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Collagen is a protein made up of specific amino acids and represents roughly 30% of the proteins in your body. It is incredibly tough and the major component of connective tissues in your body, aptly supporting your tendons, ligaments, skin, and muscles.
The major reason people seek collagen supplements is that they can promote skin health. In fact, several studies support the notion that taking collagen may help slow down the aging of the skin by reducing wrinkles and dryness, which is attributed to a decrease in collagen production.
However, regular collagen supplements typically contain collagen extracted from animal-based sources such as beef or fish. That’s a no-no for vegans.
To help you find a great vegan collagen supplement, I’ve researched and narrowed down the choices to six options that I’ll be covering below.
The 7 Best Vegan Collagen Supplements
Future Kind Vegan Collagen Booster
Pros
- Future Kind is a 100% vegan brand
- Completely transparent (and no proprietary blends)
- 16 natural and collagen-boosting nutrients
- Contains potent natural ingredients.
Cons
- Not the most affordable.
If you want to purchase vegan supplements, Future Kind is a 100% vegan brand that creates supplements that cater to the nutritional needs of vegans.
What I highly appreciate about their supplements, including their vegan collagen booster, is that they don’t hide the ingredients and dosages behind a proprietary blend, so you can easily find out whether the supplement is as effective as they claim.
Future Kind is transparent, which is an additional reason I like this brand.
Future Kind’s Vegan Collagen comes in a bottle with 30 servings of vegan capsules that contain as many as 16 nutrients derived from the following ingredients:
Amla Extract: Amla is an Indian Ayurvedic herb that is deemed an ancient medicine. Recent evidence has found that it supports skin hydration, while also holding antioxidant properties, which may provide several health benefits, including a cancer-fighting mechanism.
Bamboo Silica Extract: Bamboo is a natural source of silica, which some studies found to protect the skin against light-induced damage, hence protecting it.
Aloe Vera Plant Extract: Aloe vera is also a plant that people have used as a medicine for thousands of years, and it seems to have some therapeutic properties, according to research. It contains polyphenols, as well as other compounds that may help inhibit the growth of infection-causing bacteria. For this reason, it may also help to heal wounds and treat skin problems.
Grape Seed Extract: Initial research on grape seed extract found it to improve blood flow, and as a rich source of flavonoids, it may also boost collagen synthesis, thus providing your skin with more protection.
Keep in mind that these are not the only properties that make Future Kind’s collagen-boosting formula.
They also have other properties/ingredients such as Bioperine, L-Glycine, L-Lysine Mono HCI, L-Proline, Reversatrol, and an array of vitamins and minerals such as Vitamins A, C, and E, zinc, folate, biotic, and more.
While a single bottle of Future Kind’s vegan collagen booster may be expensive, you can reduce its price by 15% and get free shipping by subscribing to their recurring delivery service. They also don’t have an issue with returns, so they provide you with a 60-day money-back guarantee. Frankly, they’re pretty legit.
If you’re hesitant about this product, feel free to check out the video below:
Raw Wellness Collagen Booster
Pros
- Great value for money
- Available in capsule and powder form.
Cons
- Contains a proprietary blend.
The Rae Wellness vegan collagen booster combines plant-derived ingredients such as Vitamin C and bamboo to support natural collagen production and renew the skin from within.
This formula comes with a 30-day supply and costs about $15, which makes it a great value option in this list, even though it has several of the same ingredients you’ll find in more premium collagen boosters.
To have a better idea of how this collagen booster compares to the previous formula, let’s have a look at some of the ingredients in the formula:
Acerola: Acerola is extremely rich in Vitamin C, an essential vitamin that is touted as one of the best ingredients on the market for pro-aging support — and the key to maintaining a smooth, even, and glowy complexion.
Since it impedes melanin production, it may fade hyperpigmentation, including sunspots, age spots, and melasma. It may also heal blemishes and reduce redness because it can act as an anti-inflammatory through its antioxidant role.
