Best Acne Supplements: Our Opinion
Our Selection Criteria
- Form of zinc: Zinc is the essential ingredient in anti-acne supplements. Its form determines its bioavailability and digestibility.
- Clinical study: Was a clinical study on effectiveness conducted on any of the ingredients used?
- Number of active ingredients : The number of ingredients contained in the sun supplement.
- Price / day: The price for 1 day of treatment, with the daily dose recommended by the brand.
- Customer reviews: This is the average customer rating for the brand from the laboratory’s website, review platforms, or marketplaces like Amazon.
- Our opinion on the brand: Following our monthly testing of supplement brands and analysis of 6 criteria such as transparency and expertise.
The selected supplements below are all made in France and are vegan.
BEST VALUE FOR MONEY
Brand: Nutri&Co
Form of zinc: gluconate
Clinical study: yes
Number of active ingredients: 3
Price / day: €1
Customer reviews: 4.8/5 (ekomi.fr)
We have selected the Clear Skin Complex from Nutri&Co because it is one of the few products on the market whose effectiveness is based on an in-vivo clinical study. It contains zinc gluconate, a highly bioavailable third-generation zinc form.
This supplement targets imperfections and redness, helps sensitive skin, and moderates skin inflammation.
In addition to zinc, this supplement contains patented coriander oil titrated at 60% omega-12 (Sepibliss®) and chia seed oil.
We like the Nutri&Co brand as it is reliable and transparent (our full review here). Furthermore, we note that customer reviews are very positive. This brand is based in Aix en Provence and places particular importance on the quality of the active ingredients in its products.
BEST HIGH-END
Brand: Aime Skincare
Form of zinc: L-pidolate
Clinical study: no
Number of active ingredients: 16
Price / day: €1.2
Customer reviews: 4.5/5 (aime.co)
Aime Skincare’s Pure Glow supplement is particularly comprehensive as it contains 16 active ingredients, including anti-infectious zinc L-pidolate, probiotics to rebalance the gut, and antioxidant turmeric.
It also contains artichoke leaf extract (which drains the liver), spirulina, and a multivitamin formula with magnesium for the general well-being of the body.
This supplement is one of Aime Skincare’s bestsellers.
Aime Skincare is a young French brand offering a range of dietary supplements and cosmetics dedicated to skin beauty. This brand was founded by Mathilde Lacombe (founder of JolieBox) to address a personal issue: rosacea acne.
During our brand test, we appreciated the richness of the range and the brand’s in&out positioning.
What causes acne?
The role of hormones
Endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, premenstrual syndrome, amenorrhea…
We hear more and more about these hormonal pathologies affecting many women.
At the root of these imbalances: a hormonal disruption.
Too much estrogen, not enough progesterone, or an excess of androgens. Poor hormonal balance affects our entire system.
These hormonal fluctuations can lead to significant sebum production, causing pores to clog and acne breakouts to appear.
In men, teenage acne is mainly linked to higher levels of androgens (particularly testosterone), leading to overproduction of sebum. However, these issues are rare in adulthood.
The role of stress
Who hasn’t seen a pimple appear on the day of an exam or an important meeting? Long considered a myth, the link between stress and acne is now proven.
Indeed, a study highlighted that skin cells are sensitive to nerve stimulations.
When we are stressed, we produce hormones and neurotransmitters (P proteins) that can stimulate our sebaceous glands which in turn produce more sebum.
The machine then gets going: too much sebum, the pores clog and acne pimples appear.
The role of the liver
The modern diet, processed, rich in sugars, saturated fats, and additives of all kinds overloads our liver.
Read also | 20 foods to protect and cleanse your liver
The latter, as a primary emunctory, has the ability to self-regulate and self-clean.
However, due to overloads and ‘junk food’, it can tend to become clogged, be somewhat less effective and thus less able to perform its detoxification role well.
The skin, as a secondary emunctory, will then take over. In naturopathy, acne is considered an imbalance linked to liver overload.
What diet to adopt?
Consume raw products
Reducing the consumption of processed products in favor of raw products means reducing the consumption of additives, preservatives, sugars, saturated fats…
All these vectors contribute to overloading our body.
Fill up on vitamins and minerals
In case of acne and with the goal of nourishing your body healthily, it is recommended to consume a lot of fruits and vegetables.
Rich in vitamins and minerals they have real antioxidant qualities. It is preferable to consume them seasonally and organic.
A good intake of omega-3
The essential fatty acids present in foods rich in omega-3, such as good oils like olive oil, rapeseed oil, or camelina are very powerful anti-inflammatories.
This is also true for small fatty fish like mackerel, sardines, or herring, to be frequently included in your diet.
Read also | How to choose the best omega-3
They help to calm the inflammatory response of your skin and contribute to hormone regulation.
Limit pro-inflammatory foods
Gluten, cow’s milk, red meat, alcohol, refined sugar… All these foods, if consumed in excess, are pro-inflammatory for the body.
This means that they contribute to maintaining an existing inflammation, reinforcing it but are also very often at its origin.
