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The Best Collagen Supplements For Youthful Skin And Healthy Joints
Products reviewed by: Beauty Testing Team
Written by: SA Editorial Team
We tested and reviewed the top collagen supplements that turn back the hands of time for both your skin and joints.
Imagine looking in the mirror and feeling that spark of confidence as you see radiant, refreshed skin looking back. Or stepping into your day with ease, knowing your joints will keep up with every move.
But maybe lately, that feeling hasn’t come so easily? Instead, fine lines might be setting in, and moving around just isn’t as comfortable as it used to be. Collagen—the essential protein that keeps our skin and joints strong—naturally starts to fade as we age. And for women, this loss can speed up after menopause, with collagen levels dropping fast. The result? Skin that feels thinner and joints that don’t feel quite as flexible as before.
What if you could give your body the support it needs to keep your skin smooth and your joints comfortable, no matter the stage of life? With the right collagen boost, you can feel more like yourself again—inside and out.
We know researching different products can be time-consuming, so we tested and reviewed the top collagen supplements on the market to help you find the best options, so you can start looking and feeling your best right away. But first, let’s look at why collagen is so essential for both skin and joint health.
What Is Collagen?
Collagen is a crucial protein that makes up about 30% of the protein in your body. It acts as the main building block for various tissues, including your skin, muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, and other connective tissues.
Your body produces collagen using three important amino acids: proline, glycine, and hydroxyproline. These amino acids come together to form strong, spiral-like strands, creating a special structure known as a triple helix. This unique shape gives collagen its strength and helps keep your tissues healthy and stable.
There are 28 different types of collagen, but these two are most impactful:
Type I: This type accounts for about 90% of the collagen in your body. It supports your skin, bones, tendons, and ligaments.
Type III: This type works alongside Type I to support your skin and also helps strengthen your muscles, arteries, and organs, keeping them functioning properly.
Your Top Collagen FAQS
What can collagen do for you?
- Enhances skin elasticity to help improve firmness and texture
- Supports better digestion and gut health
- Helps improve hair and nail growth
- Encourages better joint health and mobility
Collagen is one of the body’s most essential proteins. It helps maintain joint health and supports healthy, youthful skin.
Why should you add collagen to your daily routine?
- Helps reverse the 1% of collagen you can lose each year
- It’s hard to get collagen from food sources
- Meat proteins don’t have much collagen content
A high-quality collagen supplement is one of the best ways to ensure you’re getting enough collagen. Research suggests this can be better for your health than just relying on your diet alone.
Can you boost collagen in your face?
Because collagen is a big molecule, it’s tough for your skin to absorb. However, studies show that hydrolyzed collagen peptides in supplements can boost skin moisture, flexibility, and collagen levels in the deeper skin layer, even in the face.
What to look for in high-quality collagen supplements?
- Type I & III collagen
- Hydrolyzed Bovine Collagen
- Well-rounded amino acid profile
- Collagen with additional ingredients like Colostrum and Polypodium Leucotomos
As you shop among various brands, consider the advantages of opting for a product that combines Type I & III collagen with hydrolyzed bovine collagen. “Hydrolyzed” means it’s broken down into smaller compounds. This process makes it easier for your body to absorb — and put to use. You’ll also want to prioritize options enriched with a diverse amino acid profile and additional ingredients like Colostrum and Polypodium leucotomos. These ingredients enhance immune function, promote skin health, and support digestion.
What to avoid when looking for a high-quality collagen supplement:
- Added Sugars, Flavors, or Sweeteners
These additives can not only compromise the supplement’s purity but may also detract from its potential health benefits.
- Marine Collagen
Marine collagen is derived from fish sources. However, its effectiveness and overall purity can vary quite a bit. It’s not uncommon for marine collagen sources to contain contaminants or allergens. Also, the sourcing and processing methods can impact the quality. Additionally, marine collagen may not be suitable for individuals with fish allergies or those following a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle.
- Liquid Collagen
Liquid collagen formulations often require additional preservatives and stabilizers to maintain shelf life. This can make the ingredient list lengthy and compromise the overall quality and purity of the supplement. Powder collagen supplements have better potency and effectiveness, fewer additives, and a more comprehensive range of health benefits in most cases (especially if you find one with Colostrum).
What To Look For In a High-Quality Collagen Supplement
A Good Mix of Different Amino Acids:
Your body needs a variety of about 20 different amino acids to work well. When choosing collagen supplements, it’s important to look for those with a strong amino acid profile. A good mix helps your body use the collagen more effectively for its benefits.
Hydrolyzed Bovine Collagen:
Research shows that bovine collagen is one of the most effective types. Hydrolyzed collagen has been broken down into smaller pieces, making it easier for your body to absorb. This means you can enjoy the benefits of the supplement more quickly!
