Help! Collagen - snake oil or worthwhile investment?

[EnjoythemoneyJane]

Being an auld gimmer, my insta is constantly flooded with glowy post-menopausal women banging on about collagen.

I know I’m very late to the party, but I finally clicked through on an Elavate ad this morning (because I quite trust Janet Street Porter) and it took me to a site that batters you with ‘facts’ and before & after photos which you have to scroll for pages before it reveals the price of the stuff. The whole thing looks and feels like some telemarketing scam, and that’s before you get to the ingredients blurb which vaguely mentions sources as being ‘European facilities’ (presumably abattoirs without uk regulations?!).

Been down a google rabbit hole and every other 40+ celeb seems to be endorsing a different brand of capsules or liquids or powders, the price range spans hundreds of pounds, and the science seems, at best, tentatively positive.

So please educate me, wise women of Style & Beauty! Is it worth it? Does it make any difference? Is there a brand that everyone swears by, or it all basically the same stuff? Is marine or bovine best, or a combination of both? TIA

Might be better to drink broth made from bones. It definitely helps my nails grow stronger.

I think it’s like so many of these things in that nobody does them in isolation. If you take collagen supplement (and they’re generally pricy so indicating that you have enough money to piss it down the toilet on supplements), you are also more likely to drink enough water, eat a good diet, wear sunscreen etc. So it’s very hard to isolate any impact to the collagen itself.

if anything wearing makeup daily has really helped my skin stay wrinkle free into my mid fifties. It means I have to follow a good skin routine, to provide a nice base for makeup. Moisturiser and spf, foundation with spf, a. daily facial massage when I apply it.

I disagree with this. I take it because I'm too lazy for some of the other stuff. From your list, the only other one I do is sunscreen.

I take collagen for my joints and general health mostly and tried 3 other brands before settling on elavate. It's the only one that's made a difference, and I didn't appreciate how much of a difference until I ran out 3 weeks ago and the joint pain has crept back in. Also had some compliments on my skin since I've been on it.

I don't care if some people think it's snake oil, it's really made a difference to me so I will continue - more coming this week thank god.

Proven snake oil. Walk away.

This is encouraging. I've been thinking that I'm going to use up the bag of collagen powder I've got, and then leave it. I've been enjoying bone broth every day -a bit of a new chapter as I've been mostly vegetarian for years, but feel I want to increase protein substantially in order to keep abreast of the ageing process. I'm not too worried about my skin -it is what it is- but I really want to stay supple and strong for as long as I can.

If you just think of it as a protein supplement it makes more sense. It's not a miracle supplement, but it's not snake oil either.

As pp said, we generally need 1g per kg of body weight and collagen is a great help towards that and if you're a busy mum, busy working, busy person then it's very handy to chuck in a smoothie or coffee.

I had stopped taking it but after that recent bbc article came out saying it probably does have a positive effect on skin and joints I've started again. I just take the boots gummies and they're often on offer so it isn't too expensive.

It is one of those products that helps some people but not others, same as extra vitamins. If you are deficient in vitamin D and take a supplement then you will feel the benefit. A person who isn't deficient won't, and will most likely tell you it's a waste of money. It may or may not be a waste of money but some people forget that not everyone can be out in sunlight and you can't fix that deficiency by diet alone.

Try it yourself. Try different ones. I'm mainly trying for joint pain and I've been taking Nutrition Geeks. I still have some pain and some days I still walk upstairs one step at a time, but mostly I am walking like a real human. I'm going to try Ancient and Brave next to see if it will reduce the pain even more. Oh, and if I stop the Nutrition Geeks I end up crawling up the stairs. Placebo or real - it's actively doing something positive for me so I'm going to continue taking it, it's just a matter of which one.

I agree with this. It’s very definitely not a miracle cure, but as someone trying to avoid too many calories whilst eating protein and fibre; coffee with collagen powder is a good way to start the day. The protein does at least stop me from wanting my lunch at 10:00. My hair, nails and joints are doing OK and my skin is healthy for my age. It still needs a good moisturiser and I need to keep hydrated and avoid too much sugar and alcohol. By itself collagen can only do so much, but I think there is a place for it amongst other good habits.

You need to eat collagen and do microneedling so the collagen you eat goes to your skin

It can make a little bit of a difference. It's basically building blocks for collagen synthesis, but it needs other stuff like Vitamin C (very important), zinc. It helps support body's production of collagen, but once estrogen levels drop so does the production of collagen.

There's not enough research, we're all guinea pigs. Lots of folks on here haven't had any benefit from taking collagen. I take bovine and marine and it's keeping my knees going and improved my skin. I stopped for a bit, think that lasted a few weeks, I really noticed that.

Forgot to say, mine are Holland and Barrett, I get the largest bottles in the 2 for 1 sale.

Please provide the evidence for this.
I'll say it again for those at the back. Your body breaks down collagen to it's constituent amino acids. Your body has no way of knowing that it should make collagen in your skin, joints or whatever. It will use it wherever protein is needed but you'd be much better off just increasing your protein intake (much cheaper).

I doubt it does much for your skin, but it is meant to be good for your gut health, so I am taking the Ancient & Brave marine collagen for that. I have no idea if it's better or worse than the bovine collagen.

For your skin, avoiding too much sun exposure and using sunscreen from an early age is key.

Totally agree (one time biochemist). Also most people only need to eat about 70g of protein a day - all these protein powders are just hype. Just eat meat, dairy, lentils, eggs, nuts or whatever floats your boat.

I've been taking Applied Nutrition powdered collagen solidly twice a day for 6 weeks and I've noticed a difference in my skin and joints, skin feels much firmer and more taut and joints less stiff, Retinol didn't do much for me tbh, If you want the added benefit of joint health then you need the Bovine collagen unless you're a vegetarian of course

Ive had cancer and the only thing my oncologist warned me about in terms of supplement was collagen. There is apparently some early research that shows it accelerates tumour growth. I don't know any more than what he told me but I won't be touching it for this reason. I'd rather be wrinkly than dead.

woah, that’s so scary. And the reason I avoid newfangled must have supplements. I hope you’re doing better x

Do you remember when you were little and your grandma would eat a cube of jelly a day as it was great for your hair and nails? Well the ‘active’ ingredient was gelatin - gelatin is pretty much the same as collagen (except the amino acid chains are shorter I think) but it does the same thing). Treat yourself to a bag of Haribos - it’ll do the same job. Ultimately, it’s all just animal gristle 😁

Truly, the amino acids don't know where to go & reassemble themselves as collagen.

Wow, that’s shocking. Another reason not to jump on the bandwagon. Hope you’re doing ok x

So I’ve been taking it on and off for a few years. The only one I do notice a change with is the WillPowders Collagen. My nails grow like wild fire. But I can’t say I have ever noticed any change to my skin. But neither have I ever used a product on my skin that has given me any results to write home about, I’m still a wrinkly old sun spotted old bird 🙂