Collagen has become one of the more popular health and anti-aging supplements, often used for its ability to support healthy joints, hair, skin, and nails. Many of the best collagen supplements come in powder form, so I was excited to test and use these Youtheory collagen tablets.
If you want to try collagen but don’t want to deal with another powder to drink every day, tablets are a convenient alternative, but are they worth a try? In this Youtheory collagen review, I’ll share my thoughts on these affordable tablets after using them for a couple of weeks to help you decide if they’re worth a try.
Editor’s Note and Disclaimer:
Collagen protein is considered an incomplete protein because it’s missing an essential amino acid, tryptophan. Collagen protein should not be counted toward the FDA %DV of protein. Consult with a registered dietitian or nutritionist if you have questions about your protein intake. This article is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for medical advice.
Tested by a Certified Nutrition Coach
The Garage Gym Reviews team, which is made up of certified personal trainers, nutrition coaches, weightlifters, gym owners, and fitness enthusiasts, has tested over 30 different collagen supplements.
In addition to collagen, we’ve carefully tested hundreds of supplements, including protein powders, pre-workout powders, creatine formulas, and more. We’re on a mission to test and review as many supplements as possible, including anti-aging supplements like collagen.
For this review, I used these Youtheory collagen tablets for about three weeks. As a certified nutrition coach with a strong interest in dietary supplements, I’ve tried collagen plenty of times over the years and understand what benefits to look for.
After extensive testing, I used our supplement testing methodology to rate this product in a variety of categories, including:
- Formulation
- Taste and swallowability
- Third-party testing
- Effects
A Quick Look at Youtheory Advanced Collagen
Youtheory is a company that manufactures a variety of health supplements, including collagen, fish oil, vitamins, probiotics, and more. While many supplement companies focus on sports performance and fitness, Youtheory is more concerned with overall health, wellness, and anti-aging.
The company has a wide range of collagen supplements, including tablets, powders, liquid collagen, marine collagen, and more. Collagen is primarily used as a beauty and anti-aging supplement, similar to biotin, designed to promote a youthful appearance.
Collagen is known for its ability to promote skin elasticity, skin hydration, hair growth, and nail growth. Certain types of collagen may also support healthy joints, tendons, and ligaments.
For this review, I tested the Advanced Collagen tablets, a gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free formulation that contains 6,000 mg of collagen and 90 mg of vitamin C per serving. The collagen dose is on the lower end, but it contains added vitamin C to promote natural collagen production.
Vitamin C plays an important role in collagen production1, so that’s a nice addition to the hydrolyzed collagen in each serving. A single serving is six tablets, and they aren’t exactly small, but if you don’t like using powdered supplements, this could be a great product to try instead.
Before You Buy
- Youtheory added vitamin C to the formulation, which helps increase natural collagen production.
- Each serving requires you to take six large tablets, which may be unpleasant for those who don’t like pills.
- There are 6,000 mg of collagen per serving, which is less than you’ll find in most powdered collagen supplements.
Is Youtheory Collagen Worth It?
This supplement is very affordable compared to other collagen formulas, but that doesn’t mean it’s a great fit for everyone.
Great for:
- People who prefer tablets over powder
- Anyone looking for a lower dose of collagen
- Individuals who want to support hair, skin, and nails
Not recommended for:
- Anyone who struggles with large tablets
- Those who want the most potent collagen formula
- People who want to see a precise breakdown of the types of collagen used
Youtheory Collagen Specs
| Price per serving | $0.40-$0.59 |
| Collagen source(s) and type(s) | Hydrolyzed collagen |
| Collagen content | 6,000 mg per six capsules |
| Flavors | N/A |
| Other ingredients | Vitamin C, magnesium sterate |
Experience Using Youtheory Collagen
I took Youtheory collagen for about three weeks, taking the full serving every day. While I don’t normally have any issues with pills, these tablets are on the bigger side and a bit chalky, so I split my serving into two doses, taking three tablets in the morning and three at night.
While I’ve used collagen peptides in the past, I typically use a powder form, consuming 10-20 grams of collagen per serving. With these tablets, I only got 6 grams per day, which is significantly less, so it was tough to notice any drastic changes.
