Is there such a thing as vegan collagen?

The short answer is not yet. Scientists are developing ways to use genetically engineered organisms like yeast to make vegan collagen, but these products are not currently on the market.

Do collagen supplements work?

When collagen supplements are ingested, the body breaks down the protein and converts it into its own amino acids. But the jury is still out whether ingesting collagen peptides derived from animals actually benefit the human body. A systematic review of 11 studies showed variable results and suggested more research was needed. However, consuming ingredients that are known to help collagen production, like vitamin C, zinc, and amino acids themselves can support your body's own collagen production.

Are vegans missing out on collagen from their diets?

“This may be a controversial question, as you can consume exogenous collagen from animal products like bone broth, meat, eggs, etc,” says registered dietician Eliza Savage. “However, I don't think vegans are missing out on collagen in their diets. They may actually be more likely to support their natural collagen production with a plant-based diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, beans and legumes, nuts and seeds.”

What whole vegan foods support collagen production?

“For vegans, you're looking for protein-rich foods (especially the amino acids glycine, lysine, and proline) such as organic tempeh/tofu, beans/legumes, nuts, and seeds,” says Savage. She explains that vitamin C is found in a wide range of fruits and vegetables, such as oranges, strawberries, and leafy greens. Zinc is common in lentils, hemp seeds, and pumpkin seeds. Root vegetables, soy-based foods, leafy greens, and citrus are all rich in hyaluronic acid.

How do I take collagen boosters, especially if I’m not used to the taste?

The best way is to experiment with different flavors and find a method that you will actually enjoy. When I first tried collagen powders, I bought a strawberry lemonade flavor that I mixed with cold water. Huge mistake! Not only did the powder clump up, but it tasted disgusting. I never touched that product again. Personally, I’ve found the best results using unflavored powders and mixing them into hot substances to help them dissolve. My go-to is adding a dash into my oatmeal in the morning and dressing up the bowl with tons of fruit, nut butters, and cinnamon to enhance the flavor. Savage suggests trying these powders in smoothies or your favorite soup. You can also use them while baking or add them to your morning coffee. If you really can’t stomach it, you can always go for capsules, gummies, or cookie dough instead.

The 7 Best Vegan Collagen Boosters

Collagen supplements have skyrocketed in popularity in the past few years. From improving your skin to increasing hair growth to easing joint pain, these supplements promise to deliver wellness from the inside out. But what exactly is collagen and what are these powders and capsules made of?

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body, serving as building blocks in bones, skin, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. As we age, collagen decreases in our bodies over time, resulting in less elastic skin and weaker bones and joints. Collagen peptides are small pieces of collagen that are meant to be ingested as a way to increase the collagen in your body. What you may not realize, however, is that these supplements are often made from fish scales or the skin and bones of animals and are not vegetarian or vegan.

So what’s a vegan to do? Two words: Collagen boosters. According to registered dietitian and Verywell Senior Editor Eliza Savage, you can support your natural collagen production by eating a variety of amino acids (or proteins) and food with vitamin C, zinc, and hyaluronic acid. While it’s best to consume these ingredients through whole foods, you can turn to collagen-boosting supplements if your diet is missing out in a certain area.

Here are some of the best vegan collagen boosters out there today:

The Rundown

Best Overall:

Future Kind+ Vegan Collagen Booster Supplement at Amazon ($30)

Jump to Review

Best Budget:

Rae Vegan Collagen Boost Powder at Raewellness.co ($15)

Jump to Review

Best Gummies:

HUM Nutrition Glow Sweet Glow at Amazon ($25)

Jump to Review

Best Organic:

Your Super Plant Collagen Mix at Amazon ($19)

Jump to Review

Best with Probiotics:

Sunwarrior Beauty Greens Collagen Booster at Walmart ($25)

Jump to Review

Best Flavors:

Ora Aloe Gorgeous at Walmart ($26)

Jump to Review

Best for Sweet Tooths:

Deux Brownie Batter at Amazon ($21)

Jump to Review

Best Overall

Future Kind+ Vegan Collagen Booster Supplement

Future Kind

View On Amazon $30 View On Futurekind.com

When it comes to collagen-boosting ingredients, Future Kind + capsules check off all boxes. The capsules have dietitian-approved vitamin C and zinc, as well as vitamin E which has been found in studies to heal skin problems, and biotin, known for reducing hair loss.

Plant powered, the supplement blends amla, bamboo silica, and aloe vera, all of which have been found to increase collagen production. Grapeseed extract is another antioxidant found to protect the skin from UV rays that break down collagen.

