5 February 2020

Top Four Collagen Supplements for Healthy Skin

By Marie Davis Beauty

Published 5 February 2020

Last updated 31 March 2021

Collagen Supplements have become one of the most buzz-worthy trends to come along in the war on wrinkles in recent years.

Consumers are used to collagen as an ingredient in anti-aging cosmetics and creams, but what is getting people excited these days is the stimulatory effect of its production within the body after taking an oral supplement.

Daily use of dietary collagen can help improve the elasticity and firmness of aging skin as well as reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

If you are interested in learning more about collagen supplements we have tested out some of the best options and rounded up what you need to know.

The Best Brands for Skin

If you are looking specifically for a supplement that will be beneficial to your skin, check out the following products. These are some of the most popular and best quality brands on the market if you are looking for anti-aging results.

Neocell Super Collagen +C Type 1

Super Collagen +C is one of the most popular supplements in the U.S, and you can find it in places like Whole Foods and GNC. It contains type 1 and 3 types, so it is beneficial for tendons, ligaments, hair, skin, nails, and lean muscle.

It is also rich in hydroxyproline and hydroxylysine, which are two essential amino acids that are helpful for production within the body. It comes from pharmaceutical food-grade bovine collagen and claims to have a 90% absorption rate into the bloodstream.

If you choose the pill form, the recommended dosage is six large tablets a day (2 tablets three times daily), but you can also get it in powder and liquid form as well.

Type: I and III

Source: Bovine

Supporting Nutrients: Vitamin C

Available from Amazon

Vital Proteins

Vital Proteins Peptides is a popular unflavored powder option. The standout feature of Vital Proteins is that it comes from pasture-raised, grass-fed bovine hides from Brazil. So it is marketed as being from a high-quality, sustainable source.

It claims to help with attaining more youthful-looking skin, healthier hair, and stronger nails, as well as bone and joint health. It also reportedly can help with the immune, digestive, and central nervous systems. One of the things that users love about this product is that it is digestible and soluble in cold water because of the natural peptides.

Type: I

Source: Bovine

Supporting Nutrients: –

Check the price on Amazon

Amandean Premium Anti-Aging Marine Collagen Powder

Amandean Premium Anti-Aging Marine Collagen Powder is a type 1 fish peptide (powder) that works well for anti-aging as well as strengthening hair. This powder mixes easily in water and liquids.

It contains no fillers, no flavors, is a sugar-free powder, has no preservatives, no hormones, no arginine, no maltodextrin, and is made in the USA.

Type: I

Source: 100% Pure Hydrolyzed Fish Collagen from wild-caught cod

Supporting Nutrients: Natural glycine

Check the price on Amazon

Reserveage

Reserveage is a patented collagen complex of hydrolyzed collagen, chondroitin sulfate, and hydrating hyaluronic acid
that helps with healthy skin and joints.

Type: II

Source: BioCell Collegan (chicken)

Supporting Nutrients: Magnesium stearate silica. Hyaluronic acid, Pro-Longevity Resveratrol BlendTM Polygonum cuspidatum Extract (root & rhizome), Organic French Whole Grape (Vitis vinitera), Organic Muscadine (Vitis retundifolia) (seed & skin), deicalcium phosphate vegetable cellulose (capsule shell) vegetable cellulose

Check the price on Amazon

What is Collagen?

It is the most abundant protein in our body, and it is what helps to hold all of the connective tissue in our skin together. It is what makes your skin firm and supple, it keeps your hair and nails healthy, and it helps to regenerate new cells. As you age, your collagen levels naturally decrease, causing your skin to lose firmness and form wrinkles.

Benefits

The natural aging process leaves us with wrinkled, sagging, dull skin. While collagen can be beneficial to the entire body, it has the most significant effect on the surface.

Some of the benefits for the skin of taking supplements include:

Reduction of wrinkles
Improved skin texture and firmness
Can help fade or prevent stretch marks
Helps new cells to grow
Improved circulation
Reduce the appearance of cellulite:
Promotes healthier, stronger hair and nails
Reduction in age spots
Improved skin moisture and hydration

What Exactly Should you be Looking for in a Supplement

The best type of collagen if you are looking to help with skin is Type I. It is what makes up to 90% of skin, hair, nails, organs, bone, and ligaments, and when you ingest Type I the results can be seen in the skin.

You should be clear on the source of the collagen you are purchasing. Collagen comes from Piscine (fish), Bovine (cow), Porcine (pig), Fowl(chicken), and recently you can get vegan/vegetarian options that are plant-based. For the skin, the best sources are Piscine (fish), Bovine (cow), and Porcine (pig), as they are all considered good sources for raising type 1 in the body. Chicken peptides are known to be most useful for supporting the cartilage in the body, so avoid supplements type II supplements since they come from chickens.

Make sure that any claims regarding the efficacy of a supplement are backed by science. Many companies list their clinical trials on their websites. It is worth taking a look at the results of the tests to ensure you are buying a quality brand.

You should also consider what supporting nutrients are in the supplement. Some experts believe that while taking collagen on its own can be useful, it becomes more effective when combined with other vital anti-aging ingredients that can either help with absorption or that have their own anti-aging benefits. Some elements to look for include vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), coenzyme CoQ10, ceramide, and chondroitin sulfate.

