How long does it take to see results?

When it comes to seeing results from supplements consistency matters. Taking a product “when you remember” will likely not provide the desired results. Jillian Kubala, Registered Dietitian says “typically, most individuals might start to notice improvements after two to three months of consistent usage. However, it's important to remember that results can vary based on individual factors like age, diet, and overall health”.

Do beauty supplements actually work?

Beauty supplements are not a cure-all and many times, individuals will only see results if they happen to be deficient in a vitamin or mineral. Levi explains that whether a beauty supplement will work, “depends on one's reason for taking a beauty supplement in the first place”. As an example she describes the use of two different ingredients, “if you're looking for help with hair growth, you might consider trying a biotin supplement. Or if you're looking for help with skin elasticity, you could try integrating a collagen supplement. Biotin supplements may be helpful for hair and nail growth if someone is deficient in the B vitamin, but biotin deficiencies are fairly uncommon. While there's minimal risk in taking a biotin supplement since it is a water-soluble vitamin (meaning the body will excrete any excess biotin consumed via the urine) the same can't be said for all supplements.” Mothers of the bride will benefit from having nutrient levels tested before choosing a new supplement.

Best Beauty Supplements for the Mother of the Bride

Your child is getting married, of course you want to feel beautiful and radiant on the wedding day! Many mothers of the bride will go to any length to feel photo-ready on their child’s big day and finding the best beauty regimen is obviously part of the process. Beauty supplements can be one addition to a mother of the bride’s beauty regimen and aim to enhance hair, skin, or nail health from within by nourishing the body with specific herbs, vitamins, minerals, and/or antioxidants. With so many beauty supplement options, Isabel Smith, MS RDN CDN, founder of Isabel Smith Nutrition explains that whether supplements really work “depends on the quality of the product and how well our bodies use these nutrients. It’s super important to choose really good-quality [products].” Below is our round-up of some of the top beauty supplements for hair, skin, and nails.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Pure Encapsulations Hair/Skin/Nails Ultra at Amazon ($49)

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Best Multi:

Nature Made Multi For Her 50+ at Amazon ($10)

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Best Drugstore:

Nature's Bounty Hair, Skin & Nails Formula Coated Caplets at Amazon ($10)

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Best Splurge:

Nutrafol Women’s Balance Hair Growth at Amazon ($88)

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Best for Sleep:

Natural Vitality Calm Sleep Drink Mix at Amazon ($38)

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Best Collagen:

Besha Natural Collagen Peptides at Walmart ($33)

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Best Hydration:

Moon Juice Mini Dew at Amazon ($44)

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Best Herbal:

Gaia Herbs Hair, Skin & Nail Support at Amazon ($29)

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Best for Hair:

Olly Ultra Strength Hair at Amazon ($14)

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Best for Skin :

Ritual HyaCera at Amazon ($59)

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Pure Encapsulations Hair/Skin/Nails Ultra

Amazon

View On Amazon $49 View On Pharmaca.com

Pure Encapsulations Hair/Skin/Nails Ultra supplement includes all of the ingredients you would hope to find in a beauty supplement. In addition to the standard nutrients found in a hair, skin, and nails supplement like zinc, vitamin C, and B vitamins, this product contains collagen, antioxidants, and polyphenols. The type of collagen used in this supplement has been shown in a randomized clinical trial to promote skin elasticity and reduce skin wrinkling in women ages 39 to 59 years of age. We love that Pure Encapsulations products are hypoallergenic making them a safe choice for most mothers of the bride.

Type: Capsule | Age Range: 18+ | Dosage: 2 capsules | Certified: Gluten free, non-gmo, dairy free, soy free

Amazon

View On Amazon $10

Multivitamins may not be marketed as beauty supplements but these products can have major benefits for mothers looking to feel and look their best on their child’s wedding day. Multivitamins help fill in the nutritional gaps that can come from an inadequate supply of vitamins and minerals from one’s diet. Naturemade’s Multi For Her 50+ contains many of the nutrients found in most “beauty” supplements such as vitamin C, B vitamins, zinc, and selenium. The price tag of the product cannot be beat and we love that a serving size is only one tablet.

