Collagen Pills vs Powders: Which Is Better, Peptides or Capsules?
When it comes to skin, hair, nail, and joint care, collagen supplements are the way to go. But, with so many alternatives to choose from, how can you know which type and brand will give you the anti-aging results you've been longing for? In this article, we'll highlight the difference between collagen powder vs pills.
We know that collagen is a protein and we know that protein is an essential macronutrient (after all, they are the body's building blocks). But, what makes the amino acids in collagen so fascinating is that they help improve skin health, hair, and joint health. But while they play an essential role in overall health, like any other dietary supplements, there are different versions of collagen supplements, including collagen capsules, collagen powders, and liquid collagen, among others.
So, how do you choose the best collagen supplement? The two most popular oral collagen supplements are in powder form and capsule form. Now, while it all depends on personal preference, there are some major differences that can make your decision much easier.
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What Is Collagen?
Collagen is one of the most abundant types of protein in the body. You can find it in connective tissue, the dermis, bones, cartilage, and joints. Collagen is made up of three amino acids: glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline.
As one grows older, collagen production reduces. In fact, research shows that collagen production decreases by 1% every year.1 The problem is that when collagen production reduces, it can increase the risk of wrinkles, more joint problems, and dull-looking hair.
You can find collagen in different dietary sources, such as bone broth, gelatin, and other animal parts (bones, ligaments, and skin). However, some people might struggle to add these to their diet. In this case, collagen supplementation might be your best option.
Benefits Of Collagen Peptides
It seems that taking collagen daily might provide several health benefits. While there is still more research needed to determine the long-term effects of collagen supplements, there has been promising evidence related to taking collagen protein for better skin, hair, and joint health.
Skin Benefits
Evidence suggests that collagen supplements can have a positive effect on hydration and elasticity. In fact, a study showed that taking hydrolyzed collagen peptides reduced the appearance of wrinkles, all while improving elasticity and skin hydration.2
Now, keep in mind that skin health does not only improve solely with hydrolyzed collagen. You still need a good skin care routine to get all the potential benefits.
Hair And Nails
Both collagen powders and pills can benefit your hair and nails. Research shows that collagen supplements can strengthen nails, preventing brittle nails altogether. It also helps promote brighter-looking hair.3
Find out more about the benefits of collagen for hair in this article.
Bone Health
Besides improving your complexion, some collagen supplements can also help improve bone health. There seems to be some evidence to determine a possible link between taking a collagen supplement and treating osteoarthritis.4 One of the possible reasons is that collagen protein might help improve bone mass density.
Joint Health
Finally, the most popular form of collagen for improved joints seems to be hydrolyzed protein. According to research, this form of collagen can help lubricate joints and provide a protective effect.5 As a result, it can decrease joint pain.
Keep in mind that to improve both joint and bone health, it would be ideal to add exercise to your daily routine. Make sure to consult with a health professional to determine which is the best form of exercise for your case.
Is sweating good for the skin? RenewSkin Co. shares everything you need to know about the benefits of exercise for your complexion.
Types of Collagen Supplements (Powders and Pills)
Collagen supplements come in different forms. You can find collagen capsules (or pills), powders, and liquid collagen. So, what are the differences between pills and powders?
Collagen Pills
A collagen pill or collagen capsule is collagen powder packed in a capsule to make it easier to take. Collagen pills are quite pure in form. Due to their small size, they tend to pack little space for other unwanted ingredients. This type of collage supplement is easy to take but due to its low dosage, it offers few benefits when it comes to skin care.
Collagen Powder
Collagen powder is collagen you find in powder form. It might come in different flavors (or unflavored), and you generally mix it with your favorite beverage once a day. Since it allows for a bigger dosage compared to collagen pills, these supplements often come with other ingredients, like vitamin C, hyaluronic acid (HA), and artificial sweeteners (to improve their flavor).
Which Collagen Supplement Is the Most Effective Between Pills and Powders?
