Liquid Collagen Or Powder: What's The Difference?

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When you hear "collagen," you probably think of skincare. If you take a little stroll down the beauty aisle, you will see numerous collagen creams and serums. But collagen is more than just a skincare ingredient. According to Medical News Today, "collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body, found in the bones, muscles, skin, and tendons." It is what holds everything in the body intact, so it does more for you than help your skin. Collagen is what gives our body structure, per Healthline. Did you know collagen means "glue" in ancient Greek? (via KDVR). Therefore, it plays a vital role in our overall well-being. As we get older, our body makes less collagen. We can get collagen from animal sources like chicken and fish skin and bone broth.

Collagen supplements are gaining more popularity nowadays, with celebrities talking about them and the various brands that market them for health. But do they work? A study published in the International Journal of Dermatology (posted at the National Library of Medicine) showed that taking hydrolyzed collagen supplements does help with improving skin elasticity and reducing fine lines. Now that we know that collagen supplements do have benefits and are ready to add them to your diet, you have the option to choose between liquid and powder collagen. Here are some key differences to make the selection process easier.

According to Verywell Health, the liquid forms of the supplement have hydrolyzed collagen (aka collagen peptides), which has already been broken down into smaller proteins, making it easier for your body to absorb. According to Vital Proteins, many powder collagen supplements are hydrolyzed; the only difference is whether it is fully or partially hydrolyzed, depending on the collagen source. The brand's fully hydrolyzed collagen is Collagen Peptides, which easily dissolves in hot and cold liquids. Their partially hydrolyzed collagen is Beef Gelatin, which needs hot beverages to dissolve fully.

Liquid collagen drinks are easily portable, as they come in individual servings, so they might be adding more waste to the planet; in that regard, powder collagen is more sustainable, as they come in a larger container, and you can get multiple uses out of one, per Mind Body Green. It is important to consider your budget when it comes to collagen as well. According to Native Path, the monthly cost of liquid collagen ranges between $42.99 and $160, while the average price of powder collagen is about $30. It is assumed liquid collagen is more expensive as there aren't as many options as powder collagen, so you only have so many to choose from.

Collagen powders are all the rage, and there are many brands coming up with collagen powder supplements. However, some brands are considered better than others. Verywell Health has chosen Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides as the best overall collagen powder because it is NSF certified for sport, ConsumerLab approved, and an excellent protein source. (Jennifer Aniston is a fan.) It contains Types I and III collagen along with hyaluronic acid, which benefit your skin. However, it does not have Type II collagen for your cartilage that helps your joints.

Forbes' pick is Further Foods Chocolate Collagen Peptides because it is tasty, easy to dissolve in hot coffee (as it is hydrolyzed collagen from bovine), and has Type I and III collagen. Dr. Melina Jampolis told the outlet, "It also contains reishi mushrooms, which support healthy immune function, and cocoa powder, which is an antioxidant." Healthline recommends Anthony's Hydrolyzed Marine Collagen Peptides because it contains only one ingredient, is non-GMO, gluten-free, and does not have any synthetic ingredients. It can be a fantastic protein supplement, as each serving has 13 grams of collagen.