Dive into the ever-expanding world of one of the hottest supplements right now - collagen. Discover the Dos and Don'ts when choosing a collagen supplement and all the potential benefits of adding collagen to your diet. 

Plus, check out our picks for the collagen supplements this year.

Why do we need to take collagen supplements?

The collagen market is estimated to reach $5.3 billion by 2026 for one simple reason:

As the most abundant protein in the body, collagen plays a key role in maintaining healthy-looking hair and skin, joint and bone health, and can help build muscle mass and support an active lifestyle.[2,3]  Here’s the unfortunate biological reality though: the older you get, the less collagen your body produces. It starts to decline between ages 18-29. 

By 40, we may lose about 1% per year. This may lead to weaker and more brittle hair and nails, less mobility, a loss of skin elasticity, and more visible fine lines and wrinkles.[2,3] 

So, if all you've got to do is take more collagen, why do you need to continue reading this article? If only it were that simple…

The collagen used by some manufacturers might not live up to their claims. Certain types of collagen may be difficult for our bodies to absorb, which may mean most of the collagen is simply wasted as it passes through your body, unused!

Choosing a collagen supplement that features 'Hydrolyzed Collagen" or 'Collagen peptides' may support your body further. Hydrolyzed collagen peptides mean the amino acids have been broken down for easier digestion and absorption.*

Less Collagen produced may lead to:

• Wrinkly, saggy, dull skin [2,3] 

• Weaker, brittle hair [2,3] 

• Discomfort in joints, muscles, and bones [2,3] 

BEWARE: Not All Collagen Peptides Are Equal

Studies show that Type I collagen contain the necessary firepower for supporting skin elasticity and hydration. Bovine collagen is a common source of type I collagen. [3,4]

Naturally sourced from cattle, bovine collagen is rich in collagen types I and III. It also contains protein and a diverse amino acid profile. Because it delivers types I and III, it’s often used for skin, hair, nail, and joint health. [5]

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]

Here’s what to look for in beauty-focused collagen peptides… and what you should try to AVOID: 

• Collagen Type:

Marine collagen is far superior to bovine collagen for radiant skin as it is packed full of collagen Type I (which makes up 90% of the collagen in our skin).5

• Quantity:

Check the label for the collagen and protein content. Most quality brands also include the amino acid profile of their collagen supplement. 

• Hydrolyzed Formula:

Hydrolyzed collagen peptides mean the amino acids have been broken down for easier digestion and absorption.*

• Taste: 

Some off-the-shelf collagen supplements may taste bad and do not mix well. Try to find a collagen supplement you'll be glad to consume every morning!*

• Purity & Quality:

Choose only grass-fed, pasture-raised bovine or sustainably-sourced seafood collagen.*

• High Calories:

Look out for added sugars and extra calories

• Unknown Collagen Source:

The potential to make our problems worse mean we should ALWAYS know which specific type of collagen is used.

• Unwanted Ingredients:

You want to ensure you’re getting 100% pure, premium, hydrolyzed collagen sources with no unnecessary synthetic fillers or other additional ingredients you may be trying to avoid.

• Collagen Lacking Testing:

 Always check that a product has been ‘third party lab-tested’ to be certain that the product has been independently tested for potentially harmful ingredients to ensure safety.

• Incomplete List Of Ingredients:

Always check the ingredients list and only buy from brands that have nothing to hide!

PROS

• Made in the USA with globally sourced ingredients 
• Premium quality hydrolyzed bovine collagen from grass-fed cows
• Essential amino acids
• 9 g of protein plus 20 mg calcium
• Unflavored, easy-to-dissolve powder
• GelcoPEP® technology for mixability
• The brand offers a hassle-free subscription service 

CONS

• Only available online
• Due to popularity, sometimes runs out of stock

PROS

• 5 collagen types
• Collagen from 4 food sources
• Hydrolyzed collagen
• Dissolves well
• No unpleasant aftertaste
• Made in the USA with globally sourced ingredients

CONS

• Only sold online
• Sometimes runs out of stock

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PROS

• Made in the USA
• Gluten and dairy-free
• Certified grass-fed bovine collagen

CONS

• 110 mg sodium
• No 90-day money-back guarantee

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PROS

• Hydrolyzed bovine collagen 
• Neutral flavor
• With probiotics & vitamin C

CONS

• Price
• No 90-day money-back guarantee

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PROS

• Hydrolyzed bovine collagen
• 14 g protein
• With vitamin C

CONS

• 2-scoop serving size
• Price
• Contains fish and egg

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Rating

A+

Total Ranking

Yes, I Want My Primal Collagen Now 

Must Haves

Must Avoid

OVERVIEW AT A GLANCE

• BEST FOR: Skin, hair, nails, and joints*
• COLLAGEN TYPES: I and III
• SOURCED FROM: Grass-fed, pasture-raised bovine
• FLAVOR: Neutral
• MIXABILITY: Excellent

Yes, I Want My Primal Collagen Now 

Multi Collagen by BeautyLux[1]

Rating

A-

Total Ranking

#2

Collagen Peptides by Vital Proteins

 Rating

B

Total Ranking

#3

Multi Collagen Protein by Ancient Nutrition

Rating

C

Total Ranking

#4

Super Youth Collagen by SkinnyFit

Rating

C

Total Ranking

#5

The Bottom Line

Primal Collagen by Primal Harvest delivers hydrolyzed bovine collagen types I and III that have been produced with GelcoPEP® technology for maximum dissolvability and absorption support.*

This formula dissolves quickly and easily and is neutral in flavor, making 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 10 g of ultra-premium hydrolyzed collagen, 20 mg of calcium, and a wide range of amino acids.