Bamboo Stem Extract (Or Silica): Another popular ingredient that is highly regarded for its benefits on the skin is bamboo, which is mostly due to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.
However, it is still a controversial ingredient, as much of the evidence is either mixed or obtained from preliminary studies. One of the more impressive studies shows that bamboo extract has the ability to protect the skin against light-induced damage.
Amino Acid Blend: Rae has also included an amino acid blend in this collagen booster using ingredients such as glycine, L-Proline, L-Lysine HCL, and Gynostemma Herb Extract.
Among these different elements, glycine is the most well-known and is a major component of collagen (representing around 25%), which means it may play a similar role to animal-based collagen.
Some studies also show that glycine can improve sleep quality, with subsequent benefits to cognitive function as well as skin health.
Unfortunately, several of the ingredients within collagen boosters (and many other supplements) tend to be under a veil of controversy because there isn’t extremely compelling evidence to prove their benefits.
Although it is true that in some studies, these ingredients have generated some results, the sample sizes are usually small and it’s hard to prove that they are, in fact, effective for everyone.
For that reason, it’s more about testing what works for you and your skin rather than finding a product that works for the general population, which won’t happen as people have different skin complexities, types, and so on.
If you’re hesitant about trying out this supplement, check out this experience-based review below:
Sun Warrior Beauty Greens Collagen Booster
Pros
- Contains probiotics for optimal gut health and a stronger immune system
- Also comes with biotin which supports hair and nail growth
- Made with organic fruits and vegetables.
Cons
- Only contains 25 servings
Sun Warrior is a premium collagen booster that combines a variety of skin-glowing ingredients with probiotics, which are microorganisms that help maintain the natural balance of your gut bacteria and empower your body’s natural immune response.
To stimulate collagen production, Sun Warrior’s formula offers you vitamin C from organic amla fruit and sea buckthorn as well as bamboo silica and hyaluronic acid.
Additionally, it also contains biotin from holy basil extract and sunflower seed oil, which is a B vitamin that is known to reduce hair loss and prevent your nails from becoming brittle.
Let’s closely analyze each ingredient in the formula and determine what they actually do.
Biotin: This vitamin has always been seen as the go-to for beauty ever since one pilot study in women with brittle nails showed supplementation to be beneficial. Ever since then, it has been promoted as an ingredient that promotes nail, skin, and hair aesthetics.
However, there is no sufficient evidence that says biotin is clearly effective at playing these roles.
Hyaluronic Acid: This particular ingredient has a variety of benefits, but the most relevant is that it makes your skin more supple and flexible, allowing it to stretch and reduce skin wrinkles and lines.
Additionally, it may also help your wounds heal faster and reduce scarring.
Silica: Here is yet another ingredient that is promoted as a solution for hair, skin, and nails that may suffer aesthetically, however, there isn’t sufficient evidence to admit that this ingredient is actually effective at promoting hair, skin, or nail health.
With that being said, there are studies that suggest silica protects skin cells against light-induced damage, most likely due to its antioxidant properties.
Apart from these three ingredients, Sun Warrior’s formula also contains a variety of organic vegetables, which are technically high in carotenoids, like beta carotene and lycopene, compounds that may protect the skin against the sun’s UV rays, which are one of the main causes of premature skin aging.
There is also some evidence suggesting that probiotics can restore the pH of acidic skin, reduce the impact of oxidative stress, reduce the effects of photo-aging, boost skin barrier function, and improve the quality of your hair.
Although unique, Sun Warrior’s collagen formula seems to have some interesting ingredients that may, in fact, prevent the aging of the skin, which is what beauty products seek to do.
Amazing Grass Vegan Collagen Supplement
Pros
- Enriched with superfoods able to hydrate and repair skin cells
- Free from major allergens and crappy, artificial ingredients
- Certified organic by the USDA
- More affordable than most formulas.
