Youtheory is one of the most popular collagen brands in the US, and is notably cheaper than many competitors. The brand claims that their supplement “can help you achieve inner health and outer beauty.”
But does Youtheory provide an effective collagen dose? Does the supplement contain any unhealthy ingredients? What was our honest experience purchasing and trying this product? And is Youtheory better than other collagen brands?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze the ingredients in Youtheory Collagen to give our take on whether or not it’s likely to improve skin quality, and whether or not it's healthy.
We'll share our experience trying this product, and how it compares to the collagen brand we typically use, as well as analyze whether the version with biotin included is better for skin and hair.
Key takeaways:
- Contains effective collagen dose to support anti-aging skin changes
- We disliked the number of capsules required
- We currently recommend Youtheory Collagen
Ingredient Analysis
The ingredients in Youtheory Collagen are shown below:
This is a refreshingly simple formulation.
Vitamin C can increase collagen production and decrease elastin loss according to a medical review published in the Nutrients journal.
The 90 milligram (mg) dose in Youtheory should be safe and effective.
Hydrolyzed collagen is included at a dose of 6,000 mg.
Collagen was shown in a medical review published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology to reduce wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and improve skin hydration.
As we documented in our review of Obvi Collagenic Burn, most medical studies that we’ve come across on collagen supplementation for skin quality use a dose between 2,500 mg and 10,000 mg, so the dose in Youtheory is solidly within the effective range.
The only inactive ingredient should be safe and non-toxic, and there are no ingredients that we consider unhealthy in this formulation.
We recommend Youtheory from a formulation perspective, and we consider this supplement likely to improve skin quality.
Our only minor complaint is that there is no mention of whether the collagen is sourced from conventionally-raised or pastured animals.
Animal products sourced from pastured animals may be more nutritious according to a 2006 medical review, although this is less of a concern with “processed” and functional food products like collagen (because the fats and most other nutrients are removed).
We Tested Youtheory Collagen
As the author of this article, I wanted to try Youtheory Collagen myself to share my thoughts on its effects, and on the overall product experience.
I purchased the Collagen capsules from the brand's website and took them every morning until the jar was completed.
I typically take collagen in powdered form, and I tend to prefer that to capsules with an inactive ingredient (in this case, magnesium stearate).
The serving size is six capsules which may be annoying or inconvenient for some people, but wasn't an issue for me.
I've noticed subjective improvements to my skin quality and appearance, and I also noticed that I've stopped getting shin splints after consecutive days of cardio exercise, which I used to get regularly (especially after basketball).
I don't plan to purchase Youtheory Collagen again in the future due to my preference for powdered collagen, but I consider it to be a high-quality supplement.
Overall, I'd rate Youtheory Collagen 7/10.
Is the Biotin Version Better?
image source: youtheory.com
Youtheory sells a version of their collagen supplement that contains biotin, which is a B-vitamin that's often included in skin, hair and nails supplements.
While medical research suggests that biotin deficiency may be associated with development of skin disorders, we have not come across any convincing evidence that biotin supplementation in otherwise healthy adults has any benefits to skin, hair or nails.
A 2021 medical review concluded that "Current evidence is insufficient to recommend the use of biotin...in dermatology."
Youtheory's supplements containing biotin also cost more per-serving than those containing collagen and vitamin C.
Overall, we recommend that consumers interested in Youtheory purchase the original Youtheory Collagen and not the formulation(s) that contain biotin.
We do not consider biotin supplementation to be harmful, we're just not convinced of its efficacy.
Youtheory vs. Popular Collagen Brands
Here's how Youtheory compares to other popular collagen brands in terms of formulation quality and safety in our opinion:
Vital Proteins
Arguably the most popular collagen brand in the US, Vital Proteins offers a large number of collagen supplements.
Most Vital Proteins collagen supplements are sourced from grass-fed animals, and free of inactive ingredients. We prefer powdered collagen supplements for this reason.
Winner: Vital Proteins
Orgain Collagen Peptides
Similar formulation, but cheaper per-gram of collagen and also free of inactive ingredients due to powder format.
Winner: Orgain Collagen Peptides
Beauty Focus Collagen
One of the worst collagen brands in our opinion.
Company published questionable clinical trial data, and this formulation also contains inactive ingredients we consider unhealthy, as we documented in our Beauty Focus Collagen reviews article.
Winner: Youtheory
Youtheory Collagen Pros and Cons
Here are the pros and cons of Youtheory Collagen in our opinion:
Pros:
- Great price
- Effective collagen dose
- Should improve skin quality
- No unhealthy ingredients
- Contains effective vitamin C dose
- Mostly favorable online customer reviews
Cons:
- Brand website charges for shipping
- Collagen dose per serving may not be maximally effective
- Doesn’t appear clinically tested
