Evidence remains scant that OTC pills or gummies can change the way you look or feel—yet they’re flooding the beauty aisles. Are skin doctors buying?
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Ifyou’vesteppedintoabeautyretailerlatelyandhadtodouble-checkthatyouhadn’twanderedintoaGNCbymistake,you’dbeforgivenfortheconfusion.Therowsofpills,powders,andpotionsthatdominatethebeautyaislescannowrivaltheassortmentfoundathealthandnutritionshops.
Thepopularityofsupplementshasexplodedinthepastfiveyears,withrevenuereaching$41.2billionin2024.Salesareonlyexpectedtoclimb,withestimatesofover$70billionby2031.AndamidstadelugeofGooglesearchesforsleepaidsandhormonesupport,there’salsoasignificantincreaseinyear-over-yearsearchesforsupplementsaroundhairloss,matureskin,crepeyskin,andbrittlenails.
Thosesearchesmayresultinmore“serious”optionsthanjusttheinfluencer-peddledgummybearsthatclaimtogiveyouRapunzel-lengthhairthroughadubiousblendofpseudo-scienceandcottoncandy-coloredwishes.Butnocornerofthesupplementmarketissubjecttoregulation—eventhe“serious”on