Type: Tablet | Age Range: 50+ | Dosage: 1 tablet | Certified: Gluten free, USP verified

Amazon

View On Amazon $10

Nature’s Bounty Hair, Skin, and Nail supplement is an affordable and potent beauty product to add to your beauty routine. Each coated caplet contains 16 key ingredients such as biotin, vitamin E, vitamin C, and zinc, including antioxidants to support beautiful hair, glowing skin, and healthy nails from the inside, out. We love that this product contains no artificial colors or flavors, and is free from sugar, milk, lactose, gluten, wheat, and shellfish.

Type: Caplets | Age Range: 18+ | Dosage: 3 caplets | Certified: n/a

Amazon

View On Amazon $88 View On Nutrafol.com View On Sephora $88

Nutrafol Women’s Balance is a supplement designed to support hair health in women over the age of 45. This product has been specifically formulated for women experiencing changes in their hair due to menopause or perimenopause and is designed to target the six main root causes of hair thinning. One serving is packed with hair-supporting nutrients such as vitamins A, D, C, E, biotin, iodine, zinc and selenium. In addition to these nutrients, Nutrafol includes herbs to support hair health. While Nutrafol does have a steep price tag, customers can opt-in for monthly shipments to bring the price down.

Type: capsules | Age Range: 40+ | Dosage: 4 capsules | Certified: Non-GMO

Amazon

View On Amazon $38 View On IHerb $18 View On Luckyvitamin.com

A night of quality sleep is an important part of any beauty regimen. For women who struggle to get a good night’s rest, Natural Vitality Calm Sleep helps accomplish a solid night of restful sleep. Magnesium glycinate helps promote a physical feeling of calm while the amino acids l-theanine and GABA help promote relaxation. This product also has five milligrams of melatonin per serving which helps individuals fall asleep. Mix this powder in a mug with warm water and enjoy it as part of a soothing nighttime ritual.

Type: Powder | Age Range: 18+ | Dosage: 2 teaspoons| Certified: Non-gmo, gluten free, vegan

Amazon

View On Walmart $33 View On Beshainc.com

Collagen has been touted for its effects on hair, skin, and nail health. Anthea Levi, MS, RD, registered dietitian and founder of the virtual private practice ALIVE+WELL Nutrition explains “[t]he most abundant structural protein in our bodies, collagen can be found in our skin, bones, and muscles. We naturally produce less collagen as we age and, as a result, the skin loses elasticity. Cue the wrinkles”. It is thought that by consuming collagen, skin elasticity can be improved. The collagen used in Besha is VERISOL®, a form of bioactive collagen peptides that have been used in research studies examining collagen’s effect on skin elasticity. Besha is one of Consumer Labs top picks for collagen and we love that it has no taste so it can be easily incorporated into your favorite beverage.

Type: Powder | Age Range: 18+ | Dosage: 2 teaspoons | Certified: Non-GMO

Amazon

View On Amazon $44

For mothers of the bride struggling with skin dryness, puffiness, or dull/uneven skin, dehydration could be to blame. Being optimally hydrated is important for physical well-being and a benefit of being well hydrated is brighter, toned, moisturized skin. Moon Juice Mini Dew is a two-in-one electrolyte powder and mineral supplement designed to support hydration. In addition to key electrolytes, this product contains zinc, selenium, and copper which are minerals that support hair health. We love that this product is free of added sugars, gluten and is non-GMO.

Type: Powder | Age Range: 18+ | Dosage: 1 teaspoons | Certified: Vegan

Amazon

View On Amazon $29 View On IHerb $29 View On Gaiaherbs.com $29

For moms who prefer not to add another vitamin or mineral supplement to their daily routine, an herbal beauty supplement such as Gaia’s Beauty and Radiance Support is a fantastic option. Containing herbs such as Horsetail, Alfalfa, Burdock, Gotu Kola, and Nettle, this product is designed to support vibrant skin and long, lustrous hair. Many of the herbs used in this supplement have antioxidant properties that help fight inflammation or are rich sources of nourishing minerals.

Type: Capsules | Age Range: 18+ | Dosage: 2 capsules twice daily | Certified:n/a

Amazon

View On Amazon $14

Olly’s Ultra Strength Hair soft gels are an affordable option for mothers of the bride who are looking for hair health and growth support. Containing important minerals such as iron, zinc, and copper as well as the B vitamins biotin, folate and B12, this product is designed to support stronger, fuller-looking locks from within. These soft gels are very easy to swallow, free of sugar and gluten, and have a faint strawberry scent which may help those who have a hard time taking supplements.

