The 10 Best Collagen Serums of 2023

Read on to find out which of the other collagen serums we tested made it into our hotlist.

To help save you time and money on unsuitable products, we’ve tested a wide range of the best collagen serums available. We took into consideration how they felt on the skin, the short- and long-term results, and innovative ways they boosted collagen in the skin. We also considered each serum’s price, potency, and additional benefits.

But as we get older, our natural collagen supplies start to dip and retaining the skin’s plump, pillowy feel becomes more challenging. But is a collagen serum effective at restoring your natural levels? The research is unclear if applied topically collagen can penetrate the skin to offer the benefits brands claim. However, hydrolyzed collagen or collagen peptides are smaller molecules and have the best chance of penetrating the skin. Collagen has also hydrating benefits and, when combined with other actives like retinol, can stimulate the production of more collagen.

While ingredients often come in and out of favor, none are quite as contested as collagen. Found naturally all over the body, collagen is involved in many important functions, such as tissue repair and regeneration.

What To Look for

Best Overall

Biossance Squalane + Copper Peptide Rapid Plumping Serum

Sephora

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What We Like

• Super gentle

• Very hydrating

• Vegan and eco-conscious

What We Don’t Like

• Pump can become clogged 

Don’t be fooled by the fact that this skin-plumping serum doesn’t have the word “collagen” in its name—it’s packed full of collagen-boosting peptides, which made a noticeable difference to our skin when testing (alongside hyaluronic acid and squalene). This is a great all-around choice that is gentle enough to be used on even very sensitive skin and delivers big on hydration and radiance. 

Price at time of publish: $68

Cruelty-Free: Yes | Skin Type: Dry, combo or normal skin | Size: 30 milliliters

Best on Amazon

Elemis Pro-Collagen Super Serum Elixir

Amazon

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What We Like

• Gentle enough to use every day

• Contains hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid 

What We Don’t Like

• Not cruelty-free

• Fragrance is strong 

Rather than introducing collagen directly to the skin, this super serum uses African Birch Bark to help restore and maintain collagen synthesis in the skin. Its powerful combination of tripeptides, red seaweed, and hyaluronic acid also make it a great alternative to retinol if you’ve previously found it too irritating but want those line-smoothing benefits.

Price at time of publish: $65

Cruelty-Free: No | Skin Type: Suitable for all | Size: 15 milliliters

Best Drugstore

Olay Regenerist Collagen Peptide 24 Day Serum

Amazon

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What We Like

• It leaves the skin feeling instantly soft 

• It’s unscented

• Free from artificial dyes and perfumes

What We Don’t Like

• Packaging feels a bit fragile

There’s a reason that Olay has been used for generations, and that’s because the brand’s gentle formulas really work. Olay’s Regenerist Collagen Peptide 24 Day Serum is no exception and leaves the skin feeling soft, supple, and hydrated with a high concentration of collagen peptides and Vitamin B3 (otherwise known as niacinamide). What it lacks in luxurious packaging, it totally makes up for in efficacy—so if you want great skin without totally breaking the bank, this is a serious contender.

Price at time of publish: $20

Cruelty-Free: Yes | Skin Type: Suitable for all | Size: 1.3 ounces

The 17 Best Collagen Creams of 2023 for Firmer, Plumper Skin

Best Brightening

Kosas Plump + Juicy Vegan Collagen Spray-On Serum

Nordstrom

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What We Like

• Very hydrating and brightening 

• Great for refreshing and priming the skin

What We Don’t Like

• It’s not an essential—just a nice, added extra

A beauty editor and TikTok favorite, we’re happy to confirm that Kosas’ Plump and Juicy Vegan Collagen Spray is all that we hoped it would be. A brand-new innovation, this lightweight serum comes in a mist format that penetrates deeply into the skin while leaving an oil-free finish. This is particularly ideal if you don’t like the feeling of heavy formulas on your skin or want to create a dewy makeup look by using it as a primer. The secret to that raved-about glow? Its jam-packed formula of skin-loving ingredients includes hyaluronic acid, peptides, probiotics, and vegan collagen.

Price at time of publish: $45

Cruelty-Free: Yes | Skin Type: Suitable for all including sensitive | Size: 1.3 ounces

Best Retinol Alternative

Higher Dose Glow Serum

Higher Dose

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What We Like

• Serum can be used alone or with a HigherDose LED mask

• Creates a relaxing ritual

• Offers an extra collagen boost with the mask

What We Don’t Like

• High price point

HigherDose’s Glow serum is a work of science fiction, formulated with vegan collagen, bio-identical collagen, and the collagen-boosting protein sepilift. There’s a whole host of other skin-plumping ingredients in there, too—including hyaluronic acid, copper tripeptide-1, and niacinamide that help to boost the skin’s natural glow, target signs of aging, and plump the texture of the skin. 

