Collagen vs. Collagen Peptides: Which Is Better for Skin Health? (2025)

Collagen supplements are often marketed for youthful-looking skin and pain-free joints. Collagen a type of protein that serves as a key component of the body's connective tissues, such as the skin, cartilage, and bones—hence its popularity as a skin and joint health supplement.

Praised for its benefits to healthy aging, collagen comes in different types and forms, including collagen peptides, with varying results. It is important to understand how types of collagen differ before adding this protein to your supplement routine.

Key Differences

Collagen is the whole protein, while collagen peptides are smaller, broken-down pieces of collagen achieved through the process of hydrolysis. Because the protein is broken down in collagen peptides, this form may be easier to absorb in the body than whole collagen.

Collagen goes through different manufacturing processes. The specific process determines the type of collagen product, as follows:

• Undenatured insoluble native (original) collagen: Treated with a defatting substance at a soft temperature to remove fat.
• Soluble (dissolvable) native collagen: Treated with a soft acid at low temperature to remove a specific part of the collagen protein.
• Denatured collagen (gelatin): Treated with an acid or a base with or without heat to denature (inactivate) the native collagen.
• Hydrolyzed collagen peptides: Treated with another type of protein that breaks down collagen into smaller pieces.
• Bioactive collagen peptides: Treated with another type of protein that breaks down collagen into smaller pieces, but are further optimized to provide more targeted effects.

Native collagen and collagen peptides are the most common collagen products in supplements.

What Is Collagen?

Collagen is a protein that is present in many parts of your body. There are various types of collagen, depending on the protein shape and location in your body:

• Type 1 is the most common collagen, which is present in your teeth, bones, tendons, ligaments, and skin.
• Type 2 is a major component of cartilage (tissue that protects the joints and bones).
• Type 3 is a part of your muscles, blood vessels, and the middle layer of your skin.
• Type 4 is present in a tissue layer that supports your eyes, lungs, kidneys, and intestines.
• Type 5 is present in hair.

Collagen can come from various animal sources, such as chickens, pigs, cows, and fish (marine collagen).

Most studies evaluate type 2 collagen for native collagen products. Refer below for information on native type collagen supplements.

Benefits:

• In a 2023 review, most study findings are positive for native type 2 collagen among people with osteoarthritis (OA), a type of arthritis that causes the breakdown of cartilage. However, the methods were inconsistent across studies.
• In a randomized double-blind controlled clinical trial, study participants experienced improvements in joint pain and function after six months.
• Based on an observational study, the researchers also reported similar improvements for 90 days with the combination of native type 2 collagen and Boswellia extract.

Absorption:

• According to a 2022 review, the body may not absorb native type 2 collagen into the bloodstream as quickly as collagen peptides.
• In contrast, another study found no differences, with a caveat that the processing methods of collagen products might be different relative to other studies.

How to Use: Studies used native type 2 collagen as an oral product to be taken by mouth.

Dosage: Clinical trials evaluated native type 2 collagen at 40 milligrams (mg) per day.

What Are Collagen Peptides?

Collagen peptides, also known as hydrolyzed collagen or collagen hydrolysate, are the smaller protein pieces of the whole collagen protein. Below is some information on collagen peptide supplements.

Benefits: Collagen peptide benefits may include OA and skin health.

• According to a review, all studies reported positive results for collagen peptides among people with OA, with self-reported improvements in pain, function, and quality of life. However, the massive inconsistencies across the clinical trials make it difficult to draw any general conclusions.
• In another review, studies support collagen peptides for skin moisture, brightness, firmness, and tightness. There were also improvements in the appearance of wrinkles and wound healing. However, there were inconsistencies in the methods across studies. Furthermore, most of the studies were limited to women between 30 and 60 years of age.

Absorption: Collagen peptides reach peak levels one to two hours after intake. Then, the levels drop by half after four hours.

How to Use: Studies evaluated collagen peptides as oral products to take by mouth.

Dosage:

• In OA studies, the collagen peptide dosage range was 5 to 10 grams (g) daily.
• In skin health clinical trials, the dosage varied within a range of 1 to 10 g daily.

However, some experts might recommend a higher dosage of collagen peptides.

Which Should You Choose for Skin Health?

Between native type 2 collagen vs collagen peptides, study findings may support collagen peptides for skin. However, additional high-quality clinical trials are necessary.

If taking collagen peptides for skin health:

• A dosage range of 1 to 10 g per day has been used in studies. However, some experts recommend higher dosages.
• Based on a review, the treatment period varied between eight and 12 weeks. There are no current studies that have evaluated follow-up results after 12 weeks.
• The best collagen peptides that are good for you will depend on multiple factors, such as the different collagen sources, cost, and your preferences.

Summary

Collagen is a naturally occurring protein in the body. Different types of collagen exist depending on their protein structure and body location. The most common collagen product supplements are native (original) collagen and collagen peptides. Most studies evaluate type 2 collagen for native collagen product supplements.

Some evidence supports native type 2 collagen and collagen peptides among people with OA. Some positive findings also support collagen peptides for skin health. However, extensive research with high-quality clinical trials is still necessary.

Your healthcare provider can work with you to develop a plan to achieve your health goals with the proper type of collagen product supplement, dosage, and treatment duration.