Best supplements for acne: a naturopath’s opinion

Best dietary supplements for acne: our opinion

Our selection criteria

• Form of zinc: zinc is the key active ingredient in anti-acne supplements. The bioavailability and digestibility depend on the form of zinc.
• Clinical study: has a clinical study on efficacy been conducted on any of the ingredients used?
• Number of actives: the number of ingredients contained in the sun supplement.
• Price / day: the price for 1 day of treatment, based on the daily dose recommended by the brand.
• Customer reviews: this average of customer reviews for the brand comes from the laboratory’s website, review platforms, or marketplaces like Amazon.
• Our opinion on the brand: based on the tests of dietary supplement brands we perform each month and the analysis of 6 criteria such as transparency and expertise.

The supplements selected below are all made in France and are vegan.

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BEST VALUE FOR MONEY

We selected the Peau Nette complex offered by 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 3rd-generation highly bioavailable form of zinc.

This supplement targets blemishes and redness, helps sensitive skin, and helps reduce skin inflammation.

In addition to zinc, this dietary supplement contains patented coriander oil standardized to 60% omega-12 (Sepibliss®) as well as chia seed oil.

We like the Nutri&Co brand because it is reliable and transparent (our full review here). We also note that customer reviews are very good. This brand is based in Aix-en-Provence and places particular importance on the quality of the active ingredients in its products.

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BEST HIGH-END

The Pure Glow supplement from Aime Skincare is particularly comprehensive as it contains 16 active ingredients, including anti-infective L-pidolate zinc, 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 body’s overall well-being.

This supplement is one of Aime Skincare’s best sellers.

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 problem: rosacea.

During our test of the brand, we appreciated the breadth of the range and the brand’s in&out positioning.

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What are the causes of acne?

The role of hormones

Endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, premenstrual syndrome, amenorrhea…

We are hearing more and more about these hormonal conditions affecting many women.

At the root of these imbalances: a hormonal imbalance. 

Too much estrogen, not enough progesterone, or an excess of androgens. A poor hormonal balance and our whole system suffers as a result. 

These hormonal fluctuations can then lead to increased sebum production; pores become clogged, and acne breakouts appear. 

In men, adolescent acne is mainly linked to higher levels of androgens (notably testosterone), leading to an overproduction of sebum. But these problems are rare in adulthood.

The role of stress

Who hasn’t seen a pimple appear on the day of an exam or an important appointment? Long considered a myth, the link between stress and acne is now proven. 

Indeed, a study found that skin cells are sensitive to nerve stimulation.

When we are stressed, we produce hormones and neurotransmitters (P proteins) capable of stimulating our sebaceous glands, which in response produce more sebum.

The process then gets underway: too much sebum, the pores become clogged and acne breakouts appear.

The role of the liver

Modern, processed food, rich in sugars, saturated fatty acids and all kinds of additives, overloads our liver.

Read also | 20 foods to protect and cleanse your liver

The latter, a primary eliminative organ, has the ability to self-regulate and to self-cleanse.

However, because of repeated overloads and ‘junk food’, it can become clogged, be somewhat less efficient, and therefore less able to fulfill its detoxification role.

The skin, as a secondary eliminative organ, then takes over. In naturopathy, acne is considered an imbalance linked to liver overload.

Which diet to adopt?

Consume whole, unprocessed foods

Reducing your consumption of processed foods in favor of whole foods reduces your intake of additives, preservatives, sugars, and saturated fats…

All of which contribute to overloading our bodies.

Get plenty of vitamins and minerals

If you have acne, and in order to nourish your body properly, it is recommended to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Rich in vitamins and minerals, they truly have antioxidant properties. They are best consumed in season and organically.

A good intake of omega-3s

The essential fatty acids found in omega-3-rich foods such as healthy oils like olive oil, rapeseed oil or camelina are very powerful anti-inflammatories.

This is also true of small oily fish such as mackerel, sardines or herring, which should be included frequently in your diet.

Read also | How to choose the best omega-3s

They help calm the inflammatory response of your skin and help regulate your hormones.

Limit pro-inflammatory foods

Gluten, cow’s milk, red meat, alcohol, refined sugar… All of these foods, when consumed in excess, are pro-inflammatory for the body.

In other words, they contribute to maintaining an existing inflammation, reinforce it, but are very often also its cause.

Add to your diet plants and condiments with anti-inflammatory properties, such as turmeric, ginger, green vegetables, moringa, green tea…

Maintain good hydration

Taking care of your acne means treating it from the inside. With this in mind, it is recommended to drink at least 1.5 liters of water per day.

