Zinc Benefits For Skin: Is Zinc Your Skin's New Best Friend?

Some skincare ‘secrets’ teeter on the edge of extreme.

Vampire facelifts—we’re looking at you.

Painful, costly, but if there’s science behind it and it works—then maybe it’s worth it?

If skincare’s your thing, but the thought of needles and blood-spinning is a step too far, there’s good news: you don’t have to go to such invasive lengths to get real results.

Zinc is a prime example of this.

With multiple studies linking zinc to skin repair, inflammation reduction, and collagen preservation.^1-4 It’s no wonder skincare brands are now swooping in on this wonder mineral.

From drugstore favorites like Olay and Neutrogena, to cult beauty pioneers Medik8 and Drunk Elephant. If you're a brand that’s serious about skin, you’re including zinc in your products.

However, with some studies saying that zinc isn’t absorbed well by the skin,⁵ and others raising health concerns about nanosized particles,⁶ is it worth considering a zinc supplement instead?

Can oral zinc supplements work just as well when it comes to skincare?

In this piece, we’ll get a full picture on zinc for skin. How it works, why it’s everywhere, and whether challenges with zinc absorption mean taking it as a supplement could deliver even better results.

Key Takeaways

Not got time? Here are the highlights:

• Zinc’s Skin Benefits: Zinc is a multitasker for skin. It helps with acne, preserves collagen, reduces inflammation, and offers sun protection.
• Acne Support: With acne, zinc supports hormonal balance, controls oil, and has natural antibacterial properties that can help keep it in check.
• Collagen Preservation: Zinc supports collagen production and helps protect it from breaking down. So if you’re taking a collagen supplement - zinc is a shrewd pairing.
• Inflamm-Aging Protection: Zinc’s anti-inflammatory effects may help counteract the low-grade inflammation that often comes with aging.
• Antioxidant Power: Zinc fights oxidative stress by stabilizing cells, supporting antioxidant enzymes, and bolstering skin’s natural defenses.
• Topical vs. Oral Zinc: Topical zinc is great for surface concerns like sun protection and oil control, while taking zinc supplements may provide deeper, whole-body skin support.
• Perfect Pairings: Zinc plays nicely with other antioxidants like niacinamide and vitamin C. Ultimately, work to a ‘more-the-merrier’ rule when it comes to antioxidants.
• Comprehensive Beauty Support: For a full beauty boost, NutriGenesis® Multi offers bioavailable zinc plus 23 other essential nutrients including stacks of antioxidants. Performance Lab® Zinc provides targeted support for skin, immunity, and energy.

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Zinc Benefits For Skin. What Does it Do?

When it comes to skincare, zinc is a multi-tasking mineral that offers a range of protective benefits. Depending on which concern you’d like to target, here are the ways it can help:

May Help With Acne

Annoyingly, acne can occur at any stage of life.

It’s caused by a combination of factors, including hormonal changes. Which is why we often see it in adolescence, perimenopause,⁷ and times when testosterone levels fluctuate.

Hormonal shifts can lead to excess oil (or sebum) production. This oil interacts with bacteria on the pores of your skin, mixes with bacteria, and clogs pores. Dead skin cell buildup, bacterial growth, and inflammation all contribute to the development of acne, especially hormonal acne.

Zinc plays a key role in managing these factors:

• Hormone Regulation: Zinc helps support healthy hormone levels, which may help balance the fluctuations that often trigger acne outbreaks.
• Sebum Production: Zinc also helps balance sebum production,⁸ preventing the overproduction of oil that can clog pores.
• Antibacterial and Anti-Inflammatory Properties: A 2013 review of zinc’s effects found that it has both antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties,¹⁰ making it a 100% natural choice for keeping acne in check.

Read more about vitamins that help with acne.

Collagen and Elastin Production

When it comes to skin, collagen is king. Collagen gives skin its structure, strength, and elasticity.

And for those who missed the terrifying collagen statistics, here’s a recap:

Collagen production starts to dwindle in our mid-to-late 20s. And we start losing 1% of our collagen per year after that. By 40, collagen levels take a steep dive…

I’ll spare you the pain of listening to the rest of that statement, but it includes the words: aging, sagging, and drying.

We get it.

By 40, our skin’s collagen production is in need of some serious support.

Luckily our body has some tools to help with that, and zinc plays a role.