RELATED: 6 Benefits of Collagen Powder
With a lower dose, it may simply take longer to see results, but I was happy to see the addition of vitamin C, which can help promote natural collagen production. Overall, I didn’t really notice any benefits, but I also didn’t experience any unpleasant side effects.
Price Per Serving
Depending on the container size you order, the price per serving can range from $0.40-$0.59, which earns 5 out of 5.
This is significantly cheaper than other collagen supplements, which often cost around $1.00 per serving, but the dose is also much lower. Youtheory Advanced Collagen is one of the more affordable collagens we’ve tested, but it also has significantly less collagen per serving.
Even if you double the serving size to get 12 grams of collagen, the per-gram cost is still lower than many other options, so this is a great value product for those shopping on a budget.
Formulation
While Youtheory Advanced Collagen, its formulation isn’t the best, and only earns 2 out of 5 stars.
We love that it uses hydrolyzed collagen, which is broken down into tiny particles for better absorption and availability.
However, we like to see a blend of collagen peptides, including types I, II, and III, and it’s unclear which forms Youtheory uses. We also prefer to see at least 10 grams per serving, and with this supplement, you’d have to take 10 capsules to get 10 grams, which is a very large and inconvenient serving.
It’s worth pointing out that while many collagen supplements list protein on the nutrition label, collagen doesn’t contain all of the essential amino acids and shouldn’t be counted toward your daily protein intake for fitness goals. The amino acids in collagen are mostly used for skin, hair, and nail health, while something like whey protein will benefit muscle recovery and growth after a workout.
RELATED: Collagen Protein vs. Whey Protein
Taste and Swallowability
For both taste and swallowability, I give this collagen 3 out of 5 stars. It’s fine–not the best, but also not the worst.
These tablets are unflavored, which is a big positive, as many tablet supplements can have an unpleasant taste. I didn’t notice any taste at all, although the tablets have a very slightly chalky texture.
For swallowability, each individual table is easy enough to swallow, but having to take six is a bit much. I divided mine into multiple doses over the day, which Youtheory recommends as an alternative to taking all six at once, and I wouldn’t want to take more than two to three tablets at once.
Side Effects
Youtheory collagen earns 5 out of 5 stars for side effects. I didn’t notice any sort of unpleasant side effects, even when taking the tablets on an empty stomach.
Most user reviews also reported no side effects from taking this, so it seems to be a very gentle supplement.
Third-Party Testing
Third-party testing is a great way to ensure that a product contains what’s claimed on the label, in the right doses, with no banned or harmful ingredients. For this category, Youtheory earns 3 out of 5 stars.
All products are manufactured in a Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) certified facility, which ensures high production standards. However, there’s no evidence of third-party testing on the final product.
We still trust this product based on the GMP certification, but it would be nice to see some third-party testing as well.
Youtheory Collagen vs Sports Research Collagen Peptides
Sports Research Collagen Peptides is made from bovine collagen peptides and is designed to support skin, nail, and joint health. It contains type I and type III collagen. Customer reviews for this supplement are generally positive. We recommend mixing it with hot liquids for the best solubility.
What our tester says:
“I tried this in both water and coffee, and although the water was discolored, you couldn’t really detect the collagen flavor. It was great in hot coffee, too.”
For those who aren’t sold on the idea of tablets, let’s compare Youtheory Collagen to one of the more popular collagen peptide powders on the market, Sports Research Collagen Peptides.
Like most powders, Sports Research collagen contains 11 grams of collagen per scoop, so the dose is significantly higher. The collagen is comprised of bovine types I and III collagen, and while we’d love to see type II collagen as well, it’s great they disclose the sources they use, which is missing from Youtheory.
RELATED: Sports Research Whey Protein Review
Sports Research collagen is also available in four flavors, which provides plenty of options for those who drink their collagen. However, it’s missing the additional vitamin C that Youtheory has added. It’s also more expensive, costing around $0.90 per serving.
