Best Dietary Supplement for the Skin: A Pharmacist’s View (2025)

We analyzed 14 products sold online based on 7 criteria and selected these 3 dietary supplements for beauty and health:

Best hyaluronic acid in capsule
> Hyaluronic Acid – Nutri&Co

Best collagen for the skin
> Magnificent Skin Collagen – Twenty DC

Best supplement for preparing skin for the sun
> Sun Formula – Novoma

Best supplement against acne
> Pure Glow – Aime

Best dietary supplements for the skin

Our selection criteria

• Quality: the cultivation method, origin of the products, the presence of labels, determine the quality of the product.
• Composition: the active ingredients contained in the dietary supplement
• Bioavailability of actives: the form of the ingredients influences their absorption.
• Concentration of actives: sufficient active dosage increases the effectiveness of the product.
• Price / day: this is the price per day of treatment at the daily dose recommended by the brand.
• Customer reviews: these customer reviews on the product are collected from the brand’s website or review sites.
• Our opinion on the brand: following the tests of dietary supplement brands that we conduct each month.

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Best hyaluronic acid in capsule

Nutri&co has developed a broad-spectrum hyaluronic acid supplement, with molecular weights ranging from 50 KDa to 3000 KDa. This allows for optimal absorption.

Borage oil and evening primrose oil complete the formula. They have skin-soothing properties due to the presence of GLA (gamma-linolenic acid) in their composition.

The brand Nutri&co is based in Aix-en-Provence. It offers supplements with quality ingredients, free from controversial excipients, and consistent labels. The microbiological analysis certificates of the products can be found on their site.

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Best collagen for the skin

This complex contains marine collagen peptides and egg shell membranes from the patented Ovoderm® process. This natural compound is enriched with hyaluronic acid and elastin, working synergistically with marine collagen to hydrate the skin and reduce wrinkles.

The marine collagen used is of quality and has good assimilation due to its low molecular weight.

Take into account the presence of two synthetic sweeteners, sucralose and acesulfame-K.

The supplement comes in peach tea flavor and vanilla flavor.

Twenty DC is a French brand specializing in collagen-based dietary supplements. The products are of high quality and are made in France.

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Best sun supplement

This solar supplement contains several synergistic actives: carotenoids, vitamins, and minerals. The selected carotenoids are natural and patented. 

Novoma provides analysis certificates, ensuring the quality of the products. The formula contains no additives or colorings.

The Novoma lab is located in Toulouse, manufacturing supplements without GMOs or controversial additives, and vegan.

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Best Supplement for Acne

Aime’s Pure Glow supplement contains plants that support the liver (artichoke, rosemary), spices with natural anti-inflammatory properties (turmeric, pepper), probiotics for rebalancing gut flora, and nutrients like zinc, which supports skin beauty.

This acne complex acts on different fronts: skin inflammation, intestinal and digestive balance. 

Aime is a French-made supplement brand. Aime develops supplements with an “in & out” approach and quality skin care.

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Why Take Skin Supplements

They Protect Skin from UV Rays

When ultraviolet rays come into contact with the skin, it defends itself: the stratum corneum thickens, and we observe the production of antioxidants and melanin, these coloring pigments that protect us from UV rays.

Specific dietary supplements help to enhance skin photoprotection and increase skin tolerance to UV rays.

They Combat Skin Aging

Excessive exposure to UV rays, pollution, tobacco, alcohol, and the progressive reduction of internal collagen and hyaluronic acid production are factors of premature skin aging.

The use of specific anti-aging actives allows the reduction of skin aging, as this study review reminds us.

They Hydrate the Skin Barrier

Dry skin produces less sebum than normal skin. It no longer retains enough water and dehydrates. It becomes irritated, tightens, and fine lines and wrinkles appear. 

Hydration through local care provides protection against external agents, but hydration begins with the maintenance of the stratum corneum.

I advise you to have sufficient daily water intake and a diet rich in lipids. There are ingredients with hydrating properties, like collagen and hyaluronic acid that positively influence skin elasticity.

They Help Skin with Imperfections

Dietary supplements intended to soothe oily skin and acne issues contain nutrients aimed at promoting skin health, or sometimes liver and gut health.

Nutrients, probiotics, and plants are mainly found in the treatment of problematic skin.

The Most Effective Actives

Hydrating Actives

We find hyaluronic acid and collagen, two natural components that protect and provide elasticity to the skin tissue.

A meta-analysis (a pooling of multiple studies) indicates that these molecules, taken orally, led to a significant increase in skin hydration and a reduction in water loss.

In addition to these active ingredients, polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3) also play an important role as a component of the skin barrier.

Anti-aging and antioxidant active ingredients

An antioxidant compound protects the body from damage caused by free radicals. They are responsible for the appearance of wrinkles and a change in melanin production in the skin, leading to the development of dark spots and uneven skin tone.

Among antioxidants available in oral supplementation, we particularly find collagen, which has demonstrated in this randomized controlled trial (i.e., compared to a placebo), its positive effect on skin photoaging, at a dose of 1000 mg per day.

Other interesting active ingredients include: polyphenols, vitamin A (carotenoids: beta-carotene, lycopene), E, C, coenzyme Q10. These molecules, combined with local care, help improve complexion and reduce skin aging.

Anti-inflammatory and anti-blemish active ingredients

Zinc is a trace element necessary for normal skin functioning. Prescribed by dermatologists as a treatment medication, or recommended as a dietary supplement, it is essential against skin inflammation.

Numerous studies support its effect on acne severity and the number of skin lesions.

