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While aging is inevitable, optimizing your diet with one of the best vegan collagen supplements is one easy way to help build collagen and maybe even delay those fine lines and wrinkles. Unlike real collagen, which is animal-derived, vegan collagen is made up of specific nutrients that help boost your body's own natural collagen production. If you're interested in adding one to your routine, we spoke with dermatologists and registered dietitians specializing in plant-based nutrition to get the scoop on what makes a vegan collagen supplement effective. Read on for our experts' recommendations for the best collagen alternatives to help support your hair, skin, nails, and joints.
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Sun Warrior's Vegan Collagen Building Protein Peptides provide a blend of essential nutrients to help your body produce collagen. Unlike many plant-based proteins that lack certain amino acids, this collagen-building powder contains a complete amino acid profile along with branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) needed to synthesize collagen, plus 100% of the daily dose of vitamin C, says Julie Pace, RDN, founder of Core Nutrition Health & Wellness. It's also enriched with biotin for strong hair, skin, and nails, as well as hyaluronic acid for skin hydration, combined with 100% vegan collagen-building ingredients.
Each scoop of this vegan collagen boost powder contains 14 grams of pea protein to help support your own collagen production. What's more to love is that it's free from chemicals and artificial additives, with no added sugar, dairy, or soy, and it's gluten-free, non-GMO, and entirely vegan. Plus, this protein powder comes in a variety of delicious flavors, including churro, coconut matcha latte, and salted caramel. Reviewers rave that the flavors truly live up to the hype and are easy to incorporate into recipes, such as protein pancakes and shakes.
Form: Powder / Servings per container: 20 / Key nutrients: Amino acids, vitamin C, biotin, hyaluronic acid, probiotics
These Vegan Collagen Booster capsules from Future Kind are endorsed by Pace and Vandana Sheth, RDN, a registered dietitian and plant-based nutrition expert who like the formula's broad range of ingredients and amino acids that help enhance your body's natural collagen production. “With 16 collagen-boosting nutrients, including silica from bamboo extract, biotin, grape-seed extract, zinc, vitamins A and E, and the antioxidant-rich Ayurvedic super berry amla, these advanced plant-powered capsules prioritize supporting skin health from within,” says Pace. Amla (also known as gooseberry) is high in antioxidants, including vitamin C, which are linked to helping to reduce skin inflammation, per a 2021 study in the journal Antioxidants.
“This supplement is designed to support skin and joint health, packaged in an eco-friendly glass container, and undergoes third-party testing for quality and purity,” Sheth says. The serving size is two capsules, and you can take them with or without food.
Form: Capsules / Servings per container: 30 / Key nutrients: Biotin, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, silica
“Mary Ruth's Organics Vegan Collagen Boosting Liposomal sets itself apart with its liposomal delivery system to enhance maximum bioavailability and absorption,” Pace says. Each half-tablespoon serving contains 33% daily value (DV) of vitamin C, 23% DV of vitamin E, 20% DV of zinc, and 13% DV of copper, and you can easily take a full tablespoon to double up on nutrients.
“These liposomal supplements may be particularly beneficial for individuals unable to swallow capsules or those with digestive issues, offering an effective and convenient solution to enhance collagen production,” Pace says. Plus, many reviewers rave about the delicious maple hot cocoa flavor, and note that it tastes great mixed into a morning cup of coffee or iced latte.
Form: Liquid / Servings per container: 30 / Key nutrients: Amino acids, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, copper
Rae Wellness Vegan Collagen Boost is made with the most essential nutrients needed to promote your body's collagen production. It combines vitamin C with bamboo stem extract (rich in vitamins A, B, and E), along with amino acids L-proline, L-lysine, and glycine. The unflavored powdered version is nearly tasteless, Sheth says, but for convenience, it’s also available in a two-a-day capsule form that's easy to take.
“Packed with collagen-boosting nutrients like vitamin C, this product undergoes third-party testing to ensure quality and efficacy, all at an affordable price point,” Sheth says. The serving size is two capsules a day, and you'll want to take these for at least a full month to give this vegan supplement a chance to work its magic.
Form: Capsules / Servings per container: 30 / Key nutrients: Vitamin C, silica, amino acids
“Codeage Amen Vegan Collagen stands out for its innovative blend of plant-based antioxidants, organic fruits, and essential nutrients like amino acids and silica, promoting natural collagen synthesis,” Pace says. “Unlike traditional animal collagen, Codeage offers a cruelty-free alternative that's non-GMO, dairy-free, soy-free, and gluten-free, making it a versatile and health-conscious choice for supporting healthy skin,” Pace says. We also love that a serving is just a single capsule, so you don't have to struggle with swallowing multiple pills. More perks: These capsules are manufactured in a CGMP-certified facility (meaning the manufacturing process is FDA-certified to ensure quality and purity) and are third-party tested.
