The Best Biotin Supplements for Hair, Skin and More, According to Nutrition Specialists
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Biotin, also known as vitamin B7, is one of the essential nutrients your body needs to function optimally. Its main function is helping to convert food into energy. While rare, a biotin deficiency can present in a number of ways, including hair loss, dry skin and cracking at the corners of the mouth.
Biotin is often advertised as a hair, skin and nails supplement. If you’re deficient in the nutrient, you’re likely to see results from supplements. While research into supplementation for non-deficient individuals is limited, there is some evidence that it can promote stronger nails and hair growth.
There are tons of biotin supplements on the market today, so finding the right one for your needs can be a challenge. To make things simpler, we created a list of the six best biotin supplements in 2024, which have been vetted by a registered dietitian and doctor specializing in nutrition. We’ve broken each supplement down by biotin per serving, ingredients, certifications and more.
This content is meant to be informative, but should not be taken as medical advice. It is not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention or treatment of health problems. Always speak with your doctor before starting any new supplement or exercise regimen.
Our Picks for the Best Biotin Supplement in 2024:
- Best Budget Biotin: Nature Made Biotin
- Best Biotin Supplement for Hair Growth: Country Life High Potency Biotin
- Best Biotin Shampoo: Clinical Effects Hair Therapy System
- Best Biotin Supplement for Nails: Hum Nutrition Killer Nails
- Best Biotin Supplement to Promote Collagen: Life Extension Biotin
- Best Vegan Biotin Supplement: Pure Encapsulations Biotin
Best Budget Biotin: Nature Made Biotin
Nature Made
Key features & specs
- Percent of daily value: 16,667%
- Biotin per serving: 5,000 micrograms
- Certifications: USP Verified, gluten-free
- Subscription: Monthly, 10% savings
- Key ingredients: Biotin, soybean oil, gelatin, glycerin, yellow beeswax, lecithin, colors added (including carmine)
- Best for: Shoppers on a budget,
- Price per serving: $0.25 for 50 count, $0.20 for 120 count
Nature Made was co-founded in 1971 by a pharmacist and his entrepreneurial partner. According to the brand’s website, they “believed there was a better alternative to long-term health than prescription drugs.” Nature Made is now one of the most popular supplement brands on the market today. Nearly all Nature Made products are USP Verified, including its biotin supplements.
Nature Made biotin supplements have 5,000 micrograms per serving, which is 16,667% of the daily value. Though that number seems high, larger doses are generally considered safe—biotin is water-soluble, so the body excretes any excess. Consumers will want to note that Nature Made biotin softgels contain a few other ingredients, including beeswax and gelatin, which means they are not appropriate for those on a vegan diet.
This supplement has one of the lowest prices per serving, which earned it our best budget pick. Nature Made recommends taking it once per day with water and a meal. Customers on Nature Made’s website gave this supplement a 4.6-star rating out of five stars on average. “After taking the softgels for a month I can honestly say my nails are stronger and healthy and my hair and skin also look great,” says one customer.
What we like:
- Budget-friendly
- High dose of biotin per serving
- Positive customer reviews
What to consider:
- Not suitable for vegans
- More added ingredients than other biotin supplements
Best Biotin Supplement for Hair Growth: Country Life High Potency Biotin
Country Life
Key features & specs
- Percent of daily value: 16,667%
- Biotin per serving: 5,000 micrograms
- Certifications: Non-GMO Project Verified, AVA Vegan, GFCO Gluten-Free, Ifanca Certified Halal, K Parve
- Subscription: N/A
- Key ingredients: Biotin, cellulose
- Best for: Vegans, shoppers seeking a simple biotin supplement, those looking for a hair growth supplement
- Price per serving: $0.31 for 60 count, $0.26 for 120 count
Country Life aims to create high-quality, naturally sourced vitamins and supplements through sustainable manufacturing processes. Its entire manufacturing facility has been NSF-GMP Certified, USDA Organic Certified and GFCO Certified Gluten-Free.
Country Life High Potency biotin comes in with 5,000 micrograms of biotin, which is 16,667% of your daily value. The only other ingredient in this supplement is cellulose, which is used to make the pill casing. Country Life recommends taking one capsule daily with food. “Given that it has so few ingredients, that probably speaks to its potency,” says Destini Moody, RD, a board-certified sports nutrition specialist and personal trainer. “It could be better for people who have multiple allergies and can’t afford to take a supplement that has extra filler ingredients,” she added.
We chose this supplement as our favorite for hair growth because a number of reviewers on Amazon attested to its hair health benefits. “After two months I definitely see an improvement in my hair growth,” says one Amazon reviewer. Though a few consumers complained that they didn’t notice any differences from taking these supplements, many remarked on improved hair and nails.
