The Wellness Report #10: Can You Really Drink Your Glow?
Nutriburst Vitamins
August 21, 2025
The Trend Snapshot
Collagen drinks are everywhere: beauty shots, glow powders, peach-flavoured gummies. They're sold as the shortcut to dewy, bouncy, age-defying skin. The global collagen supplement market is expected to hit £10 billion by 2030, and yet, most people still ask the same question: is it really working ?
Collagen 101: Why is it and Why we lose it ?
Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body. It's what gives your skin its firmness and bounce and your joints, bones, and hair their structure. But by your mid-20s, collagen production starts to decline, and it drops even faster with stress, UV exposure, and hormonal changes. That’s where the supplements come in promising to replenish or stimulate collagen for visible skin benefits.
So… Why Are People Still Skeptical?
Because it sounds too easy. The idea that a drink or gummy could visibly improve your skin feels like skincare fantasy especially when you’ve been told for years that collagen molecules are too big to absorb, or that everything gets broken down in your stomach anyway.
And to some extent, that’s true. Collagen is broken down in digestion. But that’s also how it works, if it’s formulated the right way.
Before you dismiss it, here’s what the science actually says.
What does the science actually say ?
Yes, collagen is broken down during digestion. But that doesn’t mean it’s useless.
In clinical studies, hydrolysed collagen peptides, a broken-down, bioavailable form, have been shown to:
- Increase skin hydration and elasticity
- Reduce fine lines and wrinkle depth
- Improve skin density and smoothness
In one 12-week double-blind study (Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2014), women taking 2.5g of collagen peptides daily showed statistically significant improvements in skin elasticity vs placebo.
A 2019 review of 11 trials (Journal of Drugs in Dermatology) concluded that collagen supplementation can improve skin ageing signs when taken consistently for at least 8 weeks.
But here’s the nuance: results depend on the type, dose, and supporting ingredients.
Most Collagen Supplements Fall Short
There are three main reasons your collagen supplement might not be working:
Under-dosing: Many products contain less than 1g of collagen far below the 2.5–10g used in studies.
Missing co-factors: Your body can’t build collagen without vitamin C, A, zinc, and hyaluronic acid. If your supplement doesn’t include them or if your diet is low, you’re just throwing peptides into a broken system.
Topical confusion: Creams and serums that claim to deliver collagen topically? Largely ineffective. Collagen molecules are too big to penetrate skin. What your skin needs is the tools to build it from within.
How to Do It Right
If you're going to take collagen, make it count. Look for:
- ✅ Hydrolysed collagen peptides, ideally Type I and III
- ✅ Clinical doses: 2.5g to 10g per day
- ✅ A formula that includes vitamin C, A, zinc, or hyaluronic acid
- ✅ Consistency: results typically take 8–12 weeks
Bonus: collagen isn’t just for skin. It also supports joints, bones, nails, and hair strength making it one of the few beauty supplements with cross-functional benefits.
Our Take
Collagen supplements can work but only when done right.
This isn’t about “adding” collagen back into the body. It’s about creating the right conditions for your body to rebuild and protect its own.
So yes, you can drink your glow.
But only if what you’re drinking gives your body the tools to do the work.