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Collagen peptides supplements | What are the benefits for the skin?

Updated July 27, 2023

Collagen is a protein that makes up a substantial proportion of our skin and connective tissue. In fact, 70-80% of healthy skin is made up of collagen protein. Collagen protein contributes to skin elasticity. Unfortunately, our collagen levels decline by about 1-1.5% per year after the age of thirty. As a result, many individuals supplement with collagen to replenish some of what has been lost.

Although collagen depletion is no myth, is it possible to rebuild collagen structures with collagen supplements, and which supplements are worth buying? There are many types of collagen supplements, including bovine collagen, marine collagen, bone broth, collagen peptides, peptide powder and collagen capsules. One of the most popular collagen supplement types are collagen peptide supplements. Here, we explore collagen peptides, what types of supplements use collagen peptides, what the benefits are and even how you can use collagen peptides for the skin.

Click on a link to jump to that section:

• What are collagen peptides?
Learn about collagen peptides; where they come from, and how they compare to collagen protein
• What types of collagen peptides are there?
Discover the main types of collagen peptide supplements you will come across
• What are the benefits of collagen peptides?
Learn about the five main skin and beauty benefits of collagen peptide supplements
• How to use collagen peptides for the skin
Understand how to get the most out of your collagen supplement for the skin

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What are collagen peptides?

Collagen protein is made up of three protein strands wound together in a rope-like structure called a triple helix. Each of the three strands is made up of a long chain of amino acids, specifically, Proline, Glycine and Hydroxyproline. Collagen peptides are smaller pieces of collagen, consisting of only a few individual amino acid chains. Smaller peptides with two or three amino acids in the chain are called dipeptides or tripeptides.

Collagen peptides are also called ‘hydrolysed collagen’ or ‘collagen hydrolysate’; these terms refer to the chemical process of hydrolysis that breaks down the protein structure into smaller pieces. Small collagen peptides are isolated from a collagen source and then converted into a powder. Collagen peptide powder can be used in powdered collagen supplements, in collagen creams or made into a tablet supplement, to name a few possibilities.

A cream-coloured plate with a spoonful of collagen peptide powder, 5 collagen teblets and a glass of water on it. A green quartz face roller is placed next to the plate

What types of collagen peptides are there?

When choosing a collagen peptide supplement or collagen product, there are many options. As mentioned, collagen peptides can be added to topical skin care treatments but here, we discuss the most popular injestible collagen supplement options.

• Marine collagen peptides – Marine collagen is sourced from the skin and scales of fish; it is considered a Type I collagen source because of its high proportion of Type I collagen fibres – these are the same fibres that are the most abundant in human skin.
Bovine collagen peptides – Bovine collagen is sourced from the hind and the carcass of cows.
Chicken collagen peptides – The collagen isolated from chickens contains the highest proportion of Type II collagen due to the abundance of cartilage in chicken carcasses.
Collagen peptide powder – Collagen peptides can be used in powdered form, improving the digestibility and absorbance of the collagen peptides. Additionally, collagen peptide powder usually offers larger doses compared to tablet forms.
Collagen peptide tablets – Collagen peptides can be incorporated into tablet or capsule form to be swallowed for convenience. However, collagen tablets often offer low doses of collagen peptides and fillers, binders, and casings can slow down the absorbance of the collagen supplement ingredients.

It may be beneficial to choose a marine collagen peptide powder supplement for supporting skin health as it primarily contains Type I collagen peptides, and the powdered format aids in absorbance and digestibility.

A beautiful women with healthy hair and glowing skin holding a glass of Revive Collagen drink up to her lips as she smiles.

What are the benefits of collagen peptides?

Here, backed by scientific literature, we explore the five main hydrolysed collagen benefits for the skin and hair.

1. Bioavailability - being much smaller pieces of collagen protein, collagen peptides are much more bioavailable than solid foods and bone broth. Small dipeptides and tripeptides can move straight across the gut lining into the bloodstream to enter tissue in minutes, compared to hours with solid foods.
Stimulates collagen production - studies have shown that hydrolysed collagen supplementation can stimulate our collagen-making cells called fibroblasts to make new collagen proteins. Collagen peptide supplementation increased collagen density and decreased collagen fragmentation after 12 weeks.
3. Increases skin elasticity – studies have shown that collagen peptides may reduce wrinkles and improve skin elasticity after 90 days of supplementation.
Improves skin hydration – multiple studies have shown that hydrolysed collagen supplementation enhances skin moisture after 12 weeks and 90 days. Collagen peptides have also been shown to decrease skin roughness. Fibroblasts also produce hyaluronic acid – a vital water-holding molecule in the skin.
Increases hair strength – marine collagen peptides improved the mechanical hair strength of study participants after 90 days of supplementation with Peptan® marine collagen peptides.

How to use collagen peptides for the skin

Collagen peptide supplements may be effective for improving skin hydration, skin elasticity and hair strength. Understanding how to get the most out of your supplement is crucial if you want to see results.

Two sachets of Beauty Complex powdered supplement adjacent to a birds-eye view of a glass of orange collagen drink.

Take at least 5,000mg of marine collagen peptides daily. The vast majority of studies that concluded the benefits of collagen supplements gave at least 5,000mg of collagen peptides to each participant every day for 90 days.

Look for Peptan® marine collagen peptides. These are the highest quality on the market and have been shown to reduce wrinkles and increase hair strength effectively.

Choose a Peptan® peptide powderfor its superior digestibility, quality and ease of ingredient mixing. The function of collagen peptides for the skin may be improved by combining them with additional ingredients that support collagen production, such as vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and vitamin E. You may also want to look for additional ingredients that support hair, nail and skin health, including biotin, selenium, copper and phytoceramides.

Beauty Complexsupplement sachets contain 7,000mg of marine collagen peptides by Peptan® as well as vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, phytoceramides and additional skin, hair and nail-supporting vitamins. The powdered formula guarantees the most effective nutrient delivery and makes for a delicious daily collagen drink.

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