Types I & III:
When picking a collagen supplement, focus on those that contain Types I and III collagen. These types specifically support your skin, bones, and tendons—areas that really need it! Be cautious of supplements that contain many different types of collagen, as they might lessen the strength of Types I and III, reducing the overall effectiveness.
Colostrum:
Colostrum is rich in antibodies, growth factors, and nutrients. Including it in a collagen supplement can boost your immune system, support gut health by helping good bacteria grow, and improve skin health. It may also help your body absorb and use collagen and other nutrients more effectively.
Polypodium Leucotomos:
When added to a collagen supplement, polypodium leucotomos can benefit your skin by reducing oxidative stress and enhancing its natural protection against sun damage. This can help with better skin texture, fewer wrinkles, and an overall rejuvenated appearance.
Here Are Our Top Collagen Supplement Choices
Colsilk combines collagen, colostrum, and polypodium leucotomos to create a unique wellness experience aimed at fighting the signs of aging. This powerful blend helps tighten your skin and reduce wrinkles and fine lines. Plus, it helps improve joint strength and mobility.
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ColSilk features a unique blend of ingredients designed to enhance your skin’s appearance, helping to reduce fine lines, deep creases, loss of firmness, and dark spots. While these are the benefits you’d expect from a collagen supplement, ColSilk goes above and beyond by incorporating additional ingredients like colostrum and polypodium leucotomos.
Colostrum is a wonderful addition that not only supports your immune health but also helps promote youthful skin by addressing cellular aging. Meanwhile, the antioxidant polypodium leucotomos helps brighten your complexion and combat signs of sun damage.
We loved that ColSilk mixes effortlessly into various beverages, whether it’s smoothies, coffee, tea, or just plain water—no clumping or strange aftertaste! Plus, it contains the essential collagen types I and III, which are key for maximizing effectiveness.
ColSilk is our top choice because it truly embodies everything you want in a high-quality collagen supplement—and even more.
PROS:
- Helps improve skin texture, complexion, and elasticity
- Doesn’t clump mixes well with all your favorite beverages
- Unflavored and undetectable when mixed
- Supports joint health and mobility
- Encourages better gut health
- Contains type I and III bovine collagen, Polypodium leucotomos, and Colostrum
CONS:
- Only sold online
- On backorder frequently
Regular Price: $41
Vital Proteins is a solid choice in the collagen peptides space with types I & III bovine collagen. It also contains other helpful ingredients like vitamin C and hyaluronic acid. We noticed that Vital Proteins stopped including a scoop. This was more of an inconvenience when trying to measure a proper serving. There were also some clumping issues, which could mean this collagen isn’t as hydrolyzed (broken down to mix seamlessly) as other collagen supplements on this list.
PROS:
- Types I & III bovine collagen
- Contains Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid
- Good amino acid combination
CONS:
- Only has a 30-day money-back guarantee
- Some negative reviews about the flavor
- No scoop included
Regular Price: $85
Ancient Nutrition comes as number three on our list with a wide variety of different types of collagen from an array of sources like beef, chicken, fish, and fermented eggshell membranes. While we appreciate the additions, we’ve noticed that an excess of collagen sources can dilute the effectiveness of the most important ones — type I & III. We also saw that this brand doesn’t go into much detail about its amino acid profile, which leads us to believe it’s not as strong as the options above.
PROS:
- Contains hydrolyzed bovine collagen
- Has six different flavor options
CONS:
- Has 10 different collagen types from different sources
- Contains marine collagen
- No transparency about amino acid profile
- Some negative reviews on “flavorless” taste
Regular Price: $100
Super Youth takes a unique approach to collagen peptides with their fruit punch flavored option with Vitamin C, Vitamin C, Hyaluronic Acid, and Apple Cider Vinegar. But we see the same thing with this option — an overhaul of collagen sources makes it hard to get the most out of types I & III. SkinnyFit also lacks some essential nutrients and minerals like calcium and magnesium.
PROS:
- Contains helpful ingredients like Vitamin C, Hyaluronic Acid, and Apple Cider Vinegar
- Some positive reviews on fruit punch flavor
CONS:
- Has five different collagen sources
- Contains marine collagen
- Some negative reviews about the price and overall value of product
Regular Price: $67
Whole Body Collagen takes the number five spot with three patented collagen peptides. The company seems to bring a scientific approach to creating products by patented and clinically tested products, but this information isn’t accessible to customers. There are also some negative reviews about the overall value of this product. We found some unhappy reviews about how the container comes half full — with only 15 servings per container.
PROS:
- Blend of three patented collagen peptides
CONS:
- Not a great value with only 15 servings per container
- No customer transparency to clinical research claims
Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8620403/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8824545/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12788523/
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ijd.15518
https://www.foundmyfitness.com/topics/collagen
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3792777/
