Best collagen tablets, tested by experts

You don’t need be particularly versed in the latest buzzed-about beauty ingredients to be familiar with collagen.

The protein is considered the most important structural component in the skin for a youthful complexion, acting as scaffolding for firming, smoothing and elasticity. But here’s the kicker: it is reported that from as early as 25, production starts to decline from around one per cent a year, and they only plummet as you get older.

Dr Vanita Rattan , CEO and Cosmetic Formulator at SkincarebyDrV explains: “Collagen loss accelerates later in life, with women losing about 30 per cent in the first five years of menopause and two per cent every year afterwards”. She adds, “The primary reason we tend to get superficial wrinkles is because of collagen loss”.

So, what can you do? Well, there’s injections and treatments to restore your complexion or you can invest in a daily supplement that encourages your body’s own natural production to give a healthy, radiant and plumped appearance. This can come in many forms; drinks, powders or tablets and from sources varying from marine to bovine.

Best collagen tablets at a glance:

• Best for clinically researched, nutritionist backed: HUM Nutrition Collagen Love Skin Elasticity Supplement - £44, Cult Beauty
• Best for hair, skin and nails: Bioglan Collagen Tablets - £18.99, Amazon
• Best for stimulating collagen production: The Nue Co. Skin Filter - £30, Cult Beauty
• Best for collagen and superfoods: The Pretty Smart Food Co Powerful Marine Collagen Tablets - £20, Amazon
• Best for bang for your buck: Holland & Barrett Marine Collagen with Vitamin C - £45.99, Holland & Barrett
• Best for convenience: Purolabs Marine collagen complex peptides - £29.99, Purolabs

What do collagen tablets do?

“Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body, it gives structural integrity to the skin and is surrounded by water to support, smooth and firm the skin. It is also the main building block protein that forms your bones, skin, hair, muscles, tendons, and ligaments”, says Dr Rattan.

She says that ontop of ageing, there are a number of ways that collagen is depleted from the body. She breaks it down:

• Genetics and Intrinsic Ageing: Some people are predisposed to lose collagen quicker. 
• Smoking: This reduces collagen production and can lead to premature wrinkles. 
• Lack of essential nutrients in the diet: Eating too much sugar and refine carbs can interfere with collagens ability to repair itself. 
• Free radical damage: This can happen most commonly from UV damage.  
• Autoimmune disorders: Some autoimmune disorders, like lupus, can damage collagen. 
• Menopause: The ovaries begin to stop producing the hormone estrogen, which causes collagen loss. 

What collagen is best?

Look out for around “8g per serving of Type 1 Hydrolysed Marine Collagen (derived from fish)” says Dr Rattan. Why? “It is the highest bioavailability type of collagen powder on the market i.e. the most effective. This can help improve skin health, reduce the appearance of fine lines, promote skin hydration and may also provide benefits for joint health (as collagen is a major component of the cartilage that cushions the joints)”.

Do collagen tablets work?

The market is awash with different variations of collagen and there is a lot of disagreement from dermatologists and experts on their efficacy. Dr Rattan confirms this and reveals that the main distinction is between topical or oral.

“Topical collagen is used as a humectant (a water magnet)”, she explains. “It cannot penetrate the epidermis into the dermis to stimulate collagen. Essentially, it’s a bit of marketing gimmick when marketers say there’s a collagen cream. People believe this will actually stimulate their collagen, when it won’t. It is literally just a peptide in a cream that’s acting as a humectant. The skin will look plumper, but that’s only because topical collagen is holding water in the epidermis, not because it’s stimulating more collagen”.  

Oral is deemed to be more effective but steer clear of the lower collagen content. “Ingested comes in three different types: capsules, gels, and powders. Capsules tend to only be about 1g, which is too low as most clinical studies are done in the 8g region. 1g won’t do much and isn’t worth your time”. 

When it comes to gels and powders, she reveals that “Both have good bioavailability, are digested in the gut by peptidase enzymes and are turned into amino acids. Those amino acids are absorbed by the gut into the bloodstream. They then trigger the fibroblasts (the cells producing collagen), to produce more collagen”.

She would opt for “Marine collagen over bovine collagen due to its higher bioavailability”. 

Is collagen good for you?

