Decades of scientific research tells us that collagen is essential to every function in the body. It’s like the biological secret for feeling revitalized and energized.
Collagen plays a major role in everything from a glowing complexion, smoothing out wrinkles, gorgeous skin tone, bone and joint health, digestive function and lean muscle development. All told, it makes up to 35% of all the protein in your body. It’s everywhere. In your muscles, joints, skin, bones and digestive system.
Everyone wants to feel years younger. And collagen really is like your body’s fountain of youth.
To help you make a smart, informed decision, The Superfood Reviews team spent months researching collagen peptide brands on the market. We found clear standouts – and many that you should avoid at all costs. Ready to discover which is right for you? Read on!
A Collagen Supplement Can Benefit People Who Notice Any Of The Following As They Age:
Uncomfortable movement during daily activities like going upstairs or getting out of bed
Stiffness in joints especially in fingers, knees, hips, elbows, and shoulders
Difficulty opening jars or carrying grocery bags
New wrinkles or fine lines around the eyes or forehead
Skin that looks dry, less dewy and plump than before
Nails that split or chip easily
Thinning or less voluminous hair
The Older You Get, the More Collagen You Need
Here’s the unfortunate biological reality though: the older you get, the less collagen your body produces. By your mid-20s it starts to decline. By 40, it’s down 25% and, by 60, it will decrease by more than 50%. So, as your body produces less collagen each day that goes by, your skin becomes less firm, your hair thins, your joints, bones and muscles lose strength, and your digestive system function decreases.
So, research makes it crystal clear why collagen is vital to whole-body health. But getting enough in your body from food alone is extremely difficult. That’s why health practitioners around the world are recommending supplementation with collagen or sometimes called collagen peptides.
What to Expect From Collagen Supplements: Month One
You might begin to notice enhanced skin elasticity and your hair may appear fuller than before. Simple daily tasks may also begin to feel less uncomfortable on your joints.
Month Two
At this point most people begin to notice more significant changes in the thickness and strength of their hair and nails. You are also likely to experience more mobility and flexibility in your joints - they may sound less creaky or feel less stiff when you move around.
Month Three
You are most likely to see and feel the most changes with daily use of collagen after three months. At this stage most people notice that their hair has more volume and looks shinier than before and that their nails break less than before. They also report that their skin looks more hydrated with less sagging and fewer wrinkles. You are also likely to find it easier to perform physical activities that might have felt strenuous on your joints before.
* X mark can also mean that the following criteria were not clearly specified in each product.
What You Should Look For In A Collagen Supplement
✓ PURITY & QUALITY: Choose only marine collagen as its also more environmentally helpful than cow collagen. Additionally, fish protein emits fewer greenhouse gas emissions than cattle protein.
✓ HYDROlYZED COLLAGEN PEPTIDES: Hydrolyzed collagen peptides mean the amino acids have been broken down for super easy digestion and absorption.
✓ POTENCY & STRENGTH: Look for at least 5500mg of collagen per serving with no additives or artificial flavourings!
✓ FLAVOUR AND CONVENIENCE: Most of the off-the-shelf collagen supplements tend to taste bad and are hard to carry as collagen supplements tend to come in various formats.. Try to find a collagen you'll be glad to easily consume every morning or everywhere you go!
What You Need to Avoid
There are certain key factors you should look out for when it comes to picking a collagen supplement. Listed below are the four main things you need to avoid:
✖ ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS & ADDED SUGAR: These nasty additions can cause all kinds of damage and cause weight gain.
✖ "NATURAL" FLAVOURS: Most flavors are chemically-made and disguised as "natural" or healthy by marketers
✖ ARTIFICIAL PRESERVATIVES: Added to extend shelf life, artificial preservatives fill your body with unwanted, harmful chemicals.
✖ SOY-BASED FILLERS: Used to bulk up products, soy fillers can negatively impact important vitamins and minerals in your body.
Ranking the Top 5 Collagen Supplements in 2022
The Purest Co.'s Collagen Glow Berries are the collagen supplement we recommend due to its liquid form factor, which maximizes absorption into the body, based on our study and extensive testing.
We believe it to be one of the best grade collagen supplements on the market right now, if not the greatest. Whatever the reason, after trying a number of different collagen brands in various formats, this supplement has proven to be the most successful. 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:
Pros:
With Nitta-gelatin Wellnex ® hydrolyzed collagen peptides from Japan
Contains Vitamin C, bilberry extract, mixed berries concentrate juice and additional essential ingredients
No unnecessary ingredients or additives
Rigorously tested for purity and ingredient quality
Produced in a HACCP and ISO22000 certified facility
Highly rated for customer service
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 as it contains no unnecessary ingredients, and also was packed with a great berry taste. The company was highly rated for its customer service and questions posed were answered within hours and were also very informative. Additionally, they have a 30-day risk-free, money-back guarantee which shows they are willing to stand behind the quality of their products. Shipping to our Australian address was also quick, and through DHL express which was a plus.
