The 5 best collagen powders for firmer skin, according to a nutritionist​

The hype surrounding collagen supplements is justified as they promise amazing benefits. Recent scientific studies show collagen increases the firmness and elasticity of the skin. Furthermore, these improvements are visible after just a few weeks. In particular, wrinkles and sagging facial tissue, plus cellulite on the buttocks and legs, can all be reduced. Last but not least, collagen gives skin a moisture surge, as well as a more youthful complexion. Collagen users repeatedly claim they feel 10 years younger after just a few weeks.

However, there are significant differences in the quality of collagen blends. It is precisely the quality of these blends which determines the level of rejuvenating effects on the skin, hair and nails.

This guide is designed to help you avoid stumbling blocks and wasting money when making your choice. It will also help you recognise which collagen blends are actually safe and reliable to use.

5 anti-ageing effects of collagen proven by studies

Why is collagen so popular right now? According to studies, it tightens the tissue from the inside out. This is also what differentiates collagen from superficial anti-ageing creams.

However, what evidence is there to support this? Here is an excerpt from current scientific studies which we came across when carrying out research:

1. Kiel study: significantly less cellulite after 3 months

In a large-scale study in Kiel, 105 women aged between 25 and 50 took collagen on a daily basis. After the tests had been carried out, the women noticed a “clear improvement” in their skin once they had reached both the three and six-month milestones. 

The cellulite had quite simply reduced and the surface of the skin had purportedly become smoother and silkier. ^[1]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4685482/

2. Korean study: significantly higher moisture levels in the skin

A scientific study from Korea measured the moisture content of the skin after collagen intake. 

The study concluded that the moisture content was “significantly higher” than at the beginning of the study. ^[2]https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29949889/

3. Cosderma Institute: 17% more elasticity due to collagen intake

According to one particular study, collagen significantly increases the elasticity of the skin[3]. 10 grams of collagen a day led to 17% greater skin elasticity. 

Incidentally, this same study was carried out at the renowned Cosdermas Institute in France. The same result was achieved there too after just a few weeks. ^[3]https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26362110/

4. The University of Chicago: thicker hair and stronger nails due to collagen intake

Although wrinkles and cellulite are the main focus of collagen treatments, even hair and nails can greatly benefit. Several studies, including a renowned American study, have all come to the same conclusion: 

collagen can significantly stimulate hair growth and can even help protect against thinning and greying ^[4]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3509882/

5. A French study: 18% (!) less wrinkles

One French study showed facial wrinkles were reduced by no less than 18% after taking collagen for several weeks. ^[5]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6835901/

It should be noted that the intake period for this study was only 8 weeks (!) and the placebo effect was also taken into account.

Moreover, no side effects occurred during any of these studies. This may be due to the fact that only natural, “pure” collagen was used.

3 collagen myths that are still circulating.

Although the studies on collagen are clear, there are still some lingering misconceptions.

After all, how can collagen be such an effective yet gentle treatment? Furthermore, why does the body actually need additional collagen?

We have compiled the three biggest myths to shed some light on them.

Myth 1: taking collagen is unnecessary because the body already produces collagen.

Collagen is the most important structural protein in our skin and connective tissue. It stabilises and supports from within. It constantly forms new, fresh skin cells and acts as a kind of elastic “glue.” In short: without collagen, our skin would collapse like a wet towel.

Moreover, it is of course true that our body naturally produces collagen itself. However, one major myth is that the body’s own collagen is sufficient, especially if you are after fresh and youthful-looking skin.

The truth is, collagen production decreases by 1% every year after the age of 25. In fact, studies have shown women lose up to 75% of their valuable collagen during the course of their lives.

This also explains why so many women in their 40s and 50s can already tell you a thing or two about sagging skin.

All of the studies show that taking natural collagen supplements is a scientifically proven and safe method for maintaining collagen production at a high level!

Myth 2: collagen does not combat wrinkles effectively enough

Some sceptics claim collagen supplements cannot possibly have an impact on the firmness and elasticity of the skin.

The truth is, dozens of placebo-controlled studies in independent journals show taking collagen can indeed promote firmer skin and greater elasticity. 

For example, a 2017 study published in the Skin Pharmacology and Physiology Journal found that 91.7% of patients who had taken a collagen supplement, reported having “thicker” and “stronger” skin with “greater elasticity”.

Virtually every placebo-controlled study carried out as part of our research has shown that taking collagen ups your skin’s level of hydration, improves facial skin elasticity and increases firmness. 

All of these are facts, however, we fully understand the scepticism. This is because conventional anti-ageing creams are often advertised as also containing collagen.