Price at time of publish: $79

Cruelty-Free: Yes | Skin Type: Suitable for all | Size: 1 ounce

Best Budget

The Inkey List Collagen Booster Firming Peptide Serum

Sephora

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What We Like

• Formulated with two collagen-boosting peptides

• Lightweight

• Accessible price point

• Contains hyaluronic acid

What We Don’t Like

• Plastic packaging

There’s no actual collagen in this pick from The Inkey List, but it cleverly draws on the power of two different peptides to help boost the skin’s natural production process. It’s super lightweight and leaves the skin feeling soft and dewy, thanks to the addition of hyaluronic acid and glycerin. It’s also suitable for firming, plumping, and smoothing the skin. The Inkey List always gets extra points for its purse-friendly prices that don’t compromise on the quality of ingredients, and this remains a firm fixture in our everyday routine.

Price at time of publish: $13

Cruelty-Free: Yes | Skin Type: Normal, Dry, Combination, and Oily | Size: 30 milliliters

Best Multi-Tasker

Farmacy Filling Good Hyaluronic Acid Plumping Serum

4.9

Sephora

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What We Like

• Contains hyaluronic acid and collagen

• Brightens dull skin 

• Improves an uneven skin texture

What We Don’t Like

• Tingly feeling upon application that may not be desirable

If you have a drier skin type and want a serum that helps to boost collagen and tackle hydration levels, then this is a great option. It contains full-spectrum hyaluronic acid (designed to penetrate the skin quicker) and vegan collagen peptides to visibly plump and micro-fill the skin while hydrating and smoothing the appearance of lines and wrinkles and an uneven skin texture. Use it when your complexion is feeling a little grey and dull and in need of a pick-me-up. 

Price at time of publish: $48

Cruelty-Free: Yes | Skin Type: Normal and dry | Size: 30 milliliters

Best for Eyes

Cell Shock 360 Anti-Wrinkle Eye Zone Serum

Swissline Cosmetics

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What We Like

• Luxurious, spa-like quality

• Hydrating but not oily

• Doesn’t pill under makeup 

What We Don’t Like

• Expensive price point

Swiss Line’s award-winning eye serum is designed to counteract the signs of fatigue—such as lines, wrinkles, and dark circles. It works by taking a three-pronged approach to collagen production: First, it helps the skin produce more of its own collagen with a type of soluble collagen, strengthens skin with a collagen-boosting peptide, and by helping the skin preserve its existing collagen reservoir. Clever? Certainly. But most importantly, it’s silky smooth and leaves the under-eye area feeling supple and hydrated. 

Price at time of publish: $195

Cruelty-Free: Yes | Skin Type: Fatigued skin, dark circles | Size: 15 milliliters

Best for Lips

BeautyBio The Pout Sparkling Rosé Lip Serum

Sephora

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What We Like

• Tingly sensation

• Helps the lips appear fuller

• Hydrating

What We Don’t Like

• Mint flavor might not be for everyone

Collagen is present all over the body, including the lips, so it can be beneficial to top up the levels here for an irresistible pout. BeautyBio’s lip serum uses hyaluronic acid spheres, collagen, and sunflower seed oil to hydrate, plump, and visibly increase elasticity in the lips. We also love its tingly sensation and vanilla-mint flavor. It also makes a great gift idea, too, if you want to start dropping hints.

Price at time of publish: $40

Cruelty-Free: Yes | Skin Type: Normal, dry, combination and oily | Size: 15 milliliters

The 11 Best Collagen Supplements of 2023

Best Ingestible

Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides Capsules

Amazon

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What We Like

• Targets hair, skin, and nails at once

• Flavorless, so can be added to virtually anything

What We Don’t Like

• Remembering to add it to your drinks is a habit that takes time to form

• Results are not as instant as skincare

A topical serum isn’t the only way that you can top up your collagen levels, and a supplement is an effective way of targeting your skin, hair, and nails at all once. This supplement from Vital Proteins comes in flavorless powder form and can be mixed into your morning coffee, smoothie, or even a cake for a collagen-packed boost. Each serving contains 20 grams of collagen in addition to hyaluronic acid and probiotics that, according to the brand, “help to support healthy hair, skin and nails, bone and joint health, and digestion.”

Price at time of publish: $30

Cruelty-Free: Yes | Skin Type: Suitable for all | Sizes: 20 grams or 567 grams