The concept of ingesting super drinks to regenerate our skin’s elasticity and improve our joins to rewind the hands of time is one that’s both excellent and iffy.
On the beauty front, we all know that collagen is mainly responsible for giving you supple, taut skin. That’s why collagen-rich foods and drinks are so highly sought after. But do they actually work? Let’s start by first breaking down the science behind collagen absorption in the body before we dive into the best collagen drinks there are in the market.
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If you’re a victim of sagging skin and fine lines wondering what the difference between collagen-loaded hotpots and collagen drinks is, this is it: cooked collagen is often too large to be absorbed by the body.
The good news is that the collagen in these drinks, on the other hand, are already hydrolysed into peptides for easy absorption. The higher the daily dose, the more effective the product. And studies have shown that you’ll need 2,500mg of collagen a day incorporated into a regular diet to do the trick.
Different brands derive their collagen from different sources, so make sure to check the ingredients before you make your purchase if you’re a vegetarian or have food-related allergies.
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Kinohimitsu is a brand you probably have seen stocked in the shelves of Watson’s or Guardian, and their Kinohimitsu Collagen Diamond is a sugar-free formula that contains 5,300mg of marine collagen peptide per pop.
It’s one of the most popular collagen drinks on the market – and we can see why. Besides providing that much-needed skin boost, it’s also rich in antioxidants obtained from Perilla seed extract. This works hand in hand with the collagen to help reduce cell inflammation and skin ageing while increasing your skin’s ability to repair itself.
How much collagen it contains: 5,300mg per bottle
Price: $185 for 64 bottles ($4.37 per bottle)
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Skincare problems aren’t gender-specific – guys often have to deal with irritated skin especially around the beard and moustache area that comes from repeated shaving. To save your skin from damage caused by shaving and UV rays, the Kinohimitsu Collagen Men drink contains cactus extract that helps to sooth this inflammation from the inside out.
How much collagen it contains: 5,300mg per bottle
Price: $48.90 (U.P. $59.90) for 16 ($3.05 (U.P. $3.75) per bottle)
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The InnerShine RubyCollagen Essence contains astaxanthin – a powerful antioxidant that works together with the collagen in this product to keep your skin youthful. Not only does it protect your skin from collagen-depleting UV rays, it also prevents risk of heart disease and maintains the elasticity of your blood vessels to prevent them from ageing prematurely.
For a pleasant drinking experience, this collagen supplement is also infused with natural pomegranate juice. With this drink, you’ll be able to look good and feel healthier too.
How much collagen it contains: 3,000mg per bottle
Price: $62.90 for 12 ($5.24 per bottle)
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The Itoh Hanako Skin Lift collagen drink contains a whopping 12,000 mg of collagen in one serving that helps to lift and tighten your skin. To promote the regeneration of cartilage in your body, this drink also contains proteoglycan, an anti-ageing protein obtained from salmon that encourages skin regeneration and retention of moisture for a hydrated, supple appearance.
How much collagen it contains: 12,000mg per bottle
Price: $79.90 (U.P. $110) for 20 bottles ($3.40 (U.P.$5.50) per bottle)
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As we sail swiftly through adulting, we pick up greater responsibilities. Whether it’s worrying about the kids or dealing with your growing pile of work, getting a good night’s rest can sometimes prove to be a challenge. To help counteract this, the Laneige Youth Collagen Drink contains GABA, an amino acid that helps to relieve stress and improve your sleep quality.
When combined with collagen, the GABA amino acid promotes collagen production during rest. Together with other skin-nourishing ingredients such as pomegranate and red orange extract, the ingredients in this drink work together to ensure glowy, moisturised skin right out of bed.
How much collagen it contains: 5,000mg per bottle
Price: $118.80 for 30 bottles ($3.96 per bottle)
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Those who work out regularly would be familiar with the muscle pains and body aches that can come after a strenuous workout. If you’re itching to recover fast to keep at your workout routine, the New Moon Inner Radiance Collagen Drink contains more easily-absorbed collagen derived from fish peptide that helps to enhance exercise recovery.