Cons
- Doesn’t have too many servings.
Amazing Grass Glow is an organic collagen supplement packed with skin-nourishing superfoods that will leave you feeling radiant and your skin revitalized.
Through synergistic blends, Amazing Grass has created a formula designed to hydrate the skin, rebuild damaged skin, and support collagen production for a more youthful look.
This vegan collagen supplement is certified organic by the USDA, it’s free from major allergens, and it’s a highly affordable solution that won’t break the bank.
Amazing Grass Glow comes in a canister with 15 servings of fast-absorbing powder, with each scoop containing organic superfoods that empower the skin, including:
Acerola Cherry: This fruit is mistaken as a regular cherry because of its deep red color when ripe. Its health benefits are derived from the vast amounts of vitamin C it contains, which are superior to fruits like oranges and strawberries. Similar to witch hazel, acerola cherry is an astringent, making it helpful for treating skin blemishes, promoting skin elasticity, and aiding digestive issues.
Rose Petal: Also a rich source of vitamin C, rose petals are excellent sun blockers and have the capacity to fight off acne due to their unique anti-bacterial properties.
Guava: Original from Central America, Guava leaves grow in tropical trees. They are packed with a wide range of vitamins and antioxidants that may work wonders for your skin. A test-tube study found that guava leaf extract was effective at killing acne-causing bacteria.
Holy Basil: Touted for its ability to tackle stress and anxiety, holy basil is also included in topical skincare to reduce inflammation, clear acne, and brighten hyperpigmentation – signs that appear from an individual being constantly stressed.
These are not the sole ingredients used in the Amazing Grass Glow formula.
You can also find other ingredients such as pea and brown rice protein, organic biotin derived from Sesbania leaf, lemon, wheatgrass, and kale.
Amazing Grass has created a highly complete and natural collagen builder that is available in 7 different varieties/flavors at an envious price point.
Ora Organic Vegan Collagen Supplement
Pros
- Packed with natural and organic ingredients that stimulate the natural production of collagen
- Made by an ethical and transparent company
- Free from major allergens and weird, artificial fillers.
Cons
- Comes in only 20 servings.
Even though it doesn’t contain as many skin-nourishing ingredients as the Amazing Grass Glow formula, this collagen booster by Ora Organic is an exceptional solution.
With ingredients such as aloe vera, silica, pea protein, and vitamins C and E, this vegan-friendly powder is bound to boost your body’s natural production of collagen.
In each Ora Organic canister, you can find 20 servings — it’s comparatively more than the Amazing Grass Glow formula, but it’s still a tad more expensive
Here are some of the core ingredients present in this vegan collagen booster:
Organic Pea Protein: A high-quality plant-based protein sourced with nine essential amino acids, which play a role in the natural production of collagen. Lycine, one of those nine essential amino acids, plays a key role in collagen production.
Organic Acerola Cherry Extract: Acerola is a West Indian cherry that boosts immune function and it’s also an extremely rich source of vitamin C, thus supporting collagen production. Additionally, it’s also rich in antioxidants and B vitamins.
Organic Bamboo Whole Plant Extract: Bamboo is not only rich in proteins, vitamins, minerals, and fibers, but it also contains the richest amount of silica of any plant, which is an essential nutrient needed to aid the natural production of collagen in the body.
To sum it all up, it’s another clean and transparent formula packed with powerful ingredients that will incite the production of collagen in your body, without having to needlessly slaughter an animal.
You can drive down the price of the supplement by either buying it in bulk or by adhering to Ora Organic’s recurring subscription service.
Mykind Organics Collagen Supplement
Pros
- Made from over 30 organic fruits, vegetables, and botanicals
- Certified Organic by the USDA.
Cons
- Not every vegan likes the fact Garden of Life is owned by Nestlé
- 2 tablets per serving (not convenient for all individuals).
Mykind Organics is an organic and non-GMO formula made from over 30 powdered organic fruits, vegetables, and botanicals.
