You don’t have to be an avid consumer of beauty and wellness products to know there’s a bit of a phenomenon taking place: collagen.
It’s become a buzzword in both industries, with bricks-and-mortar shops and online shelves swamped with a seemingly endless range of collagen supplements.
For customers faced with a sea of brightly-packaged pills, powders and liquids, it can be hard to tell whether there’s a difference between them, and if so, which product will be right for them.
In this blog, we will offer a guide to collagen supplements on the market, their effects on the body, whether there are any sustainable options, and why our vegan liquid collagen supplement is the best of the bunch.
What is collagen?
Collagen accounts for around 30% of all the protein in the human body. This structural protein is made up of several amino acids, including proline, glycine and hydroxyproline, as well as vitamin C, zinc and copper.
When these ingredients combine, they form a triple helix which isn’t just beautiful, it’s also very robust.
This strength is why collagen is one of the body’s most essential building blocks, lending structure to our bones and the connective tissues in muscles, as well as organs, ligaments and skin.
Are collagen supplements safe?
Yes. There have been reports of very mild side-effects, including a slight feeling of heaviness in the stomach but these are very rare.
Studies suggest that collagen is safe for everyone to take, apart from if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. We’ll look at how much you can take on a daily basis later.
Why do I need to take collagen supplements?
Nobody ever said giving Mother Nature a helping hand is a bad thing, but in the case of collagen, it can be a necessity.
Our bodies produce collagen naturally until we reach around 30, after which the rate begins to slowly decline. Fast-forward 10 years or so and that gentle decline suddenly becomes much steeper, particularly in women.
As the body’s natural collagen production slows more sharply, it can have significant implications for our physical health.
That can include weaker bones and muscles, less flexible arteries, increased joint pain and a sudden drop in our skin’s elasticity.
Taking a collagen supplement daily can help boost levels of this formerly abundant protein.
Whether you choose collagen tablets or our delicious vegan liquid, It can potentially reverse some of the effects from the body’s downturn in collagen levels, from improving skin health to boosting bone strength.
Where do collagen supplements come from?
The majority of collagen supplements on the market come from animal sources. Bovine collagen supplements are extracted from cows, pigs and similar animals.
As the name suggests, natural marine collagen comes from sustainably sourced fish skin. They may be labelled bovine collagen peptides or natural marine collagen peptides (we’ll explain about peptides a little later).
Both the bovine type of collagen and hydrolysed marine collagen have been at the centre of disturbing reports involving deforestation and unethical practices, as well as poor living conditions for the animals being farmed for their collagen.
It begs the question how can anything with such a background be considered the best collagen supplement?
For customers looking for a cruelty-free, environmentally conscious collagen supplement, there is another way.
Our vegan collagen supplement
Vegan collagen supplements are relative newcomers to the collagen market, which is predicted to be worth a staggering £5.8 billion by 2030.
Our vegan collagen supplement contains VeCollal®, the world's first plant-based collagen alternative.
It has a carbon footprint that is a fraction of its bovine collagen and marine collagen counterparts, which are both well-known to have a significant impact on the environment.
Choosing the right collagen type
As well as the wide range of collagen supplements on the market, some of them seem to contain more than one type of collagen. How can someone who is new to collagen know which is best for them?
So far, scientists have identified 28 different types of collagen, which are found in many parts of the body. The most common are Types I to V, and of those, Type I is the most abundant, accounting for 90% of human collagen.
Type I is found in our skin, bones, tendons and ligaments, while Types II and II are found in elastic cartilage, muscles, organs and arteries. Types IV and V are also found in the kin, as well as our corneas, hair and placenta tissue.
Collagen claims
Many collagen supplements contain more than one type of collagen but it’s worth knowing a little more about their claims.
The three strands of amino acids in bovine and natural marine type of collagen supplements are derived from animals and fish, rather than humans.
That means the type of collagen they contain is similar to human collagen but they are not exactly the same. Think siblings, rather than twins.
The VeCollal® in our vegan liquid supplement isn’t technically collagen: it’s a biomimetic alternative, mimicking the amino acid profile chain for natural collagen synthesis.
Most importantly, it means that VeCollal® is 100% identical to Type 1 human collagen. Twins, not siblings.
What are collagen peptides?
Collagen molecules, whether from bovine or marine sources, are too big for the human body to absorb naturally.
Collagen supplement manufacturers break them down into collagen peptides which are much smaller and easier to digest.
This process is called hydrolysation. Hydrolysed collagen peptides are the foundation for many collagen powders and pills.
Choosing the best collagen: digestive danger
When it comes to identifying the best collagen supplements, one of the most important things to consider is how the collagen peptide is absorbed into the bloodstream.
Collagen supplements work by topping up our natural collagen formation. However, they can’t necessarily do that if the hydrolysed collagen peptides are digested in the intestine and converted into amino acids.
Experts recommend choosing a collagen supplement that delivers its collagen peptides into the bloodstream before that happens. Ideally, it should be absorbed into the bloodstream almost immediately to maximise benefits.
Collagen capsules or a collagen power whose peptides have a high molecular weight may not be as effective.
Studies have proved that liquid collagen supplements are more readily absorbed by the body. Our vegan collagen supplement has a 98% absorption rate, compared to capsules which can be as low as 3%.
Which is the best collagen supplement for anti-ageing?
Research has shown that increasing our collagen intake can support the body’s natural collagen stores, irrespective of which type of hydrolysed collagen supplements contain.
That said, products containing Type I collagen, the most abundant form, will offer the best form of support for ageing skin.
Taking collagen supplements can increase skin hydration and plump out the layers, fine lines and wrinkles are reduced, resulting in more youthful looking skin.
When it comes to the best collagen supplements, our vegan collagen supplement is head and shoulders above the rest, as it is identical to Type I collagen.
