The 12 Best Collagen Supplements for Better Skin
The 12 Best Collagen Supplements for
Better Skin
A daily smidgen of collagen could be just the thing for your skin health. Our dietitian evaluated top products. Vital Proteins and Care/of — among others — top our list of the best collagen supplements for skin.
Collagen is a type of protein found throughout your body, including in your skin, bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, connective tissue, and teeth (1).
Because collagen production starts to decline as people get older, many people use supplements to help increase collagen levels naturally (2).
Sun exposure also contributes to collagen breakdown and can lead to unwanted wrinkles (3).
People often use collagen supplements to promote skin health, as this protein has shown benefits for skin elasticity, hydration, and texture (4, 5, 6).
However, not all collagen supplements are created equal, and collagen is available in several forms.
Collagen is most commonly derived from bovine, porcine, or marine sources. It can also be produced synthetically from insect, yeast, and plant or mammal cultures, resulting in a lower risk of allergic reactions (3).
Though bovine collagen is more widely found in supplements, marine collagen is believed to be better absorbed and less inflammatory and to contain fewer toxins (3).
We selected the products featured in this article based on the following criteria:
Here are 12 of the best collagen supplements for better skin.
Best overall collagen supplement for skinVital Proteins Beauty CollagenVital Proteins produces many of the most popular collagen supplements on the market.
Vital Proteins Beauty Collagen, which is specifically formulated to enhance skin elasticity and hydration, earns our pick for the best collagen supplement for better skin.
It’s made with collagen peptides, sometimes called hydrolyzed collagen, which have been broken down into smaller compounds that are easier for your body to absorb (2).
In addition to collagen, it features probiotics and hyaluronic acid, a compound that plays a key role in skin repair, wound healing, and tissue regeneration (7).
With 15 grams (g) of collagen per serving and flavors such as Lavender Lemon, Watermelon Mint, Tropical Hibiscus, and Strawberry Lemon, this product is designed to make it easy to boost your collagen consumption to support better skin.
Vital Proteins products are made in an NSF-certified, Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP)-compliant facility and are free of gluten, dairy, fillers, sweeteners, and additives. This product uses collagen sourced from cows.
NSF is an organization that tests products to ensure that they meet strict standards for quality and potency, and the CGMPs are quality standards set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Care/of is a personalized subscription vitamin and supplement service that allows you to take a quiz to personalize the products you receive.
This collagen supplement is designed to support elasticity and hydration in your skin and help your nails become stronger.
The supplement is made to easily blend into your favorite drinks, such as coffee, tea, and smoothies.
The bovine collagen in this supplement comes from grass-fed cows. Other ingredients include organic lemon and vanilla, and there are no fillers or artificial sweeteners in this product. It’s also gluten- and dairy-free.
Vital Proteins Collagen PeptidesPersona is another personalized subscription service that allows users to take a survey about their health and sends out vitamins and supplements catered to their individual needs.
Persona offers a Vital Proteins collagen supplement intended to support joints that have been overworked from exercise, injuries, and regular wear and tear. It also supports healthy skin and nails.
The collagen in this supplement comes from grass-fed cows. The product also contains vitamin C and hyaluronic acid, and it’s gluten- and dairy-free.
Best flavored collagen powdersGarden of Life Grass Fed Collagen BeautyFeaturing a sweet Strawberry Lemonade flavor, this supplement is a tasty way to get your daily collagen. It’s sourced from grass-fed and pasture-raised cows.
In addition to bovine collagen, it contains ingredients such as probiotics, vitamin C, biotin, and silica.
Silica is a trace element that boosts collagen synthesis and improves skin strength and elasticity (8).
One scoop of Garden of Life Grass-Fed Collagen Beauty contains a whopping 11 g of collagen to help promote skin health.
It’s certified gluten-free, GMO-free, and certified paleo- and keto-friendly.
Made with a blend of polyphenols and 13 g of bovine collagen per serving, Thorne Collagen Plus is formulated to support the health of your hair, skin, and nails.
In addition to collagen, it features nicotinamide riboside, a compound that stimulates the production of a coenzyme called nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, which can promote healthy aging and cellular repair (9).
This berry-flavored powder is sweetened with stevia and free of gluten, dairy, and soy.
It’s manufactured in a facility that adheres to the CGMPs and is certified by NSF. Thorne is also certified by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, an Australian government agency that is responsible for ensuring the safety of supplements.
Klean Collagen+CKlean Collagen+C boasts 15 g of hydrolyzed bovine collagen per serving, along with 50 milligrams (mg) of vitamin C derived from organic amla fruit extract.
It’s formulated to maximize absorption and naturally flavored with pomegranate juice powder, blackberry powder, and monk fruit extract, making it easy to mix into your favorite beverages.
Like other products from Klean Athlete, this collagen supplement is non-GMO and made without gluten, artificial sweeteners, and synthetic flavors or dyes.
It’s also NSF Certified for Sport, which means it has been tested to ensure that it’s free of banned substances for athletes.