It’s rich in several vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, C, and E, as well as nutrients like biotin and silica that play a crucial role in collagen production.
One bottle comes with 60 tablets, which is the equivalent of 30 servings since you must take two tablets per day to reap the full benefits.
If you don’t like to take tablets, then this supplement is not as convenient.
This Mykind Organics Vegan-Collagen Booster was created by Garden of Life, which is a brand owned by the multinational behemoth — Nestlé.
Needless to say, not every vegan is okay with supporting such companies, but Garden of Life is known for creating high-quality plant-based products, a trait that doesn’t seem to have changed.
This formula contains isolated ingredients such as Organic Bamboo Extract (from which the silica content is obtained) and Turmeric Root, but it’s majorly comprised of two blends: the Certified Organic Food Blend and the Certified Organic Beauty Blend.
Each one contains a plethora of ingredients that will provide you with all sorts of minerals, including ones that are known to help nourish your skin, hair, and nails.
Akin to the other supplements, this one is also very high-quality, and does seem to keep customers happy according to verified reviews.
Mary Ruth’s Vegan Collagen-Boosting Gummies
Pros
- 90 servings per bottle
- Easy-to-chew gummies
- Accommodates different dietary needs.
Cons
- Sweetened with maltitol.
Mary Ruth’s Collagen Boosting formula is yet another viable choice for improving your skin and hair health.
Packed with essential nutrients like L-lysine, Amla fruit, Vitamin A, and Vitamin C, these gummies are claimed to promote collagen production, a vital component of skin and bone structure.
This formula comes in a user-friendly format. The easy-to-chew, watermelon-flavored gummies make it simple to incorporate collagen-boosting nutrients into your daily routine, without the hassle of swallowing pills or capsules.
With 90 servings per bottle, it’s a super convenient and tasty way to support your skin and hair health.
Let’s look at the 4 primordial ingredients in Mary Ruth’s collagen-boosting formula:
L-lysine: This essential amino acid is plant-based and seems to play a role in collagen production.
Some experts suggest it might work in synergy with Vitamins A and C to promote healthy skin and support the body’s natural healing processes.
Amla fruit: A plant-based source of antioxidants and Vitamin C, Amla fruit is claimed to improve skin elasticity and thickness. It also supposedly promotes hair growth, giving users a more youthful appearance.
Well, according to preliminary research, Amla may have growth-promoting effects that exceed that of Minoxidil, which is used as a topical application for hair growth.
Vitamin A: Derived from plant-based sources, Vitamin A is vital for healthy skin as it helps stimulate collagen synthesis and cell turnover. This results in smoother, firmer skin with fewer signs of aging.
However, it’s not known whether oral consumption may lead to these benefits. Its benefits are better understood when it’s topically applied.
Vitamin C: A powerful antioxidant, Vitamin C is vital for collagen production and helps to neutralize free radicals that can damage skin cells. It also promotes skin health, giving you a radiant glow.
For example, one study showed that daily use of a vitamin C formulation for at least three months improved the appearance of fine and coarse wrinkles of the face and neck, as well as improved overall skin texture and appearance.
While I mostly relish the fact it’s vegan, this formula can also accommodate different needs and wants since it’s non-GMO, sugar-free, and it’s also without a variety of allergens such as nuts, gluten, soy, corn, and even nightshades.
This makes the gummies suitable for a wide range of dietary needs, ensuring that everyone can enjoy the benefits of these collagen-boosting nutrients.
To sum it all up, while the gummies possess ingredients that may boost collagen production, it’s important to note that individual results may vary, and the gummies should be taken as part of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle for optimal results.
What is Vegan Collagen?
The majority of collagen supplements in the market are animal-based.
That’s because collagen is a protein found mostly in hair, skin, nails, bones, and ligaments of animal sources such as beef or fish.
However, because of technological and scientific advancements, it’s now possible to make vegan collagen.
