Curiosity around vegan collagen powder is buzzing, and for good reason.
While it’s accurate to say that vegan collagen is not true collagen (bones, ligaments, hair, nails–the stuff found in animal-based collagen), plant-based collagen products still serve a purpose. Some might argue they’re just as effective as true collagen peptides.
But with most health and beauty supplements, the quality spectrum is vast, and certain collage powders work far better than others.
So, to satisfy your curiosity about which products are legitimately the best vegan collage builders, I’ve distilled the research and top products for you.
So, What is Vegan Collagen?
Unlike traditional animal-based collagen peptides, vegan collagen builders stimulate your body’s natural collagen production.
They are powders made from amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that boost your body’s ability to make its own collagen, rather than consuming the collagen that’s been processed by other animal parts.
The term ‘vegan collagen’ is somewhat misleading because these powders do not contain real collagen peptides, which can only be found in animals or artificially synthesized in bacteria.
Rather, vegan collagen powder is largely a marketing term for plant-based concoctions designed to help stimulate collagen production, also known as ‘collagen builders.’
What are Vegan Collagen Supplements Made Of?
Vegan collagen powder, otherwise known as vegan collagen builders, contains active ingredients to effectively promote healthy skin, hair, and nail growth:
- Amino acids: As the building blocks of protein, vegan collagen contains amino acids like glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline, obtained from hydrolyzed vegetable starch or molasses. Hydrolyzed collagen, even from minute vegan sources, offers high bioavailability for cell proliferation, moisture absorption, retention, and skin anti-aging.[1]
- Vitamins C and E: These vitamins are essential for collagen production, as they encourage the body to convert amino acids into collagen while protecting cells from free radicals that damage skin tissue and accelerate the aging process.[2]
- Minerals: Copper and zinc are often included in vegan collagen supplements, as they play a fundamental role in collagen synthesis.
- Antioxidants: These vital compounds, such as silica, help catalyze collagen production and contribute to better skin health.
- Plant extracts: Some vegan collagen powders may contain plant extracts, such as hyaluronic acid, which helps retain moisture in the skin.[3]
- Tremella mushrooms: Also known as snow fungus or beauty mushrooms, tremella mushrooms are a natural source of minerals and contain high amounts of polysaccharides. They have been used for centuries for their skin benefits and they can be found in some vegan collagen products.[4]
These ingredients work in synergy to support the body’s ability to produce collagen naturally. However, the products that contain these ingredients require additional research to fully validate their effectiveness and to fully understand their impact on collagen synthesis.
4 Best Vegan Collagen Powders Worth Trying
Vegan collagen comes in powder, liquid serums, and creams. We’re here to highlight some of the most effective powders. These four stand out for their clean, potent ingredients and palatability in terms of taste.
1. PlantFusion Complete Plant Collagen Builder
PlantFusion, a brand that uses open-book manufacturing processing, provides everything you’d need in a vegan collagen powder. Its Complete Plant Collagen Builder delivers a dense amino acid blend that packs 21 grams of protein.
The primary collagen-stimulating and elastin-enhancing ingredients include vitamin C, the amino acids proline and glycine, OxyPhyte™ White Tea Extract, hyaluronic acid, a Saberry Amla fruit extract, making for an impressive combination of botanicals.
PlantFusion Complete Plant Collagen Builder is the only vegan collagen with Ceramosides, which is an effective phytoceramide for hydrating skin and slowing signs of aging.
Sugar-free and sweetened with monk fruit extract and stevia (unless you get the Natural Stevia-Free flavor). While it’s fully organic like other PlantFusion proteins, it is certified non-GMO, gluten-free, dairy-free, and kosher.
2. Organifi Glow Vegan Collagen Powder
If you’re looking for a more concentrated vegan collagen without the protein content, then Organifi’s Glow is about as healthy and effective as it gets. Backed by rave reviews, Glow is one of the few fully organic options that contains a powerful blend of collagen-stimulating ingredients.