Primal Collagen is third-party lab tested and made in the USA with globally sourced ingredients. The brand also offers a convenient Subscribe & Save program which means you can order Primal Collagen through their convenient and hassle-free subscription service. By signing up for a subscription you get 20% off all products plus free shipping.

All in all, this collagen supplement delivers great value and quality at a reasonable price point. To top it off, Primal Harvest offers a 90-day money-back guarantee for all of its products.

OVERVIEW AT A GLANCE

• BEST FOR: Skin, hair, nails, and joints*
• COLLAGEN TYPES: I, II, III, V, X
• SOURCED FROM: Bovine, marine, chicken, and eggshell membrane
• FLAVOR: Neutral
• MIXABILITY: Good

OVERVIEW AT A GLANCE

• BEST FOR: Gut and joints*
• COLLAGEN TYPES: Unspecified
• SOURCED FROM: Grass-fed Bovine
• FLAVOR: Neutral (Slightly salty)
• MIXABILITY: Good

OVERVIEW AT A GLANCE

• BEST FOR: Gut, joints, and skin
• COLLAGEN TYPES:  I, III, IV, V, VII, VIII, X, XII, XXII
• SOURCED FROM: Bovine, eggshell, chicken, fish
• FLAVOR: Neutral 
• MIXABILITY: Poor

OVERVIEW AT A GLANCE

• BEST FOR: Joints, hair, and skin
• COLLAGEN TYPES:  I, II, III, V, X
• SOURCED FROM: Bovine, fish
• FLAVOR: Neutral 
• MIXABILITY: Poor

The Bottom Line

BeautyLux Beauty Multi Collagen is an unflavored multi-collagen peptide powder, formulated from bovine, marine, chicken, and eggshell membrane collagen. 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. As an added perk, the formula also contains 7 g of protein.*

This unflavored collagen powder mixes well and leaves no aftertaste. It's made in the USA with globally sourced ingredients and is third-party lab tested. 

The Bottom Line

Collagen Peptides by Vital Proteins is formulated with 20g of grass-fed and pasture-raised collagen. 

Like Primal Collagen by Primal Harvest, the Vital Proteins formula is easy to use. Although this unflavored formula is a solid choice for a collagen powder, some people may want to note that it contains 110 mg of sodium. This is especially something to consider for those watching their sodium intake. It also makes the product less versatile as the sodium content may impact the flavor.

The 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 also contains probiotics and vitamin C. It has a relatively neutral flavor making it easy to drink when added to other beverages. Although it dissolves fairly easily into cold drinks, it does seem to take longer to dissolve than some other collagen powders. Some consumers also reported that it did not dissolve as easily into warm drinks. 

This is generally a great choice, but you may want to note that it's a little pricier than some of the other products featured on this list. 

The Bottom Line

Super Youth Collagen by SkinnyFit includes 15.6 g of hydrolyzed collagen per serving, sourced from bovine, fish, chicken, and eggshell membrane. It also includes vitamin C, apple cider vinegar, and hyaluronic acid and is sweetened with stevia leaf and monk fruit extracts. Each container consists of 28 servings of unflavored collagen powder.  

Although the formula includes a range of collagen sources, the addition of fish collagen and eggshell membrane means this product may not be suitable for all consumers. Some may find the two-scoop serving size inconvenient in comparison to other products that have a one-scoop serving. The addition of stevia and monk fruit gives the product a little sweetness which means some may find that it is not totally neutral. Finally, you may want to consider the price of the product. At $99.95 for a one-time purchase (about 28 servings), this powder is less wallet-friendly than some other options.

[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

[5] Silvipriya, K., et al. “Collagen: Animal Sources and Biomedical Application.” Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science, 2015, pp. 123–127., https://doi.org/10.7324/japs.2015.50322. 

[6] Zhao, Yu-Hong, and Yu-Jie Chi. “Characterization of Collagen from Eggshell Membrane.” Biotechnology(Faisalabad), vol. 8, no. 2, 2009, pp. 254–258., https://doi.org/10.3923/biotech.2009.254.258. 

[7] Borumand, Maryam, and Sara Sibilla. “Daily consumption of the collagen supplement Pure Gold Collagen® reduces visible signs of aging.” Clinical interventions in aging vol. 9 1747-58. 13 Oct. 2014, doi:10.2147/CIA.S65939

CITATIONS

DISCLAIMER: This scientific research is for informational purposes only. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. Primal Harvest provides this information as a service but does not endorse it. This information should not be read to recommend or endorse any specific products.

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