Nutrition
December 21, 2023
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Last Updated: January 16, 2023
Best Vegan Collagen Serum: 5 Amazing Options
You don’t need us to tell you that being vegan has loads of health benefits. But since meat contains collagen, you might be wondering—are you getting enough of the skin-healthy benefits of collagen as a vegan?
The good news is that you don’t need to consume collagen to have high collagen levels since the body produces collagen on its own if you feed it the proper nutrients. But aside from that, studies show that topical collagen improves skin appearance, elasticity, and youthfulness.
So, we’ll share our five best vegan collagen serum options on the market.
Best Vegan Collagen Serum
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Pacifica Beauty Vegan Collagen Complex Serum, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrating & Moisturizing for Aging an
| 9.7 | Click For Best Price |
 | HERBIVORE Botanicals Pink Cloud Creamy Jelly Cleanser – Rosewater and Tremella Mushroom Face Wash
| 9.5 | Click For Best Price |
 | Sonage Collagen Serum For Face | Plumping Serum With Vegan Plant-Based Collagen | Smoothes Fine Line
| 9.1 | Click For Best Price |
 | BOSCIA Vegan Collagen Booster Serum, 1 Fl Oz
| 8.8 | Click For Best Price |
 | MAJESTIC PURE Hyaluronic Acid Serum for Face - With Vegan Collagen, Aloe Vera, Green Tea & Vitamin A
| 8.6 | Click For Best Price |
Scientific research suggests that collagen peptides slow the appearance of aging by keeping your skin hydrated and reducing the appearance of wrinkles.
So, if you’re a vegan wanting to harness these potent effects, below are our top-rated collagen serums that can help you get there.
Winner: Pacifica Beauty Vegan Collagen Complex Serum
Pacifica’s collagen complex serum is an excellent opportunity for vegans wanting a chemical-free, easy-to-spread serum. It contains four primary ingredients, two of which—collagen and hyaluronic acid—are effective at reducing signs of aging.
You can expect to experience soft baby skin within days of applying this serum. It actively works on restoring moisture, so it’s an especially good fit for people with dry skin, although Pacifica says it’s effective for use on all skin types.
It can take a little practice to catch this liquidy serum as it comes out of the bottle, but the result is a product that spreads evenly over the face.
Product Review
Pacifica promises a “dewy” facial appearance for those who use their cruelty-free vegan collagen complex serum, and we agree that it doesn’t disappoint. They achieve this by using the fermentation of plant-based proteins. So, it’s safe for the planet and your skin.
As a truly vegan collagen serum, Pacifica combines the power of collagen and hyaluronic acid to improve skin quality for people of any age group. They also use japonica seed oil for moisturizing and flower extracts.
While many people find the flower extracts have a pleasant aroma, some customers feel the smell is too strong. So, if you tend to have sensitivities to smells, this might not be the best-fit vegan collagen serum for you.
Hyaluronic acid is an effective ingredient when mixed with collagen because studies show that it facilitates the skin’s ability to retain more moisture. So, it will help your face appear more youthful despite the moisture-sapping events that aging and daily external injury can cause.
If you’re concerned about how your skin type will mesh with this vegan collagen complex serum, it likely won’t be an issue. Pacific proudly boasts that its serum is ideal for people of any skin type.
Much of this likely has to do with the fact that they don’t manufacture it with harsh ingredients sometimes found in other face serums. So, you won’t encounter the following:
- SLS
- Parabens
- Phthalates
- Mineral oil
Furthermore, Pacifica uses top-of-the-line quality ingredients, sourcing the best varieties from around the world. Meanwhile, you can feel peace of mind knowing that since they manufacture their vegan serum in the United States, it meets strict safety regulations.
Every good collagen serum should be easy to spread, and we give Pacifica a two thumbs up for this. Part of what makes it so easy to distribute it evenly across your face is that it has a thin, liquid consistency.
Some customers aren’t a fan of this serum being so liquid, though. But if this is the only thing holding you back from buying it, we don’t think it’s necessarily a reason to turn away; it’s something you can likely grow used to if you usually use creams.
Specs
- Size: 1 fluid ounce
- Scent: Floral
- Form: Serum
Pros
- USA-made
- Easy to spread
- Free of harmful chemicals
- Long-lasting moisture
Cons
- Consistency is a bit too liquidy for some
- Not everyone loves the aroma
Runner Up: Herbivore Natural Cloud Jelly Pink Plumping Hydration Serum
Herbivore is a well-rounded vegan collagen serum that caters to dry and sensitive skin, although people of any skin type can use it. By harnessing the water-retaining power of the Tremella Mushroom, this serum may help your face stay more hydrated than those with hyaluronic acid.
