Which collagen supplement is the best for skin

They put extra care into the sourcing of their bovine collagen peptides. In addition to grass-fed bovine collagen, Vital Proteins adds Vitamin C to their powder to increase collagen absorption. Add this powder to your favorite liquid, a smoothie, oats, or soups, and dressings for a collagen and protein boost. The reported benefits of consuming collagen powder are wide-ranging, including weight loss , glowing skin, healthy hair, and joint support. However, more research needs to be done to support anecdotal claims.

Collagen supplements are made by extracting the collagen from connective tissues of animals such as cows, fish, and chickens. Collagen peptides are the broken down elements of the longer protein chain and are more bioavailable and absorbable by humans in this form.

Collagen powder can be blended into smoothies , soups, and sauces or added to baked goods, dressings, and marinades. An unflavored collagen powder will be the most versatile in the kitchen. As a Registered Dietitian, Sydney Greene takes supplement recommendations seriously. Every product has been researched and vetted by her against clinical research, product reviews, and third-party testing websites.

These are products she would not only feel comfortable recommending to her clients but she would take them herself if needed.

If you know of one we should consider, please email us at contact byrdie. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. Published Oct Oral intake of specific bioactive collagen peptides reduces skin wrinkles and increases dermal matrix synthesis.

Skin Pharmacol Physiol. Miriam E. Clegg Medium-chain triglycerides are advantageous in promoting weight loss although not beneficial to exercise performance , International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, , , DOI: Thank you [email] for signing up.

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These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data. We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. I Accept Show Purposes. Skin Skincare. By Christina Heiser Christina Heiser. Christina Heiser has nine years of experience writing about beauty, fashion, health, fitness, and lifestyle for many online publications including NBC News.

Byrdie's Editorial Guidelines. Our Top Picks. Best Overall:. This brand puts extra care into the sourcing of its bovine collagen peptides.

Best Budget:. Best Marine:. This pure marine collagen is sustainable sourced and free of artificial ingredients. Best for Smoothies:. This bovine hide collagen powder dissolves well in drinks and smoothies. Best Gluten-Free:. Sugar-free and with only 40 calories, you'll feel good using this collagen powder. Best Flavored:. A great chocolate taste masks any unwanted flavors from the collagen. Best Capsule:. Chicken cartilage and plant extracts combine to help retain skin's elasticity.

But if you're looking to blend your collagen powder while out and about perhaps in your morning coffee order while en route to work , you can opt for travel packets, like these. However, we must note individually packed items of any kind aren't the most environmentally responsible options.

The individually portioned containers house Vital's classic blend of 10 grams of collagen bovine that contains 18 amino acids.

This marine collagen supplement 9 grams of collagen via 2 scoops is sourced from wild-caught cod, and along with being GMO-free, this product is Halal and certified Kosher. It's also third-party tested for purity, certified as hypoallergenic, and free of additives and synthetic ingredients.

So you're getting just what's advertised and nothing else. This is a good blend for athletes: The whey and collagen combo bumps the protein up to 25 grams so about 10 grams of collagen and 15 grams of whey protein. Both whey and collagen contribute key amino acids critical for muscle mass, but whey has all 9 of the essential amino acids, while collagen is missing one making it incomplete by definition.

While the base contains a decent dose of types I and III collagen 12 grams of protein , the stars for the hair are the biotin, silica, and vitamin C. Biotin is a main component of keratin production, or the primary protein of hair. In one small study, women with thinning hair reported significant regrowth when supplementing with biotin as compared to those given a placebo.

This blend uses 3 grams of marine collagen, which is on the light end, but is bolstered with additional actives to support your skin. Your joints primarily contain collagen type II, so if you're looking for joint support, consider incorporating type II.

And while 40 milligrams of the type II collagen ingredient sourced from chicken cartilage may sound quite small, this dose has joint-support clinical studies to back it up. Dirtylemon's blends of health drinks contain clean, smart formulas that offer a refreshing, wellness-focused sip midday. This particular product blends together 4 grams of sustainably sourced marine collagen with the brand's signature lemon juice which contains a bit of naturally occurring sugar for a dash of sweetness.

While we believe that powder is the best way to ingest a meaningful amount of collagen, some people love the ease of a capsule. If that's you, go for this blend of bovine collagen milligrams , vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, chondroitin, and phytonutrient antioxidants from red wine and grapeseed extracts.

