Beauty & Anti-Aging

Skin, Hair, and Nails: A Look Beneath the Surface

At around two square meters in area and about ten kilograms in weight, the skin is the largest organ in your body. It protects against cold, heat, pathogens, and UV radiation, regulates water balance, and also serves as a sensory organ. And it renews itself constantly: roughly every 28 days, the outermost layer has completely replaced itself.

The Three Layers and What Happens in Them

• Epidermis: the actual protective barrier. Here, new cells migrate upward from below, become keratinized, and are shed. The pigment cells responsible for skin color are located in the lowest layer.
• Dermis: the supporting framework made of collagen and elastin fibers, threaded with blood vessels, nerves, sebaceous glands, and sweat glands. Collagen provides firmness, elastin provides elasticity.
• Subcutis: fatty and connective tissue that serves as cushioning, thermal protection, and an energy store.

Collagen makes up around 70 percent of the dry weight of the dermis. Your body produces it itself — and vitamin C plays a proven role in this: it contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of the skin. Without sufficient vitamin C, the body cannot stably cross-link collagen fibers.

Hair and Nails: The Same Building Material

Hair and nails are both made of keratin, a sulfur-rich structural protein. What you see is already dead material — only the growth zone is alive: the hair root in the scalp and the nail matrix beneath the cuticle. Whatever reaches or is lacking there only becomes visible on the surface weeks later.

• Scalp hair grows about 1 centimeter per month. A hair goes through three phases: growth (2 to 6 years), transition (2 weeks), rest and shedding (2 to 3 months).
• Fingernails grow around 3 millimeters per month, toenails about half as fast. A fingernail takes around half a year to fully grow back.
• Losing 80 to 100 hairs a day is normal — out of about 100,000 hairs on your head.

These time spans explain why a change in nutrient supply does not show up overnight. What you eat today becomes visible in a hair that emerges from the scalp in a few weeks.

💡 INFO Nails are a long-term record: because a fingernail takes about six months to grow back, it reflects how you were doing months ago. Horizontal ridges, for example, often arise during phases of high stress — and then slowly move forward.

What Changes Skin, Hair, and Nails Over the Years

Skin aging is not a defect, but a normal biological process. From around the age of 25, the body's own collagen production gradually declines — estimates suggest around one percent per year. At the same time, the epidermis becomes thinner, sebum production decreases, and cell renewal takes longer than the 28 days of youthful skin.

What Comes from Within

Part of this is genetic and cannot be influenced: skin type, pigmentation, the individual speed of cell renewal. Hormonal transitions are also part of it — during menopause, for example, the drop in estrogen noticeably changes the skin's moisture content and firmness. More on this in our topic world Women's Health.

Nutrient supply also belongs here. With a one-sided diet, during demanding phases of life, with a purely plant-based diet, or with increasing age, the supply of biotin, zinc, selenium, or vitamin C can become limited — and the body then prioritizes vital functions over skin and hair.

What Is Added from the Outside

• UV radiation is considered by far the biggest external factor influencing skin aging. Consistent sun protection is more effective than any product you take.
• Smoking constricts the fine blood vessels in the skin and worsens the supply of the tissue.
• Lack of sleep: at night, the skin's regeneration processes run at full speed. Anyone who regularly sleeps too little deprives themselves of this window.
• Chronic stress increases the need for several micronutrients and affects the skin and hair cycle.
• Too little fluid, harsh cleansing, and dry heated air place additional strain on the skin barrier.

Important: sudden or circular hair loss, brittle nails with discoloration, persistent skin changes, or noticeable moles should be medically checked — possible causes include thyroid issues, iron deficiency, autoimmune processes, or skin diseases. Food supplements replace neither diagnostics nor treatment. The following product information presents our range; it is not a recommendation for treating complaints.

Micronutrients for Skin, Hair, and Nails at a Glance

Few topics are surrounded by as many promises as beauty products. So here is only what the European Health Claims Regulation actually allows — each nutrient with the statement that has been reviewed and approved for it.

Biotin (Vitamin B7) contributes to the maintenance of normal hair and normal skin. It is involved in the formation of keratin and is therefore the best-known nutrient in this category. Biotin is naturally found in egg yolk, nuts, oats, legumes, and organ meats.