Natural Cloud Jelly Pink Plumping Hydration Serum is an excellent choice for people with fragrance sensitivities.
It contains a dropper to make putting it on your face easier, although some people find mixing some with their moisturizer is more effective.
Product Review
You might feel like you’re smearing a jellyfish onto your face when using Herbivore’s jelly pink serum, but we promise this is a 100% vegan product. It comes with a dropper, making it easier to spot-treat areas of your skin that need extra attention.
The primary purpose of this collagen serum for face use is to combat dry skin and bring a healthy shine back to your complexion.
Whereas many collagen products contain hyaluronic acid, Herbivore takes a different approach with their vegan cream—they use the Tremella Mushroom. The Tremella has a long history of use on skin, with the Chinese using it thousands of years ago.
In addition to improving the quality of your skin, Tremella Mushrooms can also boost your immune system and prevent disease. That said, we wouldn’t expect such outcomes by using Herbivore’s serum on your skin alone.
According to Herbivore, Tremellas can retain water better than hyaluronic acid. Up to 500 times more water, in fact. Nevertheless, Herbivore’s product has a distinctly lightweight feel. And despite its gooey appearance, it isn’t sticky.
Other noteworthy ingredients in this vegan collagen serum include:
- Vegan collagen
- Aloe Barbadensis leaf juice
- Rosa Damascena flower water
- Hibiscus Sabdariffa flower extract
- Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Since manufacturers can produce vegan-friendly collagen in a lab, you don’t have to worry about Herbivore using animals as its source. On the contrary, they proudly display a “vegan collagen” label on the front of the bottle.
You won’t find any silicon or dangerous PEGs in Herbivore’s collagen serum. They’re also careful to keep their ingredient list short, using concentrated blends in lieu of many cheap fillers.
Some customers express that they feel this vegan collagen serum is most effective when they mix it with their moisturizer. So, you can always try adding some into your daily moisturizer routine. A benefit to doing so is that you won’t have to use the dropper directly on your face, which isn’t as easy as squeezing a bit of moisturizer into your hands.
Specs
- Size: 30 milliliters
- Scent: No scent
- Form: Serum
Pros
- Fragrance-free
- No preservatives or dyes
- Small, 100% vegan ingredient list
- Uses Tremella instead of hyaluronic acid
Cons
- Uses a dropper for application
- Might be more effective when you combine it with moisturizer
Alternative: Sonage Collagen Boosting Serum
Sonage uses a unique 3-part plant collagen formula to increase facial elasticity and firmness. A little goes a long way with this tiny bottle, and it’s one of the best vegan collagen serums for people seeking UVA and UVB protection.
You can also use this product on your neck, stretch marks, and scars. It’ll leave your skin feeling soft and supple while radiating a pleasant but not overpowering scent.
Collagen Boosting Serum is ideal for vegans with gluten allergies, as it’s gluten-free. Sonage lists its six active ingredients with a description of the benefits of each, and you may even experience less skin discoloration and a clarifying appearance.
Product Review
If skin plumping and wrinkle filling is what you’re after in a vegan collagen cream, Sonage’s Collagen Boosting Serum could just do the trick for you. Their gluten-free product takes an intensive treatment approach for noticeably lessening the signs of wrinkles and fine lines.
The reason why Sonage’s vegan collagen serum is so effective is that its serum absorbs deep into your facial tissue, physically improving the hydration and plumping your skin. So, if you’re like many customers, you’ll see a visible change in how old you look shortly after using it.
The USA-made collagen serum uses plant collagen as its main ingredient. They do this by combining the following three components:
- Rice amino acids
- Baobab adansonia
- Soy protein
Not only does this vegan collagen help to hydrate and plump up your skin, but it also aids in making your pores appear smaller.
The other main ingredients you’ll encounter on Sonage’s collagen serum bottle include:
- Sodium hyaluronate: Protects against UVA and UVB rays
- Cedarwood: Skin clarifying qualities
- Patchouli: Increases hydration
- Marula oil: Soothing, soft feel
- Bergamot: Evens skin tone and adds a floral scent
It’s best to use Sonage’s vegan collagen serum after you cleanse and tone your face but before moisturizing. Many customers comment that they like using it on their necks as well to reduce the appearance of aging there.
Furthermore, you can even apply this serum to stretch marks, saggy skin, and scars.
A notable ingredient missing from this vegan serum’s ingredient list is hydraulic acid. While some people confirm that this product makes their skin feel smooth, they say it doesn’t seem to have as effective hydration perks as hydraulic acid products they’ve used.