Instead of sourcing collagen from animals, collagen can now be made using genetically modified yeast and bacteria.
It’s been found through research that the bacteria P. pastoris is commonly used in the production of high-quality vegan-friendly collagen.
To create collagen, four human genes that code for collagen are added to the genetic structure of the microbes, and once the genes are in place, the yeast or bacteria start producing the building blocks for human collagen.
A digestive enzyme called pepsin is added to help structure the building blocks into collagen molecules that share the same structure as human collagen. This is basically how vegan collagen is made.
However, it’s important to point out that most vegan collagen supplements on the market do not contain actual collagen – they contain nutrients that support the natural production of collagen.
If you pay close attention to the name of the supplements, you’ll see that many are named “collagen builders” rather than actual “collagen supplements”.
What Are The Benefits And Uses Of Vegan Collagen?
Vegan collagen has several benefits, besides the fact that one isn’t sacrificing a living being for the sake of extracting animal-based collagen.
Here are some of the benefits:
1. Less expensive
Using yeast and bacteria instead of animal products to create collagen is more cost-effective and easier to scale in a lab environment.
Even though this is true, we’re still not seeing vegan-friendly collagen being massively produced, however, the potential to lower existing prices and make collagen more widely available and present in medicines and supplements is a matter of time.
2. Lower risk of allergies
There’s an existing concern over the risk of illness transmission via animal-based collagen.
Collagen created using yeast or bacteria could potentially eliminate this concern because it’s produced in a controlled environment where allergens and other harmful substances could be easily removed before going into supplements or medication.
3. Higher availability for medical procedures
Vegan collagen has a ton of potential that goes beyond supplementation, mainly because it can be genetically modified to be safe and effective, which can be useful for medical procedures.
For instance, collagen can be used:
- to stimulate skin and tissue growth
- to promote wound healing
- in surgical sutures
And it can also be used as a drug delivery vehicle for issues like cancer or tumor treatment.
4. Higher safety profile
Because it can be controlled in a lab-environment, manufacturers can improve upon its safety profile. Additionally, it’s an easily traceable source, which makes it a safer product.
5. Collagen Has Promising Health Benefits
According to most manufacturers, collagen helps support your joints, ligaments, bones, tendons, skin, hair, and nails.
In fact, bones aren’t just made of minerals, they’re also made of collagen, which is why collagen is also important for bone strength and health.
In clinical trials, collagen has shown a lot of promising benefits in tackling different health concerns, however, for some of these benefits, science is still attempting to catch up.
Here are some of the claimed benefits:
Skin health: Collagen levels decline with age, which supposedly leads to the appearance of wrinkles, dry skin, and other issues. In a randomized control trial, researchers found that collagen may have beneficial effects on human skin health, particularly in people over 35 years old.
Hair and nails: As a protein, collagen is mostly found in skin, hair, and nails. As we age, our collagen levels drop, which may lead to the weakening of our hair and nails. Two small studies found that perhaps supplementing collagen may help support the body’s hair building proteins and reduce the risk of brittle nails in aging individuals.
Joint health: Collagen provides us with a cushioning layer between our bones, which enhances our flexibility, and reduces joint pain and stiffness. Some evidence suggests that supplementing with collagen may help improve joint mobility and reduce joint pain in aging individuals.
Arthritis: In rheumatoid arthritis patients, collagen may help reduce the swelling in tender joints and reduce some uncomfortable symptoms common to RA. Additionally, collagen has also proven to be useful to aid patients with osteoarthritis in their mobility and overall quality of life.
Gut health: Patients suffering from leaky gut syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, and other gut health disorders may benefit from taking collagen. Many patients with inflammatory bowel disease reveal lower than average serum concentrations of collagen, and it’s believed that increasing those levels may prove helpful. Collagen is believed to help with overall gut health, but more research is required to comfortably affirm these benefits.
