The 5 Best Marine Collagen Supplements for Skin in 2024
Don’t waste your money!
We compare the best 5 leading brands of Marine Collagen and explain the benefits, what to look for in a supplement – and what to avoid.
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What is Marine Collagen?
Derived from fish, marine collagen is a protein-packed supplement used for skin-rejuvenation and its ability to support joint health.
Supplements contain parts of the fish that are most rich in natural collagen – which can include the bones, skin and scales. Experts theorise that peptides in digested collagen supplements may stimulate the body to rev up its own production of new collagen.
Benefits of High Quality Marine Collagen
Reduce Wrinkles and Sagging Skin
Collagen helps to maintain the structure, stability, and strength of the dermal layers of the skin. Studies have shown collagen repairs wrinkled or damaged skin and is also an antioxidant that prevents further damage.
Stronger Hair and Nails
Marine collagen provides the essential building blocks for strong and healthy hair and nails, promoting growth and resilience.
Marine Collagen for Joint Support
Collagen is the primary building block of your body’s skin, muscles, bones, tendons and ligaments, and other connective tissues. It’s also found in your organs, blood vessels and intestinal lining. Research has shown that marine collagen can slow down the natural process of decline as we age, reducing joint pain and increasing bone density.
Collagen For Gut Health And Healing
Marine collagen may help with bloating, IBS and other problems in the gut. It contains amino acids proline, glycine and glutamine which repair and maintain the delicate lining of our intestine.
Collagen Can Encourage Growth Of Lean Muscle
With 10% of our muscle tissue being composed of collagen, it’s hardly surprising that marine collagen supplementation can help build dense muscle mass. Research has shown that taking collagen after exercise can stimulate muscle growth.
What Should I Look For?
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Choose Collagen Type 1
Opt for Type 1 collagen, the most prevalent form in the skin, which provides the best beauty benefits.
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Pick Hydrolysed collagen with Low Molecular Weight
The hydrolysed form of collagen is the best absorbed. Look for products with a molecular weight of less than 2000 daltons, because this higher quality form of collagen has a greater benefit.
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Get the Correct Dose - Around 1,000mg
Collagen supplements are thought to work by triggering your body to reconstruct its own collagen internally, using the nutrients it needs from your food. Around 1,000mg of bioavailable collagen will trigger this effect, and a higher dose will not increase the benefit.
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Look for Supporting Ingredients For Skin and Hair Health
Our bodies use a group of nutrients to build healthy collagen, so a fortified collagen will always get best results. Hyaluronic acid, iodine and vitamin E which prevent dry skin, wrinkles and wispy hair. Zinc, copper and vitamin C help build a strong lattice of collagen beneath your skin. Vitamin B7 (biotin)has been shown to reduce hair loss and keep the skin and intestine healthy.
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Purity Certified by a Third Party Laboratory
Look for supplements that are formally certified free from harmful contaminants. Pure marine collagen supplements mean you will get the best for your health.
What Should I Avoid?
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Steer Clear of Additives and Fillers
Avoid supplements with unwanted extras which don't offer any nutritional benefit - they could even reduce the effectiveness of other nutrients.
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Don't Fall for Fake Reviews
Only trust verified reviews from an independent review website. Avoid bogus reviews!
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Avoid Collagen with Possible Contamination
As with all marine supplements, you should only buy a product that is third-party certified free from heavy metals including mercury.
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Beware of collagen with no stated molecular weight
If collagen products that don’t state their molecular weight in daltons, it may be high. This matters because it means you may absorb less, and get less benefit.
How We Assessed The Top 5 Marine Collagen Supplements
We have assessed the top 5 bestselling marine collagen products available. We compiled all the research, summarised data, and scored each product based on these important factors:
- Study the formula for quality
- Check active ingredients for effectiveness
- Calculate value for money
- Is there a money-back guarantee?
- Check verified customer reviews
- THE PROS
- Type 1 collagen for better skin
- Hydrolysed for better absorption
- Low molecular weight for better absorption (2000 daltons)
- Correct dose (1000mg)
- Supporting nutrients at good doses
- 3rd party purity tested
- No additives or fillers
- Excellent value for money per serving
- Money back guarantee
- Reviews mention rapid improvement in skin tone
- THE CONS
- Not vegan
1st – THE VERDICT ON VITABRIGHT MARINE COLLAGEN
We love the fact VitaBright’s Marine Collagen is enriched with a powerhouse of skin and hair nutrients. They include hydrating Hyaluronic Acid for skin rejuvenation, Vitamin C for collagen formation, Vitamin E for cell protection, and skin-supporting nutrients like Biotin, Iodine, Zinc, Copper, and B2.
Reviews mention rapid visible improvement in skin tone.
