January 03, 2020

Collagen Pills vs Powder: Which is better for you?

Written by Hannah Marchese
Updated on June 24, 2021

When it comes to collagen supplements, you've got a lot of options. Collagen peptides, collagen powder, collagen bone broth, collagen protein powder, collagen pills, hydrolyzed collagen, and more.

These dietary supplements all give you the same overall health benefits, with a few key differences. Collagen supplementation can do way more for your body than just help you achieve glowing skin. Benefits of collagen include improving joint health and joint pain, strengthening the connective tissues, increasing skin elasticity, skin hydration, gut health, and more.

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body, which is why it's so important to support its function. It is formed through chains of amino acids, which are essentially building blocks. Natural collagen decreases as we age, which can lead to pain in our joints and bones, as well as wrinkles in our skin. We can never fully stop the deterioration of collagen production, but we can slow it down and repair some of the damage caused by it.

So, with all of these options all promising to do similar things, you might be wondering which supplement you should be taking. When it comes to collagen types, there are two varieties that people often ask about. Read on to learn more about collagen pills and collagen powder, and which is better for you.

What are collagen pills good for?

These collagen capsules are typically preferred by people who don't want to deal with mixing their collagen into something. They can quickly take the pills with a glass of water and be done. Collagen pills are simply encapsulated collagen powder, with no additional benefits than the powder.

A possible con of this supplement is that if you have trouble digesting things it might be harder to break down a pill rather than pure powder. Another thing to consider is the dose. Capsules obviously aren’t that big and therefore you might have to take more pills in order to get the same amount as just scooping in some collagen powder.

With those minor cons aside, collagen pills are still a good option and will help you with your supplemental goals. They offer all of the same benefits as collagen powder.

What is collagen powder good for?

The powder form is the most popular type of collagen supplement. People blend it into their smoothies or mix it in with juice and water. You can get collagen from a few different animals: bovine, porcine, chicken, and marine. Powder supplements dissolve in cold liquids or hot liquids. Typically people tend to choose unflavored versions, but there are flavored versions available if you prefer that.

This supplement is good for those who have a little extra time to mix or blend something together in order to consume their collagen. People also like it because it’s easy to control exactly how much collagen you are getting when you take the supplement. It’s good for giving you all of the benefits of collagen, such as strengthening your joints, hair, bones, and nails, helping with glowing skin, and even helping with digestion and gut issues.

How to use collagen pills?

Collagen pills are the simplest and easiest form of the supplement. You should follow the specific instructions that come with your supplement, but basically you will just take the dose of the pills and swallow them with your choice of beverage. If you like to keep things simple, this is a good option for you.

How to use collagen powder?

Collagen powder can be used in a variety of ways. The most common ways to use it are to dissolve it in water (hot or cold) or blend it with a smoothie. Some people even bake healthy snacks with collagen powder added in for a boost. Collagen dissolves in hot or cold liquid, so your options are endless for choosing what you want to add it to. Really, it depends on what works for you and what you like, but you can get pretty creative with your collagen powder supplement.

What are the best collagen pills and powders?

The best collagen supplements are those that are made with only a few clean, natural ingredients.

The types of collagen that are available are all animal derived, which means it's especially important to know where your product comes from and what it contains (it also means that there are no vegan options available).

When you are reading the label, there are a few things you should look for. If it's marine collagen, the fish should be wild-caught. Similarly, if it's bovine collagen, it should be grass-fed. At the very least, see if you can find supplements that are non-gmo or all natural. This way, you can ensure the quality is the best and that there is nothing harmful in the product.

One of the biggest things to look for is the addition of sugar in your supplement. It can often be found in products that are flavored, such as chocolate or fruit flavored.

It is hard to definitively say which is better for you when it comes to pills and powder. Besides the capsule, there really is no large difference between these forms of collagen supplement.

If pills and powders aren’t your thing, there are other options as well. For example, our Kalumi BEAUTYfood bars are a convenient and delicious way to take your collagen supplement. Each bar has 11-13 grams of protein and 8 grams of marine collagen. Plus, they’re loaded with other beauty boosting foods like sweet potato, MCT oil, and cocoa butter. They’re perfect if you’re on the go or need a quick and filling snack.

It really comes down to finding a supplement that works for your body and gives you the results you want. Our bodies change the most when we work from the inside out, meaning what we put into our bodies will be reflected in our skin and our overall health.