4 of the best collagen drinks

Are you a little collagen-curious?

Maybe you’re a fully-fledged collagen convert looking for a new way to enjoy it.

Whatever your mission, you can find all you need to know about collagen drinks and discover 4 of the best collagen drinks of 2024 right here.

Skip to…

• What is collagen?
• What does it do?
• What are collagen drinks?
• Liquid collagen benefits
• Collagen drinks: our top 9 picks
• Potential collagen side effects
•  The final say

What is collagen?

Collagen is the most abundant protein found in our bodies.

It is an essential component of our skin, hair, muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

Our bodies already make collagen using amino acids, vitamins, and minerals we get from our diet.

However, as we age, our collagen production can decline, which is why some people turn to collagen supplements…

Handpicked content: 22 of the best collagen supplements / 7 of the best vegan collagen supplements / Meet our collagen gurus]

What does collagen do?

If this is all new, it might be natural to ask: is collagen good for you?

Collagen helps us retain skin elasticity and hydration. That’s why we get wrinkles and sagging skin when our bodies start producing less.

After age 20, we produce about 1% less collagen in our skin year on year, which thins the skin and contributes to wrinkles.¹

As well as contributing to firm and smooth skin, collagen is good for keeping our joints and ligaments flexible and functional and supports normal muscle function.

What are collagen drinks?

Drinkable collagen products are a bioavailable (easy to absorb) and convenient way to supplement collagen.

You’ll find many different types of collagen liquid, from bovine, marine, and even vegan-friendly formulas. You’ll even find collagen drinks in different formats, from pre-made collagen shakes to liquid collagen shots that you pop into your drink.

Collagen drinks claim to combat collagen loss by delivering this potent protein, in the form of peptides, straight to the stomach. The idea is that it’ll give you a glow which begins on the inside.

The best bit? Modern science suspects it works! After drinking collagen, the absorbed collagen peptides make their way into the skin, where they remain for around 14 days.²

What are the health benefits of drinking collagen?

It’s believed there are many benefits to taking collagen orally, including:

• Reduced wrinkles: Women who ingested collagen for 12 weeks had less visible wrinkle depth than a comparable group of women who had not.³
   
• Skin suppleness:  A study found that a group of women enjoyed improved skin moisture quality and youthfulness after 8 weeks of collagen use, in comparison with a group who didn’t.⁴
   
• Improved collagen production: One scientific study proposed links between ingesting collagen and increased collagen production within the body.⁵
   
• Better nail growth: Researchers found that a group who took collagen supplements every day developed stronger, longer nails which were more resistant to damage.⁶
   
• Increases other proteins which benefit the skin: Collagen is good for increasing other skin-friendly proteins in your body. Ingesting collagen has been connected to increased elastin and fibrillin production, too.⁵ Elastin and fibrillin are also essential for skin firmness and contribute to the youthful look of healthy skin.

4 of the best collagen drinks of 2024

Without further ado! Here are our top 4 collagen drinks here at Holland and Barrett based on customer reviews, including:

H&B Expert Liquid Collagen

Your collagen drink just got an expert upgrade!

These H&B Expert Liquid Collagen daily sachets contain a high-strength formula that combine clinically studied marine collagen, vitamin C, and zinc, with a tasty orange flavour.

What really makes this formula special is the VERISOL F collagen – a clinically studied collagen that can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and improve skin elasticity.

Key benefits

• Convenient daily dose liquid sachets with a tasty orange flavour
• Contains clinically studied VERISOL F collagen that can help improve skin elasticity and reduce the appearance of wrinkles
• Formulated with vitamin C, which contributes to normal collagen production, and zinc which contributes to normal skin health

The best liquid collagen for skin drink

Vitabiotics Perfectil Platinum Collagen Skin Drink, 10x50ml

Formulated to support skin suppleness and radiance, this Collagen Skin drink is a great addition to any daily beauty routine.

Each collagen drink contains 7000mg of marine collagen (type II) with biotin, selenium, zinc, hyaluronic acid, l-lysine, coQ10 and more skin-supporting ingredients. The full package!