Besides packing powerful ingredients, the capsules come in 100% post-consumer recycled PET bottles and glass, making it our top pick. The brand also delivers its supplements using 100% recycled boxes, fillers, and tape, and prints labels with soy-based ink.

They are free of GMOs, gluten, wheat, yeast, nuts, soy, sugar, salt, animal derivatives, artificial colors, or preservatives. In other words, this product has everything you want and nothing that you don’t.

Best Budget

Rae Vegan Collagen Boost Powder

Vegan Collagen Boost Powder (Unflavored)

Rae Wellness

View On Raewellness.co $15

Sometimes it feels like supplements cost an arm and a leg. Women-led company Rae believes well-being is for everyone and makes affordable supplements that are not genetically modified and free of artificial preservatives, fillers, or colorants. The brand donates 5% of all revenue to Girls Inc., a non-profit organization that inspires girls to be strong, smart, and bold through direct service and advocacy.

The Vegan Collagen Boost Powder combines vitamin C with bamboo stem extract that is high in vitamin A, B, and E. Bamboo extract contains amino acids that encourage collagen production. This unflavored powder is almost tasteless, but if you prefer, you can get the blend in a two-a-day capsule. It has all the same collagen boosters like vitamin C at an equally budget-friendly price.

Best Gummies

HUM Nutrition Glow Sweet Glow

Sephora

View On Amazon $25 View On Bloomingdales $26 View On Dermstore $26

Who doesn’t want to feel like a kid again? Transport yourself back to the good days with these fruity vegan gummies. They boost skin hydration with hyaluronic acid and stimulate collagen production with vitamin C and amla fruit. You’ll also get a dose of vitamin E, which has been found in studies to heal eczema and skin wounds.

A number of users say these gummies taste delicious and deliver noticeable improvements to their skin. HUM Nutrition products are made from non-GMO ingredients, are gluten-free, and contain no artificial colors, or sweeteners. Not only will you feel like a kid, but your skin will look youthful as well.

Best Organic

Your Super Plant Collagen Mix

Your Super Plant Collagen Superfood Powder Â¬â Non-Dairy Collagen Coffee Creamer Alternative for Skin Health & Hydration, Made with Organic Pea Protein,...

Amazon

View On Amazon $19 View On Yoursuper.com $30

Because supplements aren’t regulated by the FDA, you want to be extra careful with the brand and ingredients. What we love about Your Super is that it tells you exactly where each organic ingredient comes from in the supplement. The Plant Collagen mix has tocos, or stabilized rice-bran solubles from Thailand. Belonging in the vitamin E family, tocos are said to improve skin and hair growth.

The mix also has pea protein from Belgium, vitamin C-rich lucuma from Peru, and aloe and tremella from China. Tremella is a mushroom studied to protect the skin from aging. Vanilla from Madagascar adds a sweet taste to the powder, which you can mix into smoothies, lattes, or oatmeal.

Best with Probiotics

Sunwarrior Beauty Greens Collagen Booster

Sunwarrior Vegan Collagen Boosting Powder with Vitamin C Probiotic Biotin Hyaluronic Acid Keto Gluten Free Dairy Free Collagen Greens Powder for Hair Skin...

Amazon

View On Walmart $25 View On Amazon $35 View On Sunwarrior.com

Recommended by registered dietitian Eliza Savage, this supplement is truly a warrior by combining a spectrum of skin-loving ingredients with probiotics. Like other supplements, probiotics aren’t regulated by the FDA but some studies suggest they can help your body maintain a healthy community of microorganisms in your gut and improve your body’s immune response.

When it comes to collagen production, this powder supports it by offering vitamin C from organic amla fruit and sea buckthorn as well as bamboo silica and hyaluronic acid. The supplement also has biotin from holy basil extract and sunflower seed oil, which has been found to reduce hair loss.

With other ingredients like organic coconut water, kale, and spinach, what’s not to like? The product is soy, gluten, and dairy-free and comes in an unflavored and pina colada version. Tropical smoothie anyone?

Best Flavors

Ora Aloe Gorgeous

Ora Organic Vegan Collagen-Boosting Powder for Women and Men - Hair, Skin, & Nails Support - Bamboo Silica, Plant-Based Protein, Organic Vitamin C, Aloe...

Amazon

View On Walmart $26 View On Amazon $40 View On Ora.organic

When it comes to powder supplements, there are two types of people — those who swear by unflavored versions and those who want some flavor. If you rather have a touch of sweetness, check out Ora’s Aloe Gorgeous. Choose from vanilla, chocolate, and peanut butter and experiment with adding the powder to coffee, smoothies, or the brand’s creative recipes, like cookie dough bites.

