Collagen powders look almost identical on the shelf and vary a lot once you read the label.
This is how to judge one yourself: the four things that actually differ, and the two that are mostly marketing.
Key points
- Source decides collagen type, which decides what it suits.
- Peptide content per serve matters more than the size of the tub.
- Cost per serve is the only fair price comparison.
- Nearly all collagen is hydrolysed, so that is a baseline rather than a feature.
- A powder you enjoy taking daily beats a better one you skip.
What should you look for in a collagen powder?
Four things, in this order: the source, the peptide content per serve, the cost per serve, and whether you will actually drink it.
Everything else on the label is secondary. Work through them and most products sort themselves.
Does the source of collagen matter?
Yes, because it decides the collagen type. Marine collagen comes from fish and is predominantly type I. Bovine collagen comes from cattle and supplies type I and type III.
Which source suits which goal
- Marine. Predominantly type I, the type most associated with skin, hair and nails. Not suitable with a fish allergy.
- Bovine and grass-fed. Type I and III, the usual all-round daily choice, and often a higher protein content per serve.
Browse marine collagen or bovine and grass-fed collagen once you have picked a side.
How much collagen should be in a serve?
Check the grams of collagen peptides per serve, not the size of the tub. A typical serve provides around 10g of collagen peptides.
Two products at the same price can differ substantially here, and a bigger tub with a smaller serve is not better value.
How do you compare collagen powders on price?
Divide the price by the number of serves, then check what a serve actually contains. Cost per serve is the only comparison that holds across different tub sizes.
A cheaper tub with half the peptides per serve is not cheaper.
Does hydrolysed collagen matter?
Hydrolysed means the collagen has been broken into smaller chains called peptides so it dissolves easily and is simple to digest. Nearly every collagen powder sold in Australia is hydrolysed.
Treat it as the baseline rather than a selling point. If you want the detail, we cover it in what hydrolysed collagen means.
Flavoured or unflavoured?
Unflavoured powders stir into coffee, water or a smoothie without changing the taste much. Flavoured ones are designed to be had on their own.
This sounds like the least important criterion and is often the most. Collagen works gradually and only when taken consistently, so the version you will happily take every day is the one that works.
Important. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have a fish allergy or are managing a health condition, talk to your healthcare professional before starting a collagen supplement.
Which collagen powder should you buy?
Once you know your source and your budget per serve, our team has already done the comparison. See our top ten collagen picks, or browse the full collagen protein powder range.
Every member of our team is a certified nutritionist, so ask us in store or online if the label is not making sense.
This is a supplementary product and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