What we like:
- Simple ingredients
- High biotin dose
- Suitable for a range of diets including vegan and gluten-free
What to consider:
- One of the more expensive supplements on our list
Best Biotin Shampoo: Clinical Effects Hair Therapy System
Clinical Effects
Key features & specs
- Certifications: Made in an FDA-Regulated Facility, manufactured in the USA
- Subscription: Monthly, 20% savings
- Key ingredients: Biotin, AnaGain, Baicapil, peas, Chinese skullcap, Swiss apple, saw palmetto, sea buckthorn
- Best for: Shoppers looking for a biotin shampoo, those with hair loss
- Price per serving: $50 for one bottle, $120 for three bottles, $210 for six bottles
Clinical Effects says its products are USA-made in an FDA-registered facility, and are cruelty-free. It advertises itself as a customer-centric company, and backs that up with a satisfaction guarantee, offering a full refund for returns made within 180 days of purchase.
The Clinical Effects Hair Therapy System contains biotin and two other ingredients that have been shown to promote hair growth: Baicapil, which is derived from soy and wheat sprouts and AnaGain, which is created from pea sprouts. It also contains Chinese skullcap, which one study found to promote hair growth, and sea buckthorn, which research shows supports healthy hair.
Though not a supplement, this shampoo supports healthy hair through topical application. The product comes as a shampoo and conditioner package, and Clinical Effects recommends using them at least three times a week to see optimal results. Users will want to note that they should let the conditioner sit on their hair for five minutes before rinsing. Customers seem highly satisfied with this product. “I have only been using this shampoo for a month. My hair has thickened and it’s filling in my bald spot at an incredible rate,” wrote one reviewer on Clinical Effects’s site.
Related Post: The Best Shampoos for Thinning Hair for Men
What we like:
- Multiple ingredients that support hair growth
- 180-day satisfaction guarantee
- Many customer testimonials
What to consider:
- Expensive
- Some customers mention the website is hard to navigate
Best Biotin Supplement for Nails: HUM Nutrition Killer Nails
Hum
Key features & specs
- Percent of daily value: 16,667%
- Biotin per serving: 5,000 micrograms
- Certifications: Vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO, Clean Label Project Certified, third-party tested by the Clean Label Project
- Subscription: Automatic monthly subscription
- Key ingredients: Biotin, selenium, rice flour, hypromellose, silica
- Best for: Those with brittle nails, those looking for a supplement subscription
- Price per serving: $0.30
HUM Nutrition was founded with the help of dietitian nutritionists and offers subscription-based vitamins and supplements. Through a HUM quiz, users can match with nutritionists who will recommend the ideal products for their needs. HUM products are backed up by clinical research, and its biotin supplement is no exception.
HUM recommends taking its Killer Nails supplement once per day with food. It has 5,000 micrograms of biotin, which is 16,667% of your daily value. It also contains nine micrograms of selenium. “HUM Nutrition's supplement is different in that it has selenium, an antioxidant mineral that is also thought to improve hair and nail health,” says Moody.
Many reviewers commented on the nail improvement they saw from taking this supplement. “I have dealt with brittle nails all my life and Killer Nails is the first supplement I have tried (and I've tried many) that has really worked,” wrote one reviewer on HUM. Some users noted that they did experience breakouts—something to keep in mind for those with acne-prone skin. But if it’s nail growth you’re after, dozens of reviews attest to this supplement’s efficacy.
What we like:
- Many reviewers saw nail improvement
- Added selenium offers extra benefits
- Third-party tested
What to consider:
- Purchase results in an automatic monthly subscription
- Some reviewers experienced acne after starting this supplement
Best Biotin Supplement to Promote Collagen: Life Extension Biotin
Amazon
Key features & specs
- Percent of daily value: 2,000%
- Biotin per serving: 600 micrograms
- Certifications: Non-GMO, gluten-free
- Subscription: Monthly, 5% savings
- Key ingredients: Biotin, microcrystalline cellulose, dicalcium phosphate, gelatin, vegetable stearate
- Best for: Shoppers looking for a lower biotin dose, Amazon shoppers, shoppers on a budget
- Price per serving: $0.06
Life Extension uses research and scientific testing to create supplements that are proven effective. The brand’s biotin supplement contains 600 micrograms of biotin per serving, which is 2,000% of the daily value. That dose is more than enough to help the body use biotin in many processes, including breaking down food to create the proteins the body needs to build collagen.
Lee has known patients to take Life Extension supplements. “I think it works well for most people with a pretty good price point,” she said of the brand’s biotin supplement. Amazon shoppers were also satisfied with this product, with many commenting that they were glad to find this lower-dose biotin supplement. “The commonly sold high dose options give me a rash so this reduced dose, still much higher than the RDA, is very much appreciated and well tolerated,” wrote one Amazon reviewer.