Some customers go so far as to call this collagen serum as good as botox, but we think that’s a stretch for any serum. Nevertheless, from our experience, it’ll leave your face feeling soft and looking supple, radiant, and younger.
Specs
- Size: 0.5 fluid ounces
- Scent: Floral
- Form: Serum
Pros
- Gluten-free
- 3-part plant-based collagen
- UVA and UVB protection
- A unique and powerful ingredient list
Cons
- May not hydrate as well as hydraulic acid
- Small bottle, although you don’t need to use much
Alternative: BOSCIA Vegan Collagen Booster Serum
BOSCIA offers a distinctive formula that combines seaweed tripeptide, jojoba, and vegetable collagen to make a noticeable change in your skin’s youthful appearance if you give it some time.
Their 100% vegan and cruelty-free product contains no fragrances, and they use jojoba in the form of Indian Gooseberry extract that they sourced straight from India.
By applying this Vegan Collagen Booster Serum twice daily, you can expect to experience firmer skin, naturally occurring collagen synthesis, and reduced redness and inflammation. Your skin will also gain hydration and elasticity.
Product Review
Studies suggest that seaweed can have a powerful impact on inhibiting the enzymes responsible for skin aging. The result can be a reduction in wrinkle depth. So, if you’re seeking the best collagen serum with seaweed, BOSCIA’s Vegan Collagen Booster Serum is an excellent contender.
In addition to seaweed-tripeptide, BOSICA uses alma extract, vegetable collagen, and jojoba to target the skin. They advertise—and our experience aligns with it—that their serum will do the following:
- Smoothes out skin
- Diminishes fine lines and wrinkles
- Improves skin firmness and bounce
The reason that their serum is so effective is thanks to powerful and high-quality vegan ingredients.
Seaweed tripeptide is effective at encouraging natural collagen synthesis in the body. It also helps to plump and firm skin, which reduces the appearance of wrinkles.
Meanwhile, BOSICA’s unique vegetable collagen uses fibrous protein to strengthen and make the skin more elastic simultaneously. It also improves hydration and helps maintain your skin’s new, more youthful appearance.
While seaweed tripeptide and vegetable collagen are at work, amla extract is an antioxidant that helps collagen keep its form. As a result, the enzymes naturally occurring within your body will be able to maintain your skin’s integrity better.
Finally, BOSICA’s collagen-boosting serum uses jojoba to reduce the occurrence of free radical damage, which often results from too much sun exposure. As a result, you may experience reduced redness, inflammation, and irritation.
To maximize the benefits of this vegan collagen serum, you can use up to two to three pumps twice per day. However, many people feel that since this serum spreads and absorbs so easily, they can get away with using half a pump per use.
It’s best to approach using this BOSICA serum by knowing that it’ll take some time to see results. It’ll likely take at least a month to start seeing changes, and some people prefer products that work faster, even if they’re more expensive.
However, an advantage to this collagen serum is that it doesn’t have fragrance. That’s ideal for people with fragrance sensitivities and others who want to use their favorite scented moisturizer over the serum.
Specs
- Size: 1 fluid ounce
- Scent: No scent
- Form: Serum
Pros
- Absorbs quickly
- Doesn’t have a slimy texture
- Travel-friendly dispenser bottle
- Spreads easily without a heavyweight feel
Cons
- Progress takes longer to work than other serums
- Runnier than certain other serums
Alternative: MAJESTIC PURE Hyaluronic Acid Serum
MAJESTIC PURE offers a hyaluronic acid and vegan collagen-based serum with additional ingredients that the other products we covered don’t have. Aloe vera gel, green tea extract, and retinol all work to improve skin hydration, radiance, and elasticity.
The serum spreads easily across the face, though since it comes out so quickly through a dropper, you’ll likely want to use your fingers as the primary applicator.
Men and women alike can feel comfortable keeping MAJESTIC PURE color-neutral bottles on their shelf, and by applying the serum twice daily, you may see results in as little as one week.
Product Review
Using a collagen face serum on its own has undeniable benefits for restoring a more youthful skin appearance. However, it’s indisputable that hyaluronic acid also plays a vital role. So, MAJESTIC PURE harnesses the power of infused vegan collagen while combining it with hyaluronic acid.
The result is exceptional skin hydration that can be hard to come by (although not impossible) with other vegan collagen serum products.
