We Tried 5 Popular Collagen Brands — Here’s What Happened

It looked like everyone was adding it to their morning coffee or stirring it into smoothies when collagen began to trend in the wellness industry. People claimed it could help with glowing skin, strong nails, and even flexible joints. Surely enough, we also decided to put it to the test. Our plan was pretty ambitious. After trying five different popular collagen brands in day-to-day settings, our notion was that collagen-aided products always performed as advertised. 

What greatly surprised us was how different each product was and, most importantly, the outcomes. This also turned out to be a standout experience over time. Let’s see how it works step by step.

What Is Collagen?

Before moving on to the results, it is important to have an understanding of what collagen is to digest the rest of the piece. The wellness space has been obsessed with it and for good reason. Collagen is a protein that your body generates on its own, sustaining the structure of your skin, joints, and connective tissues. 

It truly is a wonder at maintaining the individual parts of the body. A proper scaffold within a building allows the structure to be maintained without putting too much stress on the walls, similarly, collagen supports the body. Alongside sustaining the skin, it provides cushioning for the joints, too. After reading the above, there is no denying how fundamental collagen is to the body.

Due to this, it is easy to see why collagen supplements have burgeoned in popularity. These collagen supplements, whether sourced from bovine, marine, or plant origins, aim to increase the body’s collagen reserves, offering numerous internal and external advantages.  

We were eager to find out if ingesting collagen would indeed keep the promises made.  

Setting the Stage  

We wanted to capture a benchmark before commencing our collagen trial. Skin hydration, nail strength, and even morning joint movement were monitored (which many in their late 30s often complain about). Collagen is something we have become used to hearing about, but like any product trying to sell itself with bold claims, some skepticism was bound to exist.

Each of the five brands chosen had their unique twist in collagen sources, such as marine collagen or even combinations with additional hyaluronic acid. To ensure comparability, we maintained the same dosage across all brands, observing the effects through several weeks of spectacles. The paramount question was, how would it affect our routines and, more importantly, our well-being?  

The Experiment Begins  

Week One: Incorporating New Habits

Alongside the adjustments in my daily routine, the first week most certainly was about incorporating processes as a new habit. The majority of the offerings had a neutral taste or a hint of powdery flavor that blended well with coffee or tea. Others were more fruity and worked better with cold drinks. It wasn’t surprising that we saw no changes in the first few days. Transformations related to beauty and health, after all, don’t take place overnight. But gradual, subtle differences at the end of the week came as a pleasant surprise.  

Remarkable during the introductory week was the sheer level of convenience. One brand claimed to have no-residue solubility. One of our respondents had a busy morning routine, so this feature in particular helped avoid extra time stirring or blending.

Week Two: Early Signs of Improvement

This is where things became more captivating for us. By week two, a few of us started noticing changes, primarily regarding our nails. One tester claimed she hadn't noticed her nails grow at this speed since high school. Although it is difficult to make a definite call if this was purely due to collagen or sheer fortune, there was enough progress to get the group excited.

Then there was the other concern of joint health. One of our team members who experiences stiffness after prolonged periods of desk work hinted towards feeling a little more mobile during the early morning stretches. These results were not game changers just yet, but this small win was captured and rejoiced in.

A midweek highlight was with whole-body wellness collagen capsules, where one tester remarked that regardless of her tight schedule, her energy seemed to hold up well throughout the day. It turns out the collagen blend she was using included minute amounts of vitamin C, known to promote absorption and support general well-being. The combination appeared to be just what the body needed to maintain balance through daylight hours. It wasn’t a magic moment of a glow-up, but merging health benefits with the dominating thrust of daily tasks turned out to be an unpredicted perk.

Week Three and Beyond

By my third week, results were piling up. Skin texture, of all things, had become a talking point. One of the testers noticed that the fine lines on her forehead seemed to be less discernible while looking at her makeup mirror. A colleague suffering from dry skin appeared less inclined to reach for her moisturizer around mid-afternoon. It seemed like her face was retaining moisture far better than many of us hope it would, and that was enviable. 

Not every brand was equally impactful, though. One of the marine collagen powders had a rather unpleasant fishy lingering tast,e which was hard to adhere to. At this point, it was evident how much the sourcing and flavor could influence sticking to the regimen as much as the outcome. There was a difference in results, but it was more than just benefits; the complete experience was what mattered. 

Intriguingly, the nail and hair growth collagen product still gave a good account of itself in the middle of the trial. Its unflavored powder was plain enough to be used in soups and even iced lattes. To make matters better, the bovine origin appealed to one of the testers who preferred ethically sourced materials. She was not the only one who wanted to take part in the trial, but her excitement was impossible to miss.

Another aspect worth mentioning? Hair. A participant dealt with the stress-related issue of thinning hair, and while it didn’t come back like a Chia Pet, she noted less shedding in the shower. That result, however subtle, seemed to support why taking collagen regularly (the brand did not seem to matter) could be a long-term project.

The Final Week  

We started compiling notes and finalizing observations last week. One surprising discovery? Collagen is not a catch-all solution. Some testers leaned more toward products that blended in extra vitamins, while others preferred unadulterated formulas without any additives.  

For one of us, the most enjoyable part of the experience was not the physical improvements, it was how seamless it was to add collagen into her day. She said it quickly turned into a self-care ritual, a moment of focus geared toward her wellness. Of all the brands she tried, the Vitauthority powder was hands down her favorite, not only for the results she saw, but also because it was so easy to use in her busy mornings.

The health benefits related to joint mobility were not very widespread but noteworthy nevertheless. Active participants reported reduced stiffness after workouts and attributed the improvement to collagen supplements taken routinely. Meanwhile, the more visible changes by the end of the trial period were noted in skin and nails, which was the single most noticeable change for all participants post study.

Takeaways

Through experimenting with several brands over a short period, we have learned some valuable lessons. 

• Firstly, formulation does matter, as not all products are created equal.
• Factors such as solubility and additives influenced the product’s acceptability, whether enjoyable or begrudgingly tolerable, significantly.
• Secondly, collagen does not work instantly. It’s not a magic cure. There are signs of progress after a month, but results are not as quick as one would expect, leading collagen consumption to feel more like a marathon than a sprint. 

Most importantly, determining the right product relies on individual requirements and expectations. For those who appreciate versatility and simplicity, powders, especially from VitAuthority, shine as remarkable options. Others may prioritize changes in skin and hair and therefore seek products with added biotin or hyaluronic acid, which can be beneficial.

Remarks 

One of the modern trends in wellness is collagen supplements, and when approached carefully, they do deliver as advertised. Out of the five popular brands we’ve tested, we were surprised by the small but impactful changes that surfaced over a short period. These benefits are often thought of only at the surface level and include reduced wrinkles, healthier-looking nails, and an overall better health perception.

The experience was more about reveling in the micro milestones of the health journey, not achieving results. Consistency and patience with any brand will yield results, so why not try a few options and see if there are any pleasant surprises!