Anti-aging is a broad description of specific problems that crop up as you age, and even with such a vague name, the industry was valued at approximately $60 billion in 2021, and is likely to reach 120 billion between 2021 and 2030. So what is the industry actually selling? Creams, mostly.
That’s right, just stuff to put on your skin and hope that it will be enough to reduce fine lines and wrinkles and increase a youthful, dewy glow. And while we all want younger-looking skin, anti-aging should be more than skin-deep. That’s why collagen is our favorite anti-aging product— it helps restore your youth from the inside out, and not just your appearance but your quality of life.
Your body decreases collagen production by the time you hit your mid-twenties, and that age is typically when you might start to notice creaky joints, more digestive issues, difficulty losing weight, and hair loss. Collagen can help you live a happier, longer, healthier life, but you have to make sure you are getting the best collagen for anti-aging. We’re going to break down five collagen products to help you find anti-aging collagen that is right for you.
Editor's Choice: Xyngular Complete Collagen
Complete Collagen from Xyngular is our top choice for collagen for anti-aging because it has glycine and hyaluronic acid, both crucial for your overall health as you age. Not only does it have two ingredients known for reducing fine lines and wrinkles, but it also has five types of collagen, all aimed at improving your digestive health, joint strength, bone density, and hormone balance.
Our Review Process
When you think of anti-aging, you probably think of crow’s feet, 11’s, and hair loss. But living well as you age is more than just looking younger, it’s feeling younger. So while some collagen products claim to be anti-aging but only have one type of collagen that primarily improves skin tone and reduces fine lines, you are only getting a fraction of the benefits that collagen can offer as you age.
Finding a collagen supplement that also addresses gut health, joint health, bone health, mood stabilization, hormone balance, and more is the best way to make sure that your youth is more than skin deep. That’s why, as well as our standard criteria like price, availability, and taste, we are including criteria that specifically target anti-aging from the inside out. We researched each product to assess whether or not they had 3 or more types of collagen to help combat multiple problems that come with aging from skin health to gut health to bone health.
We also researched whether or not they had the amino acid glycine which is known for its anti-aging properties. Finally, we considered whether or not the collagen had hyaluronic acid, a humectant that binds water to your skin improving the appearance of skin and reducing age-related dryness. If your collagen supplement doesn’t have three or more types of collagen, glycine, and hyaluronic acid, you aren’t getting the full benefits of collagen for anti-aging.
#1: Xyngular Complete Collagen: Complete Anti-Aging From The Inside Out
Collagen Specifications
Collagen Amount: 10 g
Protein Amount: 9 g
Gluten-Free: Yes
Multi-Sourced: Yes
Multiple Types: Yes
Hydrolyzed Collagen: Yes
Vitamin C: Yes
Taste: 4.5/5
Price: $$$$ $65 for 30 servings ($2.17 per serving)
Accessibility: Purchase through their website or distributor
3+ Types Of Collagen: Yes
Glycine: Yes
Hyaluronic Acid: Yes
Collagen Per Serving
10 g
Reasons To Buy
Contains the two holy grail ingredients for collagen for anti-aging: glycine and hyaluronic acid, has five types of collagen all focused on different systems of your body, has digestive enzymes to assist with digestion and nutrient absorption, hydrolyzed and has vitamin C for optimal absorption and easy digestion, one of our favorite flavors for collagen (Pina Colada) along with an unflavored option.
Reasons To Avoid
You have to log in to their site to purchase, a little more expensive (you get what you pay for, and this collagen has everything we looked for in collagen for anti-aging.)
Xyngular’s Complete Collagen wins as the best collagen for anti-aging because it hits all the marks for a high-quality collagen complete with hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, glycine, and five types of collagen to combat multiple signs of aging. Hyaluronic acid is the key molecule in skin moisture that has the unique capacity of retaining water, ensuring that your skin stays supple and glowing. Glycine also improves moisture retention and also helps to repair and regenerate skin. Not only does this collagen improve skin firmness and elasticity, but it also contains digestive enzymes to help your body break down food more easily, increasing nutrient absorption in your digestive system.
A healthy digestive system, especially as you age, improves your overall health by reducing digestive problems like gas, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation, as well as ensuring you are getting all the nutrients from the food you eat. Complete Collagen improves your well-being as you age from the inside out while ensuring that your body can effectively digest and use the collagen and nutrients you consume.
