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What Is the Best Collagen for Skin?

By Dr. Josh Axe

November 22, 2022

Collagen protein has become one of the most sought-after supplements for skin, joint and gut support, especially among middle-age adults who know that their bodies are making less collagen naturally.

Does collagen really help the skin? Based on clinical studies of certain collagen ingredients, yes, it does! As a type of structural protein, it provides amino acids that help form and support the health of connective tissues including the skin. Collagen benefits for skin include helping to support more youthful-looking skin elasticity, as well as fighting signs of normal aging such as fine lines and crow's feet.

Read below to find out more about the best types of collagen for skin (yes, there's more than one type of collagen), plus how to supplement with collagen protein in order to start seeing results fast.

Our Skin Has Less Collagen As We Get Older

Collagen is often referred to as a “complex protein,” containing 19 different amino acids, including a mix of both nonessential (also called conditional) and essential types.

Supplementing with collagen is a particularly great way to get more conditional amino acids — like arginine, glutamine, glycine and proline — that can be hard to acquire in high amounts from other protein sources.

Our body’s collagen production naturally begins to slow down as we age, usually starting around our late 30s into our 40s (and sometimes before). We can thank this normal process for signs of aging, such as wrinkles, sagging and fine lines due to loss of skin elasticity.

To help boost your body’s own synthesis of collagen, supplementing with a collagen powder can help to increase intake of key amino acids that support skin health.

How Does Collagen Help the Skin?

What does collagen do to your skin? Collagen is a type of structural protein made from linked amino acids, which are small molecules that together form protein. 

The main roles that collagen plays in the body include forming and promoting healthy connective tissues, specifically those found in your skin, joints, tendons, ligaments and gut lining, as well as other places.

In terms of the benefits that collagen offers for skin health, it mainly helps to keep skin firm, bouncy, smooth, strong and evenly textured. In other words, normal amounts of collagen in the body can help to reduce the appearance of loose, sagging, dimpled and wrinkled skin. 

Many people who supplement with collagen consistently for several months notice that their skin looks generally firmer, plump, hydrated and healthy, instead of the appearance of dry or "crepey skin."

Benefits for Skin 

Here's more about how collagen benefits skin (and hair, too):

1. Supports healthy skin elasticity

Skin elasticity refers to your skin's ability to stretch and bounce back to its normal texture. As we age, usually into our 30's and beyond, our skin can become less elastic due to the normal aging process and because our bodies naturally produce less collagen. 

You can help to support healthy skin elasticity by consuming collagen and protecting your skin in other ways, such as avoiding too much sun exposure, smoking and/or an unhealthy diet.

2. Can help improve the appearance of crow's feet

Certain collagen supplements, such as Ancient Nutrition's Multi Collagen Protein, can help improve the appearance of crow’s feet after four weeks of use, and skin tone after eight weeks of use.

Within just a couple of short months, you may notice less fine lines (such as crow’s feet), wrinkles, neck rings, and more — especially if you take care of your skin in other ways (such as eating and sleeping well, avoiding too much sun exposure as well as applying certain skin-supporting products).

3. Promotes healthy hair thickness

Does collagen for hair growth work? Yes. If you're looking for support for both healthy skin and hair, you'll be happy to know that collagen can help with healthy hair growth, support hair thickness, and help reduce hair breakage. Hair strands are made up of protein, especially keratin, therefore it's not surprising that collagen protein can contribute to a nice-looking head of hair.

Best Collagen Types for Skin?

Collagen supplements, like collagen protein powder, are an easy way to increase your collagen intake. But which collagen is best for skin?

Ideally for skin care, you’ll want to use a collagen supplement that contains a mix of type 1 and type 3 collagen. Here’s why supplements featuring these collagen types are often the best collagens for skin:

• Type 1/Type I: This is by far the most abundant type of collagen found in the human body. It’s made up of eosinophilic fibers that form parts of the body, including the skin (dermis). It’s very important for overall healthy skin, giving skin its stretchy and elastic quality, and for tissue health, making it one of the best collagens for healthy, smooth skin.

• Type 3/Type III: Type 3 collagen is made of reticular fibers and a major component of the extracellular matrix that makes up our organs and skin. It’s usually found with type 1 and helps give skin its elasticity and firmness.

Bovine collagen comes from cows, specifically from their skin, bones and muscles. It’s made of mostly types 1 and 3 collagen, which makes it a good option for skin health. Collagen derived from fish and eggshell membranes has also been found to be easily absorbed and provides mostly type 1 collagen.