Add anti-inflammatory plants and condiments to your diet, such as turmeric, ginger, green vegetables, moringa, green tea…
Maintain good hydration
Taking care of your acne means taking care of it from the inside. In this regard, it is recommended to drink at least 1.5L of water per day.
This will help promote elimination and drainage of your body.
The best active components of food supplements against acne
Burdock
Burdock, mainly its root, is the choice plant for the skin. Indeed, it is traditionally recognized for its purifying qualities for the skin.
It is primarily its richness in inulin, a natural fiber rich in prebiotics, that gives it these qualities.
It can be coupled with wild pansy, also recognized for its skin properties.
Milk thistle
A food supplement against acne often contains milk thistle.
A too overloaded liver is often at the root of acne issues.
Milk thistle, as shown in this study, is above all a hepato-protective plant, which can help the liver.
Indeed, it helps to restore its full capacities and thus better eliminate the toxins related to our environment and the toxins produced by the body itself.
Zinc
Zinc is a trace element that plays a crucial role in our health. It is involved in more than 200 enzymatic reactions.
This mineral can affect acne notably due to its healing and anti-inflammatory properties.
Magnesium
To combat stress and its effects on the skin, it is essential to consider magnesium.
As a cofactor in more than 300 bodily reactions, this mineral plays a crucial role in managing stress.
This is thanks, among other things, to its effect on the relaxation of muscle fibers: it is a muscle relaxant.
Vitamin B6
B vitamins are essential for our health. In the case of acne, vitamin B6 is noteworthy.
Indeed, it is particularly involved in the regulation of sebum and also allows magnesium to penetrate the cells more easily.
That is why you will find it in most magnesium dietary supplements.
Brewer’s yeast
Often used for hair and nails, brewer’s yeast is no less interesting for the skin.
Indeed, its high content in vitamins and minerals helps to regulate the skin and particularly excess sebum.
In what form to consume them?
In capsules and tablets (powder)
Whether in capsules or tablets, plants in powder form are not all equal.
It is necessary to differentiate between dry powders and dry extracts.
- Dry powders: are made by spraying the plant to be put into capsules. The powdered plant is then less concentrated in active ingredients.
- Dry extracts: unlike powders, dry extracts are obtained by extracting active ingredients. They are more interesting because they are more concentrated.
For minerals like zinc and magnesium in the case of acne, capsule or tablet formats are preferred to ensure better bioavailability.
This is indeed the most common form found on the market.
In standardized fluid extracts of fresh plants (EPS)
EPS, standardized fluid extracts of fresh plants, are plants obtained from Phytostandard extraction.
The plants are harvested, frozen, and then their active molecules are extracted through multi-hydroalcoholic extraction.
Finally, they are preserved in a glycerin solution without sugar and alcohol.
It is recognized that certain plants are more effective when used fresh, which makes this form more interesting.
Moreover, it is possible, in a pharmacy or specialized laboratory, to create a blend of several plants.
For example, in the case of acne, there are blends of Burdock – Milk Thistle – Wild Pansy.
The administration is then simplified, it is about 5ml per day in a large glass of water.
In gummies
Gummies are increasingly popular. These small candies in chewable gum form are very convenient.
Their ease of consumption is recognized, 2 gummies per day and you’re done.
However, keep in mind that their concentration in active ingredients is significantly lower than an EPS or capsules.
What are the criteria to take into account?
1. The form
If you choose plants as dietary supplements for acne, prefer EPS or capsules and tablets of dry extracts.
For minerals, zinc and magnesium, opt for capsules and tablets.
2. The concentration
Check the concentration of active ingredients, for example, for milk thistle, make sure to choose a formula standardized to 80% silymarin and 30% silybin.
3. The bioavailability of the active ingredients
Choose the most bioavailable form of these active ingredients.
For example, for magnesium and zinc, the bisglycinate form has optimal assimilation.
4. The origin
Always inquire about the origin of the components. Generally, when it comes to plants grown in France, the manufacturer highlights it.
But for foreign origins, the information is not always available.
For plants, prioritize organic crops, which are more respectful of the earth and carry no risk of toxicity.
5. The price
The average price of acne dietary supplements depends on several criteria.
Brand, active ingredient content, extraction process… Here are the average prices observed for each active ingredient.
| Active ingredients | Average price |
| Burdock | 20-30€ |
| Milk Thistle | 20-30€ |
| Zinc | 12-30€ |
| Magnesium | 12-30€ |
| Brewer’s yeast | 3-15€ |
To summarize
To ensure you’re buying quality acne dietary supplements, check:
- Form: EPS or dry extract capsules
- Concentration: e.g., for milk thistle, 80% silymarin and 30% silybin
- Bioavailability of active ingredients: e.g., for magnesium & zinc, choose bisglycinate form
- Origin: prioritize organic and local plant harvests
- Price: between 12 and 30€ depending on the active ingredients
When you purchase selected products, a commission may be paid to us to keep the site running, compensate our writers, and guarantee you quality information. This does not affect prices.
