particular effect on skin.

What is well established is vitamin C's authorised role in normal collagen formation for the normal function of the skin. If your interest is skin, adequate vitamin C intake is the part with an authorised claim behind it.
What is castor oil used for?
Castor oil is a plant oil pressed from the seeds of the castor plant. Unlike most products in this range, it is used topically — applied to the skin, hair or lashes — rather than taken as a supplement. It has a long history of traditional cosmetic use.

No health claims have been authorised for castor oil, so we describe what it is rather than making claims for it. Health Leads supplies an organic, cold-pressed castor oil.

The Nutrients Behind Hair, Skin and Nails

Hair, skin and nails are among the body's most visible tissues, and each depends on a supply of nutrients to be maintained normally. Several vitamins and minerals have established, authorised roles here, which is why they appear so often in products aimed at this area.

Biotin, one of the B vitamins, contributes to the maintenance of normal hair and normal skin. Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal hair, skin and nails — the one nutrient here whose authorised claim covers all three. Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of the skin, collagen being the main structural protein in skin. These are authorised EU health claims. It is worth noting that biotin's authorised claims cover hair and skin rather than nails, despite biotin often being associated with nails; zinc is the nutrient with the authorised nail claim.

The range also includes ingredients frequently used in this area for which no health claims have been authorised — collagen, silica, MSM and grape seed extract. For these we describe what they are rather than what they do. Collagen is supplied as peptides from animal sources; silica is a form of the mineral silicon; MSM is a source of sulphur. Where skin specifically is concerned, it is vitamin C, through its authorised role in collagen formation, that carries the claim, rather than collagen supplements themselves.

The range spans biotin, zinc, vitamin C in capsule and powder form, collagen and a collagen complex, silica, MSM, grape seed extract, and a topical castor oil. The nutrients with authorised roles — biotin, zinc and vitamin C — are the ones with established claims behind them; the remaining ingredients are described for what they are.

The condition of hair, skin and nails reflects many factors, including overall diet, age, hydration and general health. A varied diet supplying the full range of vitamins and minerals is the foundation. Persistent changes to hair, skin or nails can occasionally signal an underlying issue worth discussing with a GP.