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Collagen is sold everywhere these days... But which ones stand out? We've narrowed down our choices for collagen supplements for skin, hair, and joints. Ready to discover which is right for you? Read on!
About 30%
Approx. 70-80%
We lose 1% per year
Collagen and skin care seem to go hand in hand these days, and if you’re thinking about taking collagen for skin, you're not alone. More and more people are using collagen for its many skin care benefits. It’s no wonder the collagen market has exploded with a huge mass of collagen products from collagen supplements to collagen cream for skin.
Before we look at the top collagen supplements for skin, let’s dive into some basics that are important to know when adding this skin-boosting supplement to your routine…
What is collagen?
Simply put, collagen is a protein that forms the connective tissue all over our bodies. It makes up about 70-80% of the dry weight of your skin and can help keep it looking supple and smooth. [2]
It is also found in bones, joints, ligaments, and tendons, and plays an important role in maintaining healthy-looking skin and hair as well as supporting bone and joint health and maintaining muscle mass to help keep you active and fit.
Why your body needs collagen
As the most abundant protein in the body, collagen plays a key role in skin elasticity, hydration, and texture. Basically, it is what keeps your skin from sagging and helps to maintain that glowy, plump, youthful appearance.
In fact, many studies have found that collagen supplements have the ability to noticeably restore skin elasticity, hydration, and density after just three months of consistent use. [4]
These studies reported that because the collagen peptides were able to reach deeper layers of the skin, the supplements created “long-lasting and cosmetically relevant regeneration of the skin.” [4]
But here’s the most important thing you need to know about collagen for skin:
The older you get, the more collagen you need.
As you age, the less collagen your body produces. By your mid-20s it starts to decline. By 40, it’s down 25% and, by 60, it can decrease by more than 50%. This can lead to a loss of skin elasticity, sagging, and more visible fine lines and wrinkles. [2,3]
Taking a collagen supplement may help to maintain healthy collagen levels, especially as you age.
BUT - be sure to choose a collagen supplement that is hydrolyzed. This means that the collagen is already ‘broken down’ so that it is more easily absorbed by the body. The end result is what’s referred to as collagen peptides.
Taking a collagen supplement may help to maintain healthy collagen levels, especially as you age.
BUT - be sure to choose a collagen supplement that is hydrolyzed. This means that the collagen is already ‘broken down’ so that it is more easily absorbed by the body. The end result is what’s referred to as collagen peptides.
Best types of collagen for your hair, skin, and joints
When it comes to collagen supplements there are five main types of collagen, types I, II, III, V, and X. Although each of them is linked to different wellness benefits, there are two collagen types that are the key for collagen production as you age:
This is the most abundant collagen in the human body, found in skin, bone, ligaments, and even teeth. Type I collagen is the primary building block of your skin, and may support skin elasticity and hydration. Bovine collagen is a common source of type I collagen. [3,4]
Usually associated with type I collagen, these two types make up the two most commonly-found types in our body. Also highly beneficial for supporting skin health, type III collagen makes up a large part of our skin and organs. Bovine collagen is also a source of type III collagen.[3]
POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF COLLAGEN SUPPLEMENTATION
- Reduce the look of crepey, sagging skin
- Support skin hydration
- Help minimize the appearance of fine lines
- Support skin elasticity
- Promote healthy, dewy-looking skin
- Support hair thickness and density
- Encourage lean muscle and faster metabolism
- Support join health and an active lifestyle
Note: Individual results may vary.
What To Look For In A Collagen Supplement
TIP: Did you know that a high-quality collagen powder can make a great addition to your morning coffee or tea?
Premium collagen powders have no flavor and dissolve easily into any drink - hot or cold.
This makes it easy to add to your daily wellness routine which means better results!
What You Should Avoid In A Collagen Supplement
by Primal Harvest
by Primal Harvest
by Vital Proteins
by Primal Harvest
by Primal Harvest
Types I and III Collagen
Non-GMO Bovine
Dissolves/Mixes Well*
Neutral Flavor*
Over 5g Protein
Calcium
No More Than 45 mg Sodium
Third Party Tested
Subscription Service
*Based on the individual experience of the Smarter Choices team and on a number of user reviews of the product.
