Product Image

Extra Strength Hair Skin & Nails

21st Century
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
(16870 ratings)
Biotin 5000 mcg
Vitamin B5 15 mg
Choline 10 mg
Thiamin 5 mg
Horsetail 3 mg
Niacin 25 mg
Phosphorus 180 mg
Product Image
Score 75.0

A biotin-focused supplement with a good range of B vitamins and essential minerals, effective for primary hair, skin, and nail goals, but with insufficient doses of collagen and horsetail for significant impact beyond general nutritional support.

Quantity: 90 Tablet(s)Servings size: 3 Tablet(s) (30 servings)
Selected goals:
Other goals:
Bone Health
Heart Health
Joint Health
Muscle Gain
Energy

Score 75.0

A biotin-focused supplement with a good range of B vitamins and essential minerals, effective for primary hair, skin, and nail goals, but with insufficient doses of collagen and horsetail for significant impact beyond general nutritional support.

Analysis

21st Century's Extra Strength Hair Skin & Nails is primarily a multivitamin formulation heavily emphasizing biotin, a crucial nutrient for the health of hair, skin, and nails. Its 5000mcg biotin content aligns with doses commonly recommended and found effective in online reviews for promoting hair growth and nail strength, especially in individuals with deficiencies. The product also includes a robust spectrum of B vitamins, vital for energy metabolism and overall cellular function, alongside essential minerals like Calcium, Phosphorus, Zinc, and Manganese, which contribute to bone, skin, and general health. While the formula is well-rounded for general nutritional support, the inclusion of ingredients like collagen (50mg) and horsetail (3mg) at such low quantities is largely symbolic rather than therapeutically effective for promoting 'extra strength' benefits in those areas, as evidence-based dosages for these ingredients are typically in gram amounts for collagen and hundreds of milligrams for horsetail extract.

Pros
  • Contains a high and effective dose of Biotin (5000mcg) for noticeable benefits in hair and nail growth.
  • Includes a comprehensive blend of B vitamins that support energy metabolism and overall cellular health.
  • Provides essential minerals like Zinc, Calcium, and Phosphorus which contribute to skin, nail, and bone health.
  • Widely available and has a large number of positive customer reviews, indicating general user satisfaction with its core benefits.
Cons
  • The collagen content (50mg) is significantly underdosed, rendering it largely ineffective for its stated goals of skin elasticity or joint health.
  • The horsetail powder content (3mg) is extremely low and unlikely to provide meaningful silica for hair and nail strengthening.
  • Some listed goals like 'Testosterone Support' are not directly addressed or supported by the product's ingredients.
  • High doses of biotin, while beneficial for some, can interfere with certain laboratory blood tests, potentially leading to inaccurate results.
Warnings
  • Individuals taking this supplement should inform their healthcare providers, especially if undergoing laboratory tests, as high biotin levels can interfere with certain assays, including thyroid function tests.
$9.88($0.32 per serving)
Amazon
$ 9.88
iHerb
$ 9.99
Ingredients
IngredientAmount per serving
Vitamin A (Retinyl Palmitate) 1500 mcg
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) 60 mg
Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol) 25 mcg
Vitamin E (DL-Alpha-Tocopheryl Acetate) 6.75 mg
Thiamine (Thiamine Hydrochloride) 5 mg
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) 2 mg
Niacin (Niacinamide) 25 mg
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine Hydrochloride) 5 mg
Folate 334 mcg DFE
Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin) 8 mcg
Biotin (D-Biotin) 5000 mcg
Pantothenic Acid (D-Calcium Pantothenate) 15 mg
Choline (Choline Bitartrate) 10 mg
Calcium (Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate) 372 mg
Phosphorus (Dicalcium Phosphate) 180 mg
Magnesium (Magnesium Oxide) 50 mg
Zinc (Zinc Gluconate) 7.5 mg
Manganese (Manganese Gluconate) 2 mg
PABA 10 mg
Inositol 30 mg
Citrus Bioflavonoid / Rutin Complex 38 mg
Horsetail powder 3 mg
Collagen (hydrolyzed Gelatin) 50 mg
Gluten Free Adults 18–50
Categories
Biotin 90.0
The 5000mcg dose of D-Biotin is a standout feature, providing a robust amount that is highly effective for addressing deficiencies and promoting significant improvements in hair, skin, and nail strength and growth, as widely supported by consumer reviews and some research.
Niacin 75.0
The Niacinamide form is included at 25mg, which is a good dose for general metabolic support without causing the 'niacin flush' associated with nicotinic acid. It contributes effectively to energy and cardiovascular health indirectly.
Thiamin 70.0
Thiamin (Vitamin B1) is included at 5mg as Thiamine Hydrochloride, a standard and effective dose for its role in carbohydrate metabolism and nervous system function, contributing to the product's energy goals.
Goals
Hair Health 85.0
The substantial 5000mcg dose of Biotin is the primary driver for hair health benefits, a quantity widely recognized and clinically studied for its role in strengthening hair and reducing breakage, particularly in cases of deficiency. The inclusion of B vitamins and zinc further supports overall scalp and hair follicle health.
Nail Health 80.0
Biotin is highly effective for strengthening brittle nails and promoting growth, with 5000mcg being a robust dose for this purpose. The presence of Calcium, Phosphorus, and Manganese also provides foundational support for nail integrity.
Energy 75.0
The comprehensive array of B vitamins (Thiamine, Riboflavin, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, B6, B12, Folate) are crucial cofactors in energy metabolism, helping the body convert food into energy efficiently. This makes the product a good contributor to general energy levels.
80 Value

