collagen supplements

[sonsmum]

I've caved into advertising. I've ordered a months supply of premium collagen supplements (that you have to ingest, not in capsule form).
I'm trying to be subjective, ie. not changing my diet / skincare / daily routine, to truly see if these supplements do make any difference or if it is a bit of a pipe dream (which I suspect it is really)!
I'm on day 3 (or really day 2 as I forgot a supplement yesterday) and think I am going to struggle with my months supply. They taste disgusting, the consistency is odd, they smell wierd (though not fishy) and I just feel a little repulsed by them, and actually see it as the major feat of the day to get this product into my stomach!
I'm far from convinced I can keep this up long term, however do aim to complete the month's supply.
I'm not taken in by the before and after marketing shots and am well aware of the placebo effect and also people truly wanting to believe these supplements are beneficial for them.
My question is whether anyone else is also struggling to complete their course, and/or if anyone truly has noticed differences since taking them?!

@sonsmum I would be really interested to hear how you get on. I was just searching the S&B board for info on collagen supplements as been thinking about trying it.
Out of interest what brand did you go with?

I've been taking the myprotein ones and I've actually noticed a huge difference in my skin, 12 weeks in now!

I am a massive advocate for collagen, I use ancient and brave true collagen as no taste and blends in to coffee (not tea, is foul in tea and goes gloopy in cold drinks). It helps my menopausal hip pain and dodgy knees. Not seen any benefit in skin skin or hair and still have paper thin weak nails.
Wellguard powder from Amazon is pretty decent too but sometimes tastes.

@pawz can I ask what improvements you’ve seen in your skin?

I used my protein for about 6 months…. Honestly didn’t notice any difference. In contrast I’m using retinol now, I’ve noticed much more of a difference. I’ve also taken a picture using one of those ‘how old am I’ apps -pre retinol 38 (my actual age), after a month of retinol I apparently look 35.

It looks so much smoother and plumper - noticeable to other people too! It feels more hydrated and generally a bit healthier.

Pre taking it I'd noticed my skin was a bit sallow and perhaps not looking it's best, and that's all been reversed now!

I thought this was very interesting as I'd been considering collagen www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001fcy4?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile

@JoanDarc (great username!) I plumped for Absolute Collagen, and the whole months supply. They also gave a free sample of serum for the skin also (which I will NOT use until my experiment with the sachets is over) otherwise how will I know if any difference is due to the collagen or the skin serum?! I notice they also specify after you apply the serum to also use a moisturiser. (the moisturiser by itself, if you don't usually use one will have a beneficial effect, so I find this instruction a little manipulative.)
I just took another sachet. I can't lie, I don't find it pleasant. This time I dissolved the gloop in some boiling water and drank after brushing my teeth. Tomorrow I will do the same though with less water so there is less to drink!
Currently I think the results would have to be absolutely spectacular for me to keep this ordeal up, however I will persevere through this month to reach my true conclusion (bring on easter!)

The Zooki sachets are okay (although very sweet) and I'm told that combining the collagen one with the vitamin C one makes the collagen more effective. Not sure if that's true?

I also caved in to advertising - in my case Reverse Life. I’ve just started my second bottle and find the taste ok. My nails might be a bit stronger but it could be wishful thinking!

I used to take absolute collagen, it's about £50 a month and quite honestly it did work!! I had really good hair and my skin looked plumper and generally better definitely. My nails grew fast too so it definitely did something

But then a few months in I heard of a link between collagen supplements and cancer so stopped. As quite honestly I'd rather be a bit wrinkly 😞.

Yeah it tastes vile and it's like thick and sticky 🤢

I used powder collagen, no taste, blended into my morning breakfast smoothie for the last 3 months.

My nails are growing very quickly, and I've noticed hormonal pimples on my chin my last two periods are significantly less severe.

That being said, if you are trying to improve your skin, you need to invest in active ingredients, especially retinoids.

I've been wondering about this supplement today esp as in a physically demanding job i have a lot of ligament and muscle pain, and omg my Knees!!!

@JoanDarc an update for you and anyone else who may be interested. I finished the months supply, and admit that I got used to it after a while, as dissolved it in hot water with a squirt of squash, and tried to get it down in 2 gulps.
I can't honestly say I noticed much difference. Some days I thought I saw a difference in terms of smoother skin, but that could equally be because I had slept well the night before!
Having stopped over a week now, I have stopped my subscription.
My rationale for stopping was because I didn't notice enough difference to warrant the cost of £600+ per year. (I know some people see results after more weeks. However I have seen quite a few before and after photos of other people, who didn't really look that different to me. Maybe there was some small change, but ultimately I thought this was very marginal, and not worth the cost).
Some people claim it helps their aches and pains. I don't have that issue as yet.
My overall conclusion is that while I have stopped the subscription, I may re-start in the future if I feel so inclined, so I am not put off for life, but for me currently right now, I don't think it did anything for the tie of having to remember it each day and undergo the slight ordeal. of ingesting it.
If others find it helps them, great, go for it!

Thanks for the update @sonsmum
I’ve been deliberating for ages but finally opted for vital proteins collagen peptides powder which I’ve started this week. I was keen to try marine collagen but couldn’t find anything suitable in a powder form at a price point that I was happy to pay.
I’ve done lots of reading and speaking with friends and consensus seems to be 3 months to see effects properly especially in skin (nails/hair seems to be quicker) so that’s what I’m committing to.
I tried dissolving in coffee and could still taste it so I’ve tried it dissolved in cold water with diluting juice for the last couple of days and that way I’m not wasting my morning coffee!

GP suggested it early last year for joint pain, can’t say I’ve see any difference in skin although I look at others and think they look old so Mayb it does.
I have mine in coffee, have tried it in cold drinks and it’s vile in coffee I can’t taste it, I haven’t got the fish one, I’ve only had that in capsule form.

I used Absolute Collagen for 6 months and saw no difference at all in my skin. I've been using tretinoin since my early twenties though so I'm not sure if that's part of the reason for the spectacular lack of results.

I switched from Absolute Collagen to Hunter & Gatherer powder after seeing a thread on here.

That was in January and it’s much more economical and it’s making me drink more water as I have it in diluted squash.

To be honest not sure if either works but been using collagen in some form for 3 or 4 years now (capsules before AC) and kind of scared to stop taking it!

Tried ‘absolute collagen’ but tasted like sweetened roadkill so opted to stay wrinkly 🤷‍♀️

Hair stopped falling out after a week of Vital Proteins. Nails grew from nothing. Two scoops in a morning coffee. Definitely worth it

There’s a good podcast on BBC sounds under ‘Sliced Bread’ on collagen supplements.

the upshot seems to be don’t waste your money.

I’m taking Vital Proteins powder in my coffee (I have to suck a sweet at the same time as it does taste a bit weird). I think my skin is softer and smoother and I’m hoping it staves off joint pain. Will listen to the podcast though

I’ve been taking marine collagen capsules for 2 + years.
A brand I trust and get good results with, (but not one of the high end products, that’s widely advertised and with a ridiculous overall annual cost).

I listened to the BBC podcast re not wasting your money…

But, I went away for 3 weeks without mine, and was staggered at the difference and deterioration in my skin and wrinkles when not taking it.
Very specifically lines around my eyes and above the eye socket.