Do they work?

The main argument that skeptics make against the effectiveness of ingesting supplements is that these products must be ineffective since any collagen that you consume orally will be broken down in the stomach and intestines and will never reach the skin itself.

It is such a firmly held belief by some dermatologists that they dismiss the numerous clinical trials from the last few years that are showing that there does seem to be a benefit to the skin when taking some types of hydrolyzed collagen peptides. The results from some of the clinical trials indicate that by ingesting an oral supplement, you are activating your body’s physiological process that produces more of it.

In one of the most cited independent studies to show positive effects of taking collagen peptides conducted in 2015 found that oral peptide supplementation noticeably increased skin hydration after only eight weeks.

What is the difference between the types I, II, and III?

I, II, and III are the three main types of dietary collagen that you can buy. These types of supplements are often categorized by the type they contain. When you are choosing a product and are specifically looking for anti-aging benefits, you should look for a supplement that contains type I and type III.

Type 1 and 3 make up more than 90% of the collagen that you find in the body, and when you ingest this kind, it is believed that it can improve overall skin texture and firmness.

Type 1 has nineteen amino acids that are responsible for the health of skin and muscle. Type I is the most important, so make sure that any supplement you purchase is made up of mostly type I.

Type 2 has eighteen amino acids, which are responsible for the health of the joint cartilage. When you ingest type II, it can help strengthen and improve joint and tendon flexibility and relieve pain associated with arthritis.

Type 3 is the second most abundant collagen in human tissue. When you are born, your skin has a lot of type 3, and as you age, type 3 gets replaced by the tougher type 1.

Generally, you don’t want to purchase a supplement that says it has all three types because the two different types of amino acid profiles will bind together and become a complete protein, so the body won’t be able to recognize it and you won’t get the benefits.

Look for a supplement that contains type I and type III because they are the most abundant types in the skin.

What is the difference between Hydrolyzed and Collagen Peptides?

Often the terms are used interchangeably, but they are two slightly different types of supplements that stimulate growth for the skin. Hydrolyzed collagen is created by breaking down the molecular bonds from animal by-products (skin, bones, and connective tissue) between individual collagen strands by using either physical, chemical, or biological means. Collagen peptides are extracted in boiling water from the skin of the animal.

In both cases what makes this different from the collagen in something like gelatin or a bone broth is that the protein’s amino acids have been broken down into low-molecular-weight fragments, so the body much more easily absorbs them.

Side Effects

There aren’t many side effects linked to ingesting collagen supplements. Some of the minor reported side effects can include:

A slight lingering unpleasant taste that usually subsides within 60 minutes. (generally from supplements from marine sources)
In rare cases, high levels of calcium or hypercalcemia can occur in the body if excessive doses are taken
Supplements that contain shellfish and other marine sources may cause allergic reactions.
Decreased appetite

FAQ

What are the different forms it comes in?

The two most popular forms of ingestible collagen are pill and powder. You can also ingest it as a drink, a gummy, a chewable, chocolate, a bar, and in Japan it has even been added to beer.

If you aren’t big on taking pills, it is worth buying a power form. Most of the powder forms are tasteless and odorless, so you can just put them into your favorite beverage and not even notice them.

Where do you buy these types of supplements?

These days you can find them in drug stores, supermarkets, and health food stores. Better quality products are available in health food stores and places like GNC and Whole Foods. You can also order online.

When Can I Expect to See Results?

Results can vary quite a bit between each person. Age and diet can play a significant part in the length of time that it takes to see results. Generally, most people will begin to see a change in the strength and growth of their nails after about 2-3 weeks of intake. To see results in your skin will take about 6-8 weeks. After that time, you should see an improvement in your skin’s firmness and suppleness.

How much do you need each day?

Depending on your age, weight, and what your needs are, experts generally recommend 5000mg to 7,000mg a day to see beneficial results. If you are looking for dramatic results around the face and eyes, some individuals go up to 10,000mg per day. Read the product description to ensure you are taking the correct dosage.

How long do the results last?

If you use the supplement on an ongoing, consistent basis, the results will continue as long as you take it. Some studies have shown that if you stop taking the supplement, the effects can last up to 4 weeks.

What does bioavailability mean?

The bioavailability of a supplement means the percentage of the substance that is digested and absorbed into your body when ingested. The better the bioavailability, the more effective the nutrient will be.

Vegan and Vegetarian options

Almost all of the ingestible options are derived from animal sources, making them off-limits for vegans and vegetarians. There is, however, one vegan option available Reserveage Plant Based Support Collagen Builder uses ceramides to provide the collagen. In Europe and Japan, oral ceramides have been a popular supplement for skin care.

Be aware some supplements say they are veg, veggie, or vegetarian capsules, this means that the capsule casing is vegetarian, not the collagen itself.

The Bottom Line

The idea that you can get rid of wrinkles by popping a pill or taking a powder that will help your body regenerate collagen from within is very appealing.

Clinical trials seem to show that there is something to this idea, but if you are looking for anti-aging benefits, you must make sure you buy the right type of supplement.

Not only should you look for a type I collagen, but you must make sure that it comes from a clean, reliable source, and has the right supplemental ingredients to help with the absorption.