It’s formulated for easy absorption to maximise the benefits from each dose. The collagen peptides are type 1 and they’re hydrolysed, with a molecular weight of less than 2000 Daltons which means they’re ready for the intestine to absorb.
It also gains points for the fact there are no unnecessary additives and the product is third-party certified for purity, as well as quality control standards following GMP guidelines.
The final plus for this product is that it represents the best value for money of the 5 products we reviewed.
- THE PROS
- Type 1 collagen for better skin
- High dose (6,000mg per scoop) but could take less
- No additives or fillers
- Money back guarantee
- THE CONS
- No supporting nutrients
- Not hydrolysed for better absorption
- Molecular weight not stated
- Not third party purity tested
- Not vegan
- Not organic or third party tested
2nd – THE VERDICT ON REVERSE LIFE MARINE COLLAGEN
Reverse Life Collagen Powder is easily mixed into a fruit smoothie, making it a flexible option for daily collagen intake. Taste can be an issue depending on what you mix it with.
Whilst the packaging advises a very high dose at 6,000mg daily, the product isn’t hydrolysed so you may end up absorbing a lot less than you actually consume.
There’s no third-party purity testing on this product which we think could be an issue considering its marine source.
With no additives or fillers, it may be a good choice if you don’t mind paying for the necessary supporting vitamins and minerals separately.
We like the fact there’s a money-back guarantee.
- THE PROS
- Type 1 collagen for better skin
- Reasonable dose (2000mg)
- Supporting nutrients (but very low doses)
- Money back guarantee
- THE CONS
- Not hydrolysed for better absorption
- Molecular weight not stated
- Contains additive and fillers
- Not third party purity tested
- Not vegan
3rd – THE VERDICT ON iHERB NEOCELL MARINE COLLAGEN
We like the fact this product comes with a money back guarantee. Positive reviews mention that there’s no taste to this product, which is another plus point.
It’s fortified with supporting nutrients vitamins C, B6, B12 and magnesium oxide, zinc oxide, copper and hyaluronic acid. Whilst this list seems great, the doses are very low – a lot less than the recommended daily amount in most cases. This makes us question how much benefit they could really give.
The dose of 2,000mg per capsule is reasonable. It’s not hydrolysed for better absorption, however, and the label also doesn’t state the molecular weight. Remember, the lower this is, the more you are likely to absorb.
The capsules do contain additives and fillers and they’re not third-party purity tested, which could be an issue if you’re concerned about mercury or other contamination.
- THE PROS
- Type 1 collagen for better skin
- No additives or fillers
- High dose (6,100mg per scoop) but could take less
- THE CONS
- Reviews mention bad taste
- No supporting nutrients
- Not third-party tested
- Molecular weight not stated
- No money-back guarantee
- Not vegan
4th – THE VERDICT ON HIGHER NATURE COLLAGEN
Higher Nature Collagen Drink is made from sustainable fish without shark ingredients and mixes very well into drinks. This marine collagen lost marks in our review partly because reviewers mention it has a bad taste.
A hydrolysed and more easily-absorbed alternative might give more benefit than the very high 6,100mg serving of this non-hydrolysed form, which doesn’t state its molecular weight on the label.
With no supporting nutrients, it’s also not third-party tested for purity.
This well-known brand may be worth considering if you already take the main skincare nutrients that work to build collagen in the body.
- THE PROS
- Type 1 collagen for better skin
- Contains supporting nutrients vitamins Vits A and C
- Reviews mention good taste
- THE CONS
- Low dose per gummy (500mg)
- Contains additives including sugar
- Contains glazing agents
- Not third party purity tested
- Not hydrolysed for better absorption
- Molecular weight not stated
- Not vegan
5TH – THE VERDICT ON MYVITAMINS COLLAGEN GUMMIES
In a product that reviewers say tastes great, MyVitamins Collagen Gummies also include vitamin C and retinol (vitamin A), which help to boost their effectiveness.
This fun way to take marine collagen is great for anyone who has trouble swallowing capsules or who doesn’t have the time to make smoothies each day.
The main weakness is value for money, as it’s by far the most pricey product we reviewed.
You will need to take at least 2 gummies each day to get a useful dose of marine collagen. The collagen isn’t hydrolysed, meaning these gummies don’t offer the most easily absorbed form of collagen.
This product also lost points in our review for the added ingredients, which include the sweetener sorbitol and flavourings.
Cautions
- Marine collagen is a protein supplement that is safe for most people, but you should certainly avoid it if you are allergic to any type of fish.
- Since it is a protein supplement, remember to include it in your calculations of total protein consumption if you have kidney disease.
- Finally, people with some types of autoimmune disease find collagen can cause a flare-up in symptoms. There is not enough research yet available on this topic, but we suggest caution.
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