However, since conventional creams cannot reach the deep layers of the skin, unlike collagen which is ingested, this is a completely different matter.

Myth 3: it takes a long time to see the results of taking collagen.

Of course, collagen supplements do not help to magically rejuvenate the skin by 10 years overnight. We would say that is a dubious claim. 

However, it does not take as long as is often assumed for the collagen to take effect. The truth is, it has been demonstrated that collagen can make significant and visible improvements to appearance in a relatively short amount of time: (2-4 weeks according to most clinical trials).

A recent dermatological study showed that over 90% of patients who took collagen reported firmer and more youthful skin with greater elasticity just after two weeks of starting the treatment.

Which collagen powder is right for you?

Interim conclusion: according to dozens of studies, the current buzz surrounding collagen is more than justified. Collagen appears to help visibly rejuvenate the skin, both quickly and effectively.

However, as you have probably already guessed: the devil is often in the details.

To ensure collagen can properly reach its full development potential, both safely and quickly, there are a few factors to consider when purchasing it. We will now present those pitfalls to you in a concise and easy-to-understand way.

Collagen science

Various criteria should be looked out for when purchasing collagen powder.

In order to achieve the same effect on your skin, hair and nails, as was demonstrated in the studies, the quality of collagen powder is essential.

1. The product should be an agglomerated collagen hydrolysate.

This is a collagen blend that has been gently pre-split by enzymes during production. First of all, this is important so that the collagen powder can dissolve quickly and easily in the drink. However, the most important reason is the following:

collagen components that are too coarse are too large to be effectively absorbed by the body.

The smaller the particles, the easier it is for the body to absorb the collagen and in turn, the better it works on the skin.

Studies have shown that 90% of hydrolysed collagen can be absorbed by the skin. With non-hydrolysed collagen the absorption rate is only 30-35%.

As a result, using collagen hydrolysate is absolutely essential!

2. Collagen powder should be neutral in flavour and free from additives

Some suppliers use artificial additives to cut down on costs.

However, these cheap, low-quality additives can be harmful to the skin and cause unwanted side effects.

The motto here is: steer clear!

Please only choose collagen supplements that consist of 100% pure, natural collagen and those which are obtained from high-quality and sustainable sources.

These include grass-fed cattle collagen and marine collagen, which are obtained from various types of fish.

3. Collagen powder should contain type 1 collagen in order to have the best possible effects on the skin 

The reason for this is simple: there are different types of collagens. Types 2 to 4 mainly strengthen your hair, nails and bones. Collagen also plays a part in regenerating these areas.

However, the largest and most important type for keeping skin cells young and fresh is type 1.

When making your choice, please ensure the blend contains collagen type 1.

4. When purchasing a collagen product, pay close attention to the supplier’s overall success rate and your gut feeling

The market for collagen blends is growing rapidly.

It is therefore advisable to solely choose products made by trustworthy manufacturers with a proven track record. You can often determine this by checking if the brand has several hundred positive, verified reviews.

Furthermore, take a look at how authentic the reviews sound and whether the provider openly discloses details and information.

The big collagen test: which powder is the best?

After intensive research, we have compiled a list of the five best collagen supplements currently available on the market. 

The four criteria mentioned above, scientific studies and verified online reviews from customers were included in our assessment.

The 5 winners of our big collagen powder test

The following collagen powders made it into our Daily Rituals’ top 5:

1st place: Glow25 collagen powder for firmer, more silky-smooth skin

The test winner: Glow25 Collagen Powder for firmer skin

Key features of Glow25 Collagen

Glow25 Collagen Powder is a 100% natural collagen produced by the well-known eponymous German health brand: Glow25.

This Berlin-based company states: “We want to offer the most effective, most natural and easiest-to-use collagen ever put out on the market by only using high-quality, pure hydrolysed collagen without any additives.”

Their plans to do this have been a success. This is because the hydrolysed collagen they use stems from ultra-modern, certified production facilities in Germany and is obtained from grass-fed cattle reared in a completely natural environment.

Their Collagen Powder is also easily soluble and completely neutral in flavour. It can be dissolved in a few seconds by adding 1-2 spoonful of the powder to water, shakes, soups or coffee, making it easy to integrate as part of a healthy routine.

How about customer satisfaction? This product has a user rating of 4.7/5 based on over 600 verified customer reviews, making it one of the best-rated collagen supplements we could find on the market.

Hundreds of users report having firmer, softer, more radiant-looking skin and a visible reduction in wrinkles just a few weeks after adding this powder to their routine.

The conclusion: this package on a whole is compelling in every respect. Glow25 Collagen is therefore our test winner.

2nd place: Primal Collagen for bones and general health

The key features of Primal Collagen

Produced by another German manufacturer, Primal Collagen was developed by innovative health brand Primal State.

