The Ultimate Guide to Collagen Supplements
Collagen has become one of the most popular beauty supplements out there and there are so many options on the market that it can get confusing trying to determine which product is the best fit for you. This guide outlines the key things to keep in mind when choosing a collagen supplement so that you don’t end up wasting your money and time.
To begin with, what is collagen?
Collagen is the most abundant protein found in your body and it effectively holds your body together, providing structure to your cells. It is essential to your body’s extracellular matrix and determines the physical properties of your skin.
As you grow older, your natural collagen levels start to decrease drastically, and your skin becomes less youthful. Collagen levels in the body can also be reduced by exposure to UV light. This is where collagen supplements come in—they are a convenient way for you to boost your collagen levels and improve your skin. The long-term benefits of collagen supplements (specifically, Type 1 collagen, which is the most common type) are, primarily, an improvement in skin texture and complexion, an increase in skin hydration and skin elasticity, and a reduction in UV spots, scarring, and fine lines.
Factors to Consider When Buying Collagen Supplements
These evaluation points are meant to help you select the best collagen product, with a focus more on collagen supplementation for improving skin (Type 1 collagen).
1) Type 1 vs. Type 2 Collagen:
These are the two most common types of collagen found in collagen supplements. Type 1 collagen is also the most commonly found collagen in your body; it is naturally found in your skin, tendon, bones, ligaments, and organs. If you are thinking of taking collagen to target skin concerns (like fine lines or old acne scars) and to increase skin complexion, elasticity, and moisture, this is the one to pick. It can also help to strengthen your nails and hair. It is typically extracted from marine or bovine sources. Type 2 collagen, on the other hand, is a main component of your cartilage and is often taken to improve joint and cartilage health. It is usually taken from chicken or bovine sources.
Key Ingredients for Collagen Glow Berries
Premium Marine Collagen
We use 5,500mg premium grade Japan Nitta-Wellnex™ patented marine collagen peptides in our formulations, hydrolyzed in liquid form for easy absorption.
Vitamin C
Bilberry
Mixed Berries Infusion
Formulated with 250mg of Vitamin C which is high in antioxidants and a core ingredient that promotes collagen synthesis.
Formulated with 100mg of Bilberry that is rich in antioxidants as well as 25% anthocyanidins to prevent or slow damage to cells caused by free radicals.
We blend in cherries, cranberries, strawberries, raspberries and blackcurrants into a concentrated burst of goodness rich in antioxidants and natural vitamins.
2) Marine vs. Bovine Collagen:
Marine collagen is derived from fish skin and bones while bovine collagen comes from cow hides. For Type 1 collagen, you should try to avoid collagen supplements that are formulated with bovine collagen, which is used by some manufacturers because it is cheaper than marine collagen.
Bovine collagen is generally of a lower quality, so look for formulations that use hydrolyzed marine collagen peptides. Collagen peptides that have been hydrolyzed in liquid form also have a higher absorption rate—that is, they are easier for your body to absorb and digest—because they have already been broken down into smaller peptides, which means that this form of collagen supplementation offers the best chances of effectiveness and the best bioavailability.
Marine collagen is also more environmentally friendly than bovine collagen because fish protein produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions than livestock protein. Also, marine collagen from wild-caught (rather than farmed) fishes are preferable because you know that they have not been treated with any hormones, antibiotics, or chemicals.
Our Collagen Glow Berries uses hydrolyzed Nitta-Wellnex® Marine Collagen that has been sustainably harvested from wild-caught Tilapia fishes. Our product is prepared in an FDA-approved facility in Taiwan.
3) Format:
Collagen supplements can come in a variety of formats: drink, powder, or pill. Powder supplements come with the inconvenience of having to make a powdered drink on a daily basis, while pills are more convenient but offer less bioavailability than drinks do (pills have an absorption rate of only around 40-45%).
Liquids have an absorption rate of 90-95%, and ready-to-drink collagen supplements are also easier to consume on a daily basis than powder supplements.
As mentioned earlier, hydrolyzed marine collagen peptides offer the best bioavailability because they have already been broken down into smaller peptides.
Another benefit of the liquid format is that other natural ingredients can be added to make the supplement tastier.
Different Types of Collagen:
Drink
Powder
Pills
4) Branded Collagen:
Avoid supplements that are formulated with non-branded collagen that comes from unclear sources. It is safer to pick a product that uses a well-established brand of collagen so you know that you are consuming high-quality, premium-grade collagen.
The Purest Co uses premium Nitta-Wellnex® Marine Collagen from Japan in our formulation. Wellnex has over a century of collagen expertise and offers the highest quality marine collagen peptides that are sustainably sourced from wild-caught fish with full traceability and documentation. Our patented technology also uses enzymatic hydrolyzation to extract the purest grade of nano collagen peptide, which means a faster and more effective absorption of collagen.
AS SEEN ON:
5) Price and Amount of Collagen:
The key aspect to assessing whether a collagen product is economically “worth it” is the amount of collagen you get relative to the price. Each sachet (one daily serving) of our Collagen Glow Berries contains 5500mg of collagen, which is much higher than the average for other collagen supplements on the market (around 3500mg per serving).
You should also opt for products that offer a money-back guarantee—this shows that the manufacturer is confident about the quality of their product, and it also gives you, the consumer, a stress-free shopping experience.
The Purest Co’s Collagen Glow Berries comes with a risk-free trial policy: try a sachet and if the product is not to your liking, you can simply return it to us at our cost. This money-back guarantee protects you in case the product isn’t suitable.
6) Ingredients and Sweetness:
When picking a supplement, you should also make sure that there are no unnecessary ingredients in the formulation—there should be artificial ingredients or additives. The collagen supplement you buy should also ideally be formulated with Vitamin C, which is essential in the synthesis of collagen. The infusion of Vitamin C in the formulation helps to increase the bioavailability of the collagen peptides (the proportion of collagen in the supplement that is able to enter circulation and have an active effect on your body). Each sachet of Collagen Glow Berries from The Purest Co contains 250mg of Vitamin C and 100mg of Bilberry extract to provide added antioxidant support and improve your body’s rate of absorption by promoting collagen synthesis.
Something else you may want to take note of is the sugar level of the product and how it is sweetened. Where possible, choose a product that has a low sugar content and is sweetened naturally. Our Collagen Glow Berries are lightly sweetened with a mixed berries infusion from real fruit juice that provides a concentrated burst of antioxidants and natural vitamins, and which also tastes pretty great.
Conclusion:
Collagen supplements are a convenient way to boost your natural collagen levels, but it is important to consider the specific formulation of the product and its provenance—where the collagen peptides are sourced from and how the product is formulated.
Firming
Lifting
Moisturising
"I actually feel like it made a difference in my skin.
I was breaking out quite a bit about a week or two ago and it left a very bad scarring. But within a week it went to a lighter shade so much more quickly than how it usually would."
- Jasmine Ng
"The dryness around my nose is no longer there.
It’s been a week of taking The Purest Co’s Collagen Glow Berries. I’m happy to say that the dryness around my nose which I have been suffering for quite a while now is no longer there."
- Gina Ng
"I definitely recommend to you guys.
My skin is definitely more moisturized and I see a subtle glow. You guys should try it out because it tastes really good and I look forward to having it everyday."
- Wendy
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