Key benefits

• Contains 7000mg of hydrolysed marine collagen – a rich source of intact amino acids which help form new collagen in the body
• Also includes biotin, selenium, zinc, hyaluronic acid, l-lysine, coQ10, and more skin-supporting ingredients
• Passion fruit flavoured
• Never tested on animals

What our customers think

Generi – Great product for your skin – 5/5 stars

“I started using Collagen a week ago and already see good results. Redness and dry skin around eyes have disappeared, skin looks better and feels more moist. Perfect product to feel fresher after cold winter. Thank you!”

Olese – Fast action effect – 5/5 stars

“Bought a few months supply and very happy with it, fine line wrinkles are diminishing and skin looks fresh and glowing!”

Miriam – Amazing Product! – 5/5 stars

“After using Perfectil Collagen Skin with an initial ten-day supply, I noticed a considerable improvement in skin vitality, also hair condition and healthy growth. I continue to take this product daily and also bought as present for friend. I highly recommend!”

Revive Collagen Premium Liquid Marine Collagen Drink, 28 Sachets

Revive is one of the leading skincare brands, especially when it comes to collagen.

Their motto? Younger skin starts from within.

These collagen drink sachets contain type I hydrolysed marine collagen, which is the most plentiful collagen in our bodies.⁷

It’s collected from farmed fish skin, which is broken down into small chains of collagen.

You also get the added benefits of hyaluronic acid and aloe vera juice for even more skin benefits.

And, if you’re not ready to commit to the full 28, you can also find this drink in a 14-sachet pack.

You can even mix a sachet into your favourite hot drink, like a collagen hot chocolate or collagen coffee.

Key benefits:

• Each serving is packed with 8,500mg of hydrolysed marine collagen with added hyaluronic acid and aloe vera juice
• Great-tasting citrus flavour and free from added artificial flavours, colours, sugar, dairy, soy, lactose, nuts, and GMO ingredients
• These easy sachets can be taken on the go any time of the day, and you can even add them to hot or cold drinks

Vitabiotics Perfectil Platinum Collagen Hair Drink, 10x50ml

Specially designed to help nourish and protect your hair, this Collagen Hair drink is a great addition to any daily beauty routine.

Each contains an impressive 7000mg of marine collagen (type II) with biotin, selenium, zinc, keratin, inositol, blackcurrant seed oil, and more hair-supporting ingredients.

The total package!

Key benefits:

• Contains 7000mg of hydrolysed marine collagen – a rich source of intact amino acids which help to support the structure of the hair
• Also includes biotin, selenium, zinc, keratin, inositol, blackcurrant seed oil, and more hair-supporting ingredients
• Passion fruit- flavoured and never tested on animals

What our customers think

HJM75 – Immediate effects for me! – 5/5 stars

“I took this after noticing my hair was getting a bit lifeless and thinner towards the end of following the Cambridge Diet. It immediately put some oomph back into my hair. I have subsequently bought 2 more boxes and aim to take a box a month. Definitely worth a try.”

Katievb – Excellent – 5/5 stars

“I love these, I’ve had two lots of these. I know they are a bit pricey, but I really do believe they work. Would definitely order again.”

Are there any collagen side effects?

So far, research hasn’t revealed very many side effects of collagen supplements. Since they’re a protein our body already makes, they’re considered to be a low risk for us.

Sometimes collagen drinks include animal products, like eggs and shellfish. Make sure to study the label before purchasing if you’re vegan or allergic to certain animal products as each collagen drink can be different.

Some takers have reported a sour taste in the mouth after taking collagen supplements, but the cause is unclear.⁸ A sour taste in the mouth is a known symptom of acid reflux, and collagen supplements have caused digestive discomfort among some takers (including heartburn), which may explain why.^9,

Some other minor reported side effects have included headaches, rashes, and bloating, but these are not considered to be dangerous and should go away on their own.

If you have any concerns about your symptoms, or they continue, talk to your GP.

The final say

We hope this guide has helped you find the best collagen drink for you and your needs!

If you want some more information about other ways you can take collagen, make sure you check out the full collection here at H&B – 22 of the best collagen supplements.