The Whistle Blown on the Best Collagen Drink in the UK

Researched & Posted by
Simon White*

Last updated on
Evidence Based
Expert Reviewed

*Supplement Informer is made up of the views and opinions of our beauty and nutrition expert Simon White who is a qualified nutritionist from the University of Sheffield. The scoring is determined at his own discretion and should not be used for accuracy purposes. We are able to provide this service for free thanks to the referral fees we receive from a number of service providers along with an ownership stake in one or more of the brands. These referral fees may affect the rankings and score assigned to specific vendors. Disclaimer: Furthermore, though many vendors appear on the Supplement Informer, this DOES NOT imply endorsement of any kind and the results of using such products may vary. The information and vendors which appear on Supplement Informer is subject to change at any time.

Advertiser Disclosure

*Supplement Informer is made up of the views and opinions of our beauty and nutrition expert Simon White who is a qualified nutritionist from the University of Sheffield. The scoring is determined at his own discretion and should not be used for accuracy purposes. We are able to provide this service for free thanks to the referral fees we receive from a number of service providers along with an ownership stake in one or more of the brands. These referral fees may affect the rankings and score assigned to specific vendors. Furthermore, though many vendors appear on the Supplement Informer, this DOES NOT imply endorsement of any kind and the results of using such products may vary. The information and vendors which appear on Supplement Informer is subject to change at any time.

Why is drinking collagen the most preferred way to ingest collagen?

Marine collagen derived from fish and shellfish, is considered to be more easily absorbed by the body than bovine collagen, which is derived from cows.

Marine collagen peptides have a smaller molecular weight and a different amino acid profile, which allows them to be more easily digested and utilised by the body.

Additionally, if you are looking for specific improvements in hair, skin and nails you need to be looking at a Type 1 collagen. Marine collagen contains almost 100% Type 1 collagen compared to bovine which only contains 5% making marine collagen more suitable for Hair, Skin and Nails improvements.

There are also concerns over the sustainability of fish vs cows. Marine collagen is considered to be more ethical as it does not involve the killing of animals because the collagen is farmed from the unused parts of the fish, while bovine collagen production involves the killing of cows.

Which Brand of Marine Collagen is the Best

As legitimate as Marine Collagen is providing beauty benefits towards your hair, skin and nails for it to be truly effective you need to look under the hood at the ingredients included in the formula. Marine collagen MUST be ingested with the following ingredients to be effective.

Vitamin C: Studies have shown that around 100mg or more of vitamin C improves the bioavailability of marine collagen by increasing the absorption and utilization of collagen peptides in the body.1

Copper: Has been found to enhance the bioavailability of marine collagen by increasing the production of collagen and elastin in the skin.2

Zinc: Has been found to improve the bioavailability of marine collagen by increasing the synthesis of collagen in the body and promoting the formation of healthy skin.3

Vitamin E - Helps to protect collagen from oxidative damage and promotes collagen production.5

Proline An amino acid found in marine collagen, has been found to enhance the bioavailability of collagen by increasing the absorption and utilization of collagen peptides in the body.5

Hyaluronic Acid A component of marine collagen, has been found to improve the bioavailability of collagen by increasing hydration and elasticity in the skin.6

Collagen loss results in:

  • Wrinkly, saggy, and dull skin1
  • Fragile, lifeless, and thinning hair1
  • Painful joints, muscles, and bones1
BEWARE: Not All Marine Collagen is Equal

In the course of our research, we discovered a few things the beauty industry probably wishes we’d keep under wraps. Including how:

Our research proves that only Type I collagen contains the necessary firepower for minimising fine lines and wrinkles4

Bovine collagen only contains 5% Type I collagen and is scientifically proven in paper after paper to do almost nothing for your skin…5

Marine collagen contains 95% of Type I collagen and is therefore a much more of a potent choice for hair, skin and nail benefits5

Here’s what to look for in beauty focussed collagen peptides…
and what you MUST AVOID at all costs.