Overall, Youtheory Advanced Collagen is a good choice for anyone who prefers tablets over a powder or someone who wants additional vitamin C with their collagen. Those who want the highest potency collagen, or wish to see the exact types of collagen used, should choose Sports Research instead.
| Youtheory Advanced Collagen | Sports Research Collagen Peptides | |
| Price per serving | $0.40-$0.59 | $0.90 |
| Collagen source(s) and type(s) | Hydrolyzed collagen | Bovine Types I and III collagen |
| Collagen content | 6,000 mg per six capsules | 11 g per 1 scoop (11 g) |
| Flavors | N/A | Dark chocolate, unflavored, matcha, vanilla |
| Other ingredients | Vitamin C, magnesium sterate | Sodium |
Customer Experience
Youtheory earns 4 out of 5 stars for the customer experience.
If you order from Youtheory, you can return unopened products within 30 days, but you’ll have to pay $14.99 in shipping, which is nearly the cost of the whole bottle.
However, Youtheory also has a satisfaction guarantee. If you buy a product directly from the website, or an authorized reseller, you can request a refund or replacement within 45 days of purchase. This isn’t common with supplements, and we’re happy to see this policy.
Youtheory collagen is also available on Amazon, however, Amazon does not accept returns due to food safety regulations.
Ordering Youtheory Collagen
Youtheory collagen can be ordered directly from youtheory.com, where orders over $40 receive free shipping. You can also save 15% when you set up a recurring monthly order.
You can also order directly from retailers like Amazon, which may offer additional subscription discounts and free shipping. I placed my order from Amazon and received it the next day, so I haven’t tested Youtheory’s shipping and handling time.
Customer Reviews
Overall, this collagen is quite popular and has over 43,000 reviews on Amazon with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Most customers are pleased with the benefits and common on noticeably improved hair, skin, and nails, while some of the negative reviews mention that the six-tablet serving size is too large.
Final Verdict of Our Youtheory Collagen Review
Overall, Youtheory collagen is a high-quality supplement, especially if you want additional vitamin C and don’t like taking powders. It’s affordable and convenient, and many reviewers see noticeable results.
However, the six-tablet serving size is pretty large, and compared to most collagen supplements on the market, the actual collagen dose is low. This isn’t a bad supplement, but if you’re looking for the strongest collagen supplement, there are plenty of other options that provide more per serving, without requiring you to take 6 tablets every day.
- Youtheory Advanced Collagen contains 6,000 mg of hydrolyzed collagen per serving, along with 90 mg of vitamin C.
- Each serving requires you to take six tablets, which can be spread out over the day.
- Many customers notice an improvement in their hair, skin, and nails, but it may take a while as this is a relatively low dose of collagen.
Full Rating
Youtheory Collagen
Youtheory Advanced Collagen offers a cost-effective way to get a broad-spectrum collagen dose. It’s convenient and affordable, but you’ll need to take multiple pills and won’t get third-party testing assurance.
Product Currency: USD
Product Price: 9.58
Product In-Stock: InStock
3.69
Youtheory Collagen: FAQs
What does Youtheory collagen do to your body?
Youtheory collagen provides both hydrolyzed collagen and vitamin C. These nutrients help restore the body’s natural collagen levels, which is an essential building block used in hair, skin, nails, joints, and tendons.
What happens to your body when you start taking collagen?
If you’re deficient in collagen, using a supplement can help boost your natural levels. Oral collagen supplementation has been shown to improve skin elasticity and hydration2, and it may improve wound healing and reduce signs of skin aging. Many users also report that collagen helps relieve joint pain, as certain types of collagen can promote joint health.
Are there any negative effects of taking collagen?
Collagen is considered to be a safe supplement, but some users may experience digestive issues and stomach discomfort. Depending on the source, collagen may also trigger food allergies, as it’s commonly sourced from pork, cow, and fish skin.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.
References
- Pullar, J. M., Carr, A. C., & Vissers, M. C. M. (2017). The Roles of Vitamin C in Skin Health. Nutrients, 9(8), 866. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9080866
- Choi, F. D., Sung, C. T., Juhasz, M. L., & Mesinkovsk, N. A. (2019). Oral Collagen Supplementation: A Systematic Review of Dermatological Applications. Journal of drugs in dermatology : JDD, 18(1), 9–16.