Zinc is the all-rounder: it contributes to the maintenance of normal hair, normal nails, and normal skin, has a function in cell division, and helps protect cells from oxidative stress. The body cannot store zinc — regular intake is therefore important. Good sources include pumpkin seeds, oats, cheese, meat, and legumes. You can find it pure and high-dose as Zinc 25.

Selenium contributes to the maintenance of normal hair and normal nails and also helps protect cells from oxidative stress. Soils in Central Europe are low in selenium, which makes supply through plant foods more difficult. Brazil nuts are the best-known exception.

Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of the skin — and additionally for bones, cartilage, gums, and blood vessels. It also helps protect cells from oxidative stress. Rich sources include rose hips, acerola, sea buckthorn, peppers, broccoli, and citrus fruits.

Niacin (Vitamin B3) and Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) both contribute to the maintenance of normal skin, with riboflavin additionally helping protect cells from oxidative stress.

Vitamin A contributes to the maintenance of normal skin and normal mucous membranes. Vitamin E helps protect cells from oxidative stress.

Copper is the quiet specialist: it contributes to normal skin pigmentation and normal hair pigmentation — and to the maintenance of normal connective tissue. Manganese contributes to normal connective tissue formation, Iodine to the maintenance of normal skin.

💡 INFO These nutrients work together. Vitamin C and collagen formation belong together, copper and manganese to connective tissue, biotin and zinc to keratin. A balanced complex is therefore usually more sensible than a single high-dose nutrient.

SKIN HAIR NAILS — the Balanced Complex

Our most comprehensive beauty complex combines the micronutrients with approved claims for skin, hair, and nails in one capsule.

✓ Biotin — contributes to the maintenance of normal hair and normal skin

✓ Zinc — contributes to the maintenance of normal hair, nails, and skin

✓ Selenium — contributes to the maintenance of normal hair and nails

✓ Vitamin C — contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of the skin

✓ Supplemented with niacin, vitamin A, vitamin E, copper, and other micronutrients

✓ Vegan capsules · no magnesium stearate · lab-tested

→ Discover Skin Hair Nails now

→ Read more: Healthy Inside, Healthy Outside

Vitamin C: the Nutrient Behind Collagen Formation

Of all the nutrients in this category, vitamin C has the most direct connection to the skin. The approved wording is clear: vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of the skin. The body needs it as a cofactor to stably cross-link the individual collagen strands — without this step, the connective tissue remains slack.

Vitamin C is water-soluble, is not stored, and must be consumed daily. The reference intake is 80 mg per day, while the German Nutrition Society recommends 95 to 110 mg. Smoking significantly increases the requirement.

VITAMIN C 1000 — high-dose for your daily foundation

1000 mg vitamin C per capsule in lipid complex form.

✓ Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of the skin

✓ Helps protect cells from oxidative stress

✓ Contributes to the normal function of the immune system and to the reduction of tiredness

✓ 120 capsules · vegan · no unnecessary additives

→ Discover Vitamin C 1000 now

If you prefer natural vitamin C, you can find it in our Acerola Capsules: acerola cherry is one of the richest plant-based sources of vitamin C there is. And if you want to cover vitamin C and zinc together, Zinc + C is the practical combination of both.

→ Read more: Acerola: the Tropical Power Fruit for Energy, Skin, and the Immune System

Collagen, OPC, Q10, and Silicon: Substances Without an Approved Claim

Alongside vitamins and trace elements with reviewed claims, there is a second group: substances that occur in the body or are traditionally used, but for which the European Health Claims Regulation has not approved any health claim. We present them here for what they are — without promises of effects.

Collagen: the Structural Protein of Connective Tissue

Collagen is the most common protein in the human body and forms the framework of skin, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. As a food supplement, it is usually offered in hydrolyzed form, meaning broken down into short peptides. There are currently no approved health claims for collagen and collagen peptides — we cannot make any claims about their effects.

At Vitalplant, you can find Collagen Powder as a pure concentrate as well as Collagen Shine Powder, which combines collagen with additional ingredients. As a supplement, there is also Organic Vital Beauty Powder as a plant-based alternative.