What type of collagen is best for your face? When it comes to skin health and care, the best collagen may actually be the kind you eat, rather than slather on your face in the form of cream.

The molecules in topical collagen-containing products are usually too large for your skin to actually absorb; therefore, supplements and food sources like bone broths are thought to be the best way to improve the look of the skin on your face and elsewhere from the inside out.

Best Collagen Supplements for Skin

What's the best collagen supplement for sagging skin? Ancient Nutrition’s Multi Collagen Protein powder features five types of collagen (including types 1, 2, 3, 5 and 10), from four food-based sources (beef, chicken, fish and eggshell membranes), so you can reap the benefits of multiple types.

Our collagen powder is sourced from non-GMO, grass-fed and pasture-raised, cage-free and cruelty-free sources raised without hormones, including bovine hides and wild fish that are typically high in types 1 and 3 collagen. It's made with clinically-studied ingredients that can lead to results in as little as one day of use. (It can also help reduce exercise-induced joint discomfort as early as day one.) 

MCP features a fermented eggshell membrane collagen ingredient that has been backed by six human clinical studies — a claim that no other leading brand of multi collagen supplement on the market can make. This new upgraded ingredient went through rigorous testing in human studies to identify its proven benefits, including those related to skin health. 

While all of our Multi Collagen Protein formulas offer impressive benefits for your skin, we recommend trying Multi Collagen Protein Beauty Within if you're specifically looking for help supporting a healthy appearance. This formula is made with not only 10 types of collagen, but also botanicals and antioxidants (such as pomegranate extract, coffee fruit extract, camu camu, acai berry and more) that help promote healthy skin elasticity. 

Additionally, we add soil-based organism (SBO) probiotics and 100 percent of your daily requirement for vitamin C, further assisting in digestion (probiotics) and helping the body to produce its own collagen (vitamin C). 

Related: How Long Does It Take for Collagen Supplements to Work?

Daily Skin Routine with Collagen

How much collagen per day? Can I use collagen on my face every day? Actually, we’re not talking about topical collagen here, so use this type of collagen to improve the appearance of your skin's texture and tone by ingesting it by mouth as a dietary supplement. 

When you consume collagen, your body uses the amino acids to promote the health of  your skin from the inside-out. Plus, supplementing with our Multi Collagen Protein specifically makes it very easy for your body to use the collagen you're eating because it's already hydrolyzed collagen peptides, or broken down to help improve digestibility. 

To take advantage of the collagen benefits for skin described above, try sticking to this skin care routine consistently for at least several months:

• Supplement with 1–3 servings of Multi Collagen Protein daily (collagen loading), whether in powder or capsule form. (Be sure to read and follow label directions for use.) Multi Collagen Protein powder is very versatile and easy to use, such as mixing a scoop into coffee, water, a smoothie, almond milk, etc. It also makes a tasty and nutritious addition to oatmeal, homemade baked goods, and savory soups (depending on the flavor you prefer). There are several flavors of Multi Collagen Protein available to choose from depending on your preferences, including pure/unflavored, chocolate and vanilla.

• Multi Collagen Capsules offer the same clinically studied fermented eggshell membrane collagen ingredient, as Multi Collagen Protein powders and are super convenient to take daily with water.

• Be sure to also cleanse your face with a gentle cleanser twice daily, exfoliate about twice per week, and use moisturizer and SPF daily to help prevent dryness and sun damage.

As always, you should consult with your healthcare professional prior to starting any new dietary or lifestyle regimen, including collagen supplementation.

To amplify the benefits of collagen for skin, consider adding other lifestyle tweaks to your wellness routine such as:

• Exercise, which often supports the production of growth hormone and can support the body’s normal production of collagen.

• Red light therapy, which can help support healthy skin and more.

• Rest, which can help alleviate dark spots under the eyes.

• Microneedling, which can help with overall healthy skin and overall collagen production.

• Eating a “collagen-boosting diet,” such as one that includes plenty of antioxidants, vitamin C, copper, zinc and manganese that help the body to produce and maintain collagen.

Dr. Josh Axe, DC, DNM, CNS, is a doctor of chiropractic, doctor of natural medicine, clinical nutritionist and author with a passion to help people get well using food and nutrition. He operates leading natural health website DrAxe.com and is co-founder of Ancient Nutrition, a health supplement company. He’s also author of the books Eat Dirt, Essential Oils: Ancient Medicine, Keto Diet, Collagen Diet and Ancient Remedies.