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Improve your skin, joints and more with our top picks for collagen powders. Cosmetic Peptide
Brierley is a dietitian nutritionist, content creator and strategist, and avid mental health advocate. She is co-host and co-creator of the Happy Eating Podcast, a podcast that breaks down the connection between food and mental wellness. Brierley previously served as Food & Nutrition Director for Cooking Light magazine and the Nutrition Editor at EatingWell magazine. She holds a master's degree in Nutrition Communications from the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. Her work has appeared in Better Homes & Gardens, Southern Living, Real Simple, Livestrong.com, TheKitchn and more.
Elizabeth Ward is a registered dietitian and award-winning nutrition communicator and writer. She has authored or co-authored 10 books for consumers about nutrition at all stages of life.
Collagen is the "it" ingredient these days. After all, it's now a regular add-in to items like smoothies and smoothie bowls at home, your gym café or your neighborhood smoothie shop—and for good reason because taking collagen regularly (even every day) may help your skin appear younger and less wrinkly, speed up wound healing, help with recovery from a hard weight-lifting session, strengthen your hair and bones and ease joint pain.
So, which collagen powder should you take if you want to add a collagen supplement to your regimen? Here, we've compiled a list of the best collagen powders. We started by rounding up a list of top sellers and then whittled the list down to collagen powders that are also third-party verified for quality. Then—to finalize our list—we asked a dietitian to weigh in.
Because collagen protein powders are considered supplements, they aren't closely regulated by the government. There are third-party verifying companies, such as the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the United States Pharmacopeia (USP), that test dietary supplement quality. Products that pass their standards are allowed to display that fact on their packaging. When it comes to collagen, though, we found that NSF seems to do the most testing. USP didn't have any collagen products listed as tested by them on their website.
Available sizes: 9.33 ounces | Item form: Powder | Servings: 13 or 28 | Third-party tested: Yes What we like: It only takes one scoop and mixes well with hot or cold liquids.
What to know: The canisters are filled by weight and might look like they're not full.
Vital Proteins is the leader in the collagen powder market, and rightfully so, with such a diverse product line. But their OG—Original Collagen Peptides—is their bestseller for a reason: One scoop gives you 20 grams of collagen, hyaluronic acid (HA), and vitamin C. According to a 2021 study, consuming 120 milligrams of HA for 12 weeks improved wrinkle control in men and women ages 35 to 64.
Vital Proteins is made from grass-fed, pasture-raised cows, paleo-friendly, and Whole30-approved. It is also soluble in hot or cold liquids—though when we put it to the test, we found it took a little longer to dissolve in cold water, and there was some leftover sediment (and more than the other collagen powders we tested). When we drank it plain in water, we noticed a slight taste. Throw it in your coffee or smoothie in the morning, though, and it's odorless and tasteless, you won't even know it's there.
Vital Proteins Original Collagen Peptides contains no artificial additives or sweeteners. Need more convincing? This product is also third-party certified by NSF.
Available size: 19.75 ounces | Item form: Powder | Servings: 28 | Third-party tested: Yes What we like: This collagen powder contains two types of collagen, so it's formulated to support skin, hair and joint health. A serving also provides a healthy dose of probiotics.
What to know: The entire line of collagen powders made by Garden of Life has not been third-party tested.
This collagen powder has a lot going for it, which may explain why it's so highly rated on Amazon. First, it delivers two types of collagen (Type I and III), which means it supports healthy skin, hair and joints. A single serving also delivers 1.5 billion CFU probiotics. And this particular product from Garden of Life is NSF-certified.
According to NSF's website, only one other collagen product in Garden of Life's line is certified—the Wild Caught & Grass Fed Collagen Hyaluronic Acid powder (view on Amazon). Both are unflavored and can be stirred into hot or cold beverages or mixed or sprinkled onto other foods.
Available size: 7 ounces | Item form: Powder | Servings: 20 | Third-party tested: Yes What we like: The stick packs are very convenient when you're on the go.
