The 8 Best Collagen Supplements For Skin, Joints & More*

Collagen supplements have become a popular treatment in the realm of skin health, and rightfully so. 

Research shows that results are promising for the short and long-term use of oral collagen supplements for skin aging1 (think: skin hydration and elasticity), gut health, joint function2, and a variety of other full-body benefits.* 3

Thankfully, there is a flood of collagen supplements on the market.

And with so many options available, you may be struck with a bout of decision fatigue—or be tempted to grab whatever reasonable-looking jar you find at your local health shop.

But not so fast: There is actually a method for determining your best collagen fit, and it comes down to your goals and needs. 

See, collagen formulas vary quite a bit—be it due to collagen type or additional ingredients—and these factors play a role in how effective it will be toward an intended outcome.

Who else recommends it? Bobbi Brown called it her 'latest obsession.'

The one-step beauty routine for youthful skin, healthy hair & strong nails.* The innovative blend is rooted in its high-potency collagen foundation, delivering 17.7 grams of pasture-raised, grass-fed bovine collagen peptides (delivering types I and III collagen) but then it layers in several targeted ingredients, both nutrients and botanical bioactives, for holistic inside-out support.*

There are vitamins C and E for enhanced collagen production and antioxidant support, hyaluronic acid for skin hydration, the protein building block L-glutamine, biotin for your beauty needs, and curcumin from turmeric extract and sulforaphane from broccoli seed extract for supporting detoxification and combating oxidative stress and photoaging.*

Last but definitely not least: This collagen product is free of GMOs, dairy, soy, and gluten and clearly breaks down the amino acid profile on its label. Did we mention it comes in unflavored and chocolate varieties?

While bovine collagen peptides tend to be the most effective, if you generally follow a pescatarian diet, marine collagen will be just right for you.

Always look for peptides sourced from wild-caught sources, like this one, which comes from sustainably sourced cod and nothing else (there's more on sourcing parameters below).

As far as taste varieties go, chocolate and unflavored reign supreme. That's why we were pleasantly surprised by this refreshing matcha mint option.

The base is 10 grams of pasture-raised, ethically sourced bovine collagen (they, too, list the amino acid profile), and the sweetener used is extracted from monk fruit.

If you're looking for a less expensive option, this Orgain powder packs 20 grams of bovine-sourced collagen peptides per serving for a more affordable price. (Also of note: You're just getting collagen in this—no additional ingredients to support your health.)

This is a good blend for athletes: The whey and collagen combo bumps the protein up to 25 grams (so about 10 grams of collagen and 15 grams of whey protein).

Both whey and collagen contribute key amino acids critical for muscle mass, but whey has all nine of the essential amino acids, while collagen is missing one (making it incomplete by definition).*

While the base contains a decent dose of types I and III collagen (12 grams of protein), the stars for the hair are biotin, silica, and vitamin C. Biotin is a main component of keratin production, or the primary protein of hair. (In one small study, women with thinning hair reported significant regrowth when supplementing with biotin as compared to those given a placebo.*)

There’s no such thing as vegan collagen. Collagen is only present in the animal kingdom. So, to source collagen—it must be sourced from animals.

So “vegan” collagen isn’t collagen itself, but nutrients that may help support your natural levels of collagen.

For example, this high-quality blend contains the amino acids L-Glycine, L-Lysine, and L-Proline, which are some of the building blocks of collagen itself. In addition, they contain vitamins, minerals and botanical extracts that support collagen in other ways.

Given that collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body, and collagen supplements support a wide range of areas in the body (think: skin, gut, joints, and more), most people can find some benefit that appeals to them.*

However, collagen peptides are inherently not vegan—and thus may not align with someone who strictly follows that diet. This is because there is no plant source of collagen since the protein is absent in the plant kingdom.

There is no official daily recommendation for collagen supplementation. For healthy adults, the recommendation for overall protein needs is about one gram of protein per kilogram of body weight per day.

If you're physically active, your needs may be higher. Collagen is a protein made of peptides, but it's not a complete protein—it doesn't have all nine of the essential amino acids (it's missing tryptophan and is on the lower side on a few others)—but can absolutely contribute to your overall daily protein goals and needs.*

Look for brands that describe in detail where their collagen is sourced from (i.e., the animal, region, etc.), be it on the packaging or website.

Look for keywords like "grass-fed, pasture-raised bovine collagen from Brazilian cows," or "sustainably-sourced, wild-caught cod." Ideally, they'll note what collagen types are provided (e.g., types I, II, or III) as well.

Powders are the best, as they are able to deliver the most potent amount of collagen.

Powders are also a convenient way to add a meaningful dose of collagen to your nutrition routine, whether blending into a sweet smoothie with colorful fruits or mixed into your morning coffee or latte.

If there are additional, beneficial ingredients—such as vitamins and minerals or botanical bioactives—they can help create a more holistic product to achieve your desired effects (or if you want just collagen, that's great too!).*

Look for research backing up why the ingredients were added and thoughtful explanations of the overall formulas.

On the other end, make sure the formula is clean. Less is more here: Skip artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, gluten, GMOs, soy, gluten, and known allergens. If your collagen product has flavors, look for natural varieties (such as organic cocoa, and organic vanilla).

This is less about decoding an ingredient label and more about finding brands that are open and honest about their product. It shouldn't be hard to find their Supplement Facts panel and other ingredient list.

The type and source of collagen should be apparent. If they make any benefit claims, there should be science to support them. They should be open about where the ingredients come from, and they should explain the packaging it comes in (i.e., is it environmentally friendly?).

Finding your perfect collagen fit really boils down to figuring out what your goals and priorities are.

Once you narrow down the why then you can start looking into the what. But we went ahead and made the latter part easy for you—these 8 options are the best out there.