13 Expert-approved Collagen Powders For Glowing Skin
This article originally appeared on *BYRDIE* on August 10th, 2020
Written by Christina Heiser
There are a lot of things that come with getting older—you gain confidence with age, for instance, and stop sweating all of the small stuff. Your skin may also start to look a little bit different, namely an uptick in fine lines, wrinkles, sagging, and even dullness due to decreased collagen production.
“Collagen is a family of proteins and the most abundant in our bodies,” explains dermatologist Dr. Marie Hayag. “It is also the main component of connective tissues throughout our body such as skin, bones, tendons, muscles, and ligaments.”
The more abundant the collagen, the healthier and stronger your skin looks and acts, notes Hayag—but collagen production in the skin slows down significantly starting at age 25. “With this decrease in collagen our skin loses its ability to ‘hold itself up,’ translating visually to increased skin laxity and fine lines and wrinkles,” says Hayag. “Along with aging, environmental factors such as sun exposure, smoking, and pollution can accelerate collagen breakdown.”
This collagen powder if a fave amongst beauty editors and dermatologists alike. In fact, Byrdie editorial director Faith Xue is a huge fan. Says Hayag, “This collagen peptides powder is sourced from grass-fed, pasture-raised bovine to ensure a high-quality and sustainable source of this powerful ingredient.” Hayag adds that the formula contains hyaluronic acid and vitamin C, two other ingredients that support a more youthful appearance.
Many collagen powders can be pricey, but this one is effective without a hefty price tag. “NeoCell offers an excellent quality collagen powder that is sourced from grass-fed and pastured raised cows, and contains no soy, wheat, lactose, starch, corn or yeast, and is also free from GMOs and artificial flavors,” says Hayag. “It also contains types I and III hydrolyzed collagen, which is great for hair, skin, nail, and bone health and is bioavailable and easily absorbed by the body.”
What to Consider
Consider collagen types: “Look for a hydrolyzed bovine collagen supplement with a diverse amino acid profile that contains collagen types I and III,” says Pierre. These are the most potent forms of collagen for your skin, he says. Types I and III of collagen are the most abundant and can be sourced from bovine, or cow bones, says Hayag. She adds that type I collagen can also come from fish (you’ll see this described as “marine collagen”). Type II collagen, meanwhile, is found in cartilage and is important for joint health. For collagen powders made from animal sources, “look for companies that get their bones and tissues from antibiotic-free, cage-free, and free-range sources,” says Mokaya.
Final Note
There is some research pointing to the potential benefits of supplementing with collagen powder—however, more research definitely needs to be done to prove the benefits and determine what forms of collagen and dosages are ideal, as well as how often they should be used, notes Mokaya. However, the health risks are minimal, says Hayag, so there aren’t really any downsides to trying a collagen powder.