What to know: It's quite pricey if you follow their recommendation to take two stick packs a day.
Ideal for on-the-go living or travel, each of Bubs' single-serve stick packs delivers 20 g of collagen protein. There's just one ingredient—bovine collagen—and nothing more added. Keto, paleo, and Whole30-approved, this collagen protein is undetectable and has no odor or taste. It's also hydrolyzed (so it dissolves easily!) and is third-party verified by NSF.
In our tests, we found Bub's collagen dissolved the best of the group in cold liquids and had almost no sediment left over. The flavor was barely noticeable in plain water, and in flavored drinks, it was undetectable.
This company believes in giving back, and 10% of all profits go to the Glen Doherty Memorial Foundation, which provides educational and recreational support to soldiers and their families. They also offer military and first responders a discount when purchasing their products.
Available size: 17.92 ounces | Item form: Powder | Servings: 30 | Third-party tested: Yes What we like: It contains Fortigel, a type of collagen that supports cartilage and joint health, making it an excellent option for athletes.
What to know: There is a slight taste.
Calling athletes and weekend warriors alike … Momentous is a brand designed for athletes and other highly active individuals. Their collagen peptides powder specifically delivers two types of proprietary collagen—one targets your joints and cartilage (Fortigel, a patented form of collagen hydrolysate), and the other is a grass-fed bovine collagen peptide that's good for hair, skin and nails. This collagen peptides powder includes 50 mg of vitamin C, which is a plus because C is involved in collagen production in the body.
When we taste-tested Momentous Collagen Peptides, we detected a slight scent but an incredibly mild flavor (in plain water). Thanks to the ultra-fine powder, the collagen dissolved easily in cold and hot liquids.
Momentous Collagen Peptides Powder is also NSF-certified—as are the others on this list—and is third-party verified by Informed Sport.
Available size: 9.6 ounces | Item form: Powder | Servings: 14 | Third-party tested: Yes What we like: This Vital Proteins offering is intended to support skin, hair and nail health. It's available in a canister or single-serve sticks.
What to know: It's pricey for a two-week supply.
If healthier skin, nails, hair and/or joints is your goal, the Beauty Collagen from Vital Proteins is a great choice. Not only do you get collagen peptides, but hyaluronic acid and probiotics are also added to the powder (note that there is no evidence that probiotics support the potential effect of collagen protein).
It comes in three flavors—Lavender Lemon, Tropical Hibiscus and Strawberry Lemon—in a canister or single-serve sticks. We tasted the Strawberry Lemon flavor and found it had a pleasant strawberry flavor first and a mild lemon flavor. We couldn't detect any collagen flavor. The powder also dissolved nicely in cold water; only a few stubborn clumps didn't fully dissolve.
Just stir it into hot or cold beverages, such as juice, smoothies or tea, or sprinkle it into foods such as yogurt, oatmeal and more. And remember, Vital Proteins' products are NSF-certified.
Overall, we like the Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides (view at Amazon) the best, not only for its taste and the addition of vitamin C but also because it is sourced from grass-fed, pasture-raised cattle. If you're looking for convenience, the Bubs Naturals Collagen Peptides (view at Amazon) are the way to go.
Collagen brings strength, structure and elasticity to our connective tissues, tendons, ligaments, bones and skin. But as we age, our body becomes less efficient at producing collagen. According to recent research, by age 40, we lose about 1% of our collagen every year, and by around age 80, we have 75% less collagen than a young adult.
While a total of 28 types of collagen have been discovered, five are the most common. Type I is the most abundant in our body, making up over 90% of the collagen in the human body. This form of collagen is in the skin, bone, teeth, tendons, ligaments and organs. Type II is in cartilage, and type III is mainly in the skin, muscle and blood vessels. Type IV is in the epithelial tissue layers, which cover body surfaces and line body cavities. And then type V is one of the main elements of cell surfaces and the placenta. But from a supplement standpoint, you'll mostly find Types I, II and III.
