Best Way to Drink Collagen Powders: 3 Amazing Drink Recipes

Collagen has taken the wellness world by storm. This protein gives our skin, hair and nails their strength and elasticity, and it helps to build and maintain connective tissue throughout our bodies. But as we age, our collagen production declines, which affects our skin health, hydration and appearance.

You can help maintain healthy levels of collagen with supplements. There are many types, from supplements that contain hydrolyzed collagen peptides to vegan collagen-promoting formulas that help your body make more of this protein on its own. Our collagen drink recipes use a unique vegan procollagen supplement that's perfect for those who prefer plant-based supplements, but feel free to swap in your favorite collagen peptides. Both supplements encourage healthy and elastic skin and help reduce the appearance of wrinkles with every scoop.

What is the best way to take collagen powder?

The best way to take collagen powder is using a method sustainable for you, whether in your first cup of coffee in the morning or your post-workout shake. Because collagen powders have different flavors, it is important to choose a taste you like so you'll be consistent about your collagen supplementation.

Also, consider your dietary preferences and needs. For example, it's a myth that vegans and vegetarians can't support healthy collagen levels! While traditional collagen supplements come from animal sources, there are vegan-friendly alternatives that boost internal collagen production. Vegan Pro Collagen, available in a recipe-ready, easy-to-mix powder form, delivers the identical amino acid building blocks that your body uses to create type I collagen, the type that helps to improve skin. This amino acid blend also includes vitamin C, ginseng and gotu kola extracts to encourage your body's natural collagen production and support smooth, healthy skin from within.

No matter which supplements you choose, dissolving the powder is the key to preventing a gritty or chalky feel that makes the experience unpleasant.

3 Collagen Drink Recipes

Collagen supplementation can be fun, especially with these delicious recipes, which are vegan (but you can really use any collagen powder). All three add a boost of vitamin C, which plays an important role in collagen synthesis. Vitamin C helps improve skin health and reduce the appearance of wrinkles, making it an excellent addition to collagen supplements and these beverage recipes.

Vegan Creamsicle Smoothie

This tasty beverage tastes just like a creamsicle. It has both vegan vanilla protein powder and orange-flavored Vegan Pro Collagen, and tastes like a treat instead of the powerhouse of nutrition that it is. You will love this as a healthy breakfast.

Makes one 16 oz smoothie

Ingredients

1 frozen banana
½ cup ice
1 cup orange juice
½ cup unsweetened soy milk
1 scoop vegan vanilla protein powder
1 scoop orange-flavored Vegan Pro Collagen
1 dash vanilla

Preparation

1. To a high-speed blender, add orange juice, soy milk, vanilla and collagen and blend until collagen is dissolved.
2. Then add frozen banana, ice and protein powder and blend until smooth. Serve garnished with orange slices.

Orange & Vanilla Collagen Fizzy

This good-for-you summer mocktail is a great way to take your collagen supplement. The powder dissolves quickly in the orange juice. The addition of vanilla really makes the flavors pop. You will love this fizzy refresher that feels like a cocktail but delivers health benefits.

Makes one 10 oz drink

Ingredients

1 scoop orange-flavored collagen supplement
¼ cup orange juice
½ cup plain seltzer water
1 dash vanilla
Ice to fill glass

Preparation

1. Add orange juice and supplement powder to a glass and stir until dissolved.
2. Add ice and vanilla and stir. Top with plain seltzer and serve.

Collagen Pink Lemonade Slushie

This slushie is a fun way to take your collagen supplements. A slushie is such a classic drink—talk about making you feel like a kid again. You would never know you are drinking something nutritious and good for your skin health. It tastes that good!

Makes one 12 oz drink

Ingredients

2 strawberries, stems removed
½ lemon, juiced
1 tsp pure maple syrup
1 scoop orange-flavored collagen supplement
1 cup water
1 cup ice

Preparation

1. To a blender, add strawberries, lemon, maple syrup, water and supplement powder. Blend until smooth and collagen is dissolved. Then add ice and blend until slushy.

What does collagen powder dissolve best in?

Collagen powder dissolves well in cold, warm or hot liquids. Juice, water and even coffee can be great vehicles for delivering your collagen supplements. It is best to dissolve the powder in liquid before adding any ice.

But as long as you dissolve your supplement powder first by stirring, whisking, shaking or blending, adding ice won't be a problem. Always add part of the liquid first and mix well before filling the cup. This will help prevent lumps. Blended smoothies are an excellent and foolproof method to take your collagen supplements, as the blender helps ensure proper texture.

Which form of collagen is most effective?

When adding collagen to your daily routine, you aren't just choosing between a cream, a capsule or a powder supplement. There are also different types of collagen, namely type l, type ll and type lll. Type l collagen makes up about 80% of your skin's connective tissue, while type ll collagen is more commonly found in your cartilage, tendons and connective tissue. About 15% of your total skin is type lll collagen. Type III is also found in vital organ tissue like your lungs, liver and spleen.

Your health goals will determine which type of collagen supplementation would be most effective for you. (Some nutritional supplements, like collagen peptides, give you the best of both worlds, combining type I, type ll and type lll for both skin and joint health.)

As far as form, however, your body is best able to use collagen when you consume it in capsule or powder form.

References

• Jaros-Sajda A, et al. "Ascorbic Acid Treatments as Effective and Safe Anti-Aging Therapies for Sensitive Skin." Antioxidants (Basel). February 2024. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10885991/
• Yung-Kai L, et al. "Oral Supplementation of Vegan Collagen Biomimetic Has Beneficial Effects on Human Skin Physiology: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study." Journal of Functional Foods. January 2024. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1756464623005558\
• Žmitek K, et al. "The Effects of Dietary Supplementation with Collagen and Vitamin C and Their Combination with Hyaluronic Acid on Skin Density, Texture and Other Parameters: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial." Nutrients. June 2024. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38931263/
• "Collagen." Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/23089-collagen