Must Haves

  • Collagen Type:

    Marine collagen is favoured over Bovine as its absorbed better into the body, contains more Type 1 collagen and is more sustainable and ethically sourced.

  • Collagen Potency:

    A minimum of 5g per day is recommended by scientists as effective. Anymore than this per day is usually wasted.

  • Supplement Format:

    Powders and Drinks are leaps and bounds more powerful than tablets or capsules as they allow several thousand mg per day to be absorbed as opposed to tablets which only contain 0.5mg of collagen per day. Tablets are cheaper but are not effective

  • Taste:

    According to customer reviews, flavoured formulas are easier to injest as it masks the bitter taste of collagen.

  • Essential Ingredients Included:

    Collagen works best when paired Vitamin C, Copper, Zinc, Vitamin E, Proline and Hyaluronic Acid. Without these key ingredients marine collagen by itself is not effective

Must Avoid

  • Calorie Bombs:

    Look out for nasty added sugars which can cause weight gain and acne.

  • Unknown Collagen Source:

    The potential to make our problems worse mean we should ALWAYS know which specific type of collagen is used.

  • Artificial Ingredients:

    Like sweeteners, preservatives, and other “fillers”. These chemicals poison your body and can reduce the absorption of important vitamins and minerals.

  • Environmentally Unfriendly Packaging:

    Avoid plastics and non-recyclable packaging. Save the environment!

  • Incomplete List Of Ingredients:

    Always check the ingredients list and only buy from brands that have nothing to hide!

Our Research Backed
10-Point Approach

In addition to our ‘Must Haves’ and ‘Must Avoids’, we have a dedicated ‘Evaluations Team’ that compares and ranks each tested collagen product according to a Research-Backed 10-Point System. We want you to know how our ranking system works:

How We Picked Our Top Choice – A Guide To Our Rankings:

After intense research, interviews with customers, and extensive personal testing, we narrowed down hundreds of different collagen products into our top 4 and eventually crowned a winner.

  • 94

    Hours of
    Scientific Research

  • 11

    Hours of
    Expert Consultations

  • 52

    Customers
    Interviewed

Evaluation Criteria

  • Taste & Ease of Use
  • Value
  • Results
  • Synergistic Ingredients
  • Company Reputation

#1

Glow Powder Marine Collagen
by Rock & Roses.
Evidence Based
Expert Reviewed
Evidence Based
Expert Reviewed
  • Ingredient Quality

  • Collagen Potency

  • Value

  • Returns Policy

  • Overall Customer Happiness

  • 9.8/10
  • 9.6/10
  • 9.4/10
  • 10/10
  • 9.6/10

A+ Rating

9.7

Total Ranking

PROS

  • 6000mg serving per day of marine collagen
  • Contains all the essential ingredients (Vitamin C, Zinc, Copper, Proline and Hyaluronic Acid)
  • Manufatured in the UK
  • No artificial additives, flavours or colourings and keto friendly (won’t put on weight consuming)
  • Up to 40% discounts on bulk purchases. (buy more save more)
  • 90-day money back guarantee (no questions asked)

CONS

  • Currently only available online
  • Out of stock occasionally

The Bottom Line

Glow Powder Collagen by Rock & Roses has been voted #1 by our nutrition expert Simon White*, with a 9.7 out of 10 score.

What We Loved

Rock & Roses was the only brand that have developed their formula in line with the clinical guidelines which state that marine collagen must be taken with the key ingredients of Vitamin C (150mg), Copper (0.2mg), Zinc (7mg), Hyaluronic Acid (120mg).

When you consider any brand look for the quantities of these ingredients. Many brands will skimp on the quantities to make their formula cheaper but cheaper is not always better especially in this case.

They are also the only brand we have seen that openly advertise the strength of their collagen via a certificate of analysis. You will note their collagen contains very high levels of Glycine (23g/100g) and Hyroproline (11.7g/100g) which no other brand will disclose.