- BEST FOR: skin, hair, nails and joints*
- COLLAGEN TYPES: I and III
- SOURCED FROM: Grass-fed, pasture-raised bovine
- FLAVOR: Neutral
- MIXABILITY: Excellent
- Made in the USA from certified non-GMO, grass-fed bovine
- With types I and III collagen
- Diverse amino acid profile
- Unflavored, easiest-to-dissolve powder thanks to GelcoPep® Technology
- With 9 g of protein and 20 mg calcium
- “No questions asked” 90 day money back guarantee
- Only available online
- Due to popularity, sometimes runs out of stock
BOTTOM LINE
Primal Collagen by Primal Harvest is sourced from the highest-quality grass-fed, pasture-raised bovine. It provides a full spectrum of hydrolyzed types I and III collagen and essential amino acids to help support aging skin. (Though as an extra perk it also provides all-around support for your hair, nails, joints, bones, muscles, and gut.)*
This formula dissolves quickly and easily thanks to cutting-edge GelcoPEP® technology. This makes it convenient to stir into any liquid of your choice, from your morning coffee to smoothies and juice. You can even shake it in a shaker for when you're on-the-go. Each scoop provides you with 10g of ultra-premium hydrolyzed collagen, 20 mg calcium, and is packed with amino acids.
We have no doubt about its quality and efficacy. Backed by scientific research, top-notch ingredients and the strong money-back guarantee, we are confident our #1 pick is the only collagen supplement needed.
Primal Collagen's pricing stands out, especially when you sign up for a subscription or buy multiple bags at once. Not only does this save you money and effort but since continued use over months is recommended to achieve the maximum benefits, signing up for a subscription is a no-brainer. It makes getting your daily collagen hassle-free, plus you never have to worry about running out halfway through the month.
- BEST FOR: Hair, skin, and nails
- COLLAGEN TYPES: I, II, III, V, X
- SOURCED FROM: Bovine, marine, chicken, and eggshell membrane
- FLAVOR: Neutral
- MIXABILITY: Good
- Supports 5 collagen types
- Collagen from 4 food sources
- Hydrolyzed collagen for better absorption
- Dissolves well
- No unpleasant aftertaste
- Non-GMO and gluten-free
- Fairly priced and made in the USA
- Only sold online
- Sometimes runs out of stock
BOTTOM LINE
BeautyLux Beauty Multi Collagen is our number two pick. These unflavored collagen peptides are formulated from bovine, marine, chicken, and eggshell membrane collagen to support hair, skin, and nail health. This premium powder features collagen types I, II, III, V, and X which are sustainably sourced from cage-free chickens, grass-fed cows, and kosher, North Atlantic fish.
Each once-a-day serving contains 7.8 g of hydrolyzed collagen which can easily be added to any liquid of your choice, making this collagen supplement easy to add to your daily routine. As an added perk, the formula also contains 7 g of protein for an extra beauty boost.
Our team liked the fact that these collagen peptides dissolved quickly and left zero unpleasant aftertaste (making it a great addition to our morning coffee!). BeautyLux’s Multi Collagen is also non-GMO and gluten-free, which means that it's suitable for a wide range of people.
- BEST FOR: Gut and joints
- COLLAGEN TYPES: Unspecified
- SOURCED FROM: Grass-fed bovine
- FLAVOR: Neutral (slightly salty)
- MIXABILITY: Good
- Certified Grass-Fed Bovine Collagen
- Gluten and dairy-free
- Made in the USA
- High in sodium
- Unspecified collagen type
BOTTOM LINE
Collagen Peptides by Vital Proteins is formulated with 20g of grass-fed and pasture-raised collagen.
Like our number one choice, Primal Collagen by Primal Harvest, the Vital Proteins formula is easy to use. However, it falls into third place because they do not specify which type of collagen their Collagen Peptides contain. This may mean that it won't meet the needs of all consumers.