Besides its basic skin-boosting benefits such as whitening properties to improve your complexion, New Moon’s collagen drink also helps to promote gut health for a more holistic wellbeing.
How much collagen it contains: 13,000mg per bottle
Price: $45 (U.P. $79) for 10 bottles ($4.50 (U.P. $7.99) per bottle)
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Other than collagen, the Avalon Stemcell Beauty drink also contains orchid flower stem cells that help to prep the skin for other beneficial nutrients. This drink was designed to deal with major skin issues like damaged skin cells and acne issues all at once. It even contains sparkling water for a refreshing, fizzy boost that is said to boost skin metabolism.
Price: $51.90 for 10 bottles ($5.10 per bottle)
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Taking supplements like these often mean that we’ll have to wait for several weeks before seeing visible changes in our appearance. But the peach-flavoured Tsubaki Ageless Collagen drink promises a brighter and even skin tone within just a few days.
To revitalise your skin and improve healing, this concoction includes royal jelly – the nutrient-rich gelatinous substance produced by honey bees to feed queen bees and the young. It also features MCP-EX Marine Collagen Peptides, which have molecules that are 60 times smaller than regular collagen that are 1.5 times better-absorbed.
How much collagen it contains: 10,000 mg
Price: $116 for 30 bottles ($3.90 per bottle)
Buy Tsubaki Ageless Collagen Drink
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Cleanse your body with Renew+ Marine Collagen Powder, a detoxifying collagen supplement that contains Zeolite. With a concentration only second to the marine collagen content in this formula, the Zeolite helps to attract toxins out of your bloodstream, improving your body’s immune system.
This potent mixture also contains Bromelain – a natural digestive enzyme and Vitamin C which is known to support collagen production. For a quick and easy dose of anti-ageing innovation, mix a scoop of this with some water and down it before heading out the house.
How much collagen it contains: 6,000mg per scoop
Price: $129.95 for 300g
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If you’ve been taking protein powder to increase your muscle mass and collagen supplements for your skin separately, the Pure Marine Collagen powder combines both for a power-packed supplement that will give you both good skin and muscles.
This no-frills collagen powder is made out of 100% hydrolysed marine collagen, with no additional flavouring. It’s tasteless, which makes it suitable to mix into your soups or smoothies for consumption.
How much collagen it contains: 7,500 mg per scoop
Price: $47.60 for 200g
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Image credit: Carousell
Glycation refers to the process where sugar molecules attach themselves to other molecules like collage, which results in loss of skin elasticity, as well as oxidative stress and inflammation – all of which result in accelerated ageing.
To prevent this, the Kinohimitsu Marine Collagen powder contains Formosa Ruby, which is the ingredient that helps to prevent glycation and also boosts collagen production. The Green Caviar enhances hydration while working together with the vitamin C in this formula to reverse the effects of ageing on your skin.
How much collagen it contains: 5,000mg per scoop
Price: $43.90 (U.P. $59.90) for 180g
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Image credit: Vital Proteins
If a cup of milk tea is strong enough to send you to the toilet, the Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides powder is dairy- and gluten-free for all you lactose intolerant souls out there. With 20,000mg of protein per serving, this unflavoured collagen powder can be added to drinks and even into baked goods – you won’t even notice that it’s there!
How much collagen it contains: 20,000mg per serving
Price: From $36.95 for 283.5g
Get Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides
Of course, the key to having healthy skin is sleep, and a healthy diet. To help you reach these health and beauty goals, remember to take these collagen supplements – a quick chug and you’re good to go.
In general, you can start taking collagen at any age but experts recommend that you start in your early 20s – when your collagen levels start dipping – after all, prevention is better than cure.
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Cover image credit: Shopee, Food Malaysia, Fash Mob
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