If you follow a keto diet, this has what you'll need to start your day off right. Nothing but collagen here. This is made with bovine hydrolyzed collagen sourced from pasture-raised cows with no added hormones—and there are 20 grams of it per serving, which makes this a solid source of collagen. While we've vetted the above products and can recommend them wholeheartedly, we also want to give you the tools to look for your own collagen supplements—or at least help you understand our process.

There is no official daily recommendation for collagen supplementation. For healthy adults, the recommendation for overall protein needs is about 1 gram of protein per kilogram of body weight per day.

If you're physically active, your needs may be higher. Collagen is a protein made of peptides, but it's not a complete protein—it doesn't have all nine of the essential amino acids it's missing tryptophan and is on the lower side on a few others —but can absolutely contribute to your overall daily protein goals and needs. Look for brands that describe in detail where their collagen is sourced from i.

Look for keywords like "grass-fed, pasture-raised bovine collagen from Brazilian cows," or "sustainably-sourced, wild-caught cod. Bonus points if they list the amino acid profile. If your diet allows, we prefer grass-fed bovine collagen, which you can learn more about here.

Powders are the best, as they are able to deliver the most potent amount of collagen. Powders are also a convenient way to add a meaningful dose of collagen to your nutrition routine, whether blending into a sweet smoothie with colorful fruits or mixed into your morning coffee or latte. If you prefer other delivery methods—drinks, tonics, capsules, gummies—that's fine; just know that you're not getting as much collagen in these products.

If there are additional, beneficial ingredients—such as vitamins and minerals or botanical bioactives—they can help create a more holistic product to achieve your desired effects or if you want just collagen, that's great too! On the other end, make sure the formula is clean. Less is more here: Skip artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, gluten, GMOs, soy, gluten, and known allergens.

If your collagen product has flavors, look for natural varieties such as organic cocoa, organic vanilla. If there's a sweetener, we recommend natural plant-derived sources like organic monk fruit extract or organic coconut sugar. This is less about decoding an ingredient label and more about finding brands that are open and honest about their product.

It shouldn't be hard to find their Supplement Facts panel and other ingredient list. The type and source of collagen should be apparent. If they make any benefit claims, there should be science to support them. They should be open about where the ingredients come from, and they should explain the packaging it comes in i. If mixing collagen into coffee or water doesn't sound too appealing, you can also take the protein via pill.

These vitamins contain five different types of collagen including the important types 1 and 3 derived from chicken, beef, and fish. One bottle contains tablets, or a day supply.

One Amazon shopper was pleased to find that the supplements helped ease her back pain after surgery. I haven't been taking them too long, but I have noticed that my nails grow quickly and seem stronger than they were before," she wrote.

If you want to get some extra benefits from your collagen supplement, this powder from Ancient Nutrition is a great option. It not only contains five different types of collagen sourced from beef, chicken, fish, and eggs , but also vitamin C and probiotics.

It's earned over 10, five-star reviews from happy Amazon customers. One shared , "Not only did it address my gut issues, but I found that my skin had improved, my hair appeared to be growing faster my hairdresser brought it to my attention , my nails became stronger noticed by my manicurist , and I noticed that my eyelashes were getting longer too.

In the last 5 months, I have recommended [it] to over 10 people. While flavorless collagen products are the most common, some prefer to have something that tastes more like a treat. This vanilla bean-flavored collagen powder, which is made of bovine collagen types 1 and 3, is naturally sweetened with monk fruit and great in coffee. My face has become SO much clearer, softer, and just glowy looking at the 30 day mark," wrote one reviewer.

Collagen supplements can get pricey, especially since consistency is key. These worked wonders within the first week. They work great on their own or combined with other joint supplements, but honestly, these are such a part of my daily routine now that I've been able to eliminate a lot of others," one reviewer wrote. Made with bovine collagen types 1 and 3, this powder has over 3, testimonials from Amazon customers who have seen improvements in their hair, skin, nails, and mobility in as little as a few weeks.

I have had saggy, crepey skin on my legs for several years I am I've tried all kinds of lotions and topicals that promised results but never delivered. But, after one month of this stuff, the crepes are GONE! Some shoppers have also found that the supplement helps assuage their chronic pain. Three months of using collagen and I have more hair than I did before the chemo! Powdered collagen supplements aren't the most convenient thing to take when you're on the go—which is why this product is so innovative.