Drinkable beauty supplements that boost the skin’s collagen production are the latest addition in our glow-up toolkit. Here are three brands we’re obsessed with.

By Sabrina Rogers-Anderson

Ingestible beauty products are so hot right now and we want in on the action. Designed to make your skin, hair and nails glow from the inside out, these beauty drinks are chock-full of powerful supplements including collagen, probiotics, antioxidants, vitamins and superfoods.

But do they work? I put three leading brands to the test.

Entry level: WelleCo The Evening Elixir

WelleCo founder Elle Macpherson looks freaking incredible at 60, so I was keen to give her Evening Elixir a red-hot go. Formulated with magnesium, vitamin C from the superfruit acerola and 12 other premium ingredients, it promises to boost skin collagen formation, protect cells from free radical damage and support the nervous system for a restful sleep.

With only 13 calories per cup, this rich hot chocolate drink is so addictive (I may even lick the sides of my mug to get every last drop). I’m not sure if it’s the calming properties of the passionfruit and lemon balm or the ritual of drinking a warm cuppa before bed, but I feel instantly relaxed after drinking it.

After using it every night for a week, I noticed that my skin was less ruddy and a bit brighter. Some reviewers say they saw noticeable results in their skin, hair and nails after using Evening Elixir daily for a few weeks or months. But most reviewers can’t stop raving about how it curbs their chocolate cravings at night and how well it helps them sleep. 

Pros: Tastes delish, comforting, relaxing and may promote better sleep. The jury is still out on whether this multi-functional product produces significant skin improvements, but it may be worth your while anyway.

Cons: You’ll struggle to stick to just one cup a day.

Price: $55 for 150g ($1.80 per serve)

Mid range: TOKA Lab Superfood Collagen Elixir

As a health writer and research nerd, I love when a company backs up its claims with solid evidence. Sydney-based TOKA Lab is committed to using top-shelf ingredients that have been tested in clinical studies. 

TOKA’s premium marine collagen has been clinically proven to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, promote firm skin, increase skin hydration and elasticity, revitalise hair and nails, and improve bone and joint health.

Its flagship product, the Superfood Collagen Elixir, also contains probiotics, biotin and superfoods to give your skin, hair and nails an extra boost. The individual sachets come in three flavours - matcha green tea, warming chai latte and turmeric latte - and can be mixed with water or milk. TOKA also makes a tasteless Premium French Marine Collagen powder that can be added to any drink or food.

I can’t get enough of the warming chai latte elixir and I love to add a spoonful of the collagen powder in my morning smoothie. One of my gym buddies told me my skin was glowing after I’d been using these two products for about 10 days and I have to agree with her. Not to mention that the reviews on TOKA’s website are just as glowing as my skin!

Pros: Premium ingredients that do what they claim, no added preservatives or sweeteners, dairy-free, soy-free, gluten-free and non-GMO. Made using sustainable farming practices and packaging. 

Cons: I’m hard-pressed to find any.

Price: $79.95 for 24 sachets of Superfood Collagen Elixir ($3.33 per serve); $64.95 for 180g of Premium French Marine Collagen ($1.80 per serve)

The Joy Edit readers get 30% off everything in store by using code SPRING_GLOW at checkout or click here to have the discount automatically applied.

Luxe: Sircle Advanced Collagen

Designed by a team of doctors and nurses, Sircle Advanced Collagen combines hydrolysed collagen peptides, vitamins C, B3 and B7, and Cosmythic (French maritime pine bark extract). Cosmythic has been clinically shown to reduce fine lines by 12 percent, fight against deep and medium wrinkles by 15 percent, reduce pigmentation by 12.5 percent and improve skin tone by 8.2 percent.

Sircle’s unflavoured powder is also meant to improve hair, nail, joint, gut, immune, heart and nervous system health, as well as enhance cognition, energy production and muscle recovery.

I’m always a bit wary of products that claim to do it all, so I focused on how Sircle made my skin look and feel. After taking a week off any other collagen products, I added Sircle to my protein shake for 12 days. My skin looks slightly plumper and my fine lines seem less pronounced, which is a great result after using it for such a short time. I’m keen to keep taking it for a few more weeks to see what results I get.

Pros: Designed by health professionals with ingredients that have been clinically proven to improve skin health.

Cons: You shouldn’t expect it to transform all facets of your health overnight.

Price: $92 for 330g ($3.06 per serve)