Extra Strength Hair Skin & Nails

Spring Valley
4.6
★★★★★
(5231 ratings)
This Spring Valley alternative offers a very similar multi-ingredient profile to the original, including the same 5000mcg biotin dose and other vitamins/minerals, but at a significantly more cost-effective price per serving, providing comparable benefits for less money.
82 Value

Super Collagen 6000 mg plus Vitamin C

21st Century
4.7
★★★★★
(11621 ratings)
This 21st Century product offers a substantial 6000mg dose of collagen, far superior to the original's minimal amount, and includes Vitamin C for collagen synthesis, all at a competitive price per serving, making it a much better value for collagen-related benefits.
88 Value

Biotin 5000 mcg

Doctor's Best
4.7
★★★★★
(2797 ratings)
If the primary goal is high-dose biotin for hair and nails, this Doctor's Best product delivers the same 5000mcg dose as the original at a fraction of the cost per serving, representing excellent value for the most impactful ingredient in this category.
92 Performance

Hair/Skin/Nails Ultra

Pure Encapsulations
4.8
★★★★★
(75 ratings)
This alternative offers a more advanced formulation with a higher quality BioCell Collagen complex, improved biotin dosing (assuming 6000mcg, not mg), and additional beneficial ingredients like grape extract, providing a more comprehensive and potent approach to hair, skin, and nail health.
85 Performance

Collagen Powder Unflavored

youtheory
4.3
★★★★★
(3499 ratings)
Addressing the significant weakness in the original product, this alternative provides a clinically effective dose of 6000mg of hydrolyzed collagen, which is crucial for genuine skin elasticity and joint support benefits that the original product cannot deliver.
87 Performance

Liquid Collagen

Applied Nutrition
4.4
★★★★★
(14794 ratings)
This product combines a substantial 4000mg of hydrolyzed collagen with 2000mcg of biotin and a much higher dose of horsetail extract (134mg silica), offering a more effective multi-pronged approach to hair, skin, and nail health compared to the original's limited collagen and horsetail content.
88 Budget

Biotin 5000 mcg

21st Century
4.7
★★★★★
(14265 ratings)
This alternative offers the exact same high dose of biotin (5000mcg) as the original product, which is its primary active ingredient for hair, skin, and nails, but at a significantly lower price per serving.
65 Budget

Hair Skin & Nails

21st Century
4.6
★★★★★
(13228 ratings)
Despite having a much lower biotin content, this product from the same brand focuses on the broader Hair, Skin & Nails category at a considerably lower price point, making it a cheaper option for general HSN support.
90 Budget

Biotin 10000 mcg

Nature's Bounty
4.6
★★★★★
(117085 ratings)
This Nature's Bounty product provides double the biotin dosage (10000mcg) compared to the original, yet comes at a much lower price per serving, offering more of the key ingredient for less cost.
80 Value

Extra Strength Hair Skin & Nails

Spring Valley
4.6
★★★★★
(5231 ratings)
This Spring Valley alternative offers a very similar multi-ingredient profile to the original, including the same 5000mcg biotin dose and other vitamins/minerals, but at a significantly more cost-effective price per serving, providing comparable benefits for less money.
82 Value

Super Collagen 6000 mg plus Vitamin C

21st Century
4.7
★★★★★
(11621 ratings)
This 21st Century product offers a substantial 6000mg dose of collagen, far superior to the original's minimal amount, and includes Vitamin C for collagen synthesis, all at a competitive price per serving, making it a much better value for collagen-related benefits.
88 Value

Biotin 5000 mcg

Doctor's Best
4.7
★★★★★
(2797 ratings)
If the primary goal is high-dose biotin for hair and nails, this Doctor's Best product delivers the same 5000mcg dose as the original at a fraction of the cost per serving, representing excellent value for the most impactful ingredient in this category.
92 Performance

Hair/Skin/Nails Ultra

Pure Encapsulations
4.8
★★★★★
(75 ratings)
This alternative offers a more advanced formulation with a higher quality BioCell Collagen complex, improved biotin dosing (assuming 6000mcg, not mg), and additional beneficial ingredients like grape extract, providing a more comprehensive and potent approach to hair, skin, and nail health.
85 Performance

Collagen Powder Unflavored

youtheory
4.3
★★★★★
(3499 ratings)
Addressing the significant weakness in the original product, this alternative provides a clinically effective dose of 6000mg of hydrolyzed collagen, which is crucial for genuine skin elasticity and joint support benefits that the original product cannot deliver.
87 Performance

Liquid Collagen

Applied Nutrition
4.4
★★★★★
(14794 ratings)
This product combines a substantial 4000mg of hydrolyzed collagen with 2000mcg of biotin and a much higher dose of horsetail extract (134mg silica), offering a more effective multi-pronged approach to hair, skin, and nail health compared to the original's limited collagen and horsetail content.