Scenario

Abi, a regular customer, approaches the counter holding her phone.

Abi: I’ve been seeing loads of ads for this marine collagen powder – £45 for a month’s supply. Is it actually going to do anything for my skin, or am I just being sold a dream?

Jo: I get asked this a lot at the minute. It’s not a dream exactly, but it’s probably not going to work as fast or as dramatically as the adverts make out. Have you looked at what type of collagen is actually in it?

Abi: Er, it just says ‘marine collagen’ on the ads. Should I be checking for something else?

Jo: That’s the key thing, really. The evidence is strongest for hydrolysed collagen peptides – that’s collagen that’s been broken down into smaller pieces so the body can absorb it more easily.

If a product pack or an advert just says ‘collagen’ without mentioning hydrolysed or peptides, it’s worth checking the label or the company’s website before you commit to spending lots of money.

Abi: Oh, I had no idea there was a difference. What about the results, though? Some of these social media posts show skin looking amazing after, like, two weeks.

Jo: I’d take those with a pinch of salt. Even with a good quality product, any changes tend to be gradual.

Think in terms of months rather than weeks, and also, results are usually more subtle than what you’ll see filtered on Instagram. 

It’s also worth knowing that things like sun exposure, smoking and diet make a big difference to the skin’s collagen, so these products are never going to be a magic fix on their own.

Abi: That’s actually really helpful, thank you.

Jo: No problem – that’s the aim! Happy to help.