We answer "best for women" with who was studied. The women-only trials on this page tested collagen peptides, named as fish, marine, bovine or simply collagen peptides, at 1 g to 5 g a day, for 4 weeks to 6 months. Two of the products were multi-ingredient.
- Wrinkles around the eyes. In a trial of 114 women aged 45 to 65, eye-wrinkle volume was about 20% lower than placebo after 8 weeks of 2.5 g of collagen peptides a day.
- Hair thickness. In a trial of 44 healthy women aged 39 to 75, hair thickness rose by 1.93 micrometres on average with 2.5 g of collagen peptides a day for 16 weeks.
- The pooled view. A meta-analysis of 19 randomised double-blind trials had 1,125 participants, about 95% of them women.
of 106 women felt the appearance of their skin improved after 8 weeks on our liquid marine collagen.
- 86%reported healthier hair
- 81%reported firmer skin
- 76%reported stronger nails
What is the best collagen for women?
The collagen tested in women-only trials was collagen peptides, named as fish, marine, bovine or simply collagen peptides, at 1 g to 5 g a day for 4 weeks to 6 months, so we answer the question with what those trials used. Several published trials enrolled women only, and the pooled analysis further down this page was about 95% women.
We set the women-only trials in our evidence file side by side, showing how many women took part, their ages, which collagen they were given, the daily amount, and the outcome recorded. Then come the pooled figure and our own 8-week user trial.
For the words to look for on the pack itself, see our guide on how to choose a liquid collagen.
Which collagen trials were run in women?
Ten placebo-controlled trials on this page enrolled women only, run by Sangsuwan and Asawanonda, Proksch and colleagues (two trials), and the Kim, Bolke, Žmitek, Miyanaga, Koizumi, Oesser and Duangjai teams. The table lists them by length, shortest first.
The women-only collagen trials on this page
Who took part, what they were given each day, and what the study recorded.
| Trial | Women enrolled | Collagen and daily amount | What was measured |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sangsuwan and Asawanonda, 2021. Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled.1 | 36 postmenopausal women | 5 g of marine collagen hydrolysate a day for 4 weeks | Cheek skin elasticity: improved compared with placebo, and the difference was still there four weeks after stopping. |
| Proksch and colleagues, 2014, the wrinkle trial. Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled.2 | 114 women aged 45 to 65 | 2.5 g of collagen peptides a day for 8 weeks | Eye-wrinkle volume: significantly lower than placebo after 4 weeks and after 8 weeks (about 20%). Skin samples: more procollagen type I and elastin than placebo after 8 weeks. |
| Proksch and colleagues, 2014, the elasticity trial. Double-blind, placebo-controlled.3 | 69 women aged 35 to 55 | 2.5 g or 5.0 g of collagen hydrolysate once daily for 8 weeks | Skin elasticity: improved significantly in both collagen groups compared with placebo. |
| Kim and colleagues, 2018. Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled.4 | 64 women aged 40 to 60 | 1,000 mg of low-molecular-weight fish collagen peptide a day for 12 weeks | Skin hydration: significantly higher than placebo at 6 weeks and at 12 weeks. Crow's-feet wrinkling and skin elasticity: significantly better than placebo at 12 weeks. |
| Bolke and colleagues, 2019. Randomised, placebo-controlled.5 | 72 women aged 35 and over, 36 per group | A multi-ingredient drink for 12 weeks: 2.5 g of bovine collagen peptides plus acerola extract, vitamin C, zinc, vitamin E and biotin | Change from baseline in the collagen group at 12 weeks: skin hydration +28.0% (placebo +9.0%), wrinkle depth −26.8% (placebo −6.4%), skin density +24.8% (placebo +6.8%). |
| Žmitek and colleagues, 2020. Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled.6 | 34 healthy women aged 40 to 65 | A multi-ingredient liquid syrup, 10 mL daily for 12 weeks: 4 g of hydrolysed fish collagen plus coenzyme Q10, vitamin C, vitamin A and biotin | Dermis density increased and periorbital wrinkle area decreased versus placebo. |
| Miyanaga and colleagues, 2021. Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled.7 | 99 healthy Japanese women aged 35 to 50 | 1 g or 5 g of collagen peptides daily for 12 weeks | Water content in the stratum corneum and epidermis increased, transepidermal water loss was lower and natural moisturising factor in the stratum corneum was higher. |
| Koizumi and colleagues, 2018. Randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind.8 | 71 healthy women aged 30 to 60 | 20 ml a day containing 3,000 mg of fish-scale collagen peptides, for 12 weeks | Periorbital wrinkles fell significantly versus placebo. Facial skin moisture and elasticity rose in the collagen group. |
| Oesser, 2020. Randomised, placebo-controlled.9 | 44 healthy women aged 39 to 75 | 2.5 g of collagen peptides a day for 16 weeks | Hair thickness: up 1.93 micrometres on average with collagen, with a significant difference between the groups. |
| Duangjai and colleagues, 2025. Randomised, placebo-controlled.10 | Menopausal women aged 45 to 60, with 20 women in the collagen group | 5 g a day of collagen from freshwater fish skin for 6 months, in the group given collagen on its own | Skin elasticity: improved by 12.23% from baseline in the collagen group, significantly more than placebo. |
The sources are fish, marine, bovine, or simply "collagen peptides". The daily amounts run from 1 g to 5 g, the stated ages from 30 to 75, and the lengths from 4 weeks to 6 months.
One portion of Core™ holds 11,000 mg of hydrolysed marine collagen, types I and III.11 The full recipe is on the Core™ product page.
assets/img/blog/bw-table.webpWhat did the trials in women measure?