Although this unflavored formula is a solid choice for a collagen, it was disappointing that it has a relatively high sodium content. This is definitely not ideal for those watching their sodium intake. It also makes the product less versatile.
Additionally, this product is not certified as non-GMO.
- BEST FOR: Gut, joints, and hair
- COLLAGEN TYPES: I, III, IV, V, VII, VIII, X, XII, XXII
- SOURCED FROM: Bovine, eggshell membrane, chicken, fish
- FLAVOR: Neutral
- MIXABILITY: Poor
- With probiotics and vitamin C
- Neutral Flavor
- Grass Fed bovine collagen
- Expensive entry price point
- Poor dissolvability into warm liquids
BOTTOM LINE
Ancient Nutrition's Multi Collagen Protein is a pretty solid choice for a collagen supplement. It contains 10g of hydrolyzed collagen per scoop. Their collagen is sourced from grass-fed and pasture-raised bovine collagen, and like our top choice, is also non-GMO.
We liked that it had a relatively neutral flavor which made it easier to drink when added to other beverages. Although it dissolved fairly easily into cold drinks, we still found that it took longer to dissolve than other collagen powders we tested. Many consumers also reported that it did not dissolve as easily into warm drinks.
This would otherwise have been a great choice, but the pricing of this product knocks off a few points in our opinion. It’s a shame that this product has a pretty steep entry price point.
- BEST FOR: Joints, hair, and skin
- COLLAGEN TYPES: I, II, III, V, X
- SOURCED FROM: Bovine, fish
- FLAVOR: Chocolate (complaints of fishy aftertaste)
- MIXABILITY: Poor
- Variety of collagen types
- Grass-fed, pasture-raised bovine and wild-caught fish collagen
- Users complained of fishy flavor
- Doesn't Mix Well
BOTTOM LINE
Super Youth Collagen by SkinnyFit includes 7.8g of hydrolyzed collagen per scoop, sourced from grass-fed bovine collagen and fish collagen. The container consists of 58 servings of chocolate-cake flavored collagen powder.
Although we liked that the formula includes a range of collagen types, many consumers found that the chocolate flavor was not enough to cover the fishy aftertaste of the fish collagen. We also found that the product did not dissolve as easily as the other products on this list and resulted in a clumpy liquid. Additionally, we enjoy the versatility of unflavored, neutral-tasting collagen peptide powders like that of our number one choice. We find that they are easier to implement into a regular daily routine as they can be added to any drink of choice.
Another downside of this product was in its pricing as it had a high entry price point and many consumers complained that the product did not deliver the promised 58 servings.
- by Primal Harvest [1]
- US made with Premium Ingredients
- Packed With Amino Acids
- Powerful GMO Free Collagen
- Sourced from Grass-Fed Bovine
- Free Shipping on Orders over $75
CITATIONS
[1] Ricard-Blum, Sylvie. “The collagen family.” Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in biology vol. 3,1 a004978. 1 Jan. 2011, doi:10.1101/cshperspect.a004978
[2] Oikarinen, A. “Aging of the skin connective tissue: how to measure the biochemical and mechanical properties of aging dermis.” Photodermatology, photoimmunology & photomedicine vol. 10,2 (1994): 47-52.
[3] León-López, Arely et al. “Hydrolyzed Collagen-Sources and Applications.” Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 24,22 4031. 7 Nov. 2019, doi:10.3390/molecules24224031
[4] Bolke, Liane et al. “A Collagen Supplement Improves Skin Hydration, Elasticity, Roughness, and Density: Results of a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Blind Study.” Nutrients vol. 11,10 2494. 17 Oct. 2019, doi:10.3390/nu11102494
OTHER REFERENCES
Abrahams M, O'Grady R, Prawitt J. Effect of a Daily Collagen Peptide Supplement on Digestive Symptoms in Healthy Women: 2-Phase Mixed Methods Study. JMIR Form Res. 2022;6(5):e36339. Published 2022 May 31. doi:10.2196/36339.