In addition to containing vegan collagen and hyaluronic acid, MAJESTIC PURE also infuses its serum with the following skin-healthy ingredients:
- Aloe vera gel
- Green tea extract
- Retinol
All three of these ingredients work to supplement skin hydration. They also offer a more glowing and youthful facial appearance.
Retinol plays an especially crucial role in the collagen-building process, as it increases its production within your body. It also encourages your skin to produce new blood vessels, offering an overall smoother-looking appearance. In fact, some customers comment using it for their rosacea more than to reduce the appearance of their aging skin.
It likely comes as no surprise to you that aloe vera gel contains deep moisturizing and healing properties. That, coupled with green tea extract’s ability to reduce inflammation and unclog pores, can create an overall well-balanced complexion once you start using MAJESTIC PURE collagen serum.
What attracts us to this facial serum is that it has gender-neutral colors and marketing. In contrast, several of the products we covered earlier tend to gear themselves towards women.
So, this is an excellent vegan collagen serum for men who don’t want a flashy pink bottle sitting in their bathroom. Plus, if you’re like some customers, you might see the benefits of this serum in as little as one week.
As a word of caution, you might have some trouble applying this vegan serum because of the dropper applicator that comes with it. So, instead of trying to put the drops directly on your face, you might find it easier to drop them on your clean hands and then rub the serum onto your face.
Specs
- Size: 1 fluid ounce
- Scent: Green tea
- Form: Serum
Pros
- Marketed for men and women
- You could see results within one week
- Ingredients that encourage natural collagen production
Cons
- The dropper makes it hard to apply
- Retinol can cause skin sensitivities
Vegan Collagen Serum FAQ
If you’re unsure about whether vegan collagen serum products are the right fit for you, we’ve answered some common questions below.
Is vegan collagen good for your face?
Vegan collagen is very good for your face. Manufacturers genetically engineer these products to contain the same protein as animal products but in a vegan-friendly manner.
Some collagen serum benefits for your face include reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, improved blood flow, and better skin elasticity.
How do vegans get enough collagen?
Vegans can get enough collagen through the amino acids, vitamins, and minerals in natural food sources like soy, almonds, black beans, pumpkin seeds, and cashews. They can also use collagen serum as a topical on their skin to treat their body with collagen from the inside and outside.
The body naturally produces collagen but needs support through foods, supplements, or creams. For this reason, you’ll find many vegan topical collagen serums showcasing collagen-boosting nutrients, such as vitamin C and zinc.
Is vegan collagen better than animal collagen?
Vegan collagen is better than animal collagen in the sense that it’s more effective at encouraging your body to naturally produce collagen. Whereas plants can spark collagen growth in the body, animal collagen arrives in the body in its straight form, making it less sustainable.
People with plant-based diets often use a vegan collagen and retinol serum combination to promote skin health. By combining a vegan diet with such serums, you can expect a notable improvement in skin health, elasticity, and the reduction of fine lines and wrinkles.
Does chia seeds have collagen?
Chia seeds don’t have collagen, but they have a powerful nutrient combination that supports the body in producing collagen. What makes chia seeds unique is that they’re a complete protein source.
That means, like animal meat, they have the nine essential amino acids that your body can’t make on its own. Studies show that chia seeds help reduce inflammation and improve blood flow, which contributes to healthier skin.
Conclusion
Collagen is a protein that composes as much as three-quarters of healthy skin. However, your body has trouble producing as much collagen as it used to as you age.
For this reason, using one of the best vegan collagen serums we covered here can significantly improve your skin’s health.
In addition to using a collagen serum, we encourage you to eat a diet rich in collagen-boosting nutrients. These include vitamin C, zinc, copper, and amino acids from items like chia seeds and legumes. Before long, you can expect a noticeable improvement in your skin’s health.
Resources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8824545/
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-do-collagen-peptides-do/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3583886/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8172338/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8004118/
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/do-retinoids-really-reduce-wrinkles
https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/vegan-collagen
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/food-features/chia-seeds/
https://www.webmd.com/diet/collagen-health-benefits
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/the-best-way-you-can-get-more-collagen/
About the author
Jason Hughes
"Hey there, I'm Jason, and you've just landed on the most exhilarating spot on the web - my VL universe! Here's the deal: I'm wildly obsessed (in the best way possible!) with all things diet, strength training, fitness, health, and wellness. It's not just a passion; it's a lifestyle!
View All Posts
Jason Hughes
"Hey there, I'm Jason, and you've just landed on the most exhilarating spot on the web - my VL universe! Here's the deal: I'm wildly obsessed (in the best way possible!) with all things diet, strength training, fitness, health, and wellness. It's not just a passion; it's a lifestyle!
View All Posts
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