This will help promote elimination and drainage of your body.

The best active ingredients of dietary supplements against acne

Burdock

Burdock, primarily its root, is the plant par excellence for the skin. Indeed, it is traditionally recognized for its purifying skin properties. 

It is primarily its richness in inulin, which is a natural fiber rich in prebiotics, that gives it these qualities.

It can be paired with wild pansy, which is also known for its skin benefits.

Milk thistle

A dietary supplement for acne often contains milk thistle.

An overloaded liver is often involved in acne issues.

Milk thistle, which, as this study shows, is above all a hepatoprotective plant, can help the liver.

Indeed, it helps it regain its full capabilities and thus better eliminate environmental toxins and the toxins produced by the body itself.

Zinc

Zinc is a trace element that plays a vital role in our health. It is involved in more than 200 enzymatic reactions.

This mineral can affect acne, notably because of its healing and anti-inflammatory properties.

Magnesium

To combat stress and its effects on the skin, it is essential to consider magnesium.

A cofactor in more than 300 bodily reactions, this mineral plays an essential role in stress regulation.

This is due, among other things, to its action on the relaxation of muscle fibers: it is a muscle relaxant. 

Vitamin B6

The B vitamins are essential to our health. In the case of acne, vitamin B6 is particularly interesting.

Indeed, it is involved in the regulation of sebum and also allows magnesium to penetrate cells better.

That is why you will find it in most magnesium supplements.

Brewer’s yeast

Very often used for hair and nails, brewer’s yeast is no less interesting for the skin.

Indeed, its high vitamin and mineral content helps to regulate the skin, particularly excess sebum.

In what form should you consume them? 

In capsules and tablets (powder)

Whether in capsules or tablets, plants in powder form are not all the same.

You need to distinguish dry powders from dry extracts.

• Dry powders: are produced by spray-drying the plant to be placed in capsules. The plant reduced to powder is then less concentrated in active compounds.
• Dry extracts: unlike powders, dry extracts are obtained by extracting the active compounds. They are therefore preferable because they are more concentrated. 

For minerals, particularly zinc and magnesium for acne, capsule or tablet forms should be preferred to achieve better bioavailability.

In fact, they are most often found on the market in this form.

As standardized liquid extracts of fresh plants (EPS)

EPS, standardized fluid extracts of fresh plants, are plants obtained by Phytostandard extraction.

The plants are harvested, frozen, then their active molecules are recovered by multiple hydroalcoholic extraction.

Finally, they are preserved in a glycerinated solution without sugar and without alcohol. 

It is recognized that certain plants are more effective when used fresh, which makes this form more valuable.

Especially since it is possible, in a pharmacy or specialized laboratory, to make a blend of several plants. 

In the case of acne, for example, there are Burdock – Milk Thistle – Wild Pansy blends.

Administration is then simplified; it is about 5 ml per day in a large glass of water.

As gummies

Gummies are increasingly fashionable. These little candies sold as chewable gummies are very convenient.

You can appreciate their ease of consumption: two gummies a day and that’s enough.

That said, don’t forget that their concentration of active ingredients is significantly lower than that of an EPS or of capsules.

What criteria should be taken 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 such as zinc and magnesium, use capsules and tablets.

2. Concentration

Check the concentration of active compounds; for example, for milk thistle make sure to choose a formula standardized to 80% silymarin and 30% silybin.

3. The bioavailability of active ingredients

Choose the most bioavailable form of these active ingredients.

For example, for magnesium and zinc, the bisglycinate form has optimal absorption.

4. Origin

You should always check the origin of the components. In general, when it comes to plants cultivated in France, the manufacturer highlights it.

But for foreign origins, the information is not always available.

For plants, favor organic cultivation, which is more respectful of the soil and without risk of toxicity.

5. The price

The average price of dietary supplements for acne depends on several factors.

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 be sure of buying quality dietary supplements for acne, check:

1. The form: EPS or dry extract capsules
2. Concentration: e.g., for milk thistle, 80% silymarin and 30% silybin
3. Bioavailability of actives: e.g., for magnesium & zinc, choose the bisglycinate form
4. Origin: favor harvests of organic, locally grown plants
5. Price: between 12 and 30€ depending on the active ingredients

When you buy the selected products, a commission may be paid to us to support the site, pay our writers, and ensure you receive quality information. This does not affect the prices.