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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Ellie Davis

We've tested hundreds of supplements - these are the best (and they're on sale this Cyber Monday)

The ES Best Shopping team has been on a mission in the last year to find out if the most popular supplements on the market are actually worth taking.

The supplement market is booming. In fact, according to Grand View Research, in 2023, the global dietary supplement market was valued at $177.5 billion, and is projected to grow to $380.12 billion by 2032. Which is to say it is a very big business to churn out dietary add-ons. And consumers are right to be sceptical. Unless you are deficient in a particular vitamin or mineral, there are some occasions in which excessive intake can cause more harm than good, while some brands lack the medical research to back up their claims.

This is why the in-house team and our army of freelancers spend time road testing the likes of Lion’s Mane, turmeric, vitamin B12, resveratrol, sea moss, vitamin D and ones for gut health, biohacking, the gym or glowing skin - to name but a few. This is all in a bid to work out which are simply hype and which can actually make a difference in redressing concerns from fatigue to stress or achieving goals like muscle building.

They can also be extremely costly. Which is why they are something that we typically bulk-buy come Black Friday.

The sales event offers the perfect opportunity to give the ones you have been eyeing up a go, without so much of a financial investment. The same goes for general beauty products, including the Dyson Airwrap, GHD and even sportswear.

Shop the best supplements below that come ES best-approved

Symprove Daily Essential

For a probiotic supplement to boost your overall health, as well as your microbiome, look to Symprove. Designed to be taken as a morning shot, this innovative liquid probiotic supplement is water-based so cleverly it doesn't trigger digestion so you can rely on it making it to the gut.

It contains four live strains of bacteria to boost your gut health, including one natural to our intimate area. Pick from three flavours, and simply take a 70ml shot on an empty stomach 10 minutes before breakfast to deliver billions of live and active bacteria each day.

Was: £49.99

Buy now £32.49, Symprove

Ancient + Brave Coffee + Collagen

Whether you like to start your day with an ice-cold coffee or a piping hot brew, you can step it up a notch with the addition of Ancient + Brave’s Coffee + Collagen powder supplement.

The superfood-rich contents include adaptogenic ashwagandha selected to enhance energy and focus. Collagen is also in the mix that has benefits for your complexion, bones, joints and cartilage as a building block that depletes as you get older. It is also a source of fibre and protein.

Was: £21.60

Buy now £18.44, Ancient + Brave

Vida Glow Radiance+ Advanced Repair

You may already be familiar with Vida Glow’s stellar supplement selection but there is a new formula on the block and it may be the best to date.

Tackling pigmentation and discolouration from the inside out, the brand has created a capsule to be taken daily and this is easy thanks to its distinct lack of taste. Powering the Radiance+ Advanced Repair is Mela-tech, a trademarked active ingredient that was called upon to maximise absorption for speedier results.

The latter is immediately apparent in its brightening effects but you will also notice, with consistent consumption, fading of melasma, dark spots and dreaded pigmentation.

Was: £52

Buy now £39.00, Vida Glow

Nutrition Geeks Turmeric Tablets 2000 mg

Nutrition Geeks’ Turmeric Tablets 2000 mg are designed to offer a potent dose of turmeric, enhanced with black pepper and ginger for better absorption and additional health benefits. Each serving provides the equivalent of 2000 mg of high-quality turmeric, with a 95% curcumin extract, compared to the standard 3% found in many other supplements. Its inclusion of black pepper extract (piperine) is also known to increase the absorption of curcumin in the blood by up to 20 times, while its ginger addition is recognized for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

Buy now £5.89, Amazon

London Nootropics Starter Pack

Best for: creating a moment of calm

Order a starter box of London Nootropics and sample three different varieties of micro-ground instant coffee powder that have been blended with natural adaptogens to help balance your body and mind.

The ‘Zen’ barista-style coffee features organic ashwagandha root extract, while the bestselling ‘Flow’ blend combines organic dual-extracted lions mane mushroom extract. This is not your typical cup of Joe and has been designed to make you feel calm and alert. It is also free from preservatives and artificial sweeteners – there’s just pure natural ingredients to give you the boost you are looking for. The starter box includes 12 sachets with four of each blend.

Was: £15

Buy now £12.00, London Nootropics

Huel Complete Nutrition Bar

Huel has designed these protein snacks to give you balanced nutrition with every bite. The plant-based bars contain carbs, fats, protein and 26 vitamins and minerals, while being vegan, gluten-free, and lactose-free.

There is a range of flavours; peanut caramel, dark chocolate raspberry, chocolate fudge brownie, peanut caramel and chocolate caramel. In contrast to dense protein goodies of time gone by, these have a more biscuity texture that is soft and chewy.

They are very filling and crafted from sustainable ingredients like oats, peas, rice, and more.

