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Clair
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April 2, 2026
Who needs collagen?
Are you starting to notice that your skin feels a little drier lately? Perhaps you are waking up with joints that feel a bit stiffer in the mornings, or you have realised your hair simply doesn't quite have the volume and bounce it used to? Or maybe you are currently navigating the often tricky, unpredictable waters of perimenopause and wondering why your body feels like it is suddenly changing overnight?
If any of this sounds familiar, I want to reassure you that you are absolutely not alone. Every single week in the store, I chat with customers who are looking for natural, gentle ways to feel a little more comfortable and vibrant in their own skin as they age. One of the most common topics that comes up is should I take collagen? You have likely seen it everywhere, from magazines to social media, but you might be wondering what it actually does and if it is right for you.
What Exactly Is Collagen?
Collagen is the glue that holds our bodies together. It is the most abundant protein in the human body, providing vital structure, strength, and elasticity to our skin, joints, bones, hair, nails, and connective tissues. Think of it as the scaffolding that keeps everything firm, plump, and moving smoothly.
Collagen is packed with key amino acids, specifically glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline. Our bodies use these incredible building blocks to help maintain skin elasticity, keep our joints flexible, and support our bone integrity. When we have plenty of it, we enjoy a natural, sun kissed glow, our joints glide without complaining, and our nails grow strong and resilient.
Why Does Our Natural Collagen Decrease?
While we naturally begin to lose collagen from our mid-twenties onwards, typically at a rate of about 1% per year. You might be wondering why this happens and if anything speeds it up.
Our bodies are constantly breaking down and rebuilding collagen, but as we age, the rebuilding process simply slows down. However, it isn't just the passing of time that affects our collagen levels. Several everyday lifestyle factors can accelerate this decline: Spending too much time in the sun without protection can break down the collagen fibres in our skin, leading to premature wrinkles and a loss of that youthful plumpness. When we consume excess sugar, a process called glycation occurs. The sugar molecules attach to collagen proteins, making them stiff, brittle, and weak. High stress levels produce excess cortisol, which can actively break down collagen in the skin and slow down the production of new connective tissue. Smoking restricts blood flow and introduces free radicals into the body, which aggressively attack and destroy collagen.
The Vital Connection: Perimenopause, Menopause, and Collagen
While the gradual decline of collagen happens to us all, the drop becomes far more noticeable and rapid for women during perimenopause and menopause.
Oestrogen plays a remarkably key role in natural collagen production. It acts like a master conductor, telling the cells in our skin and joints to keep producing healthy, plump collagen. As oestrogen levels naturally begin to fall during perimenopause and menopause, collagen synthesis slows down significantly. In fact, research suggests women can lose up to 30% of their skin's collagen in the very first five years after menopause.
This is not a nice thought, is it?
This drop in oestrogen doesn't just affect our appearance; it can have wide reaching effects throughout the body. Symptoms associated with declining collagen during this time can include:
- Thinner, drier, and more fragile skin
- An increase in fine lines and wrinkles
- Noticeable joint stiffness and aching
- Reduced muscle tone
- Brittle nails that break easily
- Hair thinning or a loss of natural shine
- Slower recovery after exercise or a long walk
- Changes in gut health and digestion
Many women feel incredibly frustrated by these sudden changes. If this sounds familiar, supporting your collagen levels through comforting nutrition and gentle supplementation can be a wonderfully valuable part of your menopause wellness plan.
Do Men Need Collagen Too?
Absolutely! While the conversation around collagen is often focused on women and menopause, men can hugely benefit from supporting their collagen levels too.
While men do not experience the sudden, dramatic oestrogen-related drop that women do, they still lose collagen at a steady rate as they age. For men, declining collagen often presents as stiff, aching knees after a round of golf, a longer recovery time after hitting the gym, thinning hair, and a loss of muscle mass. Taking a high quality collagen supplement can offer fantastic relief for male joint comfort, support healthy tendons, and promote a relaxed alertness by supporting overall physical vitality.
The Solution: Finding the Right Support
While collagen is not a magic cure all, regular intake alongside a beautifully balanced diet and healthy lifestyle may help support these areas over time.
There are many collagen supplements on the market today in various forms-capsules, powders, and liquids. Through my own experience and listening to the wonderful feedback from our community, I give a huge thumbs up to Vital Proteins powdered collagen options.
These are incredibly popular with our customers due to their exceptional quality and wonderfully clean ingredient profile. They offer two fantastic options depending on your needs: a bovine collagen and a marine collagen.
Understanding the Difference: Bovine vs. Marine Collagen
If you are wondering which one is right for you, let's explore the benefits of both:
Vital Proteins Bovine Collagen Peptides is sourced from healthy, pasture raised, grass-fed cattle. Bovine collagen is exceptionally rich in both Type I and Type III collagen. Type I is the most abundant in the body, excellent for hair, skin, and nails. Type III is highly concentrated in our muscles, blood vessels, and internal organs. Because it contains both types, bovine collagen is a fantastic all-rounder. If you are looking for full body support-particularly for joint stiffness, muscle recovery, gut health, and overall connective tissue strength-this is a wonderfully grounding and supportive choice.
Vital Proteins Marine Collagen is derived from the scales of wild caught fish. Marine collagen is predominantly made up of Type I collagen. What makes marine collagen so special is its bioavailability, meaning it is incredibly easily absorbed by the body due to its smaller particle size. If your primary goals are achieving a radiant, sun-kissed glow, deeply hydrating the skin from within, smoothing out fine lines, and restoring thickness to your hair and nails, marine collagen is often the preferred choice.
