Collagen isn’t just the body’s most abundant protein, it’s one of the trendiest wellness ingredients in the wellness world. Slathered on in anti-aging creams, popped in capsule form, and sprinkled into nutrition bars, it’s everywhere.
And the best collagen powders, in particular, are an increasingly popular way to get your fill of the protein. Think of collagen as a strong, flexible glue.
It helps hold together tissues like skin, muscles, bones, ligaments, tendons, cartilage, blood vessels, and cornea, explains Rachel Jones, M.S., R.D.N., chief nutrition officer at GNC. With the help of protein-rich foods like fish, poultry, meat, soy, and legumes, the body produces it naturally.
However, that production slows with age and can be compounded by habits like smoking, drinking alcohol, and lack of sleep and exercise. In turn, research shows that collagen supplements may keep levels optimal while also promoting skin elasticity, bone health, muscle strength, and joint flexibility.
Still, existing evidence shows enough promise to get most wellness enthusiasts on board. Plus, scooping a flavorless, finely milled powder into a morning smoothie makes it pretty easy to try.
Dietary supplements are products intended to supplement the diet. They are not medicines and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure diseases.
Be cautious about taking dietary supplements if you are pregnant or nursing. Be sure to consult your doctor before taking new supplements, as they can interfere with medication.
Best Overall: Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides Powder. It’s not just Rachel Jones who loves this powder, it’s a best-seller and Jennifer Aniston’s holy grail.
Jones specifically likes stirring it into her morning coffee. She also likes that it’s a collagen peptide formula, meaning the collagen has been hydrolyzed or broken down into smaller, more easily absorbed peptides.
From a scientific standpoint, the peptides are going to be absorbed better. It’s a win-win.
Best Collagen Powder for Skin: Live Conscious Collagen Peptides Powder. If you’re not a fan of bulky canisters taking up cabinet space, this bag of unflavored collagen peptides powder may be your best bet.
One serving contains 10 grams of protein, and reviewers say it works wonders for their skin.
Best Collagen Powder for Joint Pain: Sports Research Collagen Peptides. Unflavored and effortlessly whisked into hot and cold beverages, this hydrolyzed bovine collagen powder is a simple addition to your wellness regimen.
11 grams of protein make it more filling than other collagen powders, and reviewers say it improves everything from skin to arthritic joint pain.
Best Collagen Peptides Powder: Physician’s CHOICE Collagen Peptides Powder. This grass-fed, pasture-raised bovine collagen is beloved by shoppers, garnering a whopping 41,000-plus Amazon reviews.
It’s unflavored and contains the brand’s patented DigeSEB digestive enzymes for superior absorption and benefits.
Best Value: NeoCell Super Collagen Peptides Powder. This affordable option is Dr. Lee’s top pick and we can see why.
It is made from hydrolyzed bovine collagen with a good portion of protein per serving. The hydrolyzed collagen comes from grass-fed bovine and promotes healthy skin, hair, nails, and joints.
Best Flavored Collagen Powder: Vital Proteins Chocolate Collagen Powder. With the same perks as the best-selling Vital Proteins unflavored collagen powder, this one comes in a creamy chocolate taste.
But don’t fret, it has zero sugar or dairy and is lightly sweetened with stevia.
Best Collagen Powder for Hair: Orgain Hydrolyzed Collagen Peptides Powder. Packed with 20 grams of collagen per serving, this powder is sure to give you a bang for your buck.
Sourced from grass-fed, pasture-raised bovine, it simultaneously supports hair, skin, nails, joints, and digestion.
Best Multi-Sourced Collagen Powder: CB Supplements Multi Collagen Protein Powder. Grass-fed beef, wild-caught tilapia, and cage-free chicken are incorporated into this formula to make it as effective as possible.
The recommended dosage is one scoop per 50 lbs of bodyweight, maxing out at four to five daily scoops.
Best Vegan Collagen Booster: Rae Vegan Collagen Boost Powder. First things first: This is technically not a collagen powder, but rather, a vegan-friendly supplement that may help boost natural collagen production.
Ingredients include a healthy dose of vitamin C and plant-based collagen support from bamboo-derived silica.
Best Dissolving Collagen Powder: Primal Harvest Primal Collagen. White gives this easy-to-dissolve collagen powder an A+ rating for its globally sourced ingredients and premium quality hydrolyzed bovine collagen.
It also contains essential amino acids, ample protein, and 20 mg of calcium.
Best Marine Collagen Powder: AMANDEAN Marine Collagen Powder. Most collagen powders on the market are made with bovine, which doesn’t bode well for those who don’t eat beef.
Pescatarians or those who are looking for a bovine alternative will enjoy this top-rated marine collagen powder sourced from wild-caught white fish.
PureNature Collagen Ultra Complex. Made with all five types of collagen, this pick from PureNature also earns White’s seal of approval.
The formula uses cruelty-free and grass-fed ingredients, and is third-party lab tested for potency and label accuracy.
How to choose the best collagen powders. Consider collagen source.
There are a few different types of collagen, but the primary ones are known as types I, II, and III. Some research suggests the benefits of type I and type III collagen supplements are mainly related to muscle growth, beauty, and skin.
Type II is best for supporting healthy joints.
Look for the words collagen peptides or hydrolyzed collagen. Not all collagen is created equal.
This means the collagen is put through a special production process that hydrolyzes the collagen protein into smaller components, called peptides. Peptides are microscopic bundles of amino acids that are easier for the body to absorb.
Know that collagen powders are not plant-based. Collagen powders are derived from animals, and there are currently no vegan or vegetarian-friendly supplements on the market.
However, there are plant-based supplements that may help boost the body’s natural collagen production.
Benefits of collagen powders. With age, our bodies produce less and less collagen.
You may notice a number of health benefits by adding collagen supplements to your diet. These include improvement of the skin, hair, and nails, stronger bones, and a healthier heart.
It can also lead to healthier joints, an increase in muscle mass, and faster injury recovery. However, more research is warranted to determine the supplements’ bioavailability and effectiveness, experts explain.
So as with any supplement, be sure to consult your healthcare provider before adding it to your routine.