Rock & Roses are the only company offering a “No questions asked” 90-day money Back Guarantee.

 

There’s just one small thing…Rock & Roses is a small company right now, so they don’t have massive inventory like other “household-name” beauty brands.

That’s why when people find out about Rock & Roses Glow Powder Collagen, their inventory sells out fast.

But if you’re reading this page, then you might be in luck. Rock & Roses let us know they set aside part of their recent shipment specifically for this review.

However, it’s likely Rock & Roses will sell out of their current inventory within the next 24 hours.

So if you want to try the only proven safe and effective collagen peptide product with a 90-day money back guarantee that we could find, then click the button below now.

Yes, I Want My Glow Powder Collagen Now

#2

Absolute Collagen
by Maxine Laceby.

  • Ingredient Quality

  • Collagen Potency

  • Value

  • Returns Policy

  • Overall Customer Happiness

  • 8.6/10
  • 9.1/10
  • 7.9/10
  • 5.0/10
  • 8.4/10

B Rating

7.8

Total Ranking

PROS

  • Made in the UK
  • Ready-made liquid, no need to dissolve
  • Contains Type I marine collagen
  • Established brand.

CONS

  • Leaves a horrible and bitter taste
  • No Money-Back-Guarantee
  • Contains preservatives
  • Poor Value for Money
  • Uses Unnecessary Plastic In Packaging
Click to Shop Now

#3

Gold Collagen Forte
by Minerva Research Labs.

  • Ingredient Quality

  • Collagen Potency

  • Value

  • Returns Policy

  • Overall Customer Happiness

  • 7.1/10
  • 8.7/10
  • 6.8/10
  • 5.0/10
  • 7.2/10

C Rating

6.9

(83 Reviews)

Total Ranking

PROS

  • Ready-made liquid, no need to dissolve
  • Neutral taste
  • Well known brand.

CONS

  • No Money-Back-Guarantee
  • Uncertain Collagen Source
  • Poor Value for Money
  • Environmentally unfriendly packaging
Click to Shop Now

#4

Ingenious Beauty Ultimate Collagen +
by Ingenious Beauty.

  • Ingredient Quality

  • Collagen Potency

  • Value

  • Returns Policy

  • Overall Customer Happiness

  • 7.1/10
  • 3/10
  • 7.8/10
  • 5.0/10
  • 7.2/10

D+ Rating

6.0

Total Ranking

PROS

  • Made in the UK
  • No artificial preservatives

CONS

  • No Money-Back-Guarantee
  • Poor Value
  • Large Capsules which are difficult to swallow
Click to Shop Now

#5

Vichy LiftActiv Collagen Specialist Day Cream +
by Vichy.

  • Ingredient Quality

  • Collagen Potency

  • Value

  • Returns Policy

  • Overall Customer Happiness

  • 6.3/10
  • 3/10
  • 5.2/10
  • 5.0/10
  • 6.9/10

D Rating

5.3

Total Ranking

PROS

  • Diverse amino acid profile
  • Nice looking pot

CONS

  • No Money-Back-Guarantee
  • Poor Value
  • Cream leaves a crumbly film on the face
  • Dries out face making wrinkles look more apparent
  • Low collagen potency
Click to Shop Now

SOURCES & CITATIONS

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1606623/ - Decreased Collagen Production With Age

2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7695755/ - Role of Collagen in bodies

3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6891674/ - Collagen Peptides and Hydrolysis

4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6835901/ - Type of Collagen for Minimising Fine Lines & Wrinkles

5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7230273/ - Bovine vs Marine Collagen

6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30681787/ - Dosing Guidelines

7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6204628/ - Effect of Vitamin C and Collagen Synthesis

8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3583886/ - Hyaluronic Acid Claims

9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3583886/ - Hyaluronic Acid Benefits

10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6098779/ - Acerola Cherry Benefits