The Proof is in the Pudding
I am delighted to let you know that the feedback we receive on these products is just wonderful. Several customers have told me what a fantastic relief they feel in their knees and hips after just a few weeks of consistent use. Many women navigating perimenopause have shared that their skin feels plumper, deeply hydrated, and much less fragile.
How to Enjoy Your Collagen
One of the best things about Vital Proteins powders is how effortlessly they fit into your day. Both the marine and bovine options are completely neutral in flavour and dissolve beautifully into hot or cold drinks, smoothies, or food. Simply stir a scoop into your morning coffee or tea. It dissolves instantly and doesn't change the taste at all. Blend it into your favourite morning fruit smoothie for a nourishing, protein-rich start to the day. Stir it into a warm bowl of porridge or a comforting soup. It is a wonderfully simple way to nourish yourself.
Supporting your collagen production during your menopausal journey-or simply as you gracefully age could wonderfully help improve your symptoms and bring back a sense of vibrant comfort. And yes, collagen can absolutely be taken happily alongside HRT or your regular daily supplements!
Frequently Ask Us About Collagen
We get asked so many brilliant questions in the store. Here are some of them:
1. How long does it take to see results from taking collagen? Consistency is key when it comes to natural health! While everyone's beautiful body is unique, most of our customers start to notice a subtle difference in skin hydration and joint comfort after about 4 to 6 weeks of daily use. For more noticeable changes in hair thickness and deeper joint relief, we recommend giving it about 12 weeks.
2. Can I take collagen if I am on HRT? Yes, you certainly can. Collagen works wonderfully alongside Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). While HRT helps to balance your hormone levels, collagen provides the physical nutritional building blocks your body needs to maintain strong skin, bones, and joints. They are a fantastic team!
3. Is it safe to take a collagen supplement every single day? Absolutely. In fact, taking it daily is exactly what we recommend! Because collagen is a natural food-based protein, taking it daily simply provides your body with a consistent, steady supply of the amino acids it needs to keep rebuilding and repairing.
4. Will the heat from my coffee destroy the collagen? I am happy to tell you that it will not! The collagen in Vital Proteins is hydrolysed into peptides. This means it has already been broken down into tiny, heat-stable particles. You can safely stir it into piping hot coffee, tea, or even bake with it without losing any of the wonderful benefits.
5. What is the difference between collagen and collagen peptides? You will often hear these terms used together. Regular collagen is a very large molecule that is actually quite difficult for our bodies to digest. Collagen peptides (which is what Vital Proteins uses) simply means the collagen has been gently broken down (hydrolysed) into tiny fragments. This makes it highly absorbable, so it gets straight to work exactly where your body needs it most.
6. I am vegetarian. Can I take these collagen supplements? No, the Vital Proteins collagen only comes from animal sources like cattle, fish, or poultry. However, if you are plant-based, we have some wonderful alternatives in the store. We have Terranova Vollogen Complex which is an easy to take capsule.
7. Will taking collagen cause me to gain weight? Not at all. Collagen powders are very low in calories and contain zero sugar or carbohydrates. In fact, because collagen is a pure protein, many people find it provides a gentle feeling of fullness and steady energy, which can actually support a healthy, balanced metabolism.
8. Is it better to take collagen in the morning or at night? You can take it whenever it fits best into your routine. Some people love taking it in their morning coffee to start the day right. Others prefer to take it in the evening with a calming herbal tea, as the amino acid glycine in collagen can gently promote a sense of relaxation and help support restful sleep.
9. What does collagen actually taste like? High quality collagen peptides, like the ones from Vital Proteins, are virtually tasteless and odourless. Whether you choose the marine or the bovine option, they have a completely neutral profile. You won't even know it is in your drink!
10. Can collagen help with my digestion and gut health? Yes, it can be wonderfully soothing for the gut! The amino acids in collagen, particularly glycine and glutamine, are essential for rebuilding and strengthening the delicate lining of our digestive tract. Many customers take it specifically to gently support a happy, comfortable digestive system.
11. Do I need to take Vitamin C with my collagen? Vitamin C is an absolutely vital co-factor for collagen production-meaning your body cannot physically produce collagen without it. While you don't necessarily have to take them at the exact same moment, ensuring you have plenty of Vitamin C in your daily diet from citrus fruits, berries, and yellow or orange vegetables will wonderfully enhance the effects of your collagen powder.
12. Can I take both marine and bovine collagen together? You certainly can, although it usually isn't necessary. Most people find fantastic relief and brilliant results by simply choosing one type and sticking with it consistently. However, if you want the ultimate full-body support, you could enjoy bovine collagen in your morning coffee for your joints, and stir marine collagen into an afternoon smoothie for your skin.
We Are Always Here to Help
Navigating changes in our bodies, whether from the natural passage of time or the journey of perimenopause, can sometimes feel overwhelming. But it is so empowering to know that nature provides us with beautiful, gentle tools to support ourselves from the inside out.
If you are curious about incorporating Vital Proteins into your daily routine, or if you simply want to have a chat about what might work best for your unique needs, please do reach out.
Call into the store to see us, pick up the phone, or send us an email. We love listening to your stories and we would absolutely love to help you find your natural glow and vibrant comfort once
