If you’re a regular reader of beauty and wellness magazines and websites, it won’t have escaped your attention that collagen appears to be on everyone’s lips.
Celebrities from actress Jennifer Aniston and Kourtney Kardashian to Arella Ambassador Malin Andersson are ardent fans of collagen peptides.
Meanwhile, heavy-hitters across the media, including Vogue and Men’s Health, have devoted plenty of column inches to the many benefits of collagen, including ours.
Despite those millions of words, one question comes up again and again: which is the best collagen form to take?
In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at what a regular, daily dose of collagen peptides will do for your skin elasticity, hair, nail, bone and joint health.
We’ll also look at the various ways you can take collagen supplements, and reveal why our plant-based liquid collagen is the best of the bunch.
What is collagen?
The key to knowing how collagen can potentially help you is understanding what it does.
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body. We produce it by combining amino acids, proline, glycine and hydroxyproline with zinc, vitamin C, copper and manganese.
Together, they create the triple helix-shaped structural protein we know as collagen. Scientists have identified (so far) 28 different types of collagen, but the wellness and beauty industries focus on the five biggest:
Type I collagen - strengthens skin, bones, connective tissue, ligaments and tendons
Type II collagen - helps form the flexible cartilage supporting our joints
Type III collagen - found in internal organs, blood vessels and muscles
Type IV collagen - present in some skin layers
Type V collagen - found in corneas, hair and some skin layers
Many collagen supplements contain bigger quantities of Type I collagen than others, but we’ll explore this in more detail later.
Why do we need collagen supplements?
The body’s natural collagen production starts to slowly decline by the time we reach our mid-twenties.
The slowdown becomes more pronounced when we reach our forties, and the signs of reduced collagen production become more visible.
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body, present in all the places we listed above. That means its absence is felt in almost every part of us.
Lower levels of natural types of collagen can leave our bones and connective tissues weaker. We can experience more joint pain, while our skin health declines and we have brittle nails.
It can take longer to recover from even moderate exercise and wound healing is slower.
Hair growth declines and skin hydration drops: all because our body’s collagen levels, from our blood vessels and bone marrow to our joints, have slumped.
Finding other collagen peptides
Luckily, all is not lost. As humans, we’re a resourceful species and adept at replacing the collagen Mother Nature takes.
We are not the only sources of the types of collagen on the planet: it can be found in many other places. Let’s begin with dietary sources.
Collagen-rich foods
People have known for hundreds of years that the foods we eat have health benefits, even if they couldn’t understand the medicinal or scientific properties behind them.
In medieval times, abbess Hildegard von Bingen understood that animal tissue extracts were useful for joint pains, while types of collagen have been used in Asian culture to combat skin ageing for centuries.
Today, it’s relatively easy to incorporate different forms of collagen into our lives. One of the simplest is eating more collagen-rich foods to enhance our natural production of collagen proteins.
Adding bone broth to a balanced diet is one of the best collagen boosters. The same goes for chicken and fish, egg whites, leafy greens, tomatoes, bell peppers, berries and tropical fruits, garlic and beans and cashew nuts.
Amino acids and minerals
All these foods are either rich in the ingredients needed to produce the types of collagen we need - such as the vitamin C in berries or cashews’ zinc - or they contain one or more of the essential amino acids required for collagen synthesis.
Eggs and bone broth are particularly good sources of amino acids such as proline and lysine.
On the face of it, adding more collagen-rich foods to a balanced diet to boost our natural levels seems simple. After all, who doesn’t need a bit more vitamin C?
However, if you have dietary restrictions, such as allergies or intolerances, or your lifestyle means you can’t consume meat, fish or any animal products, then it’s not so straightforward.
That’s where collagen supplements come in.
The booming collagen supplements industry
It took until the mid-20th century for the wider food industry to cotton on to collagen’s benefits. It became a key ingredient of sports bars, while the meat packing sector used it as a water binder.
By the 1970s, the collagen peptides contained in hydrolysed or dried collagen ended up replacing sugar and fat in dietary products.
At the same time, this rich source of protein quickly made its way into other foodstuffs, after scientific studies revealed the broad health benefits of collagen.
Within just a few decades, the collagen supplement industry has mushroomed and is set to be worth more than £8 billion by 2030.
Varieties of collagen supplements
People who can’t rely on a diet of protein-rich foods to boost their collagen intake can now turn to a wide variety of supplements.
They come in three main forms: liquid collagen, powder and capsules or pills. The big question is: which is the best collagen to take?
It’s a very good question. Let’s answer it by taking a closer look at their composition.
Bovine collagen
As the name suggests, bovine collagen is derived from animal sources; namely cows and pigs, but in some cases water buffalo, bison and yaks.
The collagen is extracted by boiling the hides and other byproducts in water. It is then dried (hydrolysed), breaking down the long molecules into shorter collagen peptides.
Marine collagen
Marine collagen is sourced from fish, often wild-caught cod or farmed species that are not at risk of endangerment.
The collagen is extracted from just beneath the fish’s skin, and many brands claim that marine collagen is the highest, most bioavailable source on the market.
Of course it is impossible for vegetarians and vegans to consume bovine or marine collagen. Sadly, the issues with these sources extend far beyond lifestyle choices.
There have been several disturbing reports of unethical behaviour and rights abuses. You can read a few of them here, here and here.
Vegan collagen
In 2022, the collagen supplements market was rocked by a product that offered brands and consumers a truly sustainable and ethical choice.
Developed in collaboration with Dr Josué Jiménez Vázquez, VeCollal® is the world’s first plant-based, vegan collagen alternative.
