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2024's Top Collagen Supplements

The darling of the beauty world, collagen promotes more youthful-looking skin, hair, & nails, as well as healthy joints. Your guide to finding the best.

Benefits Key Ingredients Top 6

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Many of us begin noticing a decrease in our collagen production around the age of 30 when our skin begins to lose elasticity, we start developing fine lines, and signs of aging begin to appear. That's why collagen is quickly becoming one of the most popular supplements on the market.

One of the best ways to make sure you're getting enough collagen in your diet is through a high-quality, scientifically-formulated collagen peptide supplement. In fact, preliminary studies suggest this can promote your health and well-being — better than diet alone. A quality collagen powder can also support healthy weight management because it's low in calories and high in protein.

However, with so many collagen products currently available, it can be hard to distinguish which brands can restore your youthful appearance...and which are just trying to take your money.

That's why Smarter Reviews has compiled months of research about this emerging category and narrowed them down to the top 6.

Collagen Loss Over Time

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Before we dive into what makes a supplement effective and worth your hard-earned money, it’s important to understand what exactly collagen can do for your overall health.

What Can a Collagen Supplement do for You?

Promote Skin Elasticity

As we age, the reduction of collagen in our skin causes sagging and wrinkles. But studies show that taking collagen on a regular basis can diminish the appearance of wrinkles and promote skin elasticity, giving you a smooth and even complexion. 

Strengthen Hair & Nails

Thinning hair and weak nails are tough issues to work through, especially for women. Thankfully, the amino acids in a collagen supplement help generate the necessary proteins to create favorable conditions for fuller, thicker hair and chip-resistant nails. 

Supports Joint Health

Years of wear-and-tear on our joints can cause occasional discomfort in our joints, which may cause you to be less active. Taking collagen can promote the synthesis of cartilage cells and keep joint friction at a minimum for less discomfort and improved mobility.

Hot Tip: Add Collagen To Your Favorite Drink

A quality collagen powder dissolves easily into your beverage of choice. Many people enjoy mixing collagen with their morning coffee, tea, or smoothie. The best brands make their collagen flavorless so there's little to no impact on the taste of the beverage.

This simple ritual helps customers stay consistent with their collagen intake, producing the best results.

But, not all supplements are created equally and when it comes to choosing a great collagen product, there are several things to consider.

What To Look For In A Collagen Supplement:

Hydrolyzed Collagen Peptides

Hydrolyzed collagen means that the collagen you're taking was broken down into short-chain, highly absorbable amino acids. This makes it easier for collagen to enter your bloodstream. 

Types I & III Collagen

There are many different types of collagen, however, type I accounts for over 90% of the collagen in your body. Type III helps support the same areas as type I and helps promote the health of your skin, muscles, gut lining, and joints. 

Grass-fed Bovine Collagen

Though collagen can come from many different sources, bovine has been found to contain types I & III collagen and has been shown to be effective in clinical trials.

Diverse Amino Acid Profile

Our bodies require approximately 20 different amino acids in order to function optimally. When looking for a collagen supplement, we recommend finding one that displays their amino acid profile on the packaging — the more amino acids, the better.

What Ingredients To Avoid:

Marine Collagen

A problem with marine collagen is that you never know what you're getting. "Marine" is a blanket term for any aquatic creature whether it be a jellyfish, shellfish, or shark — these sources are not easy for the body to absorb.

Artificial Flavors or Sweeteners

Some brands add a sweetener or artificial flavors that could upset your GI tract or add unnecessary calories. We recommend adding your own sweetener to an unflavored version or mixing it into a flavorful beverage.

How Much Collagen Should You Take?

If you're concerned you lost too much collagen and want to restore your levels quickly, you may benefit from "collagen loading."

Simply double your collagen intake for the first 30 days so that your body can return to the baseline level of collagen production.

After this level has been established, you'll likely start feeling and seeing the difference with just a single serving.

3 Tips For Results:

Real Results Take Time

Dramatic changes from collagen won't happen overnight. But if you add it to your regimen not expecting miracles, you may notice changes in a matter of weeks. After 3 months of regular use is when many people report seeing a “night and day” difference in their skin, hair, joints, digestion — or all of the above. Stick with it for at least 3 months for best results!

Clinically Studied Dosages

Some brands use quality ingredients, but skimp out on dosages to save money. So even with the right ingredients, if they’re not in recommended dosages, you won’t experience the full benefits. We recommend looking for a collagen that has at least 19 different amino acids, with servings comprised of at least 90% protein.

Money-Back Guarantee

It’s always a good idea to invest in a supplement that offers a 100% money-back guarantee, which shows the company's faith in its product. Look for brands that offer at least a 90-day refund period — so you get 3 months to try it risk-free.

Top 6 Collagen Supplements Of 2024

We've compiled a list of what we've found to be the top 6 products in this category on the market today.

Click to see the list of collagen products we evaluated >>

 

1. Collagen Peptides

by Live Conscious[1]

Owned by the Smarter Reviews Group of Companies

hat
packaged goods

Total Ranking

9.7/10

A+

Overall Grade

Vote and Review

5/10

PROS

  • Over 4 million bags sold
  • 56,000 5-star ratings across the web
  • Types I & III bovine collagen
  • Hydrolyzed & easily dissolvable
  • 19 amino acids included
  • 1 tree planted with every order
  • 365-day, risk-free, money-back, product guarantee
  • Get 10% off with code "First10"

CONS

  • Out of stock frequently
The Bottom Line

Live Conscious' Collagen Peptides, voted best collagen powder for anti-aging by Marie Claire, will help nourish your hair, skin, and nails while promoting healthy joints.

This was one of the only products we could verify with no hidden additives or artificial ingredients. It was also one of the only collagen supplements third-party tested.