Blanco A, Blanco G. Amino Acid Metabolism. In: Medical Biochemistry. Elsevier; 2017:367-399. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-803550-4.00016-1.
Bolke L, Schlippe G, Gerß J, Voss W. A Collagen Supplement Improves Skin Hydration, Elasticity, Roughness, and Density: Results of a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Blind Study. Nutrients. 2019;11(10):2494. Published 2019 Oct 17. doi:10.3390/nu11102494.
Borumand M, Sibilla S. Daily consumption of the collagen supplement Pure Gold Collagen® reduces visible signs of aging [published correction appears in Clin Interv Aging. 2020 Feb 04;15:131]. Clin Interv Aging. 2014;9:1747-1758. Published 2014 Oct 13. doi:10.2147/CIA.S65939.
Brooks GA. Amino acid and protein metabolism during exercise and recovery. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1987;19(5 Suppl):S150-S156.
Clark KL, Sebastianelli W, Flechsenhar KR, et al. 24-Week study on the use of collagen hydrolysate as a dietary supplement in athletes with activity-related joint pain. Curr Med Res Opin. 2008;24(5):1485-1496. doi:10.1185/030079908x291967.
Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Military Nutrition Research. The Role of Protein and Amino Acids in Sustaining and Enhancing Performance. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 1999. 14, Amino Acid and Protein Requirements: Cognitive Performance, Stress, and Brain Function. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK224629/.
König D, Oesser S, Scharla S, Zdzieblik D, Gollhofer A. Specific Collagen Peptides Improve Bone Mineral Density and Bone Markers in Postmenopausal Women-A Randomized Controlled Study.
Lee DY, Kim EH. Therapeutic Effects of Amino Acids in Liver Diseases: Current Studies and Future Perspectives. J Cancer Prev. 2019;24(2):72-78. doi:10.15430/JCP.2019.24.2.72.
Moon J, Koh G. Clinical Evidence and Mechanisms of High-Protein Diet-Induced Weight Loss. J Obes Metab Syndr. 2020;29(3):166-173. doi:10.7570/jomes20028
Nosaka K, Sacco P, Mawatari K. Effects of amino acid supplementation on muscle soreness and damage. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2006;16(6):620-635. doi:10.1123/ijsnem.16.6.620.
Paddon-Jones D, Westman E, Mattes RD, Wolfe RR, Astrup A, Westerterp-Plantenga M. Protein, weight management, and satiety. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2008;87(5). doi:10.1093/ajcn/87.5.1558s
Proksch E, Segger D, Degwert J, Schunck M, Zague V, Oesser S. Oral supplementation of specific collagen peptides has beneficial effects on human skin physiology: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2014;27(1):47-55. doi:10.1159/000351376
Rahmani W, Abbasi S, Hagner A, et al. Hair follicle dermal stem cells regenerate the dermal sheath, repopulate the dermal papilla, and modulate hair type. Dev Cell. 2014;31(5):543-558. doi:10.1016/j.devcel.2014.10.022.
Rushton DH. Nutritional factors and hair loss. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2002;27(5):396-404. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2230.2002.01076.x.
Takeda S, Park JH, Kawashima E, Ezawa I, Omi N. Hydrolyzed collagen intake increases bone mass of growing rats trained with running exercise. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2013;10(1):35. Published 2013 Aug 6. doi:10.1186/1550-2783-10-35.
Varani J, Dame MK, Rittie L, et al. Decreased collagen production in chronologically aged skin: roles of age-dependent alteration in fibroblast function and defective mechanical stimulation. Am J Pathol. 2006;168(6):1861-1868. doi:10.2353/ajpath.2006.051302.
Zdzieblik D, Oesser S, Baumstark MW, Gollhofer A, König D. Collagen peptide supplementation in combination with resistance training improves body composition and increases muscle strength in elderly sarcopenic men: a randomised controlled trial. Br J Nutr. 2015;114(8):1237-1245. doi:10.1017/S0007114515002810.
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[1] we have a financial relationship with some of our top picks and partners