As the name suggests, the supplement boosts collagen with aloe vera as well as pea protein, silica from bamboo, vitamin C from acerola cherry, and vitamin E from sunflowers. Rest easy knowing the ingredients are USDA certified organic.

Best for Sweet Tooths

Deux Brownie Batter

Huckberry

View On Amazon $21 View On Huckberry $15 View On Eatdeux.com

Calling all cookie dough lovers! This is the collagen booster for you. Deux is a new line of vitamin-packed vegan cookie dough. The Brownie Batter supports collagen production through plant-derived amino acids along with vitamin C and hyaluronic acid.

Consider it more of a treat than a supplement with sweet ingredients like almonds, chocolate chips, oats, maple syrup, and flaxseed. Best of all, you don’t even have to bake the brownies. No eggs mean you can eat the dough right from the fridge!

Final Verdict

For a one and done capsule, check out the Future Kind + Vegan Collagen Booster Supplement, which has a powerful blend in sustainable packaging. If you want to make your supplements a culinary experience, try out Deux’s Brownie Batter or Ora Aloe Gorgeous Vegan Collagen Boosting Powder.

What to Look for in Vegan Collagen Boosters

The Food and Drug Administration treats dietary supplements differently than food or drugs, meaning supplements don't go through the same strict requirements for safety and efficacy as drugs do. As a result, there have been cases where supplements contained extra ingredients than what was on the label or ingredients contaminated by germs, pesticides, or toxic heavy metals.

That's why it's important to research the supplement brand to ensure it is a trusted manufacturer. We recommend looking for organic supplements that are transparent about how they source their ingredients.

Also, remember that it’s possible to take too much of a certain vitamin. Registered dietitian Eliza Savage recommends double-checking you're not exceeding the upper limits of nutrients overlapping in a booster — especially if you take other vitamins already — and consulting a healthcare professional about adding any supplements to your regime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there such a thing as vegan collagen?

The short answer is not yet. Scientists are developing ways to use genetically engineered organisms like yeast to make vegan collagen, but these products are not currently on the market.
Do collagen supplements work?

When collagen supplements are ingested, the body breaks down the protein and converts it into its own amino acids. But the jury is still out whether ingesting collagen peptides derived from animals actually benefit the human body. A systematic review of 11 studies showed variable results and suggested more research was needed.
However, consuming ingredients that are known to help collagen production, like vitamin C, zinc, and amino acids themselves can support your body's own collagen production.
Are vegans missing out on collagen from their diets?

“This may be a controversial question, as you can consume exogenous collagen from animal products like bone broth, meat, eggs, etc,” says registered dietician Eliza Savage. “However, I don't think vegans are missing out on collagen in their diets. They may actually be more likely to support their natural collagen production with a plant-based diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, beans and legumes, nuts and seeds.”
What whole vegan foods support collagen production?

“For vegans, you're looking for protein-rich foods (especially the amino acids glycine, lysine, and proline) such as organic tempeh/tofu, beans/legumes, nuts, and seeds,” says Savage.
She explains that vitamin C is found in a wide range of fruits and vegetables, such as oranges, strawberries, and leafy greens. Zinc is common in lentils, hemp seeds, and pumpkin seeds. Root vegetables, soy-based foods, leafy greens, and citrus are all rich in hyaluronic acid.
How do I take collagen boosters, especially if I’m not used to the taste?

The best way is to experiment with different flavors and find a method that you will actually enjoy. When I first tried collagen powders, I bought a strawberry lemonade flavor that I mixed with cold water. Huge mistake! Not only did the powder clump up, but it tasted disgusting. I never touched that product again.
Personally, I’ve found the best results using unflavored powders and mixing them into hot substances to help them dissolve. My go-to is adding a dash into my oatmeal in the morning and dressing up the bowl with tons of fruit, nut butters, and cinnamon to enhance the flavor.
Savage suggests trying these powders in smoothies or your favorite soup. You can also use them while baking or add them to your morning coffee. If you really can’t stomach it, you can always go for capsules, gummies, or cookie dough instead.

Why Trust Treehugger?

For this roundup, we consulted with a registered dietician. We then looked for vegan supplements that contain ingredients that studies have shown are associated with boosting the body's production of collagen. Our team also shared their first-hand experiences with taking some of the top supplements.

Emily Cieslak is a producer at Dotdash and a health and beauty writer for Treehugger. After noticing how much biotin supplements improved her nail strength, Emily has been on the lookout for the best supplements to optimize her skin, hair, and nails while being kind to animals and the planet.

Lush Launches Its First Packaging-Free Mascara