The trials in women mostly measured skin, as wrinkles, moisture and elasticity, and one team measured hair thickness. The cards below take a trial for each of three outcomes.
Lines by the eyes, measured by volume
At the 4-week and 8-week checks, eye-wrinkle volume in the collagen group was significantly below placebo, by about 20% at 8 weeks. Skin samples at 8 weeks held 65% more procollagen type I and 18% more elastin than placebo.2
114 women aged 45 to 65 · randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled
More water held in the outer skin layers
With 1 g or 5 g of collagen peptides daily, water content went up in the stratum corneum and the epidermis, less water escaped through the skin, and natural moisturising factor in the stratum corneum rose.7
99 healthy Japanese women aged 35 to 50 · randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Hair thickness up 1.93 micrometres
After 16 weeks on 2.5 g of collagen peptides a day, hair thickness had risen by 1.93 micrometres on average, against a slight dip of 0.99 micrometres with placebo. The difference between the groups was significant.9
44 healthy women aged 39 to 75 · randomised, placebo-controlled
Elasticity, the spring in skin, appears in several rows. In the trial of 69 women aged 35 to 55, it improved significantly in both collagen groups compared with placebo, and in the older women it was still higher 4 weeks after the last dose.3
Later life stages are covered too. The trial of 36 postmenopausal women recorded better cheek elasticity than placebo after 4 weeks on marine collagen hydrolysate.1 In the trial of menopausal women aged 45 to 60, elasticity improved by 12.23% from baseline across 6 months in the group of 20 women given fish collagen on its own, significantly more than placebo.10 There is more on that life stage in collagen and menopause.
How many people in the pooled analysis were women?
About 95%, in the pooled analysis on this page. De Miranda and colleagues gathered 19 randomised double-blind trials in 2021, with 1,125 participants aged 20 to 70, and about 95% of those participants were women. The authors reported that 90 days of hydrolysed collagen reduced wrinkles and improved skin elasticity and hydration.12
The wider case is laid out in do collagen supplements work?
What did 106 women report on our liquid marine collagen?
After 8 weeks of our liquid marine collagen daily, 95% of the 106 women in our user trial felt the appearance of their skin improved, 89% reported more moisture and glow and 87% noticed a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles.11 The figures are shares of the women.
felt that the appearance of their skin improved.
reported more moisture and glow.
noticed a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles.
Hair and nails were on the questionnaire as well: 86% reported healthier hair, 81% reported firmer skin and 76% reported stronger nails. In the same trial, 99% found the portion easy to include in their daily routine.11
Participants in the 8-week user trial of our liquid marine collagen, before and after. This is what it looked like for these women in our studies.
“I can really see the visible changes in my skin and nails.”
★★★★★
Check4YouVerified purchase · Amazon, Germany · 27 December 2023
“My skin looks great, with no fine lines. I'm 45 and will definitely keep using it.”
★★★★★
FrédériqueVerified purchase · Amazon, France · 18 May 2024
“The taste is amazing and it is sugar free! Love what it does to my hair, nails and skin.”
★★★★★
Suzanne H.Verified purchase · Amazon, United Kingdom · 26 August 2024
Verified buyer reviews of our liquid marine collagen, as sold under our manufacturer's own label.
What else is in a Core™ portion?
Each portion of Core™ also carries biotin, selenium, vitamin C, vitamin B6 and vitamin D, which hold authorised claims for hair, skin, nails, hormonal activity and bones.11 The lines below use the authorised wording, kept exactly as written.13
- Hair. Biotin contributes to the maintenance of normal hair. Selenium contributes to the maintenance of normal hair. A portion has 5,000 µg of biotin and 27.5 µg of selenium.
- Skin. Biotin contributes to the maintenance of normal skin. Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin. A portion has 120 mg of vitamin C.
- Nails. Selenium contributes to the maintenance of normal nails.
- Hormonal activity. Vitamin B6 contributes to the regulation of hormonal activity. A portion has 1.7 mg of vitamin B6.
- Bones. Vitamin D contributes to the maintenance of normal bones. Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of bones. A portion has 60 µg of vitamin D.
The same portion has 50 mg of hyaluronic acid and 50 mg of silica, plus pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) and vitamin B12. It is sugar free, with a natural berry flavour.11
Questions about collagen for women
What is the best collagen for women?
The women-only trials on this page tested collagen peptides, named as fish, marine, bovine or simply collagen peptides, at 1 g to 5 g a day, two of them inside multi-ingredient products, and each reported its own measurement, from eye-wrinkle volume to hair thickness.
Which collagen is best for women's skin?
Fish, marine, bovine and unnamed collagen peptides were all tested on women's skin, and most rows in our table measured skin. In a trial of 64 women aged 40 to 60, skin hydration was significantly higher than placebo at 6 weeks and at 12 weeks on 1,000 mg of fish collagen peptide a day. In a trial of 114 women aged 45 to 65, eye-wrinkle volume was about 20% lower than placebo after 8 weeks on 2.5 g of collagen peptides a day.
How much collagen did the trials in women use?
The daily amounts in the table run from 1 g to 5 g. One portion of Core™ has 11,000 mg of hydrolysed marine collagen.
Has collagen been studied in women after menopause?
Yes. A trial of 36 postmenopausal women tested 5 g of marine collagen hydrolysate a day for 4 weeks and recorded better cheek skin elasticity than placebo.
What did women say about your liquid marine collagen?
In our 8-week user trial of 106 women, 95% felt the appearance of their skin improved and 86% reported healthier hair. 99% found it easy to include in their daily routine.