Other benefits of our vegan collagen supplement
Collagen levels deplete as we age, affecting everything from our blood vessels and bones to muscle mass and hair growth.
Embracing a healthy lifestyle, not smoking and eating lots of collagen-rich foods, such as dairy, fish and meat, can help. However, if you’re a vegetarian or vegan, that can be more of a challenge.
Our vegan collagen supplement can provide a safe, healthy dose of collagen every day. It improves skin elasticity but that’s just the start: there are lots of other health and wellness benefits, too.
Stronger bones
Collagen is crucial to the structure of our bones, and when production dips they can become weak and brittle.
Drinking one of our vegan liquid sachets regularly can help restore bone loss, leaving you feeling strong again.
More muscle mass
The drop in natural collagen production can also lead to muscle weakness which, alongside less strong bones, can have more than just a physical effect.
People who are used to being active suddenly lack strength: our vegan collagen supplement can help boost muscle mass.
If you are experiencing more muscle aches and joint pain from your regular workout, it could be that your collagen levels are dipping.
Our vegan liquid collagen supplement will help ease that discomfort.
Healthy heart
The impact of collagen on our heart is less well-known but it isn’t just our skin that benefits from its hydrating effects.
Collagen can also boost elasticity in our arteries, enabling blood vessels to flow freely and keeping our blood pressure and heart health in check.
Healthy gut
The connection between the brain and the gut is slowly being better understood, but scientists do know that collagen peptides have a beneficial impact on our gut biome.
Healthy hair
Many people experience a slump in their hair health as they get older. From thinning to dry, brittle hair, it can have a negative impact on our confidence.
Our vegan liquid is the best collagen supplement because it gets to work quickly, thanks to that high absorbency rate. In a similar way that it can plump out healthy skin, collagen also rehydrates your hair, making it look and feel thicker and fuller.
Nail health
Splitting, weak or brittle nails are another consequence of declining collagen production.
Our vegan collagen supplement will boost your nail health by bringing much-needed hydration to your fingers and toes.
It’s the best collagen supplement for delivering the holy trinity of healthy skin, hair and nails.
Hyaluronic acid magic
So far, we’ve focused mainly on the collagen contained in our vegan liquid supplement and other collagen powders and pills.
But even the very best collagen supplement doesn’t work alone. To increase efficiency and get the best results, a few other ingredients are required.
One of the most important is hyaluronic acid. Like collagen, it is naturally present in the human body, and is found in our skin, eyes and joints.
When hyaluronic acid binds with water it swells, plumping out wherever it happens to be. It makes skin look fuller, reducing fine lines and wrinkles, and can accelerate wound healing while also minimising scarring.
Our vegan collagen supplement includes hyaluronic acid, and that’s not all.
The best collagen supplements contain antioxidants to ensure the quality of new skin cells. Our vegan collagen supplement contains not one, but two:
- Vitamin C
As well as having antioxidant properties, it’s also one of the key elements needed for collagen formation
- Panax Ginseng
Its antioxidant properties protect skin from free radicals and other environmental aggressors that can lead to fine lines and wrinkles
You can find the full breakdown of the ingredients in our vegan collagen supplement here.
How much collagen do the best supplements have?
Studies suggest we should have up to 10 grams a day of collagen to get the most out of a supplement, whether it’s a collagen powder or collagen tablets.
The best collagen supplements have considerably more than this.
A single liquid sachet of our vegan collagen supplement contains 25 grams of our Vecollal® amino acid blend, as well as 30 grams of soluble fibre.
Of course our vegan collagen supplement is also free of dairy, soy, wheat and gluten, but you don’t have to be a veggie or vegan to enjoy its benefits.
The best doesn’t mean the most expensive
One of the biggest misconceptions about which is the best collagen supplements on the market have to cost a fortune.
The prices for some brands can be exorbitant but we don’t think health and wellness should be limited to those who are willing to pay vast sums.
That’s why our vegan collagen supplement costs from just £1.71 per day: less than the cost of a take-out coffee.
Our vegan liquid is the best collagen supplement for you
Let’s run down all the reasons why our vegan liquid is the best collagen supplement for you:
- It can reach every part of your body using collagen. Its fast absorbency means you can feel the benefit everywhere, from healthy hair and improved skin elasticity to reduced joint pain and stronger bones.
- It’s convenient. No messy dosing into hot or cold liquids (unlike a collagen powder). Just grab a 30ml sachet, pop it in your bag and go.
- It’s packed with great, scientifically approved ingredients, including hyaluronic acid, vitamin C and VeCollal®, which has been the subject of over 70 independent studies. Can every collagen powder on the internet say the same?
- It’s kind to the planet. VeCollal® has a significantly smaller carbon footprint than hydrolysed marine collagen or bovine collagen powder. Plus, our packaging, from boxes to the liquid sachets, is minimal by design to reduce our impact on the planet. Wherever possible we strive to use recycled materials.
- It has zero artificial flavours. Our vegan collagen supplement is flavoured with rich, sweet Japanese Plum. In a trial comparing it to two of the leading brands, ours was deemed the best collagen supplement for taste by 100% of participants.
Order yours today
Whether you’re a newcomer to collagen or you’re looking to change your brand, you’ve found the best collagen supplement on the market.
It couldn’t be easier to order. Choose from our range of subscription options, including our 28-day offer. We will send you 28 sachets every four weeks and it includes a gorgeous FREE Arella Rise, Energise and Dream Bundle worth £49.
Find all the details here.
Contact us
If you have any queries not covered by our FAQs, or you just want to tell us why you think our vegan liquid collagen supplement is the best, we’d love to hear from you!
Email us at info@arella-beauty.co.uk, telephone 03303 209 190 or fill in this contact form and we’ll get back to you straight away.
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