The Benefits Of Adding Marine Collagen To Your Beauty Routine, Detailed By Our Dermatologist

You've likely heard the hype around collagen supplements in recent years and with good reason. Collagen provides strength and structure to the muscles, bones, and skin. Its presence also, unfortunately, declines as we grow older — hence the potential benefits of introducing a collagen supplement into your daily beauty routine. And when it comes to marine collagen, the perks reach beyond simply having an alternative to other collagen supplements. Marine collagen has antiaging effects related to skin elasticity and the reduction of wrinkles, and it's also a great option for those wishing to refrain from using bovine products. To learn more about marine collagen, we exclusively spoke with Dr. Mariano Busso, a board-certified dermatologist based out of Miami and Beverly Hills.

"Unlike some skincare products that are all hype and have no scientific substance to back up their claims, marine collagen has undergone extensive testing to determine its ability to slow down the loss of collagen," Dr. Busso told Glam. "Double- and even triple-blind placebo‐controlled studies were conducted to test its efficacy. They found marked improvement of the skin in terms of firmness, hydration, suppleness, elasticity, smoothness, and less severe wrinkling," he said.

If you're wondering how exactly to go about adding what sounds like a fish powder into a beauty routine, you aren't alone. While marine collagen is great for boosting the skin's hydration and firmness, it isn't used topically. "It's a supplement that is taken orally. For best results, I recommend taking no more than 10 grams/day on an empty stomach," Dr. Mariano Busso exclusively shared with Glam. And if you're wondering when to take your collagen supplement for maximum effectiveness, Dr. Busso says you can take your dose in the morning, at midday, or in the evening. You may have also seen marine collagen advertised as a quick and easy addition to your morning coffee, protein shake, oatmeal, or juice — which are options too. And don't worry, the supplement is odorless and tasteless. Whew.

"I typically avoid endorsing specific products but these are a few that seem to be working well for my patients: Amandean Marine Collagen Peptides Powder, Vital Proteins Marine Collagen Peptides Powder Supplement, and Natural Force Marine Collagen Peptides," Dr. Busso told us.

If you just can't seem to hop aboard with a fishy supplement joining your beauty routine — or a bovine product, for that matter — then there are other avenues for you to take when it comes to combating fine lines and wrinkles while attaining that youthful glow without the hype of collagen supplements. 

"Marine collagen is derived from fish while sea kelp is plant-based. Marine collagen is a type one collagen that contains the highest, most bioavailable source of collagen available. Sea kelp, which is packed full of nutrients that promote collagen production, has proven effective for those seeking to achieve more youthful skin void of fine lines and wrinkles," Dr. Mariano Busso exclusively told Glam. And the good news is that we're seeing sea kelp in a lot of topical skincare products, so if you weren't too keen on taking a collagen supplement orally, then a sea kelp moisturizer or night serum might be the right move.