What is Hydrolyzed collagen?
Hydrolyzed collagen is collagen broken into smaller peptide pieces, which lets it dissolve in water. It is usually made from animal or marine sources.
Products list it as hydrolyzed collagen, collagen peptides or collagen hydrolysate. The term is also used for oral supplements.
How it is thought to work
In skincare, its main role is usually to bind water and form a light film on the skin surface. The 2020 review covers both oral and topical use, and the topical evidence it summarises is limited.
What the studies show
Every record below was checked against the paper. Where a result is from cells, animals or a combination product, the entry says so.
Aguirre-Cruz G, et al. Antioxidants. 2020;9(2):181. (opens in a new tab)
Design. Review of collagen hydrolysates for skin, covering oral administration and topical formulations.
Finding. Summarises evidence for collagen hydrolysates in skin protection. Human trials of the topical form are described as few or mixed.
How it is used
Used in moisturisers and serums, and sometimes in masks. Check the ingredient list for the name.
Claims that a cream rebuilds collagen in the deeper skin go beyond what the review found for topical use.
Safety
Check the source of the collagen on the label, such as bovine or marine. People with allergies to fish or other animal sources should check the list and patch-test.
Talk to a doctor, dermatologist or pharmacist before starting a new active, especially if you are pregnant, have a skin condition, or use prescription treatments.
Questions
Does collagen cream work?
The evidence for topical collagen peptides is limited and mixed. Moisturising is the most plausible effect. The 2020 review does not show that topical collagen rebuilds skin structure.
Is collagen the same as collagen peptides?
No. Collagen peptides are collagen broken into smaller pieces, which is why they dissolve in water. The same term is used for oral supplements and for skincare.