Beauty supplements have come a long way over the past decade: from the isolated botanicals and extracts of the early 2000s to proprietary ingredients, clinically proven finished products, and more sophisticated marketing tactics now evident in the U.S. market.

This much-needed evolution of nutricosmetics—supplements formulated for skin, hair or nail health—primes the category for success in both the beauty and supplements industries. Thanks to mounting research and continued innovation, nutricosmetics saw a 19 percent increase in sales in the natural channel according to Schaumburg, Ill.-based market research firm SPINS.

Here, Paula Simpson, formulation and marketing consultant for the nutraceutical and cosmetics industries, highlights the top skin care ingredients supporting growth of the category and the most relevant research proving their results. According to Simpson, companies that strongly align themselves with these ingredients have the edge in earning consumer trust and satisfaction.