The Ultimate Guide to Collagen Supplements
Collagen has become one of the most popular beauty supplements out there and there are so many options on the market that it can get confusing trying to determine which product is the best fit for you. This guide outlines the key things to keep in mind when choosing a collagen supplement so that you don’t end up wasting your money and time.
To begin with, what is collagen?
Collagen is the most abundant protein found in your body and it effectively holds your body together, providing structure to your cells. It is essential to your body’s extracellular matrix and determines the physical properties of your skin.
As you grow older, your natural collagen levels start to decrease drastically, and your skin becomes less youthful. Collagen levels in the body can also be reduced by exposure to UV light. This is where collagen supplements come in—they are a convenient way for you to boost your collagen levels and improve your skin. The long-term benefits of collagen supplements (specifically, Type 1 collagen, which is the most common type) are, primarily, an improvement in skin texture and complexion, an increase in skin hydration and skin elasticity, and a reduction in UV spots, scarring, and fine lines.
Factors to Consider When Buying Collagen Supplements
These evaluation points are meant to help you select the best collagen product, with a focus more on collagen supplementation for improving skin (Type 1 collagen).
1.) Type 1 vs. Type 2 Collagen:
These are the two most common types of collagen found in collagen supplements. Type 1 collagen is also the most commonly found collagen in your body; it is naturally found in your skin, tendon, bones, ligaments, and organs. If you are thinking of taking collagen to target skin concerns (like fine lines or old acne scars) and to increase skin complexion, elasticity, and moisture, this is the one to pick. It can also help to strengthen your nails and hair. It is typically extracted from marine or bovine sources. Type 2 collagen, on the other hand, is a main component of your cartilage and is often taken to improve joint and cartilage health. It is usually taken from chicken or bovine sources.
2) Marine vs. Bovine Collagen:
Marine collagen is derived from fish skin and bones while bovine collagen comes from cow hides. For Type 1 collagen, you should try to avoid collagen supplements that are formulated with bovine collagen, which is used by some manufacturers because it is cheaper than marine collagen.
Bovine collagen is generally of a lower quality, so look for formulations that use hydrolyzed marine collagen peptides. Collagen peptides that have been hydrolyzed in liquid form also have a higher absorption rate—that is, they are easier for your body to absorb and digest—because they have already been broken down into smaller peptides, which means that this form of collagen supplementation offers the best chances of effectiveness and the best bioavailability.
Marine collagen is also more environmentally friendly than bovine collagen because fish protein produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions than livestock protein. Also, marine collagen from wild-caught (rather than farmed) fishes are preferable because you know that they have not been treated with any hormones, antibiotics, or chemicals.
3) Format:
Collagen supplements can come in a variety of formats: drink, powder, or pill. Powder supplements come with the inconvenience of having to make a powdered drink on a daily basis, while pills are more convenient but offer less bioavailability than drinks do (pills have an absorption rate of only around 40-45%).
Liquids have an absorption rate of 90-95%, and ready-to-drink collagen supplements are also easier to consume on a daily basis than powder supplements.
As mentioned earlier, hydrolyzed marine collagen peptides offer the best bioavailability because they have already been broken down into smaller peptides.
Another benefit of the liquid format is that other natural ingredients can be added to make the supplement tastier.
4) Branded Collagen:
Avoid supplements that are formulated with non-branded collagen that comes from unclear sources. It is safer to pick a product that uses a well-established brand of collagen so you know that you are consuming high-quality, premium-grade collagen.
The Purest Co uses premium Nitta-Wellnex® Marine Collagen from Japan in our formulation. Wellnex has over a century of collagen expertise and offers the highest quality marine collagen peptides that are sustainably sourced from wild-caught fish with full traceability and documentation. Our patented technology also uses enzymatic hydrolyzation to extract the purest grade of nano collagen peptide, which means a faster and more effective absorption of collagen.
5) Price and Amount of Collagen:
The key aspect to assessing whether a collagen product is economically “worth it” is the amount of collagen you get relative to the price. Each sachet (one daily serving) of our Collagen Glow Berries contains 5500mg of collagen, which is much higher than the average for other collagen supplements on the market (around 3500mg per serving).
You should also opt for products that offer a money-back guarantee—this shows that the manufacturer is confident about the quality of their product, and it also gives you, the consumer, a stress-free shopping experience.
The Purest Co’s Collagen Glow Berries comes with a risk-free trial policy: try a sachet and if the product is not to your liking, you can simply return it to us at our cost. This money-back guarantee protects you in case the product isn’t suitable.
6) Ingredients and Sweetness:
When picking a supplement, you should also make sure that there are no unnecessary ingredients in the formulation—there should be artificial ingredients or additives. The collagen supplement you buy should also ideally be formulated with Vitamin C, which is essential in the synthesis of collagen. The infusion of Vitamin C in the formulation helps to increase the bioavailability of the collagen peptides (the proportion of collagen in the supplement that is able to enter circulation and have an active effect on your body). Each sachet of Collagen Glow Berries from The Purest Co contains 250mg of Vitamin C and 100mg of Bilberry extract to provide added antioxidant support and improve your body’s rate of absorption by promoting collagen synthesis.
Something else you may want to take note of is the sugar level of the product and how it is sweetened. Where possible, choose a product that has a low sugar content and is sweetened naturally. Our Collagen Glow Berries are lightly sweetened with a mixed berries infusion from real fruit juice that provides a concentrated burst of antioxidants and natural vitamins, and which also tastes pretty great.