Their return policy was top-notch — a comprehensive, 365-day, risk-free, money-back guarantee. All in all, Live Conscious Exitis our top pick. 

*Results are based on the Smarter Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.

Get 10% Off

2. Collagen Peptides

by Essential Elements [1]

Owned by the Smarter Reviews Group of Companies

hat
packaged goods

Total Ranking

9.5/10

A

Overall Grade

Vote and Review

5/10

PROS

  • Includes types I & III collagen 
  • Derived from bovine
  • 365-day money-back guarantee 

CONS

  • Less diverse amino acid profile 
The Bottom Line

Coming in a close second is Essential Elements for their dynamite collagen peptides.

Essential Elements formulated their product with the optimal dosages of types I & III collagen. They fall just shy of being great, however, because their amino acid profile only contains 8 amino acids, so they lack the building blocks to deliver results as effective or fast.

Beyond that, Essential Elements offers a comprehensive 365-day return policy, so everyone can try their products completely risk-free. Plus, they just opened a store on Amazon making ordering easier than ever.

For all these reasons, the Collagen Peptides by Essential Elements is number 2 on our list. 

*Results are based on the Smarter Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.

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3. Collagen Peptides

by Vital Proteins 

number
a blue can of food

Total Ranking

8.9/10

B+

Overall Grade

Vote and Review

5/10

PROS

  • Contains types I & III collagen 
  • Diverse amino acid profile 

CONS

  • Only a 30-day money-back guarantee
The Bottom Line

The Collagen Peptides by Vital Proteins contains a hefty dose of types I & III bovine collagen, but unfortunately, fails to use the more potent form of hydrolyzed collagen. It also lacks some key minerals, such as calcium and magnesium.

However, it was formulated without any harmful additives or fillers, which gives it a boost in our rankings. Plus a majority of the customers were happy with their purchase and reported positive results.

Vital Proteins offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, which is not as comprehensive as others on this list.

*Results are based on the Smarter Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.

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4. Foundation Beauty Elixir

by Hair La Vie

hat
a green box with a label

Total Ranking

8.7/10

B+

Overall Grade

Vote and Review

5/10

PROS

  • Contains types I & III collagen 
  • Diverse amino acid profile
  • Includes prebiotics, keratin, vitamin C, ginger & blue spirulina
  • Uses hydrolyzed bovine collagen

CONS

  • Flavored collagen

Empty heading

The Bottom Line

Coming in at number 4 on our list is Foundation Beauty Elixir by Hair la Vie, a collagen-based drink specifically formulated to support healthy skin, hair, and nails. If enhancing your beauty is a top priority, this is the collagen for you.

Foundation Beauty Elixir’s formula not only contains types I and III grass-fed bovine collagen and 19 amino acids but also includes prebiotics, keratin, vitamin C, ginger, and blue spirulina for added health and beauty benefits.

While we don’t usually recommend flavored collagen, this product uses a natural honeydew flavor for a touch of sweetness without added sugar. It also gets its color from blue spirulina, a well-known superfood with a natural blue hue.

Most customers have reported noticeable improvements in their skin, hair, and nails after taking Foundation for just under one month. Hair La Vie also has a 90-Day money-back guarantee so you can try the product virtually risk-free. For these reasons, we had to include Foundation Beauty Elixir on our list.

*Results are based on the Smarter Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.

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5. Super Youth Collagen Powder

by SkinnyFit

number
a white container with a blue label

Total Ranking

7.9/10

C+

Overall Grade

Vote and Review

5/10

PROS

  • Contains types I & III collagen
  • Diverse amino acid profile
  • Uses hydrolyzed bovine collagen

CONS

  • Uses 5 types of collagen, which dilutes effectiveness
  • Lacks calcium, magnesium, and other minerals 
The Bottom Line

Rounding off our list is SkinnyFit with their Collagen Peptides. It’s formulated with types I, II, III, V & X collagen. But with so many different types, it's difficult to get the maximum benefits and bioavailability.

Once again, SkinnyFit also lacks some key nutrients and minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, for it to be a truly top-notch collagen supplement.

Potential customers should also take into consideration that SkinnyFit offers a 90-day, money-back guarantee. 

*Results are based on the Smarter Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.

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6. Multi Collagen Protein

by Ancient Nutrition

graphical user interface, text, application
packaged goods

Total Ranking

7.6/10

C

Overall Grade

Vote and Review

5/10

PROS

  • Uses hydrolyzed bovine collagen

CONS

  • Lacks key minerals 
  • Contains 5 different collagen types 
  • Doesn't specify amino acid profile 
The Bottom Line

Coming in at number 6 on our list is Multi Collagen Protein by Ancient Nutrition. This product is formulated with a whopping 5 different types of collagen from 5 different sources.

However, this formula is still missing some key ingredients and fails to specify its amino acid profile, which most likely means it's less potent than the others on our list.

Additionally, a handful of customers reported seeing an increase in skin blemishes and pimples since starting this supplement. So if you’re prone to breakouts, you may want to be careful with the Multi Collagen Protein by Ancient Nutrition.

*Results are based on the Smarter Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.

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Disclaimer:

Smarter Reviews is owned and operated by the same company that owns certain products featured on this website, including the products ranked number one.

In addition, we receive compensation from certain companies whose products are featured on this website when you purchase a product using the links on this website.

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Our Main Sources

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Sources used for research purposes. Smarter-Reviews.com are not officially affiliated with these sites.

What You Will Learn:

100%

Estimated Read Time 5 Minutes

Benefits of a Quality Collagen Supplement

What To Look For In A Collagen Supplement

What Ingredients To Avoid

Top 6 Collagen Supplements

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