What we like:
- Inexpensive
- Doctor-approved
- Great for those seeking a lower-dose biotin supplement
What to consider:
- Not ideal for those after a high biotin dose
- Not vegan
Best Vegan Biotin Supplement: Pure Encapsulations Biotin
Pure Encapsulations
Key features & specs
- Percent of daily value: 26,667%
- KW per serving: 8,000 micrograms
- Certifications: Non-GMO, gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, vegan
- Subscription: Monthly, 5% savings
- Key ingredients: Biotin, hypoallergenic plant fiber, cellulose, water
- Best for: Shoppers after the highest dose of biotin, those looking for a pure biotin supplement
- Price per serving: $0.22 for 60 count, $0.19 for 120 count
Pure Encapsulations, as the name suggests, focuses on creating the purest supplements. All Pure Encapsulations products are free gluten-free, egg-free and nut-free, as well as non-GMO and free from flavors, sweeteners, fillers and preservatives. The brand’s biotin supplement contains only biotin, with a casing made from plant fiber and cellulose, making it a vegan-friendly option as well.
Pure Encapsulations biotin has the highest biotin dose of any on our list: a whopping 8,000 micrograms, which is 26,667% of your daily value. The brand recommends taking this supplement one to two times daily with a meal.
Amy Lee, M.D, a bariatric specialist and head of nutrition for Nucific, said she had a “great experience” taking Pure Encapsulations biotin. “After my pregnancy, I lost a lot of hair from my IVF treatment due to elevated levels of hormones. My hair growth was a reflection of its effectiveness,” she says. Amazon customers also commented on the efficacy of this product and gave it a 4.7/5 star average rating.
What we like:
- The most biotin per serving of any supplement we’ve seen
- Vegan-friendly, gluten-free and free from additives and preservatives
- Doctor-approved
What to consider:
- Biotin dose may be higher than some consumers want
What Is Biotin?
Biotin, or vitamin B7, is one of the eight essential B vitamins that the body needs to break down food into energy. It’s found in a number of food sources, which we’ll describe in more detail below. It’s also common to see biotin in supplement form.
Biotin supplements have been shown to be beneficial for those with biotin deficiencies. “People who are unknowingly deficient in the vitamin do tend to see improvements in the integrity of their hair, skin and nails when they begin taking a biotin supplement,” says Moody. However, she notes that people can see these same results by getting enough biotin from their diets.
It’s important to note that there is no strong evidence proving biotin supplements effective in those without deficiencies. However, there are a few small studies that claim supplementation can improve hair, nails and skin, as well as anecdotal proof (like the hundreds of positive reviews we saw while vetting these products). If you’re curious about whether or not biotin could benefit you, speak with your doctor.
Benefits of Biotin
Biotin is an essential micronutrient for bodily repair and growth. “The most popular reason people choose to supplement biotin is to have healthier hair, skin and nails justified by biotin's function in helping to build new tissue,” says Moody.
Biotin is particularly beneficial for those with a deficiency. Biotin deficiency is seen in those on parenteral nutrition (meaning they consume nutrients from a part of the body other than the mouth), those on anticonvulsants, people taking prolonged courses of antibiotics, smokers, people with alcoholism, the elderly and pregnant people. Signs of deficiency include brittle nails, hair loss and cracking skin. In these individuals, supplementation has been proven effective.
As mentioned above, there is little evidence that biotin supplements have benefits for those without a deficiency. This is why most nutritionists recommend getting biotin from your diet rather than through supplements. However, according to the Cleveland Clinic, some individuals have found biotin supplements to help with nail and hair growth. And since it’s generally considered safe in large doses, there isn’t much harm in trying.
Precautions
Current scientific evidence shows that there are very few side effects from taking biotin. Research found one potential side effect of taking the supplement to be an upset stomach. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) mentions that biotin can alter the results of lab tests. Those undergoing tests for health concerns should consult a physician before taking biotin.
While rare, a biotin overdose is possible. “Signs and symptoms of biotin overdose may include and are not limited to insomnia, excessive thirst and urination,” according to the National Institutes of Health. It mentions that it is “very difficult” to overdose on biotin, but if an overdose is suspected, contact Poison Control right away.
Biotin shouldn’t be taken without consulting a physician “If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have a medical condition or take prescription medications,” says Moody. She also recommends checking with a pediatrician before giving biotin to children, as their metabolisms work differently than adults.
