Collagen has been the subject of promises and falsehoods for decades, starting with collagen creams and, lately, moving into drink form. Long ago, studies debunked claims that the creams plumped up the face, given that the collagen molecule is too big to be absorbed by the skin. The next logical step was to ingest them in drinks, a concept that started in China and Japan and spread westward. Javon Ford, Air Mail Look’s resident cosmetic chemist, examines these drinks and tells us whether we need to start guzzling them for better, stronger skin, hair, and nails. For more of his wisdom, check out his TikTok and Instagram accounts @javonford16.
From a purely superficial perspective, collagen drinks taste awful. It’s like drinking unflavored bone broth.