Zinc supports the enzymes responsible for building type I and type III collagen.¹¹ The same ones that create the framework within the dermis to keep skin firm and resilient. It’s also involved in cross-linking collagen fibers, which gives collagen its durability and strength.

But zinc is more than just a ‘collagen booster’. It also protects existing collagen.

One study found that zinc helps collagen accumulate by slowing its breakdown.¹² In other words, zinc works like a buffer, preserving existing collagen to maintain the strength and support over time.

In short, zinc not only helps build but also safeguards collagen, keeping your skin’s framework stronger for longer.

Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Have you heard of the term “inflamm-aging?”

It describes the low-grade, chronic inflammation that creeps in as we age. It affects every organ in the body—including our largest organ of all: the skin.

Here’s where zinc steps in to assist. Again.

As a natural anti-inflammatory with immune system benefits, zinc may help calm this low-grade inflamm-aging.¹³

It supports our skin by balancing inflammation and protecting against the cellular stress that over time—wears down collagen and elastin production.

It may not erase every wrinkle, it doesn’t work in that way. But zinc works diligently in the background on damage limitation to keep your skin resilient and healthy from within.

Antioxidant Effects

Oxidative stress is pretty much unavoidable.

Sun exposure, pollution, alcohol, stress—it all takes a toll on our skin. That’s why you’ll see antioxidant serums sat next to your daily moisturizers.

Serums tend to be lightweight formulas that are designed to deliver active ingredients deep into the skin. If you have a high-quality, potent antioxidant formula, it’s a great step in your skincare routine.

But it’s only tackling one side of the issue.

Simply put, your skin, hair, and overall appearance are directly affected by what’s happening inside your body. What you put in, shows up on the outside.

Antioxidants in food and zinc supplementation work at a cellular level, entering the bloodstream to provide systemic support for your skin.

A study on diet and skin aging concluded that anti-aging ingredients protect the skin by neutralizing harmful molecules (reactive oxygen species or ROS) that cause oxidative damage.¹⁴

They help to build and repair skin from the inside.

And what nutrient brings its antioxidant A-game every time? Zinc.

Zinc reduces the levels of free radicals and oxidative stress in the skin by:

• Upregulating Metallothionein: Metallothionein is a protective protein in our body. It acts as a shield, binding to heavy metals like mercury and cadmium. It then neutralizes them, helping to prevent damage to your cells, including skin cells. Zinc boosts the production of metallothionein.¹⁵
• Activating Superoxide Dismutase (SOD): Alongside copper, zinc activates SOD,¹⁶ one of the body’s most powerful natural antioxidants. SOD neutralizes free radicals, helping to protect skin from environmental stress.
• Stabilizing Membranes: Zinc helps maintain the structural stability of cell membranes,¹⁷ adding an extra layer of protection against oxidative stress and keeping skin strong and resilient against daily stresses.

Sun Protection

Zinc is probably best known in the skincare realm as a sun protector.

Zinc oxide, which is used in many mineral sunscreens, sits on the skin’s surface, and works as a physical sunscreen by reflecting both UVA and UVB rays away from the skin. A protective shield.

Unlike chemical sunscreens, which absorb into the skin and then convert UV rays into heat, zinc oxide remains on the surface, creating a barrier.

Zinc sunscreens are great for those who want to avoid the synthetic chemicals. They’re also considered safer for sensitive skin types too with less likelihood of causing irritation or allergic reactions.

While zinc oxide is the go-to for natural sun protection, it’s worth noting that taking zinc as a supplement isn’t a substitute for sunscreen.

Zinc in foods or supplements doesn’t act as a shield against UV rays like zinc oxide does on the skin’s surface. So, if you’re looking to protect against sunburn, zinc oxide in topical form is the only way to protect from UVA and UVB.

Heads up: A 2021 study found that combining zinc oxide with chemical UV-filters may lead to breakdown and increased toxicity under sunlight.¹⁸ So choose pure zinc oxide or mineral-only sunscreens for stable, low-risk protection that’s gentle on skin.

Topical Zinc vs. Oral Zinc: Which Is Best?

When it comes to adding zinc in your skincare routine, both forms come with their own unique benefits. So it’s worth understanding what each does best.

