Whether you’re looking for more radiant skin, stronger nails or silkier hair, there’s a supplement on the market that promises to deliver just that. But do these products actually live up to their claims? We chatted with the pros to get the lowdown on beauty supplements. 

Available in capsule, tablet, gummy, liquid and even powder forms, nutricosmetics (products that act as nutritional supplements to improve the appearance and health of our skin, hair and nails) have popped up in droves in pharmacies, natural food stores and online. These products promote a holistic approach to beauty, where the ingredients ingested into our bodies are just as important as the ones we apply topically. It’s an attractive idea to think swallowing one pill a day or sipping on a smoothie made with collagen will make all our beauty dreams come true, but what results should we really expect?

“The problem with nutricosmetics is that companies often sell them as miracle workers,” says sports nutritionist Natasha Munroe. “Of course, vitamins and minerals can have a positive effect on our bodies in general, and our skin in particular, but if you have a balanced diet already, many people don’t need to take additional supplements.” Plus, she says, most nutrients are better absorbed in the body when they come from food rather than from a supplement.

“Nothing can replace a healthy lifestyle,” says Nathalie Pelletier, director of research and development at Functionalab. This means eating well, getting enough sleep and exercise, limiting alcohol consumption and applying sunscreen every day. “I can never say this enough: The best anti-aging habit remains UV protection. Prevention, rather than correction, makes the biggest difference.”

Our bodies are different, and even if the nutrients and ingredients in your nutricosmetics can offer certain beauty benefits, there are limitations. “In the end, we never really have control over how our bodies will metabolize supplements,” says Munroe. For example, when using products meant to strengthen hair and stimulate its growth on the head, it’s possible that unwanted hair growth in other areas could also occur as a result. Understanding these risks before diving into a new supplement routine is important.

Reassuring regulations for beauty supplements

Nutritional supplements are regulated by Health Canada and are classified as a natural health product,” says Pelletier. “This means their labels need to indicate dosage, pre-cautions, contraindications and side effects. Reading the label before taking a nutritional supplement is very important.”

To ensure your natural beauty supplements have been licensed for sale, check the label for a natural product number (NPN), an eight- digit number that indicates the product has been evaluated for safety, efficacy and quality and approved by Health Canada.

Our experts agree that before beginning a new regimen, the best course of action is to consult with a physician or pharmacist to ensure the supplement is appropriate for you. This is especially true in the case of those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition or are taking other medications.

The bottom line on supplements

As Health Canada’s website states, “while [natural health products] are generally lower risk products, they aren’t without risk.” Doing your research beforehand and under- standing these risks ahead of consuming a supplement is always best practice.

When deciding whether to embrace the world of nutricosmetics, it may be a good idea to consider any lifestyle or diet changes that could yield the same results first, like incorporating more fruits and veggies into your meals for added vitamin C, or using plant-based oils for a vitamin E boost. “A supplement should be supplementing a healthy, varied and balanced diet, not replacing it,” Munroe says.

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