We've already seen the possible benefits of collagen supplements. But, when you need to choose one type of supplement, which is the winner between collagen pills vs. powder?
Some people seem to believe that collagen pills might be more easily absorbed than collagen powders but currently, there is not enough evidence to determine whether one is better than the other. Regardless of the choice, collagen powder and collagen pills seem to be more effective (in some cases) than solely relying on topical collagen.
Similarities Between Collagen Powder vs. Pills
Even though collagen capsules vs. powder seem to be different, they do have some similarities. So, before digging into their differences, let's talk about their similarities.
Absorption
Currently, there seems to be no difference in the absorption rate between collagen capsules vs powder. Both collagen powders and pills seem to be equally effective and with the same absorption rate.
Taste
Collagen pills or powder can both be flavorless. This can be ideal for people who don't like to take flavored supplements. It makes adding to other beverages or foods easier without affecting the final product's taste.
Differences Between Collagen Powder vs. Pills
Now that we've gone over the differences between collagen pills vs. collagen powder let's go over their differences.
Ingredients
One of the biggest differences between these collagen supplements is that collagen powder has more wiggle room when it comes to other ingredients.
While it is a matter of personal preference, collagen powder can be a better alternative for your overall complexion due to the fact that this form of collagen supplement often comes backed with other skin-loving ingredients that can not only boost collagen absorption but also target other ailments along the way.
More helpful reading: Best ingredients for skin
Protein Per Serving
Another major difference between collagen peptide capsules vs. powder is the amount of protein they have. Since collagen pills are smaller, it means you get a lower amount of collagen per serving.
In most cases, collagen pills won't have more than one gram of collagen per serving. This means that in order to get the same amount as a powder, you would need to take 10-15 servings in pill form per day - an unrealistic and potentially damaging number of capsules.
If you're looking at collagen as a way to increase your amino acid intake, we highly recommend powder form.
Overall Experience
While some people have no issues swallowing supplements in pill or capsule form, others cannot do it. Research shows that 40% of adults have trouble swallowing pills, meaning that powdered collagen might be a more suitable option.6 Since you can place collagen powder in any beverage (or certain foods), collagen powder is a far easier way to increase your collagen consumption.
Costs
Finally, while this might vary between each company, collagen powder vs. pills seem to have different prices per serving. The prices between collagen peptide pills vs. powder might vary if they have other ingredients (like vitamin C).
And, it also depends on how much collagen you need. As mentioned above, you might need to take several servings if you are purchasing collagen in pill form, which can lead to a more expensive option.
More helpful reading: Vitamin C skincare
Reasons to Choose Collagen Powder
While it comes down to personal preference, here are some reasons you might want to opt for collagen powder instead of pills:
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Struggle (or dislike) swallowing pills
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Want to add collagen to your diet as a primary source of protein
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Prefer adding your collagen to meals or beverages
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Want to take a larger dose of collagen per day
If you decide that collagen powder is the best option for you, Taut® Premium Collagen Powder is an excellent option. One sachet provides 1,500 mg of marine collagen peptides sourced from Red Snapper in the Indian Ocean. Other reasons you might want to include this as a part of your daily routine are:
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It combines elastin peptides and 5 mg of hyaluronic acid to improve skin elasticity
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It provides a potent dose of powerful antioxidants, like grape seed extract
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It doesn't have any preservatives, and it is gluten-free and dairy-free.
Reasons to Choose Collagen Pills
Some people are already used to taking several pills daily, so adding another one won't hurt their routine. Here are some reasons you might prefer to add collagen pills to your daily routine:
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You want to travel light
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You dislike the taste of powders (regardless of whether they are unflavored or not!)
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You are already used to taking several supplements on a daily basis
What If I Don't Like Powders and I Can't Swallow Pills?
Now, what happens if you feel that powders and pills are not the best option for you? In this case, liquid collagen may be your best bet!
