Vegan collagen supplements are the latest frontier in plant-based wellness. Formulated without animal products, they harness the same collagen-boosting benefits as their bovine and marine alternatives using potent plant extracts and research-backed superfoods.
As one of the trendiest dietary supplements to hit the shelves, it can be difficult to discern which vegan collagen boosters actually work. While some are simply trendy marketing schemes, others are incredibly effective products approved by dermatologists and dietitians alike.
Below, we've created this quick guide to vegan collagen supplements to ensure you find the right one for your wellness routine.
What Is Vegan Collagen?
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body. It offers structural support to connective tissue, skin, tendons, bones, and cartilage, impacting everything from wound healing to forehead wrinkles. Collagen production naturally slows as you age, which is where collagen supplements come into play.
Collagen supplementation is an excellent way to support your body's natural production. These capsules, powders, and gummies are formulated using certain nutrients and amino acids that support collagen synthesis and the natural production of human collagen. Though traditionally made using animal products, there's a wave of new vegan collagen supplements hitting the market that are suitable for a plant-based diet.
What to Look for In Vegan Collagen?
Not all vegan collagen supplements are created alike. So before you fall prey to trendy packaging and influencer endorsements, check the label for the following plant-based ingredients:
Bamboo silica
Bamboo silica is a key metabolic mineral in collagen production. It forms the basis of connective tissue between organs and maintains the stability and flexibility of ligaments and tendons.
Copper
Copper peptides play an important role in maintaining a healthy musculoskeletal system. Not only does it stimulate collagen and elastin production, but it also boosts the immune system to fight oxidative stress and chronic inflammation.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera increases your body's own collagen production, improving skin elasticity and minimizing fine lines, wrinkles, and sun damage.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A interrupts the process that breaks down collagen as you age, keeping your skin hydrated for a healthy glow.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C supports collagen synthesis by helping amino acids form into a strong helix shape. It plays an important role in healing connective tissues and speeding up skin cell turnover.
Turmeric
Turmeric blocks elastase, an enzyme that affects your skin's ability to produce collagen and elastin.
Polyphenols
Polyphenols are collagen-boosting micronutrients that naturally occur in plant-based foods like berries, pomegranates, and green tea. They're packed with antioxidants that support skin health.
Mushrooms
Mushrooms like Tremella, Lion's Mane, and Silver Ear are packed with antioxidants and bioactive nutrients that support healthy skin.
Zinc
Zinc supports collagen synthesis and cell repair by helping collagen bind to other vital proteins within the body.
The Best Vegan Collagen Supplements
1. Garden of Life Mykind Organic Plant Collagen Builder
Best Overall
Source: Amazon
Garden of Life's Mykind Organic Plant Collagen Builder makes an easy addition to your daily vitamin routine. The vegan-friendly, gluten-free capsules boast a proprietary blend of over thirty fruits, vegetables, and herbs, including biotin sourced from organic sesbania, silica from organic bamboo, and antioxidants from organic pomegranate, turmeric, rooibos, green tea, and more. Packed with vitamin A, vitamin C, and polyphenols, they'll boost your natural collagen production without any added sugars, animal byproducts, or filler ingredients.
2. Amazon Elements Vegan Biotin
Most Budget Friendly
Source: Amazon
Who said vegan collagen supplements couldn't be affordable? Amazon Elements Vegan Biotin offers a four-month supply for under $10! This vegan collagen is a steal! It is designed to help maintain normal hair, skin, and nail and as well as normal brain function and cognition. Support normal energy metabolism. They are crafted with no artificial color, flavor, or chemical preservatives. Also perfect for anyone who is seeking gluten-free options.
3. Rae Vegan Collagen Boost
Best Capsules
Source: Amazon
Rae's Vegan Collagen Boost supports healthy collagen production and cell health, helping you feel radiant from the inside out. Each bottle comes with a thirty-day supply of vegan, non-GMO, gluten-free collagen supplements that harness the power of evidence-backed, plant-based ingredients. The easy-to-swallow capsules are made with a powerful blend of vitamin C, bamboo-derived silica, and plant collagen boosters— and made without artificial preservatives, fillers, and colorants.
4. Mary Ruth's Vegan Collagen Boosting Gummies
Best Gummies
Mary Ruth's Vegan Boosting Gummies are both delicious and contain nutrients to promote collagen production. Formulated to provide nutrients your body need to promote its own collagen production and promote skin health. It also helps improve skin elasticity and thickness and promotes hair growth. Unlike other collagens, this gummy contains no gelatin. This vegan collagen is food allergy friendly as it is dairy-free, nut-free, gluten and wheat-free, corn-free, soy-free, nightshade-free, and sugar-free! And it contains no artificial colors, so you can feel good about taking this gummy!