Organifi’s ‘Glow Blend’ contains six different botanicals, ranging from amla to aloe vera. The product also offers high concentrations of organic raspberry, coconut, and acerola (Barbados cherry), as well as the coveted tremella mushroom extract.
You’ll also find bamboo silica, which plays a vital role in collagen formation and collagen synthesis, helping improve your skin’s strength and elasticity. With over 12 skin-enhancing superfoods, Glow packs a powerful punch to support your body’s natural collagen production.
Designed as a refreshing beverage to be served cold, Organifi Glow comes in a raspberry-lemon-cherry flavor that’s primarily sweetened with the best monk fruit extract available. It provides a modest amount of Vitamin C and minerals, and despite claims of being keto, Glow contains 2 grams of sugar per single-scoop serving.
3. Rae Vegan Collagen Boost
Vegan Collagen Boost by Rae Wellness is another powder supplement that focuses on simple ingredients to promote collagen production without all the protein content. This keeps the price low while providing an effective product that has an impressive review rating.
The proprietary blend contains collagen-promoting amino acids glycine, lysine hydrochloride, and proline. It also provides inulin root powder from Jerusalem artichoke (a prebiotic fiber) and gynostemma herb extract, a ‘miracle plant’ that offers incredible health benefits similar to ginseng.
In addition to its proprietary collagen-booster blend, Rae also harnesses the power of the ultimate vegan collagen ingredient: bamboo extract. Combined with an abundance of Vitamin C, you have a simple, non-GMO, vegan collagen supplement with no artificial sweeteners, preservatives, or fillers.
Rae’s Vegan Collagen Boost comes in an unflavored powder as well as capsule form. It’s Clean Label Project verified and made in the USA with carefully sourced ingredients. In short, it’s an underrated hero in the saturated space of collagen supplements.
4. Sunwarrior Collagen Building Protein Peptides
Lastly, Sunwarrior Collagen Building Protein Peptides is a nutritionally dense powder worth highlighting. This one provides both a vegan collagen and protein powder supplement with 13g of protein per scoop. With no sugar and organic stevia leaf as the sweetener, it’s truly a keto-friendly and diabetic-friendly option.
The mostly organic ‘proprietary beauty blend’ is stacked with pea protein, brown rice peptides, sea buckthorn berries, kale, spinach, spirulina, tremella mushroom extract, and amla extract. There’s also hyaluronic acid and bamboo silica in this blend.
In addition to its beauty blend and an abundance of vitamins and minerals, Sunwarrior’s Collagen Building Protein Peptides also includes plant-based biotin (from holy basil leaf extract and sunflower seed extract).
Each flavor also contains its own unique ingredients. For instance, the Coconut Matcha Latte adds 2g of organic matcha powder and MCT oil powder, while the Chocolate Fudge flavor provides Dutch cocoa. There’s also a Natural stevia-free option, among eight flavors total.
FAQs About Plant-based Collagen Supplements
There are a lot of questions surrounding vegan collagen supplements, their effectiveness, and where they’re sourced. Below I address these common questions as concisely as possible.
Can Collagen Be Vegan?
The short answer is no. By definition, collagen is a protein that derives from animal sources like beef, fish, eggs, and pigs, so collagen itself is not vegan or plant-based.
Scientists have developed techniques that use genetically engineered microorganisms like bacteria and yeast to produce true ‘vegan collagen,’ however these products are not widely available to consumers.
Collagen supplements that are labeled as vegan are effectively collagen boosters or builders that contain ingredients that stimulate the body’s natural collagen production.
What Does Vegan Collagen Do?
Some of the best vegan collagen-boosting powders contain ingredients that promote several potential benefits, including:
- Better skin elasticity: Vegan collagen products, such as those with bamboo silica, may help improve skin elasticity and reduce wrinkles, leading to tighter, firmer, and younger-looking skin.
- Stronger nails and hair: Plant-based collagen rich in the amino acids glycine, lysine hydrochloride, and proline, as well as hyaluronic acid and vegan biotin, supporting healthier hair and nails.
