Tom Branna, Editorial Director07.20.22
Sustainability plays a big role in consumer purchasing decisions. When the question is opting for vegetable- or animal-derived ingredients in their skincare formulas, more consumers than ever seek plant-based solutions.
But they also seek effective solutions. Collagen-based skincare formulas fit the profile. The benefits of incorporating collagen are well-known in both beauty and wellness. Collagen has moisturizing and film-forming properties. Its ability to bind water helps to maintain proper water content in the skin.
In addition to its natural humectant properties, collagen’s film-forming properties reduce transepidermal water loss. Peptide occlusion prevents skin and hair damage caused by mechanical impairments. Moreover, occlusion makes skin more radiant, illuminated and smooth, say industry experts.
The data underscores consumers’ interest in effective ingredients. According to Spate, on average, every month in the US there are 14.6K searches for collagen serum—that’s an increase of 17.1% during the past year. Industry observers say the search data indicates that consumers are seeking to incorporate collagen in all aspects of their beauty routine, and are even looking for products with other active ingredients to boost their efficacy.
“Vegan collagen is a sustainable solution to animal-derived collagen,” said Tammy Yaiser, VP-product development, Algenist. “The first consideration is that we are not taking from a living precious animal resource and it is known that animal agriculture has lasting negative effects on the environment. Ultimately, we also want to provide a solution to these impacts with vegan collagen, a true plant-based collagen which originates from a lab setting, is produced in a controlled environment, is environmentally-friendly and cruelty-free.”
But Yaiser warns that not all collagen is created equal. She told Happi that most products advertising “vegan collagen” are advertising plant-based, collagen-promoting ingredients, not actual collagen.
“The rise of vegan collagen and plant-based collagen in the consumer market may lead one to believe that it’s possible for collagen to naturally occur in plants. This, however, is not the case,” said Yaiser. “Because of the complexity of achieving true vegan or plant-based collagen technology, most products on the market advertising ‘vegan collagen’ are actually formulated with collagen-promoting ingredients such as vitamins or marine or botanical extracts, not actual collagen.”
Yaiser said she’s not suggesting that vegan collagen promoters are not useful or beneficial, but unlike collagen-promoting ingredients, true vegan collagen will contain all the amino acids present in animal collagen and demonstrate equivalence to animal-derived collagen.
“True vegan collagen is as effective as animal collagen—if what you're using is actually vegan collagen and not just a collagen promoter,” she insisted. “Studies of our particular vegan plant-based collagen molecule show its effectiveness when compared to animal collagen, and show efficacy starting at 2%, with additional benefits at higher percentages.”
Algenist's Genius Liquid Collagen is billed as a breakthrough collagen-based formulation readily available for youthful vitality. The unique vegan formula of plant collagen and microalgae oil beads helps restore skin's bounce and resilience in just 10 days. According to Algenist, there are 13,000 beads of microalgae oil in each bottle, which is naturally-sourced and sustainably-produced, rich in Omega 3, 6 and 9 as well as a natural source of vitamin E.
Yaiser says vegan collagen is easy to incorporate into formulations.
“It is water-soluble and stable from pH 3 to 7, and plays and interacts well with a broad range of other well-known topical skincare ingredients,” she explained.
At the same time, Algenist is relaunching its Genius Liquid Collagen Lip with more product, less packaging and a lower price. The relaunch has 15ml of product, but packaging has been reduced 80%. What’s left is made from 30% post-consumer recycled material. The end result is that the Algenist packaging requires 7,000 pounds less packaging per year.
Algenist maintains the vegan collagen moisturizing lip treatment visibly restores fullness for youthful-looking lips in as few as 10 days.
But they also seek effective solutions. Collagen-based skincare formulas fit the profile. The benefits of incorporating collagen are well-known in both beauty and wellness. Collagen has moisturizing and film-forming properties. Its ability to bind water helps to maintain proper water content in the skin.
In addition to its natural humectant properties, collagen’s film-forming properties reduce transepidermal water loss. Peptide occlusion prevents skin and hair damage caused by mechanical impairments. Moreover, occlusion makes skin more radiant, illuminated and smooth, say industry experts.
The data underscores consumers’ interest in effective ingredients. According to Spate, on average, every month in the US there are 14.6K searches for collagen serum—that’s an increase of 17.1% during the past year. Industry observers say the search data indicates that consumers are seeking to incorporate collagen in all aspects of their beauty routine, and are even looking for products with other active ingredients to boost their efficacy.
“Vegan collagen is a sustainable solution to animal-derived collagen,” said Tammy Yaiser, VP-product development, Algenist. “The first consideration is that we are not taking from a living precious animal resource and it is known that animal agriculture has lasting negative effects on the environment. Ultimately, we also want to provide a solution to these impacts with vegan collagen, a true plant-based collagen which originates from a lab setting, is produced in a controlled environment, is environmentally-friendly and cruelty-free.”
But Yaiser warns that not all collagen is created equal. She told Happi that most products advertising “vegan collagen” are advertising plant-based, collagen-promoting ingredients, not actual collagen.
“The rise of vegan collagen and plant-based collagen in the consumer market may lead one to believe that it’s possible for collagen to naturally occur in plants. This, however, is not the case,” said Yaiser. “Because of the complexity of achieving true vegan or plant-based collagen technology, most products on the market advertising ‘vegan collagen’ are actually formulated with collagen-promoting ingredients such as vitamins or marine or botanical extracts, not actual collagen.”
Yaiser said she’s not suggesting that vegan collagen promoters are not useful or beneficial, but unlike collagen-promoting ingredients, true vegan collagen will contain all the amino acids present in animal collagen and demonstrate equivalence to animal-derived collagen.
“True vegan collagen is as effective as animal collagen—if what you're using is actually vegan collagen and not just a collagen promoter,” she insisted. “Studies of our particular vegan plant-based collagen molecule show its effectiveness when compared to animal collagen, and show efficacy starting at 2%, with additional benefits at higher percentages.”
Algenist's Genius Liquid Collagen is billed as a breakthrough collagen-based formulation readily available for youthful vitality. The unique vegan formula of plant collagen and microalgae oil beads helps restore skin's bounce and resilience in just 10 days. According to Algenist, there are 13,000 beads of microalgae oil in each bottle, which is naturally-sourced and sustainably-produced, rich in Omega 3, 6 and 9 as well as a natural source of vitamin E.
Yaiser says vegan collagen is easy to incorporate into formulations.
“It is water-soluble and stable from pH 3 to 7, and plays and interacts well with a broad range of other well-known topical skincare ingredients,” she explained.
At the same time, Algenist is relaunching its Genius Liquid Collagen Lip with more product, less packaging and a lower price. The relaunch has 15ml of product, but packaging has been reduced 80%. What’s left is made from 30% post-consumer recycled material. The end result is that the Algenist packaging requires 7,000 pounds less packaging per year.
Algenist maintains the vegan collagen moisturizing lip treatment visibly restores fullness for youthful-looking lips in as few as 10 days.