Lee also precautions those doing in vitro fertilization (IVF), based on her own experience with the procedure. “When I was going through IVF, my fertility doctor told me not to go overboard with biotin. I did some digging and found that high levels of biotin can indeed affect the timing of various steps in the IVF procedure,” she said.
Related Post: The Best Prenatal Vitamins
How Much Biotin Do I Need?
The FDA recommends adults age 19 and older get 30 micrograms of biotin per day. The only group who need more than that are breastfeeding people, who should get 35 micrograms per day. Most individuals get enough biotin from their diet. However, the biotin supplements on this list have doses far higher than the recommended daily value, ranging from hundreds to thousands of micrograms. There is currently no evidence that biotin is toxic in such large doses.
Depending on your health concerns, you may benefit from taking higher doses of biotin. According to the Cleveland Clinic, those with alopecia may benefit from 3,000 micrograms of biotin per day. And if you have brittle nails, studies have shown that taking 2,500 micrograms of biotin per day can improve nail strength.
Foods Rich in Biotin
There are a number of ways to get your daily value of biotin from your diet. Animal-based sources include meat, eggs, fish and organ meats like liver. Plant-based sources include legumes, sweet potatoes, broccoli, nuts and seeds. Whether you’re vegan, gluten-free, keto or on another specific diet, you’re likely to find a food-based biotin source that works for you.
How to Choose the Best Biotin Supplement for You
You’ll want to choose a biotin supplement that is tailored to your unique goals, be it long hair, harder nails or healthier-looking skin. Take a look below at our recommendations for those concerns.
Hair growth
Doctors agree that biotin is a helpful supplement for those with hair disorders. As mentioned above, 3,000 micrograms can benefit those with alopecia. If you don’t have a medical condition affecting your hair, and simply want longer, stronger hair, we recommend looking for a biotin shampoo, like the Clinical Effects Hair Therapy System. It has added ingredients, like AnaGain and sea buckthorn, that support healthy hair.
Nail strength
One of the key markers of biotin deficiency is brittle nails, so it makes sense that supplements help promote strong and hardy nails. When choosing a biotin supplement for nails, you’ll want to consider a dose around 2,500 micrograms a day.
Skin concerns
If you have a biotin deficiency, you may notice cracking skin, particularly at the corners of your mouth. A biotin supplement can help you get your recommended 30 micrograms per day. We like Life Extension Biotin. This affordable option has 600 micrograms per capsule—more than enough to help promote healthy skin.
Our Methodology: How We Chose the Best Biotin Supplement
To choose the best biotin supplement, we examined products for quality of ingredients, biotin per serving, certifications like non-GMO and gluten-free and price. We took a close look at customer reviews to see which supplements consumers liked best. We then had these products vetted by a doctor specializing in nutrition and a registered nutritionist.
Learn more about SI Showcase’s product review process.
Biotin Supplement FAQs
Do biotin gummies work?
Yes, Moody says that biotin gummies work. They function in a similar way to the supplements on this list. If you have trouble swallowing pills, biotin gummies may be the better option for you.
Related Post: Are Gummy Vitamins Effective?
What happens if your biotin is too high?
According to the National Institutes of Health, having too high levels of biotin is rare, as biotin is a water-soluble vitamin, which means any excess is excreted as urine. However, when an overdose of biotin does occur, symptoms can include extreme thirst, inability to sleep and more frequent urination.
Though there are not many side effects of taking biotin, there are a few key things to keep in mind. Taking excess biotin can interfere with lab results, in particular those that test hormone levels and for markers of heart problems. Make sure to speak to your doctor before taking a biotin supplement.
Is it okay to take biotin every day?
Both Lee and Moody agree that it is ok to take biotin every day. As mentioned above, excess biotin is excreted by the body.
Is biotin or collagen better for thinning hair?
“Considering the body can make its own collagen, but needs biotin to come from the diet, you could argue that biotin is more useful. However, if you are of an older age or spend a lot of time in the sun, collagen may be better for skin as the natural collagen in your skin breaks down under these conditions. If you still aren't sure which one to choose, there is no harm in taking both,” says Moody.
Which form of biotin is best?
According to Moody, “Any oral forms of biotin, be it in a capsule, gummy or liquid, are similarly effective.” However, both Moody and Lee recommend getting biotin from food sources rather than supplements. Biotin from food is likely to be better absorbed and can be more cost-effective than supplements.
Takeaway: Is Taking a Biotin Supplement Worth It?
If you have a deficiency, biotin supplements are well worth the investment. They have been shown to improve the hair, skin and nail health of these individuals. While there isn’t strong evidence to show that biotin supplements are effective in non-deficient individuals, a number of consumers have commented on the improvements they saw from taking these supplements. Taking excess biotin is low-risk, and may have benefits, so we think a biotin supplement is worth trying.
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