This high-quality supplement contains 100% pure and hydrolysed collagen peptides, obtained by enzymatic splitting.

The collagen comes from grass-fed cattle which are allowed to graze for over 300 days a year and benefit from a first-class nutritional diet.

It is 100% free from any additives such as sugar, gluten, lactose and allergens.

Primal Collagen has already won several awards and has been praised hundreds of times with verified 5-star customer reviews.

An added bonus: Primal State offers a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. This ensures you will receive a full refund if you are not satisfied with the product during that period.

Another special feature: whilst Glow25 (our 1st pick) is clearly ahead in terms of improving your skin and wrinkles, Primal Collagen’s approach is much more comprehensive. Several types of collagen also provide support for bones and joints. 

3rd place: Sports Research Collagen

Key features of Sports Research Collagen:

This natural supplement from Sports Research is a simple, high quality and versatile product with 11 grams of collagen peptides per portion.

It is neutral in flavour and can be easily mixed into smoothies, shakes and hot drinks.

The collagen used is obtained from bovine collagen peptides that have been hydrolysed and broken down into smaller components to help facilitate digestion and absorption in the body.

This product is certified by the Paleo Foundation, an independent organisation that tests products to ensure they comply with strict nutritional guidelines.

This company has a good track record in producing collagen supplements and is pretty popular among athletes and fitness enthusiasts.

Although this product appears to be of a high quality overall, we have found some users reported the powder to be rather “grainy” and exhibiting a strong after-taste that can be unpleasant for some.

4th place: Further Foods Collagen Peptides

The key features of Further Foods Collagen Peptides:

This hydrolysed collagen powder is neutral in taste and can easily be dissolved in drinks, shakes and smoothies. It is completely free from additives, sweeteners, fillers and preservatives. The collagen is derived from the skin of grass-fed cattle.

However, we noted the collagen concentration per portion is pretty low; (it contains only 8 grams of collagen per portion). This is somewhat disappointing for this type of collagen supplement.

Although most customer reviews are generally positive, we observed that some customers find the strong odour and taste of the powder off-putting, despite the company claiming that it is neutral in taste.

Some users have also reported the powder does not dissolve easily in cold drinks, which is unusual for a collagen powder in this price range.

Overall, we feel the price of this supplement is a little too high considering the low concentration of collagen per serving and the mixed customer reviews.

5th place: Correxiko Marine Collagen Peptides

The key features of Correxiko Marine Collagen Peptides:​

Correxiko Marine Collagen Peptides are a collagen supplement produced by an innovative Canadian company called Correxiko.

The collagen is made from wild fish. The powder consists of small collagen peptides which can easily be dissolved in any liquid. Reviewers seem generally satisfied with this marine collagen supplement, which appears to promote healthy skin, hair and nails.

This product is manufactured in Canada and packaged in GMP certified facilities in the UK.

Although this product appears to be of a good quality, we realise this Canadian company still has a rather limited track record. We would advise our customers to err on the side of caution and to stick to more established companies when it comes to buying quality collagen.

We would also like to point out that we consider this product to be unjustifiably more expensive than other comparable products with similar properties.

Although most reviews are generally positive, some users have reported problems digesting the powder, as well as experiencing diarrhoea.

Daily Rituals reader discount and trial offer, negotiated for you

As we are currently receiving many enquiries about collagen, we have negotiated a special offer for you as a reader with test winner Glow25. It was important for us that you could try collagen without taking risks.

Hence why the Glow25 team has approached us to offer you:

• a discount of 18%.
• a money-back guarantee for up to 90 days/

This offer is only valid for a limited time. As a result, do not wait too long if you would like to take advantage of this discount. Simply click on “Check Availability” under the next image.

Our overall opinion: Collagen Powder promises firmer, more silky-smooth skin.

If you stand in front of the mirror in the morning and you notice your wrinkles or cellulite are becoming more pronounced, it is time to try collagen. No other natural nutrient has impressed us more in recent months than natural collagen.

This is hardly surprising, as all of the studies we are aware of are concordant. Collagen helps to make skin feel smoother, look younger and more moisturised. It helps improve its elasticity at a deeper level. Best of all, it only usually takes a few weeks for the first results to become visible and they are often long-lasting.

However, to ensure you get the results you are after, , you should carefully decide which powder to use. This is because only high-quality, 100% natural collagen appears to be safe and has no side effects as of yet.

As the winner of our test, we first and foremost recommend the German version Glow25. According to our test, this provider meets all of our required criteria with flying colours. Above all, the hundreds of authentic testimonials about this product are pretty outstanding.