The 11 Best Collagen Supplements for Better Skin

A quick look at the best collagen supplements for better skin

• Best subscription collagen supplements: Persona Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides, Care/of Collagen
• Best flavored collagen powders: Vital Proteins Beauty Collagen, Garden of Life Grass-Fed Collagen Beauty, Thorne Collagen Plus, Klean Collagen+C
• Best unflavored collagen powders: Sports Research Collagen Peptides, Further Food Collagen Peptides, Anthony’s Hydrolyzed Marine Collagen Peptides
• Best collagen capsules: HUM Nutrition Collagen Love, Youtheory Collagen

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 with age, 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).

Collagen supplements are often used to promote skin health, as the protein has been shown to improve 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, contain fewer toxins, and be less inflammatory (3).

How we chose

The products featured in this article were selected based on the following criteria:

• type of supplement, such as powder or capsule
• ingredients
• third-party testing or certifications
• dosage

Healthline’s picks of the best collagen supplements for better skin

Here are 11 of the best collagen supplements for better skin.

Best subscription collagen supplements

Care/of Collagen

Price: $$$

Care/of is a personalized subscription vitamin and supplement service that allows you to take a quiz to personalize the products you receive.

Their collagen supplement is designed to support elasticity and hydration in the skin and help nails become stronger.

The supplement is made to be able to easily blend in 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 Peptides

Price: $$$

Persona is another personalized subscription service that allows users to take an assesment about their health and sends out vitamins and supplements catered to their individual needs.

They offer a collagen supplement by made by Vital Proteins that supports 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 contains vitamin C and hyaluronic acid, and it’s also gluten- and dairy-free.

Best flavored collagen powders

Vital Proteins Beauty Collagen Peptides Powder

Price: $$$

Vital Proteins produces many of the most popular collagen supplements on the market.

Vital Proteins Beauty Collagen, in particular, is specifically formulated to enhance skin elasticity and hydration.

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).

Plus, with 15 grams of collagen per serving and flavors like 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 is produced in an NSF-certified, Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP)-compliant facility and is free of gluten, dairy, fillers, sweeteners, and additives. This product uses collagen sourced from cows.

NSF is an organization that tests products to ensure they meet strict standards for quality and potency, and the CGMPs are quality standards set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Garden of Life Grass Fed Collagen Beauty

Price: $$$

Featuring a sweet strawberry lemonade flavor, this supplement is a tasty way to get your daily collagen fix. It’s sourced from grass-fed and pasture-raised cows.

In addition to bovine collagen, it contains an array of ingredients like probiotics, vitamin C, biotin, and silica.

Silica, in particular, 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 grams of collagen to help promote better skin health.

It’s also certified gluten-free, free of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and certified paleo- and keto-friendly.

Thorne Collagen Plus

Price: $$$

Made with a blend of polyphenols and 13 grams of bovine collagen per serving, Thorne Collagen Plus is formulated to support the health of the 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 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+C

Price: $$$

Klean Collagen+C boasts 15 grams of hydrolyzed bovine collagen per serving, along with 50 mg of vitamin C derived from organic amla fruit extract.

It’s formulated to maximize absorption and is 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, meaning that it has been tested to ensure it’s free of banned substances for athletes.

Best unflavored collagen powders

Sports Research Collagen Peptides Powder

Price: $$

This product from Sports Research is a great option for those seeking a simple yet versatile collagen supplement.

It contains 11 grams of collagen peptides per serving and is unflavored, making it ideal for mixing into smoothies, shakes, and hot drinks.

It’s also sourced from bovine collagen peptides that have been hydrolyzed, or broken into smaller compounds, which can help increase digestion and absorption in the body (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 Peptides

Price: $$

This hydrolyzed collagen powder is unflavored and designed to easily dissolve 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 grams of collagen, which is sourced from grass-fed and pasture-raised hydrolyzed bovine hide.

Furthermore, Food Collagen Peptides is certified kosher, non-GMO, sugar-free, and produced in a CGMP-compliant facility.

Anthony’s Hydrolyzed Marine Collagen Peptides

Price: $$

Not 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.

Each serving contains 13 grams of collagen and can be easily mixed into smoothies, sauces, and drinks to bump up your protein intake.

It’s also keto- and paleo-friendly, plus batch-tested and verified gluten-free, so it’s a good option for those with certain dietary restrictions.

What’s more, all Anthony’s products are tested in-house for safety and produced in accordance with CGMPs set by the FDA.

Best collagen capsules

HUM Nutrition Collagen Love

Price: $$$

These collagen capsules pack 600 mg of collagen into each 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 C

Price: $

Adding Youtheory Collagen capsules to your routine is a simple and convenient way to squeeze more collagen into your diet.

Each serving contains 6 grams of bovine collagen, along with 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 is free of dairy and soy.

How to choose

When selecting a collagen supplement, there are several factors to consider.

First, it’s important to consider the type of supplement.

While some prefer the ease and convenience of capsules, others enjoy the versatility of collagen powders, which can easily be mixed into beverages and baked goods.

You should also check the label to determine the dosage.

Although there are no established guidelines regarding how much collagen you should take, studies show that doses of 2.5–15 grams of collagen peptides per day are considered safe and effective (12).

You may also want to read the ingredients label, as some products may contain additional ingredients to support skin health, including silica, hyaluronic acid, or vitamin C.

Finally, be sure to opt for high quality supplements purchased from a reputable retailer, and look for products that have undergone third-party testing to ensure quality and safety.

Comparing collagen supplements

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Frequently asked questions

How long does it take for collagen supplements to start working?

The amount of time that 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, which can help ease digestion and increase absorption compared with regular collagen (2).

Are collagen supplements safe?

Collagen supplements are generally considered safe and are associated with few adverse side effects when used as directed (6).

However, it’s important to purchase products that have been tested by an independent lab whenever possible to ensure safety. Additionally, be sure to talk with a healthcare professional before adding any new supplements to your routine.

Are collagen supplements good for reducing wrinkles?

Some research shows that collagen could be beneficial for slowing signs of aging.

In fact, one review of 19 studies concluded that hydrolyzed collagen supplements were able to 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 could improve skin elasticity, hydration, and texture, which could potentially improve the appearance of saggy skin (4).

The bottom line

Taking a collagen supplement can be an easy and effective way to help support better skin.

There are plenty of options available, containing a range of dosages and variety of ingredients.

When picking the supplement that’s right for you, consider the type of supplement, additional ingredients, dosage, and whether it has undergone third-party testing.

As with any supplement, speak with a healthcare professional before adding collagen to your treatment regimen, especially if you have any underlying health conditions.