13 Collagen Supplements and Where to Buy Them in Canada
From tablets and powders to snack bars and liquids, collagen supplements are breaking into the beauty industry in a big way.
What’s the deal with collagen supplements?
Collagen, the single most common protein in animals, is best known for giving structure and shape to the skin—though it’s also present in bones, muscles and connective tissues. As we age or are subjected to external aggressors like UV radiation and pollution, collagen starts to break down.
Treatment options include lasers, injections, creams and serums, but there is also another category that’s growing in popularity: ingesting collagen supplements such as collagen powder, tablets, liquids and even health bars.
“Supplementing with collagen has research-proven benefits for skin including improved hydration,” says Joy McCarthy, a certified holistic nutritionist and Genuine Health spokesperson. “Collagen nourishes the dermis and increases the manufacture of hyaluronic acid, which can hold 1000x its weight in water and give the skin a youthful look.”
Andy De Santis, a registered dietitian at Health in Davisville in Toronto, agrees. He told BH there’s a 2019 study that shows collagen supplements can help improve skin hydration, elasticity, roughness and density.
Think you might want to give collagen supplements a shot? We’ve rounded up some of the best products that are available in Canada.
(Related: Should I Be Taking Collagen?)
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Collagen supplements: Ancient Nutrition
This unflavoured pick from Ancient Nutrition contains collagen from bovine, fish and chicken—all of which are from non-GMO, grass-fed, cage-free,and cruelty-free sources. This unique collagen blend means it can offer the benefits of not one but three different sources, making it a source of collagen I, II and III. Enjoy it in the morning with breakfast, adding it to a coffee or smoothie, or even pancakes or oatmeal. Prefer a flavoured option? Try Ancient Nutrition’s chocolate or strawberry-flavoured collagen protein.
Ancient Nutrition Multi Collagen Protein Pure, $39, houseofwellness.ca
Collagen supplements: Neocell
Looking for a non-bovine source of collagen delivered conveniently in capsule-form? Try Neocell’s new Marine Collagen. It contains ingredients like hyaluronic acid and vitamin C to help maintain the youthfulness of skin and encourage strong hair and nail growth. It also acts as a bit of a multivitamin—it contains zinc and magnesium to support everyday health.
Prefer a powder formula? The brand has recently released two other products—the Derma Matrix, which helps to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles, and Collagen Protein Peptides, which supports muscle tissue formation and helps keeps bones and cartilage healthy. They’re both made from grass-fed collagen and, like the Marine Collagen capsules, also contain hyaluronic acid and vitamin C to encourage healthy collagen formation.
Neocell® Marine Collagen, $24, well.ca
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Collagen supplements: Genuine Health
Genuine Health’s Pure Bovine Collagen and Marine Collagen powders are perfect for flavouring water or boosting a smoothie or cup of tea. Go for Pure Bovine Collagen powder if you’re OK with collagen derived from cattle, and choose Marine Clean Collagen for a non-bovine option, sustainably sourced from wild-caught fish in the North Atlantic.
Genuine Health Clean Collagen, $25 USD, genuinehealth.com
Collagen supplements: Jamieson
With 2.5g of hydrolyzed collagen per tablet, Jamieson Collagen Anti-Wrinkle is clinically proven to reduce wrinkles and fine lines in 28 days by providing collagen to the epidermis and dermis. One package will last 20 days if you take it as directed—three times per day.
Jamieson Collagen Anti-Wrinkle, $19 for 60 capsules, jamiesonvitamins.com
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Collagen supplements: Vital Proteins
Vital Proteins Beauty Collagen comes in fruity flavours like Lavender Lemon, Strawberry Lemon and Tropical Hibiscus. Each two-scoop serving contains 12g of bovine collagen, plus 120mg of hyaluronic acid. The collagen powder also comes in single-use packets so you can get your daily dose while travelling or on the go.
Vital Proteins Beauty Collagen, $44 for 14 packets, naturesante.ca
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Collagen supplements: Gold Collagen
A form of liquid collagen that comes in 10-vial packs (i.e. 10 doses), Pure Gold Collagen is a blend of collagen, hyaluronic acid, borage oil (an anti-inflammatory), and vitamins and minerals. It promises to increase skin hydration and radiance, improve suppleness, minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and even promote healthy-looking hair and nails—with results seen after a minimum of three weeks of use.
Pure Gold Collagen, $65 for 10 bottles, gold-collagen.com
Collagen supplements: Nature’s Bounty
Nature’s Bounty makes delicious vitamin gummies and their well-known Hair, Skin & Nails gummy has a collagen add-on. The collagen level is low (100mg in the recommended daily dose of two gummies), but the gummies also contain vitamin C, vitamin E and biotin to promote skin, hair and nail health, and fight free radical damage. HSN+ Collagen could be a good option if you have trouble with compliance (adding a powder to water or taking a flavourless pill isn’t for everyone) or simply want a tropical-flavoured treat that’s got good-for-you ingredients.
Nature’s Bounty HSN+ Collagen, $17 for 165 gummies, walmart.ca
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Collagen supplements: Good Goddess
A collagen powder from a small Canadian company, Good Goddess Powderful Essential Grass-Fed Collagen is a flavourless bovine formula with type I and III collagen peptides. It also has additional amino acids, including lysine, which is required for the body’s formation of collagen.
Good Goddess Powderful Essential Grass-Fed Collagen, $52, goodgoddess.com
Collagen supplements: AgeOff
Not only does AgeOff Collagen 2.0 Peptide Powder contain bioactive collagen peptides, but it also features vitamins and minerals including Vitamin C3, biotin and silicon that promote healthy skin, hair, and nails. Visit nuvocare.ca for four smoothie recipes that will allow you to incorporate collagen powder into your routine in a tasty way.
AgeOff Collagen 2.0 Peptide Powder, $35, nuvocare.ca
Collagen supplements: Organika
Though the brand claims its capsules can also be used to promote healthy skin, Organika BioCell Collagen focuses more on targeting joint pain caused by osteoarthritis because it uses type II collagen, not I or III. Take four capsules per day, each with 300mg of hydrolyzed collagen derived from chicken cartilage.
Organika BioCell Collagen, $73 for 180 capsules, well.ca
Collagen supplements: Progressive
Available in three varieties — unflavoured, Tropical Breeze, and Citrus Twist — Progressive’s Complete Collagen powder offers 10g of non-GMO collagen in each scoop, plus vitamin C to help the body use this vital protein and tryptophan to improve its quality.
Progressive Complete Collagen, $54, well.ca
Collagen supplements: CanPrev
CanPrev Collagen Beauty liquid supplement contains Verisol Bioactive Collagen Peptides to boost the performance of the fibroblast cells that produce collagen. The liquid is sweetened and each serving contains 2.5g of type I and III collagen from a bovine source.
CanPrev Collagen Beauty, $30, well.ca
Next: The Best Skin Care Routine for Your Age, According to Dermatologists
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