Unlike the collagen in bovine and marine collagen, which is similar to human collagen but not quite the same, VeCollal® is a 100% match for human Type I collagen.
That’s because - strictly speaking - it’s not collagen at all. VeCollal® is a biomimetic alternative, mimicking the essential amino acid profile used in our natural collagen production.
Those synthesised amino acids are combined with Panax ginseng, vitamin C and Asiaticoside, extracted from the herb Centella Asiatica, to create an exact match of the collagen type found in our bodies.
That’s why VeCollal® is at the heart of our plant-based collagen supplement.
Liquid, powder and capsule collagen peptides
Even if your healthy diet includes lots of effective, collagen-rich foods, there’s no harm in taking a daily supplement. The big question is: which is the best collagen form to have: liquid, powder or capsule?
Happily, the answer is fairly straightforward: it depends on what works for you.
The majority of collagen supplements on the market, whether they are powders, capsules or liquids, contain either bovine collagen or marine collagen.
Capsules and sachets of liquids are convenient to take as they are packaged into a single dose. Powders come in jars or sachets, and can be mixed into hot and cold drinks or sprinkled directly onto food.
Our plant-based vegan collagen supplement has even more advantages. You can take it wherever you go, from the gym to the beach, safe in the knowledge there’s no messy measuring or measuring.
Some collagen powders have no flavour at all, while some marine collagen supplements can have a strange, fishy taste. Our plant-based liquid collagen tastes amazing, as it is infused with delicious Japanese plum.
Although there are several notable differences between the different collagen supplements (not least the ethical concerns surrounding bovine and marine collagen powders, drinks and pills) most collagen supplements have the same benefits.
The advantages of collagen supplements
There is a growing body of scientific evidence suggesting that hydrolysed collagen supplementation can have a significant impact on our physical and mental wellbeing.
As we said earlier, collagen is a structural protein that is present in almost every part of our bodies, doing crucial work.
Despite this, the natural collagen levels in the human body start to decline relatively early in life, an impact that can be both seen and felt as we get older.
Oral collagen supplements, including collagen powder, pills or liquids, can help slow this decline and even help reverse the negative effects.
Skin elasticity
It can be frustrating to look in the mirror and see our normally healthy skin start to look dull and tired.
It may have started to sag a little under the eyes or around the jawline, while fine lines can also appear, leaving us looking and feeling older than we actually are.
The majority of collagen types will help your skin bounce back by replacing dead skin cells with new ones, giving your skin a fresh, more youthful appearance.
Collagen powder and liquids also help boost skin hydration by retaining moisture, plumping it out and reducing the appearance of fine lines.
That hydrating effect can also be boosted by other ingredients such as hyaluronic acid. It can prompt the body’s collagen and elastin production, creating a virtuous circle.
Hair and nails
It’s not just your skin that will look healthier and fuller: collagen also helps retain moisture in your hair.
The natural slowdown in our body’s collagen output has the same drying effect on our hair. It can become dry, brittle and lose its shine. Some people experience hair loss, leaving them with thinning, limp tresses.
Supplements like our vegan liquid collagen can have a significant impact on damaged hair. It helps restore hydration levels, so each strand feels fuller and thicker, and looks glossier.
It is the same story for our nail health. Collagen powders, pills and liquids boost hydration to dry, brittle nails, strengthening and reviving both our finger and toenails. For some people, taking a collagen peptide can also accelerate nail growth.
Bone strength
So much for the visible benefits of taking a collagen supplement. The good news continues inside our bodies too.
Collagen is an integral part of having healthy bones: the structural protein acts as a scaffold, keeping them strong.
Coupled with a balanced diet, taking a collagen powder, pill or liquid every day can help the body produce more collagen and improve bone density.
Muscle mass
Types I and III are both found in our muscles, and the best collagen supplements contain both, albeit from bovine and marine sources.
Our vegan collagen liquid supplement exactly mimics the types of collagen found in the human body, while its hydration abilities are boosted by key ingredients including hyaluronic acid.
It can help strengthen muscle mass and connective tissues, including blood vessels and arteries, supporting good heart health, and can aid wound healing.
Joint pain and health
Collagen is an integral component of the elastic cartilage in our joints.
Boosting our production by taking hydrolysed collagen every day can help reduce joint pain, potentially easing stiffness and increasing mobility.
Gut health
We all know about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle but gut health in particular has come to the fore recently.
Upsetting or unbalancing this delicate ecosystem can affect many other parts of the body, and research suggests that collagen products have a role to play in supporting our gut health.
The drop in collagen output can lead to the lining of the digestive tract becoming thin, leading to gastrointestinal problems. Increased hydration to that lining from collagen can help ease these issues.
Lifestyles to avoid
There are little or no side-effects to taking collagen, but there are a few lifestyle factors to avoid if you want to see maximum results from our vegan liquid collagen supplement.
Even the best collagen supplements can struggle to have a positive impact if you smoke, eat too much sugar or are exposed to the sun’s UV light.
It’s also wise to cut down on the amount of alcohol you drink and try to get lots of good quality sleep to ensure the collagen in your body can do its job.
Try our plant-based liquid collagen supplement
There’s no time like the present to try out our vegan liquid supplement and boost your body’s exact collagen levels.
Our offers include a 28-day subscription. Sign up and you will receive sachets of our liquid vegan collagen supplement every four weeks, plus a free bonus bundle.
Find all the details here.
Questions or queries? Talk to us
If you want to ask us anything about our vegan liquid collagen supplement, or any of the other products in the Arella range that aren’t covered by our FAQs, drop us a line.
You can email us at info@arella-beauty.co.uk, telephone 03303 209 190, or fill in this contact form and we’ll get back to you straight away.
