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The trifecta of beauty – lustrous hair, radiant skin, and resilient nails. For those committed to a vegan lifestyle, finding supplements that uphold this beauty without straying from the plant-based path can be a challenge.
Sadly, many supplements that claim to enhance these characteristics are made from elements like collagen, keratin, biotin, fish oil, lanolin, and elastin, which are often derived from animals but are widespread in the beauty industry.
If you wish to avoid these ingredients and ensure that the brand you choose is ethical, I’ve shortlisted the following supplements to give you alternatives that cater to rejuvenating your hair, nails, and skin without reliance on animal cruelty.
Best Vegan Supplements For Hair, Skin, and Nails
Future Kind Vegan Collagen Booster
Qualities:
- Transparent and science-backed approach to ingredient formulations
- Compact capsule design that is easy to swallow
- Ethical approach to manufacturing and generous donation structure
- Eco-friendly packaging and carbon-free shipping.
Specifications:
- Brand: Future Kind
- Type: Capsules
- Servings: 30
Future Kind’s formula brings together 16 collagen-boosting nutrients, ensuring you get ingredients like silica, biotin, grape-seed extract, and vitamins A & E.
Notably, the formula incorporates the antioxidant-rich ayurvedic super berry amla, enhancing potential collagen support.
The role of each nutrient in this formula is distinct and carefully considered.
For instance, Vitamin A, which is backed by robust evidence, stimulates collagen synthesis. This evidence-driven approach suggests that the product has been designed with a strong focus on stimulating natural collagen production, making it potentially efficacious across various age groups.
While many of the ingredients have a strong scientific foundation, Future Kind openly acknowledges that some components are more exploratory in nature.
The amino acid Glycine, which constitutes around 25% of collagen, is present in the supplement. Though it plays a significant role in collagen structure, Future Kind is candid about needing more research to determine its exact impact on collagen production, reflecting their commitment to transparency and evidence-based formulation.
You’ll also appreciate the usability of this product. The compact capsule design ensures ease of swallowing, streamlining your daily intake.
Yet, if you lean towards liquid or powder formats for dose flexibility, this might be a factor to weigh in your decision.
Quality assurance seems to be a highlight of Future Kind, which crafts its supplements in the U.S., in an FDA-regulated facility adhering to Good Manufacturing Practices. Its products also undergo third-party testing for potency and potential contaminants.
Ethically, Future Kind stands out. Their donations to animal sanctuaries and their B Corp certification are a testament to a respectable eco-conscious and philanthropic approach. They also employ eco-friendly packaging and carbon-free shipping.
Lastly, they’ve got a 100% Satisfaction 30-Day Money Back Guarantee for your peace of mind. It’s a clear sign of the brand’s confidence in its product and ensures you have a fallback if the supplement doesn’t meet your expectations.
Ora Organic Beyoutiful
Qualities:
- Unique ingredients like astaxanthin based on strong evidence
- Completely clean and transparent bland that publicly publishes third-party tests
- Strict code of conduct that facilitates ethical sourcing, labor, and overall transparency.
Specifications:
- Brand: Ora Organic
- Type: Capsules
- Servings: 30
At the core of Beyoutiful are organic B vitamins, notably biotin, and niacin, sourced from organic quinoa sprouts in Austria.
For those concerned about nail and hair health, the presence of biotin could be of interest, given its reputed support for nail strength and hair growth.
Additionally, niacin may be particularly beneficial for those often exposed to UV light, providing supportive care to your skin under such conditions.
Another standout ingredient in this formula is astaxanthin. Not only is it easily absorbed by your body, but there’s also evidence suggesting its potential in enhancing skin moisture, elasticity, and mitigating hyperpigmentation.
Those seeking to improve hair health might also find value in astaxanthin. The source of this component adds another layer of appeal: it’s derived from green algae cultivated in Yunnan province, China, drawing its pristine water supply from the Himalayas.
Ora Organic’s commitment to transparency is also worthy of praise. Their rigorous quality control process, coupled with third-party testing at accredited laboratories, is reassuring. But it’s their decision to publish these test results that truly underscores their dedication to consumer trust.
