Collagen supplements have become a popular treatment in the realm of skin health, and rightfully so. 

Research shows that results are promising for the short and long-term use of oral collagen supplements for skin aging1 (think: skin hydration and elasticity), gut health, joint function2, and a variety of other full-body benefits.* 3

Thankfully, there is a flood of collagen supplements on the market.

And with so many options available, you may be struck with a bout of decision fatigue—or be tempted to grab whatever reasonable-looking jar you find at your local health shop.

But not so fast: There is actually a method for determining your best collagen fit, and it comes down to your goals and needs. 

See, collagen formulas vary quite a bit—be it due to collagen type or additional ingredients—and these factors play a role in how effective it will be toward an intended outcome.

Read on for our best bets.

RELATED: 3 Ways To Restore Collagen In 2023 For Youthful-Looking Skin

Here, some of the top health areas you can expect high-quality collagen supplementation will help support:* 

RELATED: Do Collagen Supplements Even Work? A Holistic Plastic Surgeon Weighs In

Given that collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body, and collagen supplements support a wide range of areas in the body (think: skin, gut, joints, and more), most people can find some benefit that appeals to them.* However, collagen peptides are inherently not vegan—and thus may not align with someone who strictly follows that diet. This is because there is no plant source of collagen since the protein is absent in the plant kingdom. If you see a collagen product that says it's "vegan," please know that it does not contain collagen itself. Rather it contains various collagen-supporting and boosting ingredients, such as certain amino acids or micronutrients like vitamins C and E.* Learn more about collagen sourcing here.

While we've vetted the above products and can recommend them wholeheartedly, we also want to give you the tools to look for your own collagen supplements—or at least help you understand our process.

There is no official daily recommendation for collagen supplementation. For healthy adults, the recommendation for overall protein needs is about one gram of protein per kilogram of body weight per day.

If you're physically active, your needs may be higher. Collagen is a protein made of peptides, but it's not a complete protein—it doesn't have all nine of the essential amino acids (it's missing tryptophan and is on the lower side on a few others)—but can absolutely contribute to your overall daily protein goals and needs.*

For a collagen supplement, we recommend looking in the 10- to 20-gram range (per serving). 

Look for brands that describe in detail where their collagen is sourced from (i.e., the animal, region, etc.), be it on the packaging or website.

Look for keywords like "grass-fed, pasture-raised bovine collagen from Brazilian cows," or "sustainably-sourced, wild-caught cod." Ideally, they'll note what collagen types are provided (e.g., types I, II, or III) as well.

Bonus points if they list the amino acid profile. If your diet allows, we prefer grass-fed bovine collagen, which you can learn more about here.

Powders are the best, as they are able to deliver the most potent amount of collagen.

Powders are also a convenient way to add a meaningful dose of collagen to your nutrition routine, whether blending into a sweet smoothie with colorful fruits or mixed into your morning coffee or latte.

If you prefer other delivery methods—drinks, tonics, capsules, gummies—that's fine; just know that you're not getting as much collagen in these products. 

If there are additional, beneficial ingredients—such as vitamins and minerals or botanical bioactives—they can help create a more holistic product to achieve your desired effects (or if you want just collagen, that's great too!).*

Look for research backing up why the ingredients were added and thoughtful explanations of the overall formulas.

On the other end, make sure the formula is clean. Less is more here: Skip artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, gluten, GMOs, soy, gluten, and known allergens. If your collagen product has flavors, look for natural varieties (such as organic cocoa, and organic vanilla).

If there's a sweetener, we recommend natural plant-derived sources like organic monk fruit extract or organic coconut sugar.

This is less about decoding an ingredient label and more about finding brands that are open and honest about their product. It shouldn't be hard to find their Supplement Facts panel and other ingredient list.

The type and source of collagen should be apparent. If they make any benefit claims, there should be science to support them. They should be open about where the ingredients come from, and they should explain the packaging it comes in (i.e., is it environmentally friendly?).

RELATED: The 7 Best Collagen Powders + Dosage, Formats & More 

Finding your perfect collagen fit really boils down to figuring out what your goals and priorities are.

Once you narrow down the why then you can start looking into the what. But we went ahead and made the latter part easy for you—these 8 options are the best out there.

RELATED: Does Collagen Work? How To Make Sure Your Supplement Does*