An estimated 12% of adults are currently taking GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic® and Wegovy®.
Some users lose up to 20% of their body weight within the first year, creating changes that extend beyond the number on the scale.
As the body adapts, additional nutritional support can help maintain healthy-looking skin, hair, and nails throughout the journey.
What is GLP-1?
GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) is a hormone your body naturally produces, primarily in the intestine after you eat.
As a medication, it is prescribed to treat diabetes and to help weight-loss.
GLP-1 drugs, such as Ozempic, and mimic the GLP-1 hormone gut release to help regulate blood sugar levels, hunger, and slow digestion.
One of its most noticeable effects is that it increases feelings of fullness and reduces the “food noise”, aka those constant thoughts about eating, snacking, or cravings.
There is a common misconception around this medication, but the truth is GLP-1 medications do not directly “burn fat.”
Instead, they make it easier for some people to eat less by reducing appetite, slowing stomach emptying, and decreasing intrusive food-related thoughts. Weight loss occurs when energy intake is reduced over time, not because the medication magically melts away body fat.
Common GLP-1–based or related medications include:
- Wegovy for weight management in adults
- Ozempic, a type 2 diabetes treatment widely used
- Tirzepatide, a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist used for diabetes and, in some regions, obesity treatment under specific brand names
- Retatrutide, a GLP-3 coming in 2027
Meals that contain protein, fiber, and healthy fats tend to promote satiety and support the body’s own appetite-regulating signals. You are not “eating GLP-1,” but these foods help create the physiological conditions in which fullness signals work better.
What happens to your body when taking a GLP-1?
The key distinction is important: many of the changes people notice are related to rapid weight loss, not a unique toxic effect of GLP-1 medications themselves.
For starters, because GLP-1 receptors are highly active in the brain’s reward centers, the medication lowers dopamine spikes. So it allows you to control cravings which is what will help you lose weight.
GLP-1 medication slows down your gastric emptying, so food is processed much slower, delaying food noise and the feeling of hunger.
This can also help reduce cholesterol and therefore, it can have an impact on heart health.
However, quick weight loss can also impact your body and show signs such as:
- Hair shedding can increase temporarily
This is often associated with the physiological stress of significant weight loss, reduced calorie intake, low protein intake, or nutrient shortfalls rather than the GLP-1 molecule itself.
- Skin may appear less firm
Fat provides volume under the skin, when you lose that volume your skin can feel crepey for a while.
If you lose fat faster than skin remodeling occurs, the skin may not immediately “snap back,” especially if hydration, protein intake, age-related collagen changes, or large total weight loss are factors.
- Muscle loss becomes more likely
If weight loss is very fast and protein/resistance training are insufficient, chances are you will also lose more muscle mass than intended.
This is one reason clinicians often emphasize adequate protein intake and strength training during any weight-loss program.
Weight loss does not inherently stop collagen or creatine production.
What people often observe is a change in appearance and recovery capacity due to reduced calorie intake, lower protein intake, dehydration, loss of subcutaneous fat volume, and sometimes reduced physical activity.
Those factors can affect how skin, hair, and muscle feel and look during the weight-loss phase.
How can you support your body during GLP-1–assisted weight loss?
The goal is not to “counteract” the medication. It is to make sure the body still receives the building blocks it needs while appetite is reduced.
First of all, make sure your food intake is thoughtful and conscientious.
Protein helps preserve lean mass during weight loss and supports hair, skin, and muscle maintenance. Try setting a realistic and healthy protein target because appetite suppression can make it surprisingly easy to under-eat.
Some foods you should include in your menu include:
- Fish, poultry, eggs, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese
- Tofu, tempeh, edamame, legumes
- Protein-rich snacks when meals become very small
And don’t forget exercise and resistance training to keep up muscle mass.
Fiber supports satiety, blood-sugar control, and bowel regularity. Increase it gradually and pair it with adequate fluids to avoid worsening constipation. This should include fruits and vegetables, oats, lentils, etc.
Occasionally, some people taking GLP-1 medication tend to drink less simply because they feel less interested in consuming anything.
Dehydration can contribute to fatigue, constipation, headaches, and skin dryness. Aim for consistent fluid intake throughout the day, not just at meals.
Finally, take care of your supplementation, skin care, and hair care products so you can look radiant.
