What to Know About Collagen Supplements

These days, it seems like there's a new health and beauty trend popping up as often as a celebrity breakup.

One such trend that we've heard a lot about in the last couple years, in particular, is collagen—more specifically, collagen supplements. We all have collagen naturally in our bodies, so it's hard to call the protein itself a "trend" so much so as products that claim to boost it or contain it. Such products, which mainly include drinks, powders and pills, allegedly offer benefits like shinier hair and glowing skin, to name just a few. But what actually is collagen, and are these supplements worth your time or money to take?

While we are by no means experts, we have looked into the wild world of collagen to see what works and what might not be worth it. Here's what you need to know about collagen supplements.

So, What Is Collagen?

Collagen is a naturally occurring protein found in the tissues of the body, including your skin, hair and nails, as well as your tendons, cartilage and even your bones. It's produced by your body using amino acids, but various substances and lifestyle choices (like spending too much time in the sun) can damage the body's collagen production and lead to problems like premature skin aging or weak hair and nails. Think of it like the thing that keeps your skin stretchy and youthful, like an extra trampoline that supports the many different tissues of the body.

Collagen supplements typically contain this protein and/or additional peptides or amino acids that help boost the body's production of collagen. They often contain collagen sourced from cows, fish, pigs or chicken, but thankfully there are plenty of vegan-friendly collagen supplements on the market nowadays as well.

(via Shutterstock)

 

Also read about: The Best Skincare Products for Lazy Girls

 

Do Collagen Supplements Work?

Thanks to trends like de-influencing, we're all at a point where we (hopefully) question the types of products that offer too-good-to-be-true benefits. There has been some skepticism regarding ingestible collagen supplements, especially in terms of overall effectiveness. This is mainly due to the lack of high-quality research on the subject so far, but there are also some studies that show that it might indeed lead to a boost in skin firmness, elasticity and moisture. It's something to take with a huge grain of salt, but a good ingredient list that includes vitamins that are good for you anyway could still be beneficial for your overall health.

(via Shutterstock)

 

Also read about: Little Things You Can Do to Up Your Skincare Routine

 

Which Products Are Worth Trying?

We'll leave it up to you if collagen supplements are worth your money, but they can be a healthy inclusion for your routine if you choose wisely. This one from Biosil ($36.94), for example, is a vegan supplement that comes with an extra punch of vitamin C that supports your immune system. We'd recommend staying away from products that are more sugar than anything else, but you could try a more health-friendly sparkling tea like SkinTe ($23.94), which also contains a solid bit of collagen in it. Another way to drink your collagen (and give your whole body a boost with some additional supergreens, probiotics and other healthy ingredients) is with Roundhouse Provision's Morning Kick ($79.95), which is an easy-to-use powder that you can simply stir into your water for a delicious way to kickstart your day.

(via Biosil)

 

While science has yet to say whether collagen supplements are really worth the hype or not, at least you now know a bit more about what's going on in the trendy world of collagen-boosting supplements. If you want some definitely effective recommendations when it comes to skincare, though (collagen-related or not), click HERE for our list of can't-miss skincare products that are worth shopping right now.