Form: Capsule / Servings per container: 30 / Key nutrients: Vitamin C, biotin, amino acids, silica
Mary Ruth Collagen Boosting Gummies offer a vegan-friendly alternative to traditional collagen supplements sourced from animals. “Formulated with essential nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin C, and l-lysine, alongside the collagen-supporting benefits of amla fruit, these delicious watermelon-flavored gummies promote natural collagen synthesis and enhance skin health,” Pace says. These gummies are tasty and especially easy to take for folks who aren't fans of capsules or pills. Each gummy contains 33% DV of vitamins A and C, and you can easily take two gummies for a double dose of nutrients.
Form: Gummy / Servings per container: 90 / Key nutrients: Vitamin A, vitamin C, l-lysine
Organifi's Glow is a refreshing plant-based raspberry lemonade drink formulated to boost your skin’s natural collagen production. “Packed with antioxidants and vitamin C from acerola cherry for elasticity, and tremella mushroom for superior hydration, it's a delicious way to support the body's natural collagen production,” Pace says. Each serving contains 76% of your DV for vitamin C as well as silica from organic bamboo.
To enjoy, simply mix one scoop into water for a deliciously hydrating drink packed with superfoods, such as mushrooms, raspberry, and acerola. “It makes my skin illuminate and it’s easy to mix with just water, you don’t have to mask the flavor at all,” one Amazon reviewer writes.
Form: Drink mix / Servings per container: 30 / Key nutrients: Vitamin C, silica, tremella mushroom,
First off, true collagen is the main structural protein found in humans and animals. It has a specific helical structure made of three amino acids: proline, glycine, and hydroxyproline—and it makes up our connective tissues, including bones, tendons, ligaments, and skin, says Joshua Zeichner, MD, an associate professor of dermatology and director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital. “True collagen used in skin care and ingestible supplements or powders are derived from animal sources.”
Plant-based collagen alternatives have become popular, but it’s important to note that they're not true collagen protein because they don't come from animals. Instead, some vegan collagen supplements can be derived from genetically engineered bacteria. These vegan options mimic the structure and function of animal-derived collagen without any animal ingredients, so they're technically vegan, says Vandana Sheth, RDN, CDCES, FAND, registered dietitian and plant-based expert. However, they're not widely available and there isn't solid research that backs up their benefits compared to real collagen.
Most commonly though, supplements labeled “vegan collagen” will be collagen boosters or builders that contain vitamins, minerals, plant extracts, and herbs that support the body's natural collagen production, Sheth says. Some of these important nutrients that help build collagen include vitamin C, zinc, and copper, and they've been backed by research to support collagen synthesis.
Many vegan collagen supplements will contain plant-based amino acids (the building blocks of protein) in addition to nutrients that support collagen production.
“Some supplements [contain nutrients] like zinc or vitamin C, which are co-factors essential for the production of collagen and will help support your body's production of new collagen,” says Dr. Zeichner.
When looking for a vegan collagen booster, aim for a supplement that contains some of the following nutrients:
When shopping for plant-based collagen alternatives, Dr. Zeichner recommends looking for supplements from companies with a history of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), a set of guidelines put forth by the FDA to ensure quality, and giving priority to products supported by clinical data.
If the goal is to increase your body's collagen supplies, the most important thing is to focus on your diet as a whole. You'll want to follow a well-balanced diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and protein, says Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, FAAD, a board-certified cosmetic, medical and surgical dermatologist in New York City and founder of the clean vegan skin care brand Skincare Junkie.
“Your body doesn’t know the difference between collagen peptide supplements and other sources of protein, so vegan proteins of any kind will help your body to make the collagen it needs,” says Dr. Murphy-Rose.
Not only that but certain vitamins and minerals also help the body create more collagen on its own. Again, “vitamin C, zinc, and copper help build healthy collagen, so focus on eating foods rich in these vitamins and minerals, or taking a supplement that provides these,” Dr. Murphy-Rose says. The best way to get more vitamin C naturally is to load up on fruits and vegetables (especially bell peppers, citrus, broccoli, and kiwi). To get more zinc, eat more seafood, meat, and poultry. And for more copper, fork into shellfish, whole grains, nuts, beans, and potatoes.
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