💡 INFO Vitamin C and collagen complement each other well: vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of the skin. Many people therefore combine their collagen powder with a source of vitamin C.

OPC from Grape Seeds

OPC (oligomeric proanthocyanidins) are plant compounds from the flavanol group. They are found in grape seeds, pine bark, and the skins of red fruits and have been studied since the 1950s. There are no approved health claims for OPC. Our OPC Capsules provide a standardized grape seed extract.

→ Read more: OPC Effects: What Makes Grape Seed Extract and Its Plant Compounds Special

Coenzyme Q10: Body-Produced and Age-Dependent

Coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone) is a vitamin-like substance that occurs in every body cell — particularly concentrated in organs with high energy requirements. The body's own production declines from around the age of 30, and the level in the skin also decreases over the years. There are no approved health claims for coenzyme Q10. Our Coenzyme Q10 is supplemented with vitamin E — vitamin E helps protect cells from oxidative stress.

→ Read more: Coenzyme Q10 – the Fuel Station for Our Cells

Field Horsetail and Silicon

Field horsetail (Equisetum arvense) is one of the richest sources of silicon among the plants of Central Europe and has been used in European herbal medicine for centuries. Silicon occurs naturally in skin, hair, nails, and connective tissue. There are currently no approved health claims for silicon. Our Field Horsetail Capsules provide an extract with 7 percent silicon.

→ Read more: Field Horsetail – Resilient and Valuable

Zinc and Selenium: the Trace Elements for Hair and Nails

When hair becomes thinner or nails split, zinc is almost always the first thing people think of. Rightly so: zinc is one of the few trace elements with no fewer than three approved claims for this category — it contributes to the maintenance of normal hair, normal nails, and normal skin.

In addition, zinc has a function in cell division and contributes to normal DNA synthesis. This is relevant for tissue that renews itself as quickly as skin and hair roots. And zinc helps protect cells from oxidative stress.

The body does not store zinc to any significant extent. With a purely plant-based diet, absorption is additionally made more difficult because phytates from grains and legumes bind zinc. The reference intake is 10 mg daily.

ZINC 25 — highly bioavailable as bisglycinate

25 mg elemental zinc per capsule in organically bound form.

✓ Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal hair, nails, and skin

✓ Zinc has a function in cell division

✓ Zinc bisglycinate — chelated, gentle on the stomach, high bioavailability

✓ 120 capsules · vegan · no unnecessary additives

→ Discover Zinc 25 now

Selenium completes the picture: it contributes to the maintenance of normal hair and normal nails and also helps protect cells from oxidative stress. Because Central European soils are low in selenium, supply through plant foods is more difficult here than in other regions. You can find selenium from us as Selenium Capsules, and it is already included in the Skin Hair Nails Complex.

→ Read more: Zinc – a Jack-of-All-Trades Among Minerals

Beauty from Within: What Really Matters in Everyday Life

Food supplements are the last building block, not the first. These four points have a greater effect on skin, hair, and nails than any preparation — and they cost nothing.

Sun Protection

UV radiation is considered by far the biggest external factor in skin aging. Daily sun protection on the face, even on cloudy days and in winter, is the single most effective measure of all. Everything else comes after that.

Sleep

At night, the skin's repair and renewal processes run at full speed. Seven to nine hours with regular sleep times give the body this window. Anyone who regularly sleeps too little sees it first in their face.

Diet

A varied diet covers a large part of the nutrients mentioned. Specifically:

• Vitamin C: rose hips, acerola, sea buckthorn, peppers, broccoli, berries, citrus fruits
• Zinc: pumpkin seeds, oats, cheese, lentils, meat
• Biotin: egg yolk, nuts, oats, legumes, mushrooms
• Selenium: Brazil nuts, fish, eggs, sesame
• Vitamin E: wheat germ, sunflower, and olive oil, almonds, hazelnuts
• Copper: nuts, whole grains, cocoa, legumes
• High-quality proteins: skin, hair, and nails are made of protein — without sufficient protein, the building material is simply missing

Water, Exercise, Stress

Drinking enough (1.5 to 2 liters a day) keeps the skin barrier supple. Exercise promotes circulation all the way into the fine blood vessels of the skin. And a mindful approach to stress affects both — ongoing stress increases the need for several micronutrients and interferes with the hair cycle. If you want to start here, you will find building blocks in our topic world Stress, Sleep & Nerves.

