Beauty in a pill

I've always had a problem with that old adage "You are what you eat" - I mean, chocolate, ice cream, and candy are the most beautiful foods in the world. Aren't they? Well it seems they've identified a "beauty" vitamin, and yes it's in the Vitamin B group (har har) - meet Biotin.

The odd thing is, this vitamin isn't new to me. I've been coming across it in beauty mags, health mags, blogs and sites for ages now. Usually as a cure for brittle or ridged nails. But it was Beauty Bunny's article that convinced me. After reading it I was seized with a desire to try this miracle vitamin, only to find I've been taking it for the past month as part of my daily multivitamin.

Yes, to my delight, my cheapie (but goodie) Tesco Multivitamins - which I love for saving me from the neverending cycle of flus I've been plagued with since arriving in London - also contains 100% of the RDA (recommended daily allowance) of Biotin. So health and beauty in a pill - all for £2.58 (90 pills).

This certainly makes the Boots Hair, Skin & Nails supplement I checked out today seem like quite the rip off. £5.05 for 30 pills that only contain 30% of the RDA for Biotin. Granted it's got a slew of other vitamins, but the only addition it has that my multivite doesn't is Evening Primrose Oil - which can be bought separately in higher dosages for much less.

So does it work?
As I haven't been aware that I've been on Biotin, I can't say I've monitored the results. However, after over a month of inadvertent consumption, I can testify to very strong nails (my big-ass kitchen knife rebounded off it the other day), and shiny SHINY hair (although this could be due to a combination of John Freida's conditioner and L'Oreal's Elvive Nutri-gloss Intense Masque)

However, I have noticed a reduction in hair loss compared to a month back. I remember being rather disturbed by the amount I lost when showering and on my hairbrush. As I have long hair (almost waist length), I put it down to the weakened hair due to its own age and weight. Only yesterday though I was noting with pleasant surprise that I wasn't losing much hair at all. Yay biotin.