#2: BioTrust Ageless Multi-Collagen: Anti-Aging Without Hyaluronic Acid
Collagen Specifications
Collagen Amount: 10.9 g
Protein Amount: 10 g
Gluten-Free: Yes
Multi-Sourced: Yes
Multiple Types: Yes
Hydrolyzed Collagen: Yes
Vitamin C: No
Taste: 3.75/5
Price: $$$ $26.09 for 20 servings ($1.31/Serving)
Accessibility: Available on Amazon
3+ Types Of Collagen: Yes
Glycine: Yes
Hyaluronic Acid: No
Collagen Per Serving
10.9 g
Reasons To Buy
Five types of collagen, multiple sources of collagen, has glycine, decent price.
Reasons To Avoid
No vitamin C, not hydrolyzed, fruit punch is a good flavor but doesn’t dissolve as well, chocolate is not a good flavor, but unflavored you genuinely can’t taste. No hyaluronic acid.
BioTrust Ageless Multi Collagen comes in second because it has many of the most important features of good collagen for anti-aging, but is missing a few key factors. It has five types of collagen, as well as multiple sources. It also has glycine, the amino acid responsible for moisture retention and skin repair and regeneration. It does not, however, have hyaluronic acid, and without this ingredient, it simply isn’t as effective to prevent wear and tear on your body and skin as you age. If you are taking hyaluronic acid in a different supplement then this could be a good option for you— it has everything else we love about Complete Collagen from Xyngular, and it’s not quite as expensive. That being said, the reason they call Complete Collagen “complete” is that it really attacks the signs of aging from multiple fronts, so if this collagen doesn’t give you results try Complete Collagen.
#3: Skinnyfit Superyouth Multi Collagen Peptides: Great For Anti-Aging, Bad For Your Wallet
Collagen Specifications
Collagen Amount:15.6 g
Protein Amount: 14 g
Gluten-Free: Yes
Multi-Sourced: Yes
Multiple Types: Yes
Hydrolyzed Collagen: Yes
Vitamin C: Yes
Taste: 4.5/5
Price: $$$$$ $99.95 for 28 Servings ($3.60 per Serving)
Accessibility: Available On Amazon
3+ Types Of Collagen: Yes
Glycine: Yes
Hyaluronic Acid: Yes
Collagen Per Serving
15.6 g
Reasons To Buy
Lots of flavors, has glycine, hyaluronic acid, multiple sources, and types, has apple cider vinegar, higher protein content.
Reasons To Avoid
Expensive for basically the same thing as Complete Collagen from Xyngular, flavors are hit and miss.
Skinnyfit Superyouth Multi Collagen Peptides is a solid product- it has everything we look for in a collagen product for anti-aging: hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, glycine, multiple types and sources of collagen. But it’s hard to get over the price tag— almost a hundred dollars for 28 servings for a supplement that has the same features as other products on this list seems unreasonable.
That being said, this particular collagen has a ton of flavors, and if you are looking for collagen that you can easily rotate flavors for more variety, and you have the extra cash to spend, this could be your ideal collagen. We also like that it has apple cider vinegar, known for helping to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. However, apple cider vinegar is inexpensive and can be taken in other forms for a much lower price tag.
#4: Live Conscious Collagen Peptides Powder: Inexpensive But Missing Key Anti-Aging Ingredients
Collagen Specifications
Collagen Amount: 11 g
Protein Amount: 10 g
Gluten-Free: Yes
Multi-Sourced: No
Multiple Types: Yes
Hydrolyzed Collagen: Yes
Vitamin C: No
Taste: 3/5
Price: $$ $34.95 for 41 servings ($0.85 per Serving)
Accessibility: Available on Amazon
3+ Types Of Collagen: No
Glycine: Yes
Hyaluronic Acid: No
Collagen Per Serving
11 g
Reasons To Buy
On the more affordable end, if you have allergies to chicken and fish this is a good choice, unflavored is tasteless in most beverages.
Reasons To Avoid
No vitamin C so it’s harder for your body to use, only one source (bovine), only types I and III.
Live Conscious Collagen Peptides is very affordable, mixes and dissolves well, has minimal flavor when mixed with other liquids, and has glycine. However, it doesn’t have some of the most crucial features we look for in collagen to help with anti-aging. It doesn’t have hyaluronic acid, which is crucial for maintaining moisture in your skin. It also only has two types of collagen, I and III, and while these types are known for reducing wrinkles and boosting hair health, the product isn’t as effective at reducing the effects of aging in a holistic, inside-out way.
If you are going to start taking collagen to help with aging, take one that has all the features you need to improve your appearance as well as your health. All that being said, if you are wanting to dip your toes into collagen without a high price tag, Live Conscious Collagen Peptides could be your best bet.