- Muscle and joint recovery: Similar to animal-based collagen, vegan alternatives have been shown to aid in muscle and joint recovery, largely due to the amino acid content.
- Improved gut health: With many vegan collagen products rich in prebiotics, greens, amino acids, and fiber, these supplements can help maintain better gut health.
- Stronger bone health: The collagen-stimulating qualities in plant-based powder may contribute to improved bone health and resilience.
These are just some of the most commonly reported benefits that vegan collagen can provide. However, there is still much research to be done to verify the effectiveness of these benefits.
Is Vegan Collagen Effective?
Yes, vegan collagen products are effective as oral supplements, such as powders and capsules as well as topical supplements like serums and creams. Although research is still lacking on the efficacy of vegan collagen, there are countless reports and reviews of consumers backing the effectiveness of vegan collagen.
Is Bovine Collagen Vegan?
Bovine collagen is not vegan. Bovine is made from cows, specifically bones, cartilage, tendons, and connective tissue. So while bovine is a popular source of collagen, it is not a vegan source.
What Vegan Foods are Rich in Collagen?
Numerous vegan foods can help support collagen production in the body. These foods are rich in nutrients like vitamin C, minerals, and amino acids, which are essential for collagen production. These include:
- Nuts and seeds: Pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, pistachios, and peanuts are all vegan foods high in protein that can help boost collagen production.
- Beans: Beans are a good source of copper, a co-enzyme required for bonding collagen and elastin.
- Berries: These foods are rich in vitamins A and C, which are essential for collagen production.
- Mushrooms: Certain types of mushrooms and fungi, particularly tremella fungi, lion’s mane, and wood ear mushrooms, have been shown to contribute to collagen production and improved skin elasticity.
- Leafy greens: Kale and spinach are rich in vitamins and minerals that support collagen production.
- Citrus fruits: Oranges, papaya, mango, pineapple, strawberries, grapefruits, kiwi, lemons, and limes are full of vitamin C, which is critical for the production of procollagen.
- Tomatoes: Tomatoes contain vitamin C and lycopene, which helps protect the skin against free radicals.
- Avocados: Avocados contain antioxidants and vitamin E, which help prevent the breakdown of collagen.
- Broccoli and cauliflower: These fruits and vegetables are rich in nutrients that support collagen production.
Beyond taking a vegan collagen powder or supplement, you can incorporate these vegan collagen-rich foods into your diet and support your body’s natural ability to produce collagen without requiring animal-derived products.
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About the Author
This article was written by Tyler Tafelsky, the lead editor here at VeganProteinPowder.reviews. Tyler is an experienced writer in the health and athletic space who has tried hundreds of different plant-based nutritional products and writes about his favorites here on this blog. Learn more about Tyler by viewing his full author bio or by following him on social platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram. You can also visit his site TylerTafelsky.com to learn more about what he’s up to.
Scientific References
- León-López A, Morales-Peñaloza A, Martínez-Juárez VM, Vargas-Torres A, Zeugolis DI, Aguirre-Álvarez G. Hydrolyzed Collagen-Sources and Applications. Molecules. 2019 Nov 7;24(22):4031. doi: 10.3390/molecules24224031. PMID: 31703345; PMCID: PMC6891674.
- Pullar JM, Carr AC, Vissers MCM. The Roles of Vitamin C in Skin Health. Nutrients. 2017 Aug 12;9(8):866. doi: 10.3390/nu9080866. PMID: 28805671; PMCID: PMC5579659.
- Pu SY, Huang YL, Pu CM, Kang YN, Hoang KD, Chen KH, Chen C. Effects of Oral Collagen for Skin Anti-Aging: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients. 2023 Apr 26;15(9):2080. doi: 10.3390/nu15092080. PMID: 37432180; PMCID: PMC10180699.
- Ma X, Yang M, He Y, Zhai C, Li C. A review on the production, structure, bioactivities and applications of Tremella polysaccharides. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2021 Jan-Dec;35:20587384211000541. doi: 10.1177/20587384211000541. PMID: 33858263; PMCID: PMC8172338.