Liquid collagen is an easier-to-take, more potent alternative that tastes delicious. Unlike most collagen supplements, collagen drinks are easily absorbable by the body. They're designed to support the overall structure and health of your skin, leaving you with a glowing complexion.
Taut's Advanced Liquid Collagen Supplement Formula contains 13,000mg of marine collagen peptides, responsibly sourced from Red Snappers in the Indian Ocean. Moreover, our formula also contains grapeseed extract, vitamin C (for its collagen-absorbing properties), HA, and elastin peptides to improve skin elasticity, ceramide, DNA, and vitamin B6.
If you're looking for the most potent liquid collagen formula designed to target fine lines and wrinkles, reduce the early signs of aging, and improve skin tone and texture, look no further than RenewSkin Co.'s advanced formula.
How and When to Take Each Supplement
Knowing when and how much collagen to take can make a huge difference in the results that you achieve. whether you choose to take collagen powder supplements or pill/capsule alternatives, it's important that you:
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Choose the correct supplement
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Take the correct dose
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Take it at the best time of the day
Here, we'll tell you the best way to take most collagen supplements for beautiful, glowing skin:
When to Take Collagen Supplements
Knowing the "when" can be challenging. While some people might say that it is better to take collagen supplements in the morning, we highly recommend you take your collagen in the evening. This is because at night, the body goes through a rest and repair process - and the skin is no exception.
How Much Collagen Should You Take?
Evidence suggests that to get the most out of collagen, you should take between 3 to 15 grams per day.
One benefit of collagen is that it contributes to the daily intake of protein. According to the ISSN, the recommended protein intake is 1.4 to 2.0 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight.7 So, if you are having trouble reaching your daily intake, adding one or two servings of collagen can help with muscle mass, bone health, and your complexion, as well as the strength of your hair and nails, among other things.
How much collagen per day? Find out in this article!
How to Take Collagen Supplements
Collagen pills are very straightforward to take. Simply read the label on your product and take the number of pills that the manufacturer recommends on a daily basis.
You can do more with collagen powders. Here are some ways for you to incorporate collagen powder into your routine.
- Mix it with water.
- Add it to your morning coffee.
- Mix it with your favorite recipe of overnight oats.
- Mix it with a cup of matcha.
- Add it to your favorite soup.
- Add it to a smoothie.
- Mix it with some Greek yogurt and berries.
Should you add collagen in your coffee? Find out the pros and cons here!
Experience the Most Intense Skin Transformation with RenewSkin Co.
Collagen supplements can be a great way of helping improve skin, hair, nails, and joints. While still more research is needed to determine its effect and dosage long-term, the current finding seems promising. There are different supplements, such as powders, pills, and liquids. But, when it comes to deciding on one, are collagen pills or powder better?
Ultimately, the decision relies solely on personal preferences. They both have their pros and cons. When it comes to choosing one, make sure to select the one that is going to help you stay consistent in your collagen intake. After all, the greatest benefit seen with collagen supplements is when you add them consistently to your daily routine.
Looking for an easy and tasty way of introducing collagen to your routine for a more vibrant, beautiful, and youthful complexion? Look no further than RenewSkin Co.'s anti-aging Ms. Marvelous program.
Designed to reduce the early signs of aging, our Ms. Marvelous program comes with three boxes of Taut Advanced Liquid Collagen Formula, one box of Taut Collagen Masks, and one box of 60 Taut Collagen Powder Sachets. Made with collagen hydrolysate, our potent formula contains an optimal dose of vitamin C, grapeseed extract, and hyaluronic acid among other skin-loving ingredients.
Unlike powders and pills, this collagen supplement program will provide you with results in just 21 days. Say goodbye to fine lines and hello to red carpet radiance!
References:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1606623/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33742704/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28786550/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7695755/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10058045/
- https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaotolaryngology/fullarticle/649710
- https://jissn.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12970-017-0177-8