The manufacturing process of Ora Organic is also worth noting. With products crafted across four primary contract manufacturers, a stringent vetting process ensures consistency in quality, ethics, and purity.
Their resolute stance in partnering only with manufacturers adhering to their strict code of conduct reinforces their commitment to ethical sourcing, labor practices, and overall transparency.
This strict code of conduct can be accessed on their website.
Lastly, they also include a 100% money-back guarantee that provides you with an additional layer of assurance— and it lasts 30 days after the initial purchase.
Hum Nutrition Hyaluronic Glow
Qualities:
- Inclusion of Hyaluronic Acid, which is unique in oral beauty supplements
- Delicious and naturally-flavored gummies
- Pretty affordable price.
Specifications:
- Brand: Hum Nutrition
- Type: Gummies
- Servings: 30
Central to Hum Nutrition’s Glow formula is the inclusion of low molecular weight hyaluronic acid, which some evidence suggests may improve skin hydration and rejuvenation by reducing wrinkles.
It’s important to mention though that the evidence for hyaluronic acid is attributed to topical, not oral application.
Another pivotal ingredient is Vitamin C, a popular antioxidant. There’s a serious body of evidence that links it to collagen production, which is, as I’ve mentioned earlier, vital for maintaining skin elasticity and youthful appearance.
Moreover, its protective attributes against environmental factors like sun, pollution, and stress can be a real asset.
Vitamin E complements the product, with its reputation as a vital nutrient for skin health, offering additional protection from environmental stressors.
The reference to the Indian gooseberry, or Amla, brings an interesting dimension to this product. Its antioxidant-rich profile can offer added protection against free radical damage, also supporting collagen production.
A standout feature is the product’s format: gummies flavored naturally with tangerine and colored with annatto. While this might appeal to those who aren’t fans of traditional pills or capsules, the flavor is highly subjective. What’s delectably sweet for one might be just alright for another.
Finally, the adherence to GMPs (Good Manufacturing Processes) by Hum’s manufacturing facilities is reassuring.
This FDA-mandated standard ensures that you’re getting a product that meets specific benchmarks in terms of identity, purity, and strength.
What’s good with Hum Nutrition is that they give new customers steep discounts, so you might be more tempted by its appealing price point, which is already lower than most similar supplements, to begin with.
Rae Wellness Vegan Collagen Booster
Qualities:
- Includes silica which is known to increase type I collagen and aid in bone mineralization
- Clean Label Project stamp that ensures the product is transparent and safe
- Super affordable price with an extra discount that can be achieved via subscription.
Specifications:
- Brand: Rae Wellness
- Type: Capsules
- Servings: 30
In this formula, you’ll find a mix of vitamin C, bamboo, and an intriguing proprietary blend featuring glycine, l-proline, l-lysine HCL, and gynostemma herb extract.
There’s some buzz around gynostemma for its potential antioxidant properties, but while it’s poised as a potential defense against free radicals, it’s worth noting that it should be taken with a dose of realism as it’s a relatively ‘new’ herb.
The supplement also boasts silica, which, according to a detailed 2013 study, is linked with stimulating type 1 collagen and aiding in bone mineralization. This facet is yet another feather in its cap.
Rae Wellnesse’s commitment to quality shines through in their manufacturing practices as they craft the product stateside and source globally, striking a balance between international standards and homegrown quality.
The company doesn’t stop there: their consistent audits and ongoing monitoring underscore a dedication to meeting the FDA’s cGMP benchmarks.
In fact, they have a Clean Label Project stamp on the product which speaks to Rae Wellnesse’s transparency ambitions. Knowing that a third-party nonprofit has vetted the supplement adds an extra layer of confidence.
Budget-conscious buyers might appreciate the pricing, which ranges from $11.99 to $14.99 for 60 capsules.
If you’re in for the long haul, the extra 20% savings through a subscription could be appealing, though I’m aware that subscriptions aren’t everyone’s cup of tea.
Sun Warrior Beauty Greens Collagen Booster
Qualities:
- Blends unique ingredients like amla fruit and bamboo silica with a blend of organic vegetables rich in skin-protecting carotenoids.