When compared to other top competitors in the Australian market, Collagen Glow Berries by The Purest Co was unrivaled in effectiveness, quality, safety and value, which makes it our top choice as the best collagen supplement on the market today.
Pros:
Marine collagen peptides
Heat stable
Sustainably sourced
No unnecessary ingredients or additives
Widely available online
Positive feedback from readers
Cons:
Non-branded marine collagen source
No complimentary ingredients such as Vitamin C
Can be pricey
BOTTOMLINE:
Marine collagen powder by Vida Glow is a high-quality powdered collagen supplement from a reputable brand.
Their powder contains strictly marine collagen without any other added ingredients, and as it is tasteless, it can be added to your daily drinks, making regular consumption very convenient.
We do like the fact that Vida Glow has focused on providing just a no-frills high-quality collagen powder, without unnecessary additives. While Vida Glow does have a subscription option that allows you to save some money per order, their absolute price of 140 AUD may be a barrier for some customers.
This is a good option with a good amount of collagen per 2 servings, and can be your go-to daily collagen supplement if you are able to add it to your morning coffee or smoothie. As research has shown that drinks typically have a higher absorption rate than powders, we would typically recommend a collagen drink (rather than a collagen powder) as the preferred form factor however.
Pros:
Marine collagen peptides
Heat stable
Sustainably sourced
No unnecessary ingredients or additives
Widely available online
Positive feedback from readers
Cons:
Non-branded marine collagen source
May include some unnecessary ingredients
Includes stevia
BOTTOMLINE:
JS health has produced a collagen powder which also doubles up as helping to boost your vitality through a number of interesting ingredients that they have added to their offering. Not only is it marketed as helping your skin, but it also supports energy production and relieves digestive discomfort.
While our team are not huge fans of all-in-one powders that claim to treat a large number of things at the same time, the Vitality X + Collagen powder from JS health does include a number of ingredients that are believed to increase vitality. For example, they have added Turmeric and also Siberian Ginseng, which are ingredients not commonly found with collagen supplements.
In addition, JS health has also added Vitamin C in their product, which is always something we like to see as we consider it complementary to a collagen supplement.
While each tub only gives a moderate amount of marine collagen, this product would be a good option for those who are looking for not only the benefits of collagen, but also for an increase in energy throughout the day.
Pros:
Convenient tablet form
Affordable
Contains Vitamin C and E
Cons:
Uses generic collagen - no information on collagen type
Not much information online about their processing standards
BOTTOMLINE:
Collagen Boost & Glow by Centrum is the only collagen supplement in tablet form on our list. While tablets as a form factor may be less effective than drinks, we feel that this offering by Centrum does provide a good option for customers who value convenience above all.
While each tablet does not have a large amount of collagen (1000mg), they do include a small amount of Vitamin C (100mg) which we feel is a good, complimentary ingredient.
Even though there are a decently large number of customers who give centrum a good review, we feel that because they do not provide enough information about their collagen source, it may not be the best option out there.
However, for those who are on a budget and would like to try collagen supplements for the first time, this could be the go-to option.
Pros:
Large amount of collagen per serving
Contains camu camu extract
Uses “branded” collagen
Cons:
Bovine collagen sources
Regular feedback of container being half full
BOTTOMLINE:
Collagen Beauty by Nutra Organics is a collagen powder supplement made from bovine sources from Brazil and Germany.
Due to this usage of bovine collagen, they are able to provide a whopping 10g of collagen in every serve, compared to the average of 3g for typical marine collagen products. Nutra Organics are able to do this as collagen supplements formulated with bovine collagen are cheaper to manufacture.
While the brand states that there is no large difference between bovine and marine collagen sources, and it is more so due to the process in which they are treated, we feel that there has been enough research to show that marine collagen is more effective in terms of quality and bioavailability.
We would recommend this option only for customers who are on a budget and would like to try collagen for the first time. Additionally, we would recommend switching to a collagen supplement that utilizes collagen from marine sources after that.
BEST PRODUCT OVERALL
It is best to take collagen supplements to prevent the decline of this protein in our body. This supplement can help maintain the health of our skin, nails, hair, joint, and bones. In order to maximize collagen absorption and benefit from it, it's crucial to compare the nutritional values of the drinks and powders you're considering to purchase and specifically their collagen contents.
The our team recommends The Purest Co's Collagen Glow Berries. Although there are a few other supplements that are also high-quality, in our opinion The Purest Co. offers the best overall value in the market today. It is also the more effective and healthier choice.
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