Topical skincare can help with hydration, barrier support, firmness, and overall appearance, combines with healthy nutrition and hydration to support your body through GLP-1 treatments.
Find the best GLP-1 support at Beauty Heroes
If you want to complement a nutrition-first approach with topical care and targeted supplements, Beauty Heroes fits your goals in supporting hydration, firmness, vitality, hair resilience, and muscle/skin support during weight loss.
For skin that feels drier, less plump, or slower to rebound during weight loss, focus on barrier support, hydration, and collagen-supportive formulas.
The formula features bioidentical micro-collagen (sh-Polypeptide-47), designed to mirror the molecular structure of human collagen, alongside hydrating ingredients such as sodium hyaluronate, aloe vera, glycerin, and rice ferment to help maintain a plump, well-moisturized complexion.
The serum is further enhanced with skin-supportive actives including ectoin, bamboo extract, and functional mushrooms such as chaga, turkey tail, and tremella.
This combination helps strengthen the skin barrier, defend against environmental stressors, and support the appearance of improved collagen integrity.
The Advanced Response Complex™ Face and Neck Moisture Cream is an ideal complement to a GLP-1 wellness regimen, helping address visible skin changes that can accompany significant weight loss, including dryness, loss of firmness, and the appearance of fine lines. This advanced formula combines plant-derived growth factor technology (plant-TGFβ2), multiple peptides, amino acids, and hyaluronic acid to support the skin’s natural renewal processes while delivering deep hydration and nourishment.
Powered by potent antioxidants such as chebula, astaxanthin, and green tea, along with a proprietary amino acid complex and fermented minerals, the cream helps improve the appearance of firmer, brighter, and smoother skin. Rich botanical oils and butters, including chia seed oil, jojoba oil, and shea butter, help strengthen the skin barrier and lock in moisture. With consistent use, many users notice softer, more resilient-looking skin and a visible reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, with optimal results reported after 30 days of use.
This silky cream-oil hybrid delivers lasting hydration while supporting a firmer, more sculpted appearance, leaving skin feeling soft, supple, and comfortably nourished without heaviness.
The formula is powered by a marine-based Biocompatible 3XBlend™ featuring wakame, kelp, and algae extracts, along with nutrient-rich camelina and baobab oils. These ingredients provide essential fatty acids, antioxidants, and hydration to help strengthen the skin barrier and improve the appearance of elasticity and resilience.
Sodium hyaluronate further enhances moisture retention, while botanical extracts including green tea and milk thistle help defend against environmental stressors.
Body products won’t “tighten” skin in a surgical sense, but they can improve hydration, texture, comfort, and the appearance of crepey areas while the body adapts to weight loss.
Some great allies are:
This creamy body serum helps keep skin feeling soft, comfortable, and resilient while promoting a healthy, radiant appearance from head to toe.
The formula features soothing aloe vera juice, nutrient-rich pumpkin seed oil, sea buckthorn berry oil, and olive leaf extract to deliver hydration, antioxidant protection, and essential fatty acids that help support the skin’s natural barrier.
A blend of botanical extracts including calendula, chamomile, comfrey, rose, and lavender helps calm and condition the skin, while vitamin E and pomegranate extract help defend against environmental stressors.
As significant weight loss can sometimes contribute to dryness, changes in skin texture, and reduced suppleness, this deeply nourishing serum provides targeted moisture and antioxidant support to help maintain smooth, healthy-looking skin.
Formulated with advanced ingredients often found in facial skincare, the serum features probiotics, hyaluronic acid, squalane, and aloe vera to help replenish hydration and support the skin barrier.
Antioxidant-rich extracts including gotu kola, green coffee bean, yerba mate, sweet cherry, and yuzu help promote a more radiant appearance while supporting overall skin vitality. Niacinamide, papain enzyme, and licorice root further enhance the look of skin texture and tone.
This body creams helps support skin that may experience dryness, reduced elasticity, or changes in texture during significant weight loss.
Formulated with Odacité’s Hydra-Firm Body Complex, the cream combines two powerful sources of vitamin C: tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate and kakadu plum.
Shea butter, mango butter, and squalane provide deep moisture and support the skin’s natural barrier, while vitamin E offers antioxidant protection. Colloidal oatmeal helps soothe and comfort dry or sensitive skin, making this formula particularly beneficial to keep supple and firmer-looking skin throughout GLP-1 treatments.
