Collagen Supplement Not Working? 3 Sneaky Factors To Blame

Ah, collagen. There's a reason it has become one of the buzziest beauty terms in the zeitgeist: It's responsible for keeping your skin firm, smooth, and taut (among many other health benefits, but that's its main focus in skin care).

Taking it orally can help promote your natural collagen and elastin production1, which is why collagen supplements have skyrocketed in popularity as of late. 

Now, these supplements do not work their magic instantly—many take at least a few weeks for those visible results (plump, bouncy skin) to make their appearance.

Here's the unfortunate truth: Many collagen supplements "fairy dust" their ingredients. Meaning, they may advertise collagen as their hero ingredient, yet the actual collagen dosage isn't enough to show visible results. 

Based on the available research, we generally recommend 15 to 20 grams of collagen a day to get the most benefits.

Another fun fact? Your body cannot effectively produce collagen without9 vitamin C. See, the classic antioxidant is actually able to promote fibroblast production10, tend to damaged collagen DNA, and regulate collagen synthesis11, or the pathway in which collagen is made. 

Not to mention, vitamin C has the ability to neutralize free radical damage, which helps stabilize the collagen you already have.

That's exactly why a high-quality collagen supplement will also chuck vitamin C into the mix; if it doesn't, you might not see the glowy, skin-plumping results you crave.

Collagen will work its best only if you actually take it every single day. It doesn't matter when you take it—morning, midday, or night—so long as you make it part of your daily routine. As with all supplements, consistency is key, so take your collagen whenever it works best for your schedule.

We get it—those schedules get hectic! If you do skip a day or two, you don't have to sound the alarm. But if you only take collagen periodically, just know that you likely won't see results. See, the research supporting collagen's benefits12 focused on daily supplementation. Not once a week, not every other day. Daily! 

Collagen is beloved for promoting smooth, firm skin, but it takes time, patience, and a solid effort to see results (and make sure they stick around).