Metabolism: Collagen also plays an important role in the development of lean muscle mass by helping convert glucose into energy used for muscle cell development. Having lean muscle mass means you have a faster metabolism, which means you can burn fat and lose weight more rapidly. Researchers measured the effects of collagen supplementation in combination with resistance training and the results showed that collagen can improve body composition and increase lean muscle mass.
Who Can Benefit From Taking Collagen?
Three groups could most benefit from taking collagen: aging adults, those with joint problems, and weak bones.
As we age, we lose collagen in our skin, tendons, ligaments, and bones. The loss of collagen in the skin, as it’s understood, can be noticed by the appearance of wrinkles.
And as we’ve learned earlier, some studies support supplementing with collagen because it can reduce the swelling in tender joints, as well as some of the pain. Additionally, it may help provide you with additional mobility, and hence, a better quality of life.
Finally, a 2016 review of the medical literature found that hydrolyzed collagen had positive therapeutic effects on osteoporosis—a degenerative bone disease. The effects included a potential increase in mineral bone density (which is what they use to measure osteoporosis) and also a protective effect on articular cartilage, and pain relief.
What Are The Side Effects Of Collagen?
Collagen supplements, in general, are not known to cause any negative side effects, and thus are well-tolerated and considered safe as long as you respect the instructed dosages.
However, as we’ve briefly mentioned in the section where we lay out the benefits of vegan collagen, there is a slim possibility that may have an allergic reaction, which is reduced because no animal-based products are used.
How To Choose A Good Vegan Collagen Supplement
A good vegan collagen supplement must be manufactured by a reputed company that is honest and transparent about every ingredient used in their product.
That being said, actual vegan collagen is very difficult to find, and what you will find is companies sell what’s called “collagen boosters” as supplements. These boosters typically contain a variety of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C and zinc that the body needs to create collagen.
Some companies may also include plant extracts and herbs that have also been found to help in the production of collagen.
In this article, we’ve included a list of three vegan collagen supplements because they offer the best combination of ingredients to ramp up the production of collagen.
Conclusion
Authentic vegan collagen is hard to come by in supplements, that’s why most vegan collagen supplements contain alternative ingredients that are known to increase collagen production.
Here is a quick rundown of the six best vegan collagen supplements:
- Future Kind’s Vegan Collagen Booster is a supplement that contains 16 natural and collagen-boosting nutrients derived from completely natural ingredients. Unlike most supplements, they don’t hide their formula behind a proprietary blend, so you know exactly what’s being used.
- Rae Wellness Vegan Collagen Booster contains a handful of decently reliable ingredients and made its way onto this list for being a more affordable option. Although it’s not as complete of a formula, it does have a couple of unique ingredients that may be able to improve your glow and fade hyperpigmentation.
- Sunwarrior’s Beauty Greens is a collagen booster that takes a unique approach to deliver skin nourishing and age-prevention effects to the skin, namely through the introduction of silica and probiotics.
- Amazing Grass Glow is a vegan collagen supplement that includes ingredients such as rose petals, acerola cherry, guava, holy basil, and other ingredients that support the production of collagen in the body.
- Ora Organics Collagen Boosting Powder is an organic vegan-friendly formula packed with aloe vera, protein, silica, and vitamins C and E.
- Mykind Organics Plant Collagen Builder contains biotin, silica, antioxidants, and various vitamins and minerals that positively affect collagen production.
- Mary Ruth’s Vegan Collagen Gummies contain 90 servings and come in an easy-to-consume format (gummies). It also accommodates different diets, including a gluten-free diet.
These are hands down, some of the most effective vegan collagen supplements on the market, and are certainly the best choice following the adjustment of your diet.
Editor’s note: The content on this website is meant to be informative in nature and it should not be taken as medical advice. The content of our articles is not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. It’s always best to speak with your doctor or a certified medical professional before making any changes to your lifestyle, diet, or exercise routine, or trying a new supplement.
