Liquid Collagen vs. Powder: Experts Explain Which Form Is More Effective

If you've recently asked yourself, What's the deal with those trendy collagen drinks? you're not alone. Collagen has made a huge splash on the functional beverage scene, with more and more prepackaged, aesthetically pleasing bottles lining the shelves, each promising better hydration and a brighter glow.* 

But what is liquid collagen, anyway? And how does it compare to the trusty powder we all know and love? Here, we tapped experts for their honest thoughts. 

Collagen is a family of proteins1 that is actually the most abundant group of proteins in the animal kingdom: There are at least 28 kinds of collagen2 that we know of that exist in vertebrates (yes, us included), but types I, II and III are the most common in the human body.

As a simplified overview of what collagen does for the body, it helps make up the structure of our skin, bone, cartilage, and muscle, with the purpose of helping tissues be more elastic and withstand stretching.

We get into more thoroughly in this guide to collagen in the body, so read more there if you're interested in getting into the details.

This probably goes without saying, but the biggest difference between the two is their form: Liquid collagen comes in a ready-made drink format, while collagen powder comes in a powder (duh). From there, liquid and powder versions do have their fair share of differences. Let's discuss all the pros and cons: 

"Liquid forms of collagen typically have less collagen per serving than the powdered alternative," says Isa Kujawski, MPH, RDN, registered dietitian and founder of Mea Nutrition. While there's no recommended dosage for collagen at this time, research does support a range of 10 to 20 grams a day—and a lot of liquid products on the market will feature 10 grams of collagen or less. Of course, it depends on the specific brand, but you'd be hard-pressed to find a liquid format with more than 10 grams. Powders, on the other hand, can easily play in the 15 grams and up range, according to mbg's vice president of scientific affairs Ashley Jordan Ferira, Ph.D., RDN.

So if you're hoping to consume more than 10 grams of collagen per day, you might need to gulp down a couple of those liquid collagen drinks to meet the benchmark, which might not be as efficient or cost-friendly, gram for gram. 

Again, it depends on the brand, but Kujawski notes that many liquid collagen products are formulated with marine collagen, which contains predominantly types I and II collagen. Quick review: Type I collagen is found all over the body (except for cartilage) and is most highly concentrated in bone, ligaments, tendons, skin, hair, nails, and the gut lining. Type II is mainly found in cartilage.

It's always important to check your supplement's excipients (aka the "other" ingredients), but liquids may have a longer list compared to powders. For example, they might include more flavors to enhance marketability and create a sweeter beverage experience. A strawberry-lemon collagen drink sounds way more enticing than unflavored collagen water, no? 

But these added flavors aren't without their drawbacks: "That means empty sugar calories, whether natural or artificial or from juices," says Ferira. "Other liquid collagen brands will have zero sugar but then load up on the flavoring side, so again, longer additive profile." After all, you can have just as much fun (without the additives) by adding collagen powder to your own tasty strawberry smoothie. 

If you're looking for a quick grab-and-go option, liquid collagen might be an attractive choice for you. Since the collagen comes premixed into a beverage, it takes all the legwork out of scooping the powder yourself and swirling it into the drink (a process that only takes a couple of minutes, but still…) 

Of course, single-use products do have their environmental considerations: Individually packaged collagen beverages tend to be less eco-friendly than a recyclable jar or gusset bag of powder. "Much more green to scoop collagen yourself from a multi-serving container and put into your beverage or smoothie of choice," notes Ferira. 

Ferira's verdict? "While I get the grab-and-go appeal, I would prefer my clients use a high-quality collagen powder formula," she says. "That way, you get a more meaningful dose of collagen, fewer additives, and save the environment from more plastic or packaging waste, regardless of the form." Plus, you can always create your own liquid collagen by incorporating the powder into your favorite beverage. "Give it a swirl or shake, and there you have it, collagen in water," she adds. 

Another point for powder? "Multi-ingredient collagen powders can incorporate other effective nutrients and phytonutrients to support collagen's actions in the body and overall skin, nails, hair, gut, etc., from multiple angles (i.e., vitamins C and E, biotin, turmeric, sulforaphane, hyaluronic acid, etc.),"* Ferira tells us. "And these actives are not all able to be provided in a liquid/beverage in a homogenous or stable fashion."

That's not to say liquid collagen products are all bad. We'd recommend a drink with high-quality collagen peptides and a clean excipient profile over a powder with an iffy ingredient list. But if you're weighing two stellar options? We suggest you go with the powder form for the potency advantage, fewer additives, and eco-friendly edge. 

"Many liquid collagen brands tout the bioavailability of their product, claiming that the collagen is more efficiently absorbed and usable by the body," adds Kujawski. "However, scientific studies in this arena are lacking to substantiate this claim." In fact, collagen as a protein (aka peptide) compound is actually quite large (whether it comes in a liquid or powder form), so to enhance its bioavailability and absorption, your body has to break down the protein into smaller peptides and amino acids to absorb them in your gut. 

Whether in a liquid or powder form, collagen peptides come with an array of benefits.* If you need a reason to start a regular collagen routine, check out these full-body perks: 

At its core, liquid collagen is simply just collagen powder pre-dissolved into water or another beverage. So you can certainly make "liquid collagen" yourself—and DIY versions will typically have a higher dose and fewer additives than market products–which is why, when going head-to-head, powdered collagen is preferred (at least by our standards). The main thing to look for is high-quality and clean (grass-fed, pasture-raised, non-GMO, etc.), collagen.