Buy now £2.19, Huel

Verve Honest Mushrooms

Honest Mushrooms by Verve offers a potent mix of reishi, lion’s mane and chaga mushrooms in powder form. These mushrooms are well-loved for their adaptogenic properties - helping the body adapt to stress and promoting a sense of balance. The powder is unflavoured, making it easy to mix into your favourite drinks or recipes, especially if you're someone who can be a little particular about strong flavours. If you’re looking for a simple, natural way to support your wellness, this blend is a great shout.

Buy now £49.00, Verve

Nourished Personalised Stacks

If you’re the kind of person who has multiple vitamins and supplements on the go, compacting them into one each to ingest gummy could be your answer. This is where Nourished comes in. Using the latest technology, it created nutrition ‘stacks’ that are completely personalised to your health needs using a mix of vitamins, probiotics, botanicals, and minerals.

Buy now £39.99, Nourished

WelleCo The Super Elixir

The original Super Elixir is now available in five different flavours, from mixed berry to pineapple and lime, all containing over 40 beneficial ingredients designed to support energy, gut health, and clean up your skin. It’s suitable for everyone, including people following vegan, paleo, and keto diets, and users have raved about its ability to minimise bloating and reduce energy slumps.

Buy now £63.00, WelleCo

Protein Works Endless Nootropic

This nootropic is designed to boost mental performance and focus. If you need a mental edge during workouts or just want to stay sharp throughout the day, this is the supplement for you. It’s clean, smooth, and works within half an hour. It tastes just like juice, but I did feel a boost from it and it can even help you stay in the zone for the 3pm office slump.

Was: £44.99

Buy now £22.49, Protein Works

OTO CBD Sleep Drops - 1500MG CBD

While OTO’s CBD Sleep Drops might be designed to help you snooze, they’ll help you calm down throughout the day, too. Perfect for nighttime (especially if you’re an anxious sleeper or struggle to settle down for the night) or when you’re winding down in the evenings, these high-powered drops have a refreshingly minty flavour and promise no grogginess the following morning.

Pure OTO’s CBD is also infused with soothing lavender, calming butterfly pea flowers and fresh field mint curated to help you doze off.

Was: £69

Buy now £41.40, OTO

Optimum Nutrition Micronised Creatine Powder

Optimum Nutrition’s Micronised Creatine Powder is one of the finest options around - both physically and metaphorically. Designed to blend easily without any unnecessary texture or gritty taste, this pure creatine is a great choice just after finishing a CrossFit class or a long workout session.

Optimum Nutrition is one of the most popular brands in the world of creatine, so you know you’re in safe hands when buying this one. One pack also contains 186 servings, so you won’t need to stock up again for a while, either.

Was: £40

Buy now £24.95, Amazon

NOW Foods, Cod Liver Oil, 1,000 mg, 90 Softgels

Family-owned since 1968, NOW Foods is a reliable manufacturer of high-quality cod liver oil. Each soft gel tablet contains a standard composition of EPA (70mg) and DHA (100mg), vitamin A (300 micrograms) and vitamin D (10 micrograms).

Was: £9.91

Buy now £8.92, iHerb

DR.VEGAN Curcumin & Turmeric supplement

Dr Vegan's Curcumin & Turmeric supplement is an advanced formulation of curcumin extract from turmeric root. It offers a high-strength, highly absorbable blend and provides 20 times more of the component than standard turmeric supplements.

Formulated by expert nutritionists, it includes sustainably sourced organic ingredients, providing a high-strength blend of key botanicals packed with bioactive compounds, including 200 mg of curcumin and 3300 mg of turmeric.

Buy now £11.99, DR.VEGAN

Innermost The Energy Booster

Add Innermost’s sweet pineapple-flavoured powder to your shake pre-workout to amp up your fitness routine.

Formulated by nutritionists, the supplement is created using 16 ingredients to increase energy levels and stamina and encourage muscle development. This may be the add-on that you are looking for to give you that added push to perform better during high-intensity workouts. Blended with the most important amino acids – BCAAs – the powder will aid muscle growth and repair too.

Buy now £29.95, Innermost

When is Black Friday 2024?

The biggest sales event of the year for 2024 began on November 29.

When does Black Friday end?

Black Friday culminates in Cyber Monday, which this year will be on December 2. Cyber Monday was traditionally the day in which the tech brands would slash the RRPs on their wares but over the years has come to include all categories and marks the final sale day of the Black Friday period.

Why is it called Black Friday?

There are many theories as to where the US import gets its name from. It was dubbed this as far back as the early 60s after the chaos that ensued after the Thanksgiving celebrations.

Why you can trust ES Best’s Black Friday coverage

It is getting increasingly difficult to sort the wheat from the chaff during Black Friday with so many brands involved - what’s really a discount? Well, that’s where we come in. In this very article, the ES Best team are curating cute fashion picks to see you through the party season and beyond, and then simply listing the brands offering good discounts for your browsing pleasure. Enjoy!

Read More on Black Friday

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