Other studies validate the interest of supplementing with fatty acids in managing inflammatory acne lesions. Additionally, its moisturizing effects are also sought after by patients taking isotretinoin, an anti-acne medication with particularly severe side effects. 

Certain plants are traditionally used for their purifying and anti-inflammatory action on the skin. This is the case with burdock or wild pansy.

The latter is recognized by the European Medicines Agency for treating symptoms of seborrheic skin conditions.

The origin of acne is multifaceted, and can notably be caused by a disruption of the gut microbiota. The use of certain specific probiotic strains is promising in this context, as shown by this research.

Finally, the anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial virtues of curcumin, an active agent of turmeric, have been studied in skin health. A review of studies concludes to a significant improvement in the severity of skin diseases following the intake of quality turmeric supplements.

In what form

In capsules

Capsules are the most common form for beauty and skin health supplements. This form allows the mixing of multiple powdered ingredients, with suitable preservation at a reasonable cost. 

The capsule is particularly appreciated for the addition of plants: we add the dry powders (the plant is dried, ground, and then sifted to obtain a powder) and the dry extracts (extraction of active compounds for better concentration).

I want to draw your attention to the fact that the dietary supplement market is very varied. Carefully check the ingredients and the presence of unnecessary flavors and colorings.

In capsules

They are notably found in supplements based on oil solutions, rich in fats: borage oil, evening primrose oil, fish oil, sources of fatty acids.

This formulation allows optimal assimilation but the preservation is fragile (capsules are sensitive to temperature and humidity).

I recommend choosing capsules of plant origin and without synthetic excipients.

In powder form

The powders are packaged in sachets or sticks. They usually contain a higher concentration of active ingredients compared to capsule forms, and allow for a suitable molecular weight, especially for nutrients such as collagen or hyaluronic acid. 

The concentration of active ingredients allows for unique daily doses, and the cost, thus the final price, is generally cheaper than capsule and tablet packaging.

The powder is dissolved in water, fruit juice, or in a shaker. Athletes particularly like this form.

In gummies

Gummies are dietary supplements in the form of chewable gums. They usually contain mixes of vitamins and minerals. Gummies look like real candy, thus increasing adherence due to their taste and playful form.

In my opinion, this form encourages snacking and excessive consumption, which can be potentially dangerous.

To improve the appearance and taste of products, many manufacturers add sugars which can cause breakouts… A paradox.

Criteria to Consider

1. Ingredient Quality

The cultivation method and the extraction method of active ingredients are essential to the product’s effectiveness. If you can’t find information about the manufacturing quality, it’s a bad sign.

Moreover, the presence of a organic certification guarantees the absence or reduction of toxic excipients (solvents, pesticides); especially for plants. 

Note that not all active ingredients can be classified as organic. This is the case for marine collagen and hyaluronic acid.

2. Composition

Opt for products containing active ingredients with studied and proven efficacy.

Also, it’s better to have one or two high-quality active ingredients in a supplement, than a multitude of ingredients of mediocre quality or without sufficient efficacy proof for the indication.

Some multivitamins are of good quality, but they may contain dubious excipients (preservatives, anti-caking agents, colorants). Be careful when purchasing.

3. Active Ingredient Bioavailability

Choosing bioavailable active ingredients significantly increases a product’s effectiveness and reduces the potential for side effects. 

Indeed, depending on the form of the ingredient used, absorption by the body will be very different. Zinc oxide, for example, will be insoluble in water and poorly absorbed. A form such as gluconate, zinc picolinate, or zinc bisglycinate (zinc then being associated with amino acids) will be well assimilated. 

A hydrolyzed form for collagen, an appropriate molecular weight (broad spectrum for hyaluronic acid, low weight for collagen) also aids in the assimilation of these large molecules in the body.

Oils, sources of fatty acids, also have very different assimilation rates depending on their origin. Thus, triglyceride forms of omega-3 acids, from fish oil, are well absorbed. Conversely, I discourage the more processed, less stable chemical forms of fish oils known as “ethyl esters.”

4. Active Ingredient Concentration

The efficacy of an active ingredient also depends on its dose, so be sure to check the dosages of your dietary supplement.

It’s important to check that the daily dosage provides a sufficient amount (2.5 to 3 grams for collagen capsules, 200 mg hyaluronic acid, at least 500 mg of fish oil, 2 to 10 mg of carotenoids depending on the number of active ingredients, etc).

Concentrated active ingredients also allow for a reduced number of daily doses, improving the adherence to the regimen.

5. Price

The price depends on the quality of ingredients, the manufacturing process, and the marketing. 

Supplements with multiple ingredients cost, on average, 25 to 30 euros for a month of treatment when they are of good quality. 

A supplement containing only one active ingredient is often cheaper. If you plan for a month of treatment, expect to spend 10 to 20 euros for zinc or omega-3s, 15 to 20 euros for hyaluronic acid or collagen.

To Summarize

To ensure you choose a quality skin supplement, verify:

1. The quality of ingredients: non-intensive cultivation, absence of skin-allergy-inducing additives (synthetic colorants, sweeteners)
2. The composition: opt for active ingredients that have demonstrated their effectiveness. If the product contains many ingredients, check whether the concentration of each is sufficient to be effective.
3. Bioavailability: choose assimilable ingredients (hydrolyzed collagen, appropriate molecular weight, minerals in an absorbable form).
4. Active content: choose a supplement with a sufficient dosage, especially if it contains a single active ingredient.
5. Price: between 20 and 30 euros for a month’s course. Between 10 and 20 euros for the active ingredients alone.