Best unflavored collagen powdersSports Research Collagen PeptidesThis product from Sports Research is a great option for those seeking a simple yet versatile collagen supplement.
It contains 11 g of collagen peptides per serving and is unflavored, so it’s ideal for mixing into smoothies, shakes, and hot drinks.
It’s sourced from bovine collagen peptides that have been hydrolyzed, or broken into smaller compounds, which can help increase digestion and absorption (2).
This product is non-GMO verified and keto- and paleo-certified by the Paleo Foundation, a third-party organization that evaluates products for their adherence to these dietary restrictions.
Further Food Collagen PeptidesThis hydrolyzed collagen powder is unflavored and designed to dissolve easily in your favorite drinks, shakes, and smoothies.
With just one simple ingredient, Further Food Collagen Peptides is free of additives, sweeteners, fillers, and preservatives.
Each serving contains 8 g of collagen sourced from grass-fed and pasture-raised hydrolyzed bovine hide.
Further Food Collagen Peptides is certified kosher, non-GMO, and sugar-free, and it’s produced in a CGMP-compliant facility.
Anthony’s Hydrolyzed Marine Collagen PeptidesNot only is this marine collagen supplement sourced from wild-caught fish, but it’s also non-GMO, unflavored, and free of dyes and synthetic ingredients.
Because it’s made with hydrolyzed marine-derived collagen, it may be one of the most effective options on our list. However, since it’s not third-party tested, we hesitated to name it the best overall.
Each serving contains 13 g of collagen, and the powder can be easily mixed into smoothies, sauces, or drinks to bump up your protein intake.
It’s keto- and paleo-friendly and batch-tested and verified gluten-free, so it’s a good option for people with certain dietary needs.
What’s more, all Anthony’s products are tested in-house for safety and produced in accordance with the CGMPs.
Best collagen capsulesHUM Nutrition Collagen LoveThese collagen capsules pack 600 mg of collagen per serving, which is sourced from grass-fed and pasture-raised bovine.
They also contain a blend of other ingredients and herbal extracts to support skin health, including hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, red wine extract, and grapeseed extract.
This product is non-GMO, gluten-free, and made without any artificial sweeteners or flavors.
What’s more, it’s triple-tested for purity and verified by an independent lab to ensure potency.
Youtheory Collagen with Vitamin CAdding Youtheory Collagen with Vitamin C to your routine is a simple and convenient way to squeeze more collagen into your diet.
Each serving contains 6 g of bovine collagen and 90 mg of vitamin C.
Vitamin C is an important water-soluble vitamin that stimulates collagen synthesis, promotes wound healing, and protects against skin damage (10, 11).
This product is also NSF-certified and free of dairy and soy.
Best multisource collagenAncient Nutrition Multi Collagen ProteinAncient Nutrition Multi Collagen Protein is the only product on our list that features 20 g of collagen from four sources: bovine collagen, eggshell membrane, fish, and chicken bone broth.
Each scoop includes 90 mg of vitamin C and 2 billion colony forming units (CFU) of Bacillus coagulans, a type of probiotic.
This product is third-party tested for safety. Plus, Ancient Nutrition offers a certificate of analysis (COA) for each product on its website. The COA provides detailed information about testing results.
How long does it take for collagen supplements to start working?The amount of time it takes to experience noticeable benefits after taking collagen supplements can vary. However, some research suggests that collagen supplements could improve skin elasticity and hydration within just 4–12 weeks (6).
What is the difference between regular and hydrolyzed collagen?Hydrolyzed collagen has been broken down into smaller molecules. It may be easier for your body to digest and absorb than regular collagen (2).
Are collagen supplements safe?Collagen supplements are generally considered safe and are associated with few negative side effects when used as directed (6).
However, to ensure safety, it’s important to purchase products that have been tested by an independent lab whenever possible. Additionally, be sure to consult a healthcare professional before adding any new supplements to your routine.
Are collagen supplements good for reducing wrinkles?Some research suggests that collagen could help slow down signs of aging.
In fact, one review of 19 studies concluded that hydrolyzed collagen supplements could reduce skin aging, decrease wrinkles, and improve skin elasticity after 90 days (13).
Can collagen supplements help tighten saggy skin?There is limited research on whether collagen can tighten skin. However, some studies have found that collagen supplements may improve skin elasticity, hydration, and texture, which could potentially improve the appearance of saggy skin (4).
Is there a vegan source of collagen?Because collagen is derived from animal products, there are no vegan-friendly sources of collagen.
Some older research suggests that vegan collagen could be produced using genetically modified yeast and bacteria. However, more studies are needed and vegan collagen supplements are not yet readily available (14).
However, several vegan-friendly collagen-boosting supplements are already on the market. These usually contain ingredients that support collagen production, such as vitamin C.
Alternatively, you can consume more vitamin C-rich foods, such as fruits and vegetables, to help naturally promote collagen synthesis (11).
Is collagen keto-friendly?Collagen can fit into a ketogenic diet, as it is typically low in carbs and high in protein. However, to keep your carb intake low, be sure to check the ingredients label carefully and opt for products without added sugar.
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