Topical Zinc

Topical zinc, often in the form of zinc oxide or zinc PCA, stays on the skin’s surface. So it makes a great choice for a mineral sunscreen because it creates a physical barrier that reflects UV rays.

Zinc PCA, is great for balancing oil production in oily or acne-prone skin,¹⁹ helping keep pores clear and reducing shine. However, because zinc’s molecular structure doesn’t allow it to penetrate deeply, topical zinc is best suited for targeted, surface-level support.

Zinc Supplements

Oral zinc takes a different approach. When taken as a supplement, it enters the bloodstream and supports skin health at cellular level.

This deeper reach allows it to assist with collagen production, inflammation management, and overall immune function.

Zinc supplements can be particularly helpful for those with ongoing skin concerns. Topical solutions, due to the large particle size of zinc, may not reach the deeper layers of skin where long-term repair happens.

Oral zinc, as mentioned, supports skin health at a cellular level, providing more systemic benefits that can address skin concerns from within.

So, which is best?

The truth is, both forms have their place.

Skincare is as much about the ritual and action. Cleansing, toning and moisturizing—it feels good.

In addition to the benefits of the active ingredients, the feeling is immediate. Skin feels softer, smells great and the experience of it all cements it into your routine and your consciousness as ‘taking care of yourself’.

The reality is, skin health starts from the inside.

And although the results may not be instantly ‘felt’—long term, you are building resilience.

If you’re putting the effort in, you may as well maximize the benefits, protect from all angles and supplement alongside.

Zinc Supplements for Skin and Healthy Aging

With skincare, zinc often gets paired up with niacinamide (a form of vitamin B3).

And for good reason: they work exceptionally well together.

Both are anti-inflammatories, and together they target acne, redness, and excess oil while keeping skin calm and balanced.

Combining zinc with multiple antioxidants is the best way to supercharge your skin’s defense against free radicals.

Vitamin C, for example, offers potent antioxidant protection. It brightens skin and stimulates collagen synthesis.

Along with zinc and vitamin C, other beauty-centric nutrients for skin, hair, and nails include:

Vitamin A

Essential for skin cell renewal and supports healthy skin tone. It also helps regulate sebum production, which can be beneficial for acne-prone skin.

Learn more about the skin benefits of vitamin A.

Vitamin C

A powerful antioxidant that helps neutralize free radicals, supports collagen production, and aids in skin repair, making it key for skin resilience and brightness.

Vitamin D3

Supports skin barrier function and may play a role in reducing inflammation. Vitamin D is also thought to aid in cell turnover, which benefits both skin health and wound healing.

Vitamin E

An antioxidant that protects against environmental damage and helps maintain skin moisture. Vitamin E can also promote scalp health, which is beneficial for hair strength.

Vitamin K

Known for its role in wound healing, vitamin K supports skin elasticity and helps reduce the appearance of dark circles and bruising.

Biotin

Crucial for healthy hair and nail growth, as well as skin health. Biotin deficiency is often linked to brittle nails and hair loss.

Read more about the benefits of biotin for skin, hair and nails.

Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5)

Supports skin hydration and helps reduce acne by controlling oil production.

Selenium

An antioxidant that helps protect skin from damage by neutralizing free radicals. Selenium supports skin elasticity and is also beneficial for scalp health.

Copper

Aids in collagen and elastin production, which are essential for skin structure and elasticity. Copper also supports melanin production, promoting healthy hair pigmentation.

For a complete beauty boost from the inside out, NutriGenesis® Multi—is loaded with bioavailable nutrients to support your skin, hair, nails, and whole-body health.

Formulated with zinc plus a potent blend of antioxidants and essential vitamins, NutriGenesis® Multi nourishes your skin at a cellular level, helping you maintain a glowing, healthy appearance.

NutriGenesis® Multi isn’t just any multivitamin; it’s crafted with advanced NutriGenesis® technology for maximum absorption, so you can feel confident knowing your skin and beauty are backed by the best.

Shop Performance Lab® NutriGenesis®

For targeted support, Performance Lab® Zinc is a smart choice for anyone looking to boost skin, immune function, and energy levels.

Performance Lab Zinc Supplements are made with NutriGenesis technology.

It provides a direct dose of this essential mineral in its most bioavailable form. Performance Lab® Zinc is formulated for maximum impact—giving you peace of mind and a head start on beauty and wellness from within.

Shop Performance Lab® Zinc