Don’t freak: if you’re 25 years or older, you’re actually already experiencing collagen loss. But the good news is the best collagen peptide supplements can lessen the blow. Naturally produced by your body, collagen is an essential protein that helps build and maintain skin, bones, and connective tissues. “Think of it as the body’s internal ‘glue’ that holds everything together,” says licensed nutritionist Britta Sather, LN. Our collagen levels slowly diminish as we age affecting our skin, hair, joints, and more. “Without enough collagen, our joints wouldn’t move smoothly, our bones could become weak and fragile, and our skin would feel dry and lose its elasticity,” says Sather. “On top of aging, other factors like smoking, environmental pollution, excessive alcohol consumption, and poor nutrition can also speed up collagen loss.” Enter: collagen peptide supplements, a close cousin to the collagen supplements you might already be taking but more easily absorbed (more on their difference later).

Vogue’s Favorite Collagen Peptide Supplements:

A study in the National Library of Medicine shows promising research that adding collagen peptides into the diet can lead to various improvements in health. “Supplementing with collagen peptides can help provide the amino acids (like glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline) your body needs to rebuild collagen-rich tissues,” explains registered dietician and wellness advisor for The Lanby, Taylor Fazio, MS, RD, SPN. “Collagen peptides are a smart add-on for those who aren’t getting collagen-rich foods regularly and want to support healthy aging from the inside out.”