5. Moon Juice Collagen Protect Vegan Creamer
Best Collagen Creamer
Give your morning routine a boost with Collagen Protect Vegan Creamer, a tasty vegan collagen supplement from Moon Juice. It's made with three simple, collagen-boosting ingredients: silver ear mushrooms, hyaluronic acid, and tocos, a bioactive form of vitamin E sourced from organic Thai jasmine rice. Stir a spoonful into your morning coffee, tea, or smoothie to minimize fine lines, speed up wound healing, and boost skin hydration in no time.
6. Your Super Plant Collagen Organic Superfood Mix
Best Ingredients
Source: Target
Wellness brand Your Super created its Plant Collagen Organic Superfood Mix to help you look and feel your best. Instead of animal-derived collagen, artificial sweeteners, and unnecessary additives, it's made with five superfoods and a hint of vanilla. Tremella mushroom and aloe vera improve skin elasticity and texture, while pea protein provides the building blocks needed for healthy cells. Simply add a teaspoon of collagen-boosting powder to your morning latte or post-workout smoothie, and enjoy! The subtle vanilla flavor and rich creaminess it brings are impossible to resist.
7. HUM Glow Sweet Glow Vegan Beauty Gummies
Best for Skin Hydration
Source: Amazon
Show your skin some love with HUM's Glow Sweet Glow Vegan Beauty Gummies. They're formulated to support collagen production and neutralize environmental pollution and free radical damage that leads to premature aging. The tangerine-flavored gummies are packed with hyaluronic acid, amia fruit, and vitamins C and E for improved skin hydration, firmness, and texture. They're made without gluten, soy, animal products, or artificial colors and flavors. Take two gummies daily, and you'll enjoy firmer, more radiant skin by the end of the bottle.
8. Golde Coconut Collagen Boost
Best Naturally-Sweetened
What's the quickest way to improve skin health? Cut back your sugar consumption. Research shows that a high sugar intake can accelerate the aging process through glycation, a chemical reaction that negatively affects collagen synthesis. Switch from sugary coffee creamer to Golde's Coconut Collagen Boost creamer, and you'll stimulate collagen production and slow down the development of fine lines and wrinkles. The creamy, coconut-flavored powder tastes delicious swirled into your morning matcha latte.
9. Future Kind Vegan Collagen Booster
Best For The Planet
Packed with plant-based collagen builders, Future Kind's Vegan Collagen Booster capsules can help you achieve stronger nails, thicker hair, and hydrated skin. The daily supplement utilizes three essential proteins to boost skin elasticity and speed up collagen production: L-Glycine, L-Lysine, and L-Proline. Potent additions like zinc, biotin, grapeseed extract, and Vitamins C and E support collagen synthesis and improve overall skin health. Packaged in 100% post-consumer recycled boxes and glass bottles printed with soy-based ink, they've got a lower environmental impact than most other vegan collagen-boosting supplements.
10. Sunwarrior Collagen Building Protein Peptides
Best Unflavored
Sunwarrior's Collagen Building Protein Peptides support collagen production to slow down signs of aging. It features a powerful combination of tremella mushrooms, spirulina, hyaluronic acid, biotin, Vitamin C, and other plant-based superfoods. Together, they combat environmental pollution, sun exposure, and cell damage. Left unflavored, the clump-free powder makes a versatile addition to smoothies, coffee beverages, and baked goods. It's 100% vegan, organic, and gluten-free.
How to Take Vegan Collagen
These days, vegan collagen supplements come in every form imaginable. There are coffee creamers, capsules, unflavored powders, and gummy vitamins, just to name a few. Wellness professionals suggest experimenting with a few different methods until you find one that works for your lifestyle and budget. These quick tips will get you off to a strong start:
Collagen powder
Collagen powder mixes easily into coffee, tea, smoothies, soups, and more. Cold liquids can lead to clumping, so start with hot beverages until you get the hang of things. Try sprinkling a dash over your morning oatmeal, yogurt, or acai bowl alongside fruit, coconut flakes, nut butter, and other tasty toppings.
Collagen capsules
Collagen capsules are typically the easiest, most cost-effective way to add collagen to your diet. Take them alongside your other supplements in the morning or before bed to reap the benefits.
Collagen gummies
Collagen gummies are a great option if you don't like swallowing pills. Just be sure to double-check the nutrition label, as gummy vitamins are often packed with unnecessary added sugar.
Collagen creamers
Collagen creamers are a tasty way to supplement your body's natural collagen production. Stirred into your morning coffee or tea, they add critical collagen-boosting nutrients and delicious chocolate, vanilla, or coconut flavor. Look for products made using simple ingredients and natural sweeteners.
