Hydrolised collagen and vegan collagen boosters are both substances that can be taken to support beauty from within and help to promote the health and appearance of skin, hair, nails, and joints.
Skin conditions can be influenced and even reversed by eating the right foods. The most known ingredient that can help us fight unwanted skin conditions, such as wrinkles and skin elasticity and hydration is hydrolysed collagen. This is an upcycled ingredient, meaning that it is a byproduct of the meat industry. In other words, it would be discarded if not used for collagen peptides or by some other industry. Therefore, regardless of its animal origin, there is still an ethical component to it. Nevertheless, marketers are still trying to deliver vegan collagen alternatives. There is no such thing as vegan collagen, but alternatives exist in the form of vegan collagen boosters which have been gaining in popularity.
However, there are some key differences between the two:
For a start, collagen is a protein found naturally in the body, and it plays a crucial role in maintaining the strength, elasticity, and structure of skin, hair, nails, and joints. It is commonly found in supplements derived from animal sources such as fish or cowhide. On the other hand, Vegan collagen boosters are plant-based alternatives to collagen supplements. These supplements are typically made from a blend of non-animal amino acids and other ingredients that are believed to promote collagen production in the body, such as vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Some of the most common ingredients found in vegan collagen boosters include Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, and minerals such as zinc and copper.
Moreover, ingested hydrolysed collagen has a dual mechanism of action: Free amino acids in our blood system provide building blocks for the formation of collagen and elastin fibres; whereas larger collagen peptides act as stimulants, triggering skin cells in the dermis, called fibroblasts, and producing new collagen molecules, elastin and hyaluronic acid.
On the other hand, vegan collagen boosters are only singular amino acids, meaning they provide building blocks for new collagen tissue but cannot stimulate skin cells to make it.
It is important to keep in mind that while vegan collagen boosters can be effective in promoting collagen production, they may not be as potent or effective as collagen supplements.
Collagen acts as a scaffold to provide structural support to tissues and organs, and it also plays a role in tissue repair and regeneration. It is synthesized by cells called fibroblasts, which produce collagen fibers that are assembled into a network of fibers that gives tissues their strength and structural integrity.
In the skin, collagen helps to maintain the structural integrity of the dermis, which is the layer of tissue beneath the epidermis. It gives the skin its strength, elasticity, and youthful appearance. As we age, collagen production in the skin decreases, leading to wrinkles, fine lines, and other signs of aging.
Uroš Gotar, Chief Innovation Officer at TOSLA Nutricosmetics nicely explains the differences in mechanisms of action between collagen vs vegan collagen boosters in the video.