Orgain is one of the most popular supplement brands in the US, and they sell a collagen supplement called Orgain Collagen Peptides. The brand claims that their supplement “supports radiant, youthful skin” and also supports hair and nails.
But is collagen supplementation actually shown in medical studies to improve skin quality, hair quality and nail quality or are these just marketing claims? Does Orgain Collagen Peptides provide an effective collagen dose? Does it contain any questionable additives? And how do real users rate and describe the effects of this supplement?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze medical studies on collagen supplementation to give our take on whether or not it actually benefits skin, hair and nails.
We’ll analyze the ingredients in Orgain Collagen Peptides and feature unsponsored customer reviews of the brand.
We’ll also provide a cost comparison to show which retailer sells this supplement for the best price.
Does Collagen Improve Skin, Hair and Nails?
Collagen supplementation has been studied in a number of clinical trials for its effects on appearance.
A 2019 medical review concluded that collagen provides “anti-aging” effects, and suggests the effective dosing range is between 2.5 grams (g) and 10 g per day.
As we documented in our review of Youtheory Collagen, oral collagen is also shown to improve skin elasticity and skin hydration.
Collagen peptides were shown to increase nail growth rate by 12% and decrease nail breakage rate by 42% in a clinical trial published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.
A 2022 clinical trial found that collagen peptides could be effective both for hair loss prevention and for hair regrowth.
Overall, we consider collagen supplementation likely to be effective for optimal skin, hair and nail health and consider Orgain’s marketing statements to be likely accurate.
But does the product provide an effective collagen dose, and does it contain any unhealthy additives? We’ll answer those questions in the next section of this article.
Ingredient Analysis
The ingredient and dose in Orgain Collagen Peptides is shown above.
Collagen peptides sourced from grass-fed animals is the only ingredient in this formulation.
The per-serving dose is 20 g, which is effective based on the medical review cited in the previous section.
Budget-conscious consumers may actually benefit from taking half of the typical serving per day, because our research suggests that 10 g is the maximally-effective dose, and this would provide significant cost savings.
A 2006 medical review suggests that animal products from grass-fed animals are more nutritious than animal products from conventionally-raised animals.
Although this is less of a concern with “processed” foods like collagen compared to full-fat foods like cheese, we still consider it a best practice to source exclusively grass-fed animal products for consumers who can afford to do so.
There are no unhealthy additives in this product and we approve of its formulation.
We Tried Orgain Ourselves
As the author of this article, I wanted to try Orgain Collagen Peptides myself to share my thoughts on the taste and overall product experience.
I typically use a different collagen brand, but switched to Orgain for a month.
The product experience and packaging was simple and straightforward: easy-to-open jar, scooper for a serving.
This collagen had a subtle taste to it, almost like whey protein. I wasn't used to this, because the collagen I typically use is entirely tasteless, but it wasn't bad.
I didn't experience any side effects or negative effects from its use.
The main benefit I experienced from this collagen was subjective improvements to skin quality. When I use collagen regularly, I notice that my skin (particularly on my face) has less of a "dull" effect.
I would purchase this product again, and rate it 9/10.
Is the Probiotics Version Better?
Orgain sells a version of their collagen peptides that also contains probiotics, called Orgain Collagen Peptides + Probiotics. Its ingredients are shown above.
Like the Collagen Peptides product, this formulation contains zero unhealthy additives so we approve of it.
Xylo-oligosaccharides are prebiotic compounds that were described as having “great prebiotic potential” and having the capacity to “reduce the occurrence of human health-related diseases” in a medical review published in the Frontiers in Nutrition journal.
A specific strain of the probiotic Bacillus coagulans was shown to reduce gas and bloating in a 2023 clinical trial.
Overall, we consider this product likely to support skin, hair and nail health due to the collagen content, and likely to support gut health due to the prebiotics and probiotics.
This is the best skin-and-gut health supplement we’ve reviewed to date on Illuminate Health.
At the time of publishing this article, this product is actually cheaper per-serving than the original Orgain Collagen Peptides, so it makes a great option for consumers who want a collagen supplement and probiotic in one.
Real People Try Orgain
A YouTube creator and fitness trainer named Brian Robinson has a video reviewing Orgain Collagen Peptides that includes why he chose it, a live product demo, downsides of the product and more:
A YouTube creator named Svetlana compared Orgain Collagen Peptides to Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides:
Where to Buy Orgain for the Best Price
Orgain Collagen Peptides supplements are sold at a variety of online retailers. Here’s a price breakdown at the time of publishing this article:
Orgain Collagen Peptides (1 Pound)
Brand website: $35.99 (plus shipping, link)
Target: $24.49 (free shipping, link)
Amazon: $23.88 (free shipping, link to official Amazon listing)
Orgain Collagen Peptides + Probiotics (1.6 Pounds)
Walmart: $33.10 (free shipping, link)
>Brand website: N/AAmazon: $32.48 (free shipping, link to Amazon listing)
Orgain’s collagen supplements are currently cheaper on Amazon than any other retail site.
Can an At-Home Smoothie Improve Skin Quality?
A YouTube creator named Kayla Chandler has a video with a collagen smoothie recipe that seems healthy and has over 50,000 views:
Our Clean Collagen Picks
Bulletproof Collagen Powder is our top overall collagen pick because its only ingredient is hydrolyzed collagen sourced from grass-fed animals.
Interested consumers can check out Bulletproof Collagen powder at this link to the product page on the brand's official website.
Super Youth Unflavored is our top premium collagen supplement, as it not only provides an effective collagen dose, but also contains sodium ascorbate which was described as a "potent stimulator of collagen and elastin production in the treatment of wrinkled and stretch-marked skin" in a clinical trial published in the Journal of Dermatological Science.
Interested consumers can check out Super Youth Unflavored at this link to the product page on the brand's official website.
Bulletproof Chocolate Collagen is our top flavored collagen powder pick.
This collagen powder is naturally flavored with organic cocoa powder and coconut creamer powder, and is the healthiest flavored collagen we've reviewed to-date.
Interested consumers can check out Bulletproof Chocolate Collagen at this link to the product page on the brand's official website.
Real Customers Review Orgain
Amazon is a better resource for honest customer reviews than a brand’s website in our opinion.
Orgain Collagen Peptides has been reviewed over 31,000 times on Amazon with an average review rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
The top positive review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named “Grecia machado” who gives the product a 5/5 star rating and claims it supports nail health:
“I use different kinds of brands for the peptides but this is a good buy for the price. It helps my nails stay strong and I definitely notice the difference when I forget to include it in my diet. If you’re looking for a good brand for the price this one is a great option”
The top negative review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named “JanJan” who gives the product a 1/5 star rating and dislikes the taste:
“I bought it because many of the highest reviews said that this was tasteless. Either I got a rotten batch or their taste buds are very questionable. I can get through the smell and that didn't bother me so much, but when it ruins the taste and flavor of EVERYTHING I've tried it in, NO thank you! The ONLY thing I could swallow without gagging is VERY strong Chai tea with double the spices. I MADE myself drink this but I don't think I can make myself drink it again.”
Orgain has an average review rating of 4/5 stars on Facebook, and Orgain Collagen Peptides has an average review rating of 4.4/5 stars on Google.
Pros and Cons of Orgain
Here are the pros and cons of Orgain Collagen Peptides in our opinion:
Pros:
- Effective collagen dose
- Should improve skin quality
- Should improve nail quality
- Should improve hair quality
- No unhealthy additives
- Reasonable price
- Mostly positive online customer reviews
- Probiotic product should support gut health
Cons:
- Doesn’t appear clinically tested
- Brand website charges for shipping
