What is the Best Type of Collagen?

You've heard the collagen craze. But do you know why it's so important for skin health? There's a lot to learn about collagen. So let’s break down the facts. 

What is Collagen?

Collagen is the most prominent protein in the body, providing structural support to bones, skin, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Essentially, it’s the glue that holds everything together. It's also key to maintaining the youthful appearance of skin, hair, and nails.

As we age, particularly from our mid-twenties, collagen production slows. This decline leads to visible signs of ageing such as fine lines, wrinkles, and a loss of elasticity and firmness in the skin. That's where anti-ageing collagen supplements come in, helping to replenish the body’s natural collagen stores and support smoother, more youthful skin.

Collagen is also crucial for hair health. Reduced collagen levels can result in hair loss and breakage. Adding marine collagen to your daily routine can help fortify hair strands, improving strength and resilience for healthier, fuller-looking hair. Additionally, collagen helps combat brittle nails, making it an all-round essential for beauty and wellness.

Understanding the 5 Collagen Types

While there are different types of collagen, only three of them make up around 80-90% of the body’s collagen. These are Type I collagen, Type II collagen, and Type III collagen. But there are other collagen types that are important to note. So here we will discuss the five key collagen types, and what they do.

Type I Collagen

Collagen type 1, known for its strength and rigidity, is found in bones, tendons, ligaments, and the dermis of the skin. Type 1 collagen is like the backbone of our skin. It forms a framework of fibres that give our skin its firmness and resilience. These collagen fibres act like scaffolding, holding our skin together and preventing wrinkles. By maintaining the integrity of our skin's structure, type 1 collagen helps keep it looking youthful and vibrant. 

Type II Collagen

Collagen type 2 is an important part of cartilage, which is the cushioning material found in our joints. It gives cartilage its ability to be flexible and bounce back, providing support for our joints. This collagen type plays a big role in keeping cartilage strong and functioning properly.

Type III Collagen

Type 3 collagen, often found alongside type I collagen, plays a vital role in making our skin elastic. It's present in tissues such as blood vessels, the walls of hollow organs, and most importantly, our skin. This collagen type gives our skin the ability to stretch and recoil, allowing it to bounce back after being stretched. It helps firm up sagging skin, contributing to a smooth, youthful appearance. Without type III collagen, our skin would lose its ability to stretch and regain its shape, leading to sagging and wrinkles. Therefore, this collagen type is essential for maintaining healthy and elastic skin. So the key collagen types for youthful, bouncy skin are collagen type 1 and 3.

Type IV Collagen

Type 4 collagen creates a thin network-like structure that supports and holds together the cells in basement membranes. It provides a strong foundation and acts like a filter for these cells. This collagen type is super important for keeping tissues, like the kidney, lungs, and the barrier protecting the brain, in good shape.

Type V Collagen

Type 5 collagen is usually found together with type I collagen, and it helps organise and arrange collagen fibres in our bodies. It's present in many connective tissues, like our skin and tendons. Type V collagen also helps keep our hair, the outer layer of our eyes (called the cornea), and the placenta structured and stable.

Which Collagen is the Best for Me?

Different types of collagen target specific skin concerns, so choose the best marine collagen for your skin by focusing on your unique needs.

Collagen supplements for wrinkles

Collagen is best known for its anti-ageing benefits for skin. When supplemented daily, anti-ageing supplements work to strengthen collagen fibres in the skin. This helps soften wrinkles, plumps fine lines and smooths the complexion. And the benefits of collagen for wrinkles are clinically proven too. After 12 weeks of one daily sachet, clinical trials found 70% of women recorded a significant improvement to crow’s feet wrinkles and a 60% improvement to wrinkles around the mouth(1). By stimulating collagen production, the best collagen supplement for skin will also increase skin elasticity in 12 weeks(2). This means you’ll see bouncy skin that’s more resilient to the natural ageing process and wrinkling. 

Collagen for dry skin

Collagen also maintains skin structure and enhances its function, which helps to quench dry and dehydrated skin. Vida Glow’s supplements for dry skin are clinically proven to increase skin hydration after 12 weeks(2), and even support wound healing(3). If you have sensitive skin or have overindulged in high-strength actives, collagen supplementation may help repair dry, stressed-out skin.

Collagen for acne-prone and oily skin

Collagen plays a vital role in maintaining a healthy, balanced complexion. By increasing skin hydration, collagen can hel regulate moisture levels and control excess oil production – key factors in managing breakouts. Combined with acne supplements, daily collagen supplementation can support healthy, glowing skin.

Collagen for hair growth

Collagen plays a vital role in supporting hair health. Daily collagen supplementation can complement hair growth supplements, providing the essential proteins that help promote thicker, stronger hair. As collagen levels decrease with age, using hair supplements for hair growth can help restore the protein needed to support healthy hair structure and reduce hair thinning. Additionally, collagen works alongside vitamins for hair growth to improve the overall vitality of your hair, making it appear fuller and more resilient.

Collagen for fragile nails

Fragile, brittle nails can be a sign of weakened collagen fibres. Supplements for brittle nails, like Vida Glow’s marine collagen, provide the essential nutrients needed to strengthen nail beds and improve nail growth. By boosting collagen production, our supplements help fortify nails from within, making them less prone to breakage and splitting. If you're seeking an effective fragile nails treatment, collagen is a proven solution to support healthier, stronger nails that can withstand everyday wear and tear.

What about marine collagen vs bovine collagen?

Marine collagen and bovine collagen differ in several key ways, with your primary consideration being the reason for taking the supplement. 

If you want to target ageing and improve the complexion of your hair, skin and nails, then marine collagen is a great, bioavailable option. It’s been proven in clinical studies to help reduce wrinkle depth and increase moisture levels.

Hydrolysed marine collagen will firm up skin and improve its elasticity. It can also be broken down into shorter chains of amino acids, which helps your body digest the nutrients. So, you'll absorb more of the right, skin-focused collagen. 

Bovine collagen can also help your skin; however, it is a matter of supplement preference.

Ready to learn more about marine collagen powder? Discover more about collagen benefits and explore our full range of flavoured marine collagen.