→ Read more: Sleep Is the Best Medicine

→ Read more: Nutrition as Medicine: the Healing Power of Our Daily Food

How to Integrate Vitalplant into Your Everyday Life

The Simple Foundation

In the morning with breakfast, take 1 capsule of Skin Hair Nails. The complex combines biotin, zinc, selenium, and vitamin C in one — for most people, this is the easiest way to get started.

The Extended Routine

In addition, take 1 capsule of Vitamin C 1000 for collagen formation and, if you are specifically focusing on hair and nails, also Zinc 25. If you prefer adding a powder to your morning routine, stir Collagen Powder into water, juice, or coffee.

From 40

In midlife, Coenzyme Q10 and OPC are often added. If hormonal transitions play a role, it is also worth looking at the topic world Women's Health.

💡 INFO Expect it to take time. A fingernail takes around six months to grow back, and a hair grows one centimeter per month. A beauty routine becomes visible after eight to twelve weeks at the earliest — consistency beats any dosage here.

Which Vitalplant Product Fits Your Routine?

A guide to help you choose. If you have persistent complaints, take medication, or have existing conditions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Do you want a nutrient complex as a foundation?

Skin Hair Nails with biotin, zinc, selenium, vitamin C, and other micronutrients — all with approved claims for skin, hair, and nails.

Is your main focus collagen formation?

Vitamin C 1000 high-dose, or Acerola as a natural source. Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of the skin.

Are you specifically focusing on hair and nails?

Zinc 25 or Zinc + C as a combination. Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal hair and nails.

Do you prefer a powder instead of capsules?

Collagen Powder pure, Collagen Shine Powder as a combination, or Organic Vital Beauty Powder as a plant-based alternative.

Are you looking for plant compounds and body-produced substances?

OPC from grape seeds, Coenzyme Q10, or Field Horsetail with natural silicon.

→ View all products for Beauty & Anti-Aging

Vitalplant Quality — What Sets Us Apart

As a family-run manufacturer from Memmingen, we stand for transparent quality standards:

✓ Only substantiated claims: for every nutrient, we state the claim approved for it — and openly say where there is none

✓ Highly bioavailable forms: zinc bisglycinate instead of zinc oxide, vitamin C as a lipid complex

✓ No unnecessary additives: no magnesium stearate, no colorings or fillers

✓ Lab-tested quality: every batch independently tested for purity and heavy metals

✓ Vegan capsule shells made from HPMC, 100 percent plant-based

✓ Brown apothecary glass: light-protected, environmentally friendly packaging

💡 INFO What you should look for when buying: beauty products often advertise effects that are not actually permitted. A reputable label states amounts per daily dose, the compound used (for example zinc bisglycinate instead of just "zinc"), and sticks to the approved wording. At Vitalplant, you can download the analysis certificates directly from the product page.

Ready for Your Beauty Routine from Within?

Skin, hair, and nails are the result of many small decisions: sun protection, sleep, diet — and a nutrient supply that fits. Biotin, zinc, selenium, and vitamin C have reviewed claims for this, and that is exactly what our products are built on. Everything developed and manufactured in our family-run facility in Memmingen.

Your advantages at Vitalplant:

✓ Skin Hair Nails as a balanced complex

✓ Zinc as highly bioavailable bisglycinate

✓ Collagen as a powder, pure or combined

✓ No unnecessary additives, lab-tested

✓ Family-run manufacturer from Memmingen

✓ Free shipping from 60 €

→ Discover beauty and anti-aging products now

Important note: Food supplements are not a substitute for a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. The stated recommended daily intake amounts must not be exceeded. In the event of sudden or circular hair loss, persistent skin changes, noticeable moles, or brittle and discolored nails, please consult a doctor or dermatologist — treatable causes may be behind them. Information according to HCVO (EC) No. 1924/2006 and EU Regulation No. 432/2012. Pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and الأشخاص with medical conditions or taking medication should seek medical advice before use. Vitamin A should not be supplemented during pregnancy without medical advice.