#5: Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides: High Collagen Content, Low Anti-Aging Properties
Collagen Specifications
Collagen Amount: 20 g
Protein Amount: 18 g
Gluten-Free: Yes
Multi-Sourced: No
Multiple Types: Yes
Hydrolyzed Collagen: Yes
Vitamin C: No
Taste: 3.75/5
Price:$$$ $39.99 for 27 servings ($1.48 per Serving)
Accessibility: Available on Amazon
3+ Types Of Collagen: No
Glycine: Yes
Hyaluronic Acid: No
Collagen Per Serving
20 g
Reasons To Buy
Good if you only want one source because of allergies to chicken and fish, dissolves well, high protein content.
Reasons To Avoid
Only types I and III, only one source of collagen, no hyaluronic acid (it is in different collagen from Vital Proteins marketed as “beauty” based), expensive for all the anti-aging support it lacks.
Overall, this product is fairly basic and because it only has two types of collagen (I and III) aimed at primarily improving your hair, skin, and nails. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with wanting healthier, more youthful hair, skin, and nails. But anti-aging is about more than maintaining a youthful appearance, it’s about supporting all of your body’s systems so that you can live well as you age. If you need chicken and fish-free collagen for allergies or other reasons, Vital Proteins is a solid choice. This collagen also has a higher protein content, which can be helpful if you are very active or trying to build muscle. Vital Proteins Collagen has similar features to Live Conscious Collagen Peptides, but because it is more expensive we gave it last place. If you are looking for collagen for anti-aging, Live Conscious offers most of the same benefits as Vital Proteins but for a smaller price tag.
Why Collagen For Anti Aging?
While there are many factors that contribute to your overall well-being as you age, a decrease in collagen production is a key factor in why you might start to feel and look older. Collagen makes up 25-35% of your whole body’s protein content and is the main component of connective tissues like ligaments, tendons, skeletal muscles, skin, intestines, cornea, blood vessels, and intervertebral discs. Clearly, adding a collagen supplement to your routine isn’t just to make your hair grow faster or reduce fine lines. Adding collagen literally holds you together as your body ages, improving your digestion, bone health, joint strength, eyesight, and potentially even balances hormones like cortisol and estrogen.
But not all collagen products help with all of these systems— you need all five types of collagen to help you feel and look younger. Specifically, type I is the most abundant type of collagen in your body and strengthens tendons, ligaments, digestive organs, bones, and skin. It helps heal your skin and gives it the elastic qualities for a more youthful glow. Type III offers similar benefits as type one, but more specifically it forms blood vessels and tissues within the heart. Type II supports joint health, reducing creaking or painful joints as you age. Type IV lines the majority of your digestive organs and respiratory surfaces and type V is needed to create the surface of cells in your body, as well as hair and placentas. All of these types are needed to support your body as you age, and without one, you are missing the full “fountain of youth” benefits of collagen.
Adding Collagen To Your Diet
Taking collagen for anti-aging is one of the easiest ways to improve your well-being as you grow older. It’s just a matter of adding a scoop of collagen to your meals or drinks, whether it’s your morning coffee or your scrambled eggs. We also love adding collagen to smoothies, yogurt, baked goods, tea, or just water. The best way to take collagen is to take it consistently, so find the way you like to consume it best and make sure you keep taking it!
To really boost your collagen supplement’s effectiveness, you’ll want to make sure it has vitamin C (or take vitamin C separately), hyaluronic acid, has multiple types and sources of collagen, and has at least 8 grams of collagen. If you really want to improve your well-being as you age, try a collagen that also supports healthy digestion with either fulvic acid or digestive enzymes (or both!) like Xyngular’s Complete Collagen.
Age Gracefully From The Inside Out With Complete Collagen From Xyngular
Everyone wants to age gracefully and avoid wrinkles and hair loss for as long as possible. But aging well isn’t just about appearances, it’s about how you feel in your body as you age. Painful joints, poor digestion, fluctuating hormones, brittle bones, and difficulty losing weight or maintaining muscle mass all contribute to low quality of life. If you don’t feel young it doesn’t matter how young you look— your overall quality of life depends on internal and external health.
That’s why choosing collagen that has hyaluronic acid, glycine, vitamin C, digestive enzymes, and multiple sources and types of collagen matters— you deserve to age well. For complete anti-aging, we recommend Complete Collagen from Xyngular. It has every feature you need to ensure that your body can function optimally as well as maintain a youthful appearance. You can have the best of both worlds with Xyngular’s Complete Collagen.
