By Jill Failla
In our 2018 trend predictions, SPINS called out collagen as a driving force behind new categories and products. Long associated with benefits for hair, skin, muscles, and joints, animal-derived collagen is a protein that’s experienced mainstream recognition by way of bone broth in the last few years, and it’s been popping up in a variety of categories more recently, from protein bars to coffee creamers. But what about consumers on a plant-based diet who seek out these same benefits?
Enter vegan-friendly collagen-boosters, a trend to watch in the Natural Products Industry. This trend started in the body care and beauty segments, with several brands of note touting plant-based ingredients that help boost the body’s natural collagen production. These ingredients are often offered in place of animal-based retinoids, since retinol has long been celebrated for its skin-rejuvenating and collagen-producing benefits.
Eminence Organic Skin Care’s Bamboo Firming Fluid features plant-based ingredients and a front-of-label “natural retinol alternative” claim, deriving its silica from bamboo. Outside of bamboo, chicory, coconut oil, and coconut water are just a few of the key ingredients promising firm, hydrated skin.
The Beauty Chef’s Collagen Inner Beauty Boost serves as an edible beauty care product, supported by the brand’s tagline, “Beauty begins in the belly.” This probiotic elixir, which is fermented for better absorption by the body, is designed to boost natural collagen production and benefit skin from the inside out. Front-of-label ingredient callouts include prebiotics, blueberry, goji berry, and grape seed extract.
In the supplement segment, Garden of Life’s Organic Plant Collagen Builder draws on bamboo as a key co-nutrient for collagen production. This USDA Organic and Non-GMO Project Verified product – with additional vegan and gluten-free label claims – also calls out pomegranate as an active ingredient due to its high polyphenolic content. Reserveage Nutrition’s Plant-Based Collagen Builder features front-of-label vegan and gluten-free claims, along with proprietary phytoceramides as its dominant collagen-boosting ingredient.
Research around collagen’s effects is ongoing, and some experts say that ingesting collagen may not always produce the intended effects for consumers.[i] As an extension of the current trends we’re seeing in beauty, body care, and supplements, SPINS expects to see more plant-based food and beverage products call out collagen-producing benefits front and center this year and next, especially in plant-based meat and dairy alternative categories.
[i] Risher, B. (2017, May 09). Are Collagen and Bone Broth The Keys to Youthful Skin? Retrieved March 08, 2018, from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/are-collagen-and-bone-broth-the-keys-to-youthful-skin_us_5910a946e4b046ea176aedc3