Top Collagen Supplements
We here at Superfood Reviews have done the research to find out what the best option for collagen supplements in the market. We have graded each choice through a stringent grading based on the following criteria:
Our evaluation criteria:
PROS
With Nitta-gelatin Wellnex® hydrolyzed collagen peptides from Japan
Contains vitamin C, bilberry extract, mixed berries concentrate juice and many more
No unnecessary ingredients or additives
30-day, 100% satisfaction guaranteed or money back
Rigorously tested for purity and ingredient quality
Made in Taiwan
Manufactured to HACCP and ISO22000 standards
Highly rated for customer service
Free SG delivery on all orders
CONS
Only available online
Regularly out of stock due to high demand
BOTTOMLINE
With an extremely comprehensive formula and the best customer feedback scores on our list, Collagen Glow Berries by The Purest Co is easily our Number 1 pick.
It delivers a potent dose (5500mg) of Nitta-gelatin Wellnex® hydrolyzed collagen peptides which are a superior form of Type 1 marine collagen, as well as a whole host of supporting ingredients like vitamin C (250mg), bilberry extract, and mixed berries concentrate juice.
This collagen drink was extremely popular with our readers and contains no unnecessary ingredients, and was packed with a great taste. The company was highly rated for customer service and offers a 30-day, risk-free, money-back guarantee which shows they are willing to stand behind the quality of their product.
When compared to other top competitors, Collagen Glow Berries was unrivaled in effectiveness, quality, safety, and value which makes it our top choice as the best collagen supplement on the market today.
*Results are based on The Superfoods Review and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.
PROS
Marine collagen peptides
Popular Singapore brand
Contains perilla seed extract, soy isoflavone, and silk protein
Widely available online
Tasty citrus flavored
Positive feedback from readers
CONS
No information on collagen source
High sugar content in each drink
Relatively high calorie count per bottle
BOTTOMLINE Collagen Diamond by Kinohimitsu is a high-quality collagen drink from one of the more well-known brands in Singapore.
With a tasty citrus flavor and type 1 collagen that is derived from marine collagen peptides, one bottle of Collagen Diamond provides 5300mg of collagen peptides.
The high-quality formula also includes vitamin C, lychee juice, perilla seed extract, and silk protein. However, we were slightly disappointed that there was no information on the amount of vitamin C in each serving, which we think complements marine collagen intake and should be at least 200mg, which our top choice does contain.
This is a good option with a high amount of collagen, and can be your go-to daily drink if you don’t mind the high level of sugar and hence sweetness. Some readers may prefer a less sweet option due to health reasons or preference, but this is a personal choice.
PROS
A brand with a long history
One of the highest marine collagen peptide amounts
Can be purchased at retail shops
Contains hyaluronic acid and
Vitamin C
Tasty citrus flavored
CONS
Very expensive
Divisive feedback from consumers
Customer service not the greatest
Average consumer may not require that much collagen
BOTTOMLINE
Everyone is familiar with New Moon as a brand, and besides their well-known abalone products, they carry a line of collagen drinks as well. Their collagen drinks contain one of the highest amounts of marine collagen peptides in the market, and they have priced it as such.
Inner Radiance collagen drink also contains ceramide and hyaluronic acid, as well as maqui berry and vitamin C, which complements their marine collagen peptides.
However, each daily intake bottle is almost 25% more expensive than our top choice, which may or may not justify the amount of collagen in each bottle. Studies have also shown that daily consumption of more than 5000mg may not be effective and cost-efficient, as we do get a certain amount of collagen from our daily diet.
Inner Radiance unfortunately does not seem to have discounts for multiple order purchases - meaning if you plan on taking this long-term, it could get very expensive.
This product would be a good option for those who are not price-sensitive, and who require more collagen than the average consumer.
PROS
Well-known brand in Singapore
Available on Lazada
CONS
Very expensive
A comparatively lower amount of collagen
Fewer complimentary ingredients
BOTTOMLINE RubyCollagen Essence by Brands is an offering from a company that has been in Singapore for many years and is well-known for its affordable chicken essence product line.
This product is the only one in our list which contains astaxanthin, which can prevent cell damage and skin stress, and in turn protects the collagen in your skin. However, the product does not contain vitamin C, which many other options in the market contain.
On the downside, RubyCollagen Essence also has the lowest amount of collagen peptides on our list, at only 3000mg. This is in addition to being one of the more pricey alternatives, making the cost per mg of collagen very expensive as compared to other options on the list.
Consumers may potentially be paying a premium for a product made by one of the more well-respected brands in Singapore.
PROS
Relatively affordable
Unique and complementary ingredients
Low in calories
CONS
Not so well-known manufacturer
Taste and smell were divisive
Not many reviews of the product
Return policy not comprehensive
BOTTOMLINE Crystal Collagen by Itoh Hanako contains an interesting formula that includes ingredients such as vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, pomegranate flower, and kiwi seed.
The product is quite affordable for the amount of collagen (5300mg) and has one of the lowest-calorie counts for each serving on this list.
While they are peach-flavored, some people were not fond of the taste and smell based on some of the mixed feedback we received.
Unfortunately, their website failed to mention much on their return policy, which is an important point to note when trying a new product.
CONCLUSION
Collagen supplements are a convenient way to boost your natural collagen levels, but it is important to consider the specific formulation of the product and its provenance—where the collagen peptides are sourced from and how the product is formulated.
Collagen Glow Berries
30 Sachets
Clinically proven to: Firm, Lift, & Moisturize skin
Collagen peptide: 5,500mg premium grade Japan Nitta-Wellnex™
Infused with: 250mg Vitamin C & 100mg Bilberry extract
Lightly sweetened with: Real fruit juice
Risk-free money back guarantee
Sustainably-harvested from: Tilapia fishes
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