- It also includes a probiotic blend that may be able to offer additional benefits like pH restoration for acidic skin and improve the skin’s barrier function
- Comes in recycled packaging, albeit it could be a bit more compact.
Specifications:
- Brand: Sunwarrior
- Type: Powder
- Servings: 25
Sunwarrior presents its Beauty Greens as a comprehensive blend aimed at enhancing skin, hair, and nail health— believe me, it has a lot of ingredients.
Sunwarrior’s choice of vitamin C sourced from organic amla fruit and sea buckthorn stands out, as these are recognized contributors to collagen production. The inclusion of bamboo silica and hyaluronic acid further strengthens the formula’s position in the collagen-boosting arena.
For those concerned with hair health and nail strength, the biotin from holy basil extract and sunflower seed oil is a noteworthy addition. Biotin’s reputation in reducing hair loss and enhancing nail resilience gives the formula a definitive edge.
Diving deeper into its components, Sunwarrior showcases a range of organic vegetables. The high carotenoid content, especially beta carotene, and lycopene, can be a potential shield against UV-induced skin damage.
Given that UV rays are a primary culprit in premature skin aging, this is a consideration worth its weight in gold.
An unexpected but welcome component is the probiotic aspect of the formula.
Emerging evidence points to the potential of probiotics in skin care, suggesting benefits like pH restoration for acidic skin and even amplification of the skin’s barrier function. Not to mention, its potential role in hair quality improvement makes it a multitasker in this formula.
Taste often dictates the success of such products, and Sunwarrior manages to be palate-friendly with its pina colada flavor without resorting to added sugars. Though, if you prefer, they also have an unflavored version.
When it comes to the packaging, there’s room for improvement. The use of recycled plastic is certainly praiseworthy, but a more compact canister would elevate the product’s eco-footprint— feels like it’s too big for the content inside.
Moreover, each canister provides 25 servings, equating to roughly $1.55 per serving, which is on the higher side than most beauty supplements.
Do Vegans Actually Need Such Supplements?
Vegan diets can meet the nutrient needs of most people with one exception, vitamin B12, which must come from supplements or fortified foods.
When it comes to nutrients (biotin, iron, vitamin D, zinc, and omega-3s) that affect hair skin, and nails, vegans can generally access them through food or sun exposure.
Typically you would just need to make sure that you have a varied diet and eat the foods that provide you with these nutrients.
But you might be different.
I understand that you might want to optimize the intake of certain nutrients, and in that case, even though it’s not strictly necessary, supplements might give you a boost.
Additionally, every individual is unique, and factors such as metabolism, genetics, age, health conditions, and more can influence one’s nutritional needs.
Some vegans might thrive without any supplementation, while others might notice a positive difference when they take certain supplements.
Plus, not all vegan diets are the same.
A vegan diet based on processed foods, sugary treats, and a lack of variety might be deficient in many essential nutrients, and this can be applicable to every other diet, and I’d argue it’s the reason why greens powders and multivitamins are so popular.
Having a well-balanced diet that is rich in all sorts of vitamins and minerals is not a reality for many people, because it takes willingness to plan and prepare your meals.
So, if your goal is to optimize your nutrient intake because you might feel there’s something lacking, who am I to tell you differently?
Other Frequently Asked Questions
Most supplements may take a few weeks to several months of consistent use before noticeable results appear, but there’s also no guarantee that a given supplement will work.
A lot of times it varies based on individual metabolism, the specific issue being addressed, and the potency of the supplement, among other things like supplement composition, etc.
While these supplements are generally well-tolerated, that will usually depend on the type of ingredients it contains and their respective dosages.
Before you decide to take any supplement, I personally think it’s a good idea to consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new supplementation routine.
Yes, like all supplements, they do have a shelf life. Always check the expiration date on the product and store it as recommended, typically in a cool, dry place.
All the supplements are promoted as gluten-free on their respective websites, except for Rae Wellness, which states that their products are manufactured in a facility that also processes various other ingredients and potential allergens
Editor’s note: The content on this website is meant to be informative, but it should not be taken as medical advice. The content of our articles is not intended for use in the diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. It’s always best to speak with your doctor or a certified medical professional before making any changes to your lifestyle, diet, exercise routine, or trying a new supplement.