Type: Softgel | Age Range: 18+ | Dosage: 1 softgel | Certified: B-corp

Ritual HyaCera Skin Hydration Supplement

Amazon

View On Amazon $59 View On Ritual.com

Ritual’s Hyacera product is designed specifically for hydrating the skin and minimizing wrinkles. The two ingredients in this supplement are Ceratiq® and Hyabest®, both of which have been used in human clinical trials. We love that Ritual names the suppliers of these ingredients as well as where they are sourced from for maximal transparency. Hyacera is on the pricier side but Ritual does have a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Type: capsules | Age Range: 18+ | Dosage: 1 capsule| Certified: Non-GMO

What To Look For

Quality: Every expert who knows the supplement industry knows that quality is everything. Unlike prescription products, supplements are not regulated by any governing agency so finding a company that makes high-quality products is critical. Anthea Levi, suggests shoppers “[l]ook for brands that are third party tested and/or have certifications from groups like the NSF, USP, and Consumer Labs”.
Ingredients: A supplement should not take the place of a balanced, adequate diet. Consuming nutrients directly from food and consuming plenty of water is preferred when it comes to supporting hair, skin, and nail health but for individuals who may need extra support, there are a handful of nutrients experts recommend looking out for. Isabel Smith recommends omega-3 fatty acids and collagen for skin health as well as vitamin D for hair health explaining, “it [vitamin D] influences keratinocytes in hair follicles and without enough, it’ll influence the hair growth/shedding cycle”. Anthea Levi puts an emphasis on consuming whole foods rich in healthy fats for skin health and notes “there are a number of nutrients that are needed for optimal hair health. Undereating calories or protein in general can limit hair growth, as can deficiencies in nutrients like iron and B vitamins.”
Claims: When it comes to supplements, avoid any products that claims to “cure”, “fix” or help numerous issues at once. Products with broad sweeping claims may be attractive but Anthea Levi reminds us, “not all beauty supplements are necessarily safe or effective”. When describing the potential harms of beauty supplements, Levi explained that though one ingredient may be helpful for one individual, it could have negative effects on someone else. Levi suggests shoppers “always speak with [their] doctor or registered dietitian before integrating a new supplement, especially if [they] take any medications or other supplements already”.

FAQ

How long does it take to see results?

When it comes to seeing results from supplements consistency matters. Taking a product “when you remember” will likely not provide the desired results. Jillian Kubala, Registered Dietitian says “typically, most individuals might start to notice improvements after two to three months of consistent usage. However, it's important to remember that results can vary based on individual factors like age, diet, and overall health”.
Do beauty supplements actually work?

Beauty supplements are not a cure-all and many times, individuals will only see results if they happen to be deficient in a vitamin or mineral. Levi explains that whether a beauty supplement will work, “depends on one's reason for taking a beauty supplement in the first place”. As an example she describes the use of two different ingredients, “if you're looking for help with hair growth, you might consider trying a biotin supplement. Or if you're looking for help with skin elasticity, you could try integrating a collagen supplement. Biotin supplements may be helpful for hair and nail growth if someone is deficient in the B vitamin, but biotin deficiencies are fairly uncommon. While there's minimal risk in taking a biotin supplement since it is a water-soluble vitamin (meaning the body will excrete any excess biotin consumed via the urine) the same can't be said for all supplements.” Mothers of the bride will benefit from having nutrient levels tested before choosing a new supplement.

Meet The Experts

Anthea Levi is a registered dietitian and has a master’s degree in nutrition. She is the founder of the virtual private practice ALIVE+WELL Nutrition.
Isabel Smith is a registered dietitian and has a master’s in nutrition. She is the founder of Isabel Smith Nutrition.
Jillian Kubala is a registered dietitian and has a master’s in nutrition. She is the founder of Jillian Kubala Nutrition.

Why Trust Brides

As a Registered Dietitian, Sydney Greene takes supplement recommendations seriously and when working with every client, especially brides, she knows how important it is to feel amazing. Every product has been researched and vetted by her against clinical research, product reviews, and third-party testing websites. These are products she would not only feel comfortable recommending to her clients but she would take them herself if needed.

Mother-of-the-Bride Beauty: A Mom's Guide to the Best Skincare, Hair, and Makeup Products