Quite simply, “Yes!” according to Dr Rattan. She continues, “As we age, our body’s natural collagen production decreases, which can lead to joint pain, wrinkles, sagging and dry skin. Collagen supplements can help to improve skin elasticity, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and promote skin hydration. It is also a key building block for stronger hair and nails”.

Is it safe to take collagen every day?

“Yes, it is safe to do so”, she says but warns that “collagen is a heavy protein and so it’s going to make you feel bloated if you drink collagen on an empty stomach. I tend to mix my collagen into Greek yoghurt with berries, to add more antioxidants in it. After dinner, this fills me up all night, and is a nice, sweet treat that won’t irritate the stomach before bedtime”.  

She adds that “Vitamin C is the most important thing to take with or in your collagen as it is the essential cofactor for the two enzymes required for collagen synthesis: prolyl hydroxylase (to stabilise the collagen molecule) and lysyl hydroxylase (to give structural strength cross-linking)”.

So without further ado, shop the best collagen tablets below

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HUM Nutrition Collagen Love Skin Elasticity Supplement

Best for: a clinically researched, nutritionist backed option

Armed with the knowlege and expertise of leading nutritionists, HUM Nutrition has created this supplement that is lauded for bioavailable capsule form and packed with naturally-sourced nutrients that are put through their paces in clinical research.

The ingredients include collagen peptides that are combined with two components that you will no doubt recognise from your bathroom cabinet; hyaluronic acid and vitamin C. These powerhouse skincare elements have strengthening and elasticity-boosting properties that enhance the effects of the firming Collagen I and III.

Buy now £44.00, Cult Beauty

Bioglan Collagen Tablets

Best for: hair, skin and nails

This is one of the most highly rated collagen tablets on Amazon with nearly 300 five star reviews waxing lyrical about the condition of their hair, skin and nails after taking the supplements. Some of the benefits include strengthening the strands, fortifying the nails and softening and hydrating the skin. Marine collagen is included in high strength with 2500mg per capsule and is set alongside hyaluronic acid, resveratrol, biotin, selenium and vitamin C.

Buy now £18.99, Amazon

The Nue Co. Skin Filter 30 capsules

Best for: stimulating collagen production

This daily dose works in a different way to the other collagen supplements on this list. Instead of containing a direct source of collagen, it is packed with ingredients that are designed to stimulate your body’s own production of the key nutrient. To dive deep into the science, the combination of vitamin A-rich beta-carotene (a natural and more easily tolerated form) with the proprietary blend of the likes of grape seed extract and vitamin C encourages the cells to boost its resources of the stretch, bounce and resilience-giving collagen. So, you are left with a more elastic complexion as well as boasting calming and breakout-reducing effects.

Buy now £30.00, Cult Beauty

The Pretty Smart Food Co Powerful Marine Collagen Tablets

Best for: collagen and superfoods

This is a premium collagen supplement without the premium price tag. The collagen that you’ll find is a hydrolysed version that is sourced in an environmentally friendly way from wild fish. Each capsule contains the key protein but pairs it with a unique complex that harnesses the power of hyaluronic acid alongside superfoods likes açaí, aloe vera, blueberry, tumeric and kelp. There is also vitamin C and E to encourage the body’s own natural collagen production. The over 4,000 five star reviews are a testament to the noticeable effect that this supplement can have on skin, hair and nails.

Buy now £20.00, Amazon

Holland & Barrett Marine Collagen with Vitamin C 180 Tablets

Best for: bang for your buck

Holland & Barrett has an extensive range of own-brand collagen supplements that put a more purse-friendly spin on ensuring you have the skin-supporting protein in your diet. The 3000mg marine collagen is set alongside vitamin C to work together in order to turn the body’s traditional decline of this protein on its ahead and contribute to the firming of skin as well as supporting areas like the joints, teeth, blood vessels, hair and nails.

Buy now £45.99, Holland & Barrett

Purolabs Marine collagen complex peptides

Best for: convenience

If you’re someone who’s constantly on-the-move and not one for spending time mixing your supplements to your morning smoothie, then Purolabs marine collagen complex peptides are for you.

Take one or two capsules daily with water. They’re ideal if you’re someone who is rushing around in the morning as the slimline packaging can be kept in your handbag ready when you are. They’re also on the budget end of the marine collagen scale: if you buy a six-month subscription, they work out as just £18.33 a bottle and you’re sorted for half the year. Win-win.

Buy now £29.99, Purolabs