Remember that hair shedding during rapid weight loss is often driven by calorie/protein deficits and the stress of significant weight change.
Topicals and supplements are supportive, not substitutes for adequate nutrition.
This clinical-strength supplement provides a comprehensive blend of vitamins, minerals, adaptogens, and botanicals that help support overall hair wellness, nourishment, and resilience from within.
The formula includes key nutrients often associated with healthy hair growth and maintenance, including biotin, zinc, iron, vitamins A, C, D3, E, and a full spectrum of B vitamins.
Adaptogenic herbs such as ashwagandha and red ginseng help support the body during times of physical stress, while saw palmetto, pumpkin seed, horsetail, kelp, astragalus, reishi, and goji berry provide additional botanical support.
If you’re experiencing hair thinning during GLP-1, this scalp treatment is the perfect addition to your hair care routine. It delivers targeted nourishment directly to the scalp, helping create an optimal environment for healthier-looking, more resilient hair.
The formula combines advanced peptide technology, amino acids, plant-based collagen, fermented minerals, and adaptogenic botanicals to support overall scalp and hair health.
Other ingredients include pea peptides, caffeine, ashwagandha, baikal skullcap, clover extract, ginseng, and saw palmetto work alongside antioxidant-rich chia seed oil, astaxanthin, green tea, and turmeric to help support the appearance of thicker, fuller, and stronger-looking hair.
Supplements don’t replace GLP-1 therapy, but they do support your skin by providing nutrients that can be easily missed, such as collagen, creatine, or calcium. Supplements can also offer extra digestive support.
Moon Juice Pearl is a unique beauty and wellness supplement that can complement a GLP-1 support regimen by providing natural collagen and calcium.
This powdered supplement has a unique ingredient: pearl extract.
It has been prized for centuries in traditional wellness practices and is rich in calcium, trace minerals, amino acids, and naturally occurring proteins. Unlike many collagen-focused supplements, Pearl does not contain collagen itself but is valued for its ability to support the body’s own collagen production and overall connective tissue health.
Its antioxidant properties help support healthy aging.
This botanical wellness supplement’s herbal formula provides targeted support with a blend of traditionally used plant ingredients known for their digestive and antioxidant properties.
The formula features garcinia cambogia, which has traditionally been used to help support appetite management, along with antioxidant-rich green coffee to promote a sense of sustained energy.
Cha de bugre is included to support fluid balance, while mangosteen, turmeric, and ginger provide additional botanical support for digestive wellness and comfort.
This hydrolyzed collagen powder provides an easy daily way to support the body’s connective tissue from within.
The formula contains hydrolyzed type I bovine collagen peptides sourced from EU herds, selected for their low molecular weight to support efficient absorption and bioavailability.
Collagen is a key structural protein in the body, contributing to skin elasticity, hydration, and overall firmness, as well as supporting the appearance of healthy hair and nails.
Because GLP-1 medications can sometimes be accompanied by a reduction in lean muscle mass, maintaining adequate muscle support through nutrition, resistance training, and targeted supplementation can play an important role in long-term health and metabolic wellness.
The formula combines creatine monohydrate with taurine and bamboo extract in a clean, vegan, unflavored powder that integrates easily into daily routines.
Creatine is one of the most extensively studied performance nutrients and is known for supporting muscle strength, power output, and post-exercise recovery.
Taurine helps support hydration and muscle function, and bamboo extract provides a natural source of silica, a mineral associated with connective tissue health.
Take care of your body inside and out with Beauty Heroes
GLP-1 medications can make healthy habits easier by reducing appetite and food noise.
The body still needs enough protein, fiber, fluids, micronutrients, sleep, and strength training to adapt well to weight loss.
If you want additional support for skin, hair, digestion, or muscle maintenance, explore the curated Beauty Heroes GLP-1 Support collection for supplements, skincare, and hair-care options that complement a nutrition-first approach.
Visit Beauty Heroes today to build a healthy routine that protects your body inside and out.
Note: This article is educational and not personal medical advice.
If you are experiencing persistent nausea, vomiting, severe abdominal pain, signs of dehydration, rapid unintended weight loss, or significant fatigue while on a GLP-1 medication, contact your prescribing clinician promptly.
