How To Make Collagen Water + What To Look For In A Supplement

If you’ve been browsing the functional beverage section at the market lately, you’ve probably come across collagen water before. The ingredients generally include (obviously) collagen powder, water, and some sort of flavor. 

Given the steep price tag of most store-bought collagen drinks, we’d be remiss not to share this fact: DIY collagen drinks are not only more affordable, but they can provide even more benefits—here’s an easy how-to. 

1. Add a scoop of your favorite collagen powder to a glass of water.
2. Shake or stir until well combined.
3. If you want to add more flavor, add a squeeze of lemon or lime to your collagen drink or add the powder to your pre-made infused water recipe.

When we sat down with holistic plastic surgeon Anthony Youn, M.D., FACS on a recent episode of the mindbodygreen podcast, he explained that “people who take collagen supplements do appear to have skin that is more hydrated, has less wrinkles, and looks more youthful.*” And research backs up the claim: In 2019, the J Drugs Dermatol published a review of oral collagen’s effects on the skin, showing that collagen peptides support skin elasticity and hydration levels and promote youthful texture.* (You can read more about the benefits of collagen supplements here, with even more science-backed data.)

But in order to reap these benefits, you’ll have to find a collagen supplement with an adequate amount of collagen in it. When it comes to dosage, you should take into account the benefits you’re after, as different daily doses can do different things for the body. To quickly summarize:

• Skin: Studies show that a range of 2.5 to 10 grams per day can be beneficial for skin support.* 
• Muscle: Studies show that 15 to 20 grams per day can help muscle mass, muscle strength, and soreness after exercise.*
• Joint: 2.5 to 5 grams per day has been shown to help joint support—however, if you are taking UC-II specifically, you only need 40 milligrams per day.* 
• Bone: The available research suggests that 5 grams per day provides bone support.*

If you’re thinking: Why not find a collagen supplement that ticks all the boxes? We hear you and agree, which is why we formulated our beauty & gut collagen+ with 17.7 grams of hydrolyzed collagen peptides. When collagen is completely hydrolyzed (like in our formula) it’s easy to use because it dissolves in liquids—even water. It’s also essentially tasteless and odorless, which is why it’s so convenient to add to a ton of different recipes.

Consequently, a lot of liquid collagen 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. That said, many of the collagen drinks on the market simply include a subpar dose of collagen powder dissolved in water with a marked up price. So we repeat: Why not skip the fuss and make your own bottle?