There are foods that are naturally rich in collagen. And there are other forms of collagen supplements, like capsules and liquid. There are also so-called vegan collagen supplements on the market, and they don't actually contain collagen (collagen is inherently not vegan). Instead, these products comprise other ingredients that stimulate collagen production.
But arguably, the most popular way to up your collagen intake is with a collagen powder. Collagen powders can be extracted from a few different sources, with the most common being bovine (cattle), porcine (pigs), ovine (sheep), chicken and fish (usually labeled "marine" collagen).
Often, you'll see collagen powders labeled as such, and these terms are pretty much synonyms. Collagen peptides are hydrolyzed collagen, which means the collagen has been broken down into smaller units to be more easily digestible. Another easy way to tell what you're getting is to see if the instructions say you can dissolve the powder in hot or cold water. If the powder is easy to mix in either temperature, it's been fully hydrolyzed.
Hydrolyzed collagen has been shown to have anti-aging benefits when it comes to skin. A 2019 study found that drinking a beverage with 2.5 g of hydrolyzed collagen improved skin hydration, elasticity and smoothness compared to a drink without collagen.
What's most common are types I, II and III—sometimes they're found together in a powder supplement, while other times they're solo or the product has a combo of two of them.
If you're taking collagen for its anti-aging benefits, look for type I or a combo of types I and III. Both are found in the skin and support skin health (think improved skin hydration, firmness and texture, and fewer wrinkles).
If you're interested in collagen for its joint health benefits and some pain relief, look for type II. Remember, this is the collagen found in cartilage. A 2023 review concluded that studies show type II collagen and hydrolyzed collagen are safe and effective in reducing the symptoms of osteoarthritis, but further research is needed.
"It can have a positive impact on skin health and elasticity, as well as bone and joint health," says Raeanne Sarazen, M.A., RDN, author of “The Complete Recipe Writing Guide.” Many collagen supplement manufacturers recommend that people take collagen every day—and there's research that shows this could be helpful. While the U.S. doesn't have recommendations on how much or how little collagen you should aim for each day, "the European Food Safety Authority recommends 10 g hydrolyzed collagen as the maximum daily dose," says Sarazen.
The most common supplements available are types I, II and III or a blend of these. Since type I makes up nearly 90% of the collagen in our bodies, this is the most commonly recommended supplement. Also, the practical use of any supplement is to replace what is lost naturally through aging, and the vast majority of the collagen we lose is type I. While there is no disadvantage to a blended or combination product, any version you take should have a much higher percentage of type I for maximum benefit in replenishing that type of collagen in your body.
"People who have allergies (e.g., fish, eggs and shellfish) should be careful and aware of collagen sources and ingredients before using these supplements," says Sarazen.
Also, as with any supplement, you should consult your healthcare provider for personalized guidance and to ensure that adding a collagen regimen is appropriate for your needs and isn't contraindicated with your current medications or any health conditions you may have.
Collagen supplements are generally considered safe for most people, but like any supplement, they can have potential side effects. Some people may experience digestive issues like bloating or heartburn. Also, as Sarazen noted above, folks with allergies to fish, shellfish or eggs should exercise extra caution before taking a collagen supplement. It's important to follow the recommended dosage on the product label and consult with your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement regimen. As with any supplement, you'll want to ensure you buy a product from a reputable brand that conducts third-party testing.
Brierley Horton, M.S., RD, is a senior commerce editor with over 15 years of experience writing about nutrition, health and food. She regularly stirs collagen into her coffee, smoothies and matcha lattes. To write this article, she first compiled a list of top-selling collagen powders and then cut the list down to powders that are also third-party verified for quality. To finalize her list, she relied on her personal experience testing collagen powders.
Stacey Ballis researched and wrote the common questions after interviewing Raeanne Sarazen, M.A., RDN, author of “The Complete Recipe Writing Guide.”
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