If you’ve ever purchased an anti-aging skin care product, then you’ve probably heard of collagen. Beauty brands claim that their product will reduce signs of aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles, by “boosting collagen levels” or “stimulating new collagen synthesis”. But what exactly is collagen? In this article, we’ll explain what collagen is, collagen benefits for skin, and the various types of collagen skin care products that are available. And, of course, we’ll explain how to choose the best collagen serum so you don’t have to waste time or money searching for products.
Best Collagen Serum: The List
BEST OVERALL
BEST: Carrot & Stick The Repair Serum
Best Bet
FULL LIST
Carrot & Stick The Concentrate
Formulyst Anti-Aging Concentrate
Advanced Clinicals Collagen Serum
Murad Rapid Collagen Infusion
Dr. Brandt Collagen Serum
This innovative formula contains plant-derived collagen to help boosts skin structure. It’s a plant-based based collagen blend from rice, soy, carrot, quinoa, and ginseng.
FULL LIST
Carrot & Stick The Repair Serum
Carrot & Stick’s hyaluronic serum visibly lifts, tightens, and firms while defending against damaging free radicals. Hyaluronic acid and vitamin E deliver an instant boost of hydration, while a blend of synthesized growth factors encourages elasticity, cell turnover, and nutrient absorption to support revitalization.
Seven plant-based neuropeptides enhance the skin’s structural integrity from the inside out, promoting smoother, more resilient-looking skin. Finally, soothing and brightening botanicals impart an ageless glow.
Formulyst Anti-Aging Concentrate
Formulyst’s new Anti-Aging Concentrate is a fragrance free, highly concentrated formula that conditions your complexion and helps reduce the appearance of age spots, wrinkles, and fine lines. This serum contains Matrixyl 3000, a peptide complex composed of the matrikines palmitoyl tripeptide-1 and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7. These two peptides work synergistically to restore and maintain the skin’s youthful appearance by signaling to cells to produce more collagen. Numerous studies have proven the anti-aging and anti-wrinkle efficacy of Matrixyl 3000.
Related: Best Anti Aging Face Serums
Formulyst Pro-Collagen Serum
Formulyst Pro-Collagen Serum is a lightweight, restorative serum specifically formulated for aging skin that has experienced a loss of collagen. Think of collagen as the scaffolding of the skin; it gives structure, support and suppleness. But collagen production naturally slows down as we age, causing wrinkles and fine lines to appear. Formulyst’s Pro-Collagen Serum contains a highly concentrated mix of peptides and proteins, derived from seaweed, wheat and soy, to help tackle these signs of aging. Apply a few drops of this hydrating serum to help skin look smoother and younger. Overall, we believe Formulyst Pro-Collagen Serum is the best collagen serum for aging skin.
Ole Henriksen Truth Serum
Ole Henriksen Truth Serum is said to help brighten, firm, and fight signs of aging thanks to sodium ascorbyl phosphate, a precursor of ascorbic acid (pure vitamin C). Vitamin C helps the skin combat free radicals, serves as a cofactor for two enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of collagen, and inhibits the formation of dark spots. Ole Henriksen Truth Serum also contains hydrolyzed collagen, which is simply collagen that has been broken down into its amino acids so that it is absorbed better by the skin.
Related: Best Vitamin C Serums
Advanced Clinicals Collagen Serum
Advanced Clinicals Collagen Serum supports the natural production of collagen and is said to promote a plumper, firmer complexion. This collagen serum contains soy extracts to target sagging, lost elasticity, and facial lines.
Murad Rapid Collagen Infusion
This collagen serum by Murad is said to reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles in just 2 hours. The formula contains collagen amino acids, which are more easily absorbed by the skin than the large collagen protein. Collagen amino acids are thought to help the skin form new collagen, resulting in a firm, plump appearance. Murad Rapid Collagen Infusion also features winged kelp extract, which improves hydration and increases skin suppleness due to its rich supply of omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids.
Related: Best Hyaluronic Acid Serums
Dr. Brandt Collagen Serum
Dr. Brandt Dark Circles Away Collagen Eye Serum is an instant brightening eye serum that is said to boost collagen levels and stimulate microcirculation to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles, dark circles, and tired, puffy eyes. This collagen serum contains several types of amino acids, including glycine, proline, hydroxyproline, alanine, glutamic acid, and arginine. The collagen protein is composed of glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline. It is thought that using these amino acids in topical skin care products will support collagen synthesis. The other amino acids in this formula support the skin’s Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF) in order to maintain skin hydration. Specifically, amino acids work together with aquaporins (the body’s water transport system) to move moisture throughout skin.
Related: Best Niacinamide Serums
Since matrikines have the ability to increase the production of collagen, elastin, and other macromolecules in the ECM, synthetic peptides like palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 have been created to mimic these effects. Thus, the inclusion of palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 in the Olay Collagen Peptide 24 serum means you may notice an improvement in skin firmness after using these products. Additional key ingredients in the Olay Collagen Peptide 24 serum are niacinamide, glycerin, and panthenol.
Progenix Collagen Serum
Progenix Collagen Serum is said to support collagen production for a plump and lifted look with the ingredient Pro Coll One, which provides results similar to retinol without the irritation. With daily use, Progenix Collagen Serum is said to provide a noticeable difference in as little as 4 weeks.
Related: Best Retinol Serum
Algenist GENIUS Liquid Collagen
Algenist GENIUS Liquid Collagen is a vegan, collagen-based formula to maintain skin’s youthful vitality. This serum contains collagen amino acids, as well as vegan plant collagen, which both work to help strengthen and condition the skin to visibly improve resiliency and bounce. Another key ingredient in this collagen serum is patented alguronic acid, which is clinically demonstrated to provide anti-aging and anti-wrinkle benefits.
Best Collagen Serum: The Bottom Line
The best collagen serum is Carrot & Stick The Repair Serum.
