No Joke—This Beauty Supplement Made My Skin More Glowy and My Hair Thicker

There's no denying that one of the biggest trends to emerge in 2021 has been the rise of ingestible beauty products. In fact, when we asked experts at the start of the year to predict the biggest trends in the skincare space, almost all of them called out skincare supplements and products that focused on the inside as trends to watch. This really comes as no surprise. As a lot of our traditional beauty routines have been stripped-down and pared-back over the last 18 months, it makes perfect sense that ingestible beauty supplements that promise plump, radiant skin and stronger hair are growing in popularity.

So when we heard that Vida Glow—a market leader in ingestible beauty and the number one global marine collagen brand—was launching in the UK, we were understandably intrigued. Formulated to firm skin, thicken hair, strengthen nails and generally impart that much-desired glow that we're all after, Vida Glow's clinically proven marine collagen sounds very much like a supplement that we can get on board with. And how about it being backed by dermatologists and skin scientists? Now that's the kind of ingestible beauty product we can trust. Sure, some of our editors have been known to be a little sceptical about the efficacy of supplements in the past, but the fact that one unit of Vida Glow's Natural Marine Collagen range is sold every four seconds might just be enough to convince them that this supplement is worth the hype.

But what is a collagen supplement, and why is it worth incorporating into your beauty routine in the first place?

Collagen is a protein found naturally throughout our bodies. In fact, it's the most abundant protein that we have, and it's one of our skin's most important building blocks. Because it's present in everything from our skin to our bones, it's naturally a very important factor in keeping our bodies strong and healthy. But in our mid-20s, collagen production begins to decrease, which results in those classic signs of ageing: fine lines, loss of skin elasticity, thinner hair and more brittle nails.

Of course, it goes without saying that ageing is a beautiful thing, but helping our skin, hair and nails stay strong and healthy for as long as possible is only a good thing in our minds, and that's where Vida Glow comes in. 

Vida Glow's Natural Marine Collagen is a collagen-peptide powder that you take each day to support your body's natural collagen production process. We like to think of it as an extension of your morning skincare routine. Adding a sachet to your morning coffee or glass of water is a totally fuss-free way to take an inside-out approach to beauty. Now, ready for the science? Vida Glow's clinically proven marine collagen is activated through a natural hydrolysis process, which means that the peptides are small in weight but high in impact. In fact, the absorption rate is over 90%. Simply put, the body can effectively absorb Vida Glow's collagen and genuinely put it to good use. And with regular use, Vida Glow's Marine Collagen could help you maintain healthy skin and hair while improving fine lines, wrinkles, skin elasticity and firmness. And of course, you'll have that all-important lit-from-within glow.

So how long does it take to work? Skincare research and clinical trials show that visible results can be seen in three to four weeks of consecutive daily use of marine collagen. Even better, with regular use, consumers should see a noticeable reduction in fine lines and wrinkles by week six and and increase in skin elasticity and firmness by week nine. Sounds impressive, right?

Below, three of our editors put Vida Glow to the test, so keep scrolling to see their honest reviews and results.

Hannah Almassi, Editor in Chief

Hannah Almassi before taking Vida Glow Natural Marine Collagen.

I definitely haven't been feeling my most healthy self of late. Toddler sleep patterns, work and plenty of nursery germs have taken a toll on my well-being, and that's certainly reflected in how I look right now. I've been prone to more outbreaks, which is very unusual for my skin, and my wrinkles are far more noticeable than they were a year or so ago. While beauty supplements and specifically collagen supplements aren't something that I'd tried before, I do take a good multivitamin, fish oil and vitamins D and C to help boost my immune system. 

I've always had a very low-key beauty routine, but I feel the tide turning as I age, and now is a good time to start putting more effort into looking after myself when it comes to my health and feeling confident in my own skin. I'd love to have a more even skin tone and texture, and some of those fine lines and blemishes are more than welcome to return to where they came from! Additionally, I have a lot of flyaway, super-short, post-partum "baby" hairs, which can make my overall style look a bit wild and unruly, so I'd like for them to grow out ASAP. I've definitely been putting more consideration into the products I use, my beauty routine and what I eat, so testing out Vida Glow came at an opportune moment. 

Hannah Almassi after taking Vida Glow Natural Marine Collagen.

In terms of first impressions, Vida Glow is very chic and striking—a million miles away from those naff tube adverts for supplements that target women in their mid-30s like me. The original flavour, which I tried first, definitely has a marine lilt to it, so I was more keen on the fruity options. But as far as making it work with my current routine, it was easy. As I previously mentioned, self-care isn't at the top of my agenda right now, but I do drink a lot of water. Adding Vida Glow to a glass at the same time as I take my daily vitamins was a simple adjustment to make.

Since taking Vida Glow, the most noticeable difference has been with my skin. It looks a little plumper (in a good way) and glowier without any makeup. Okay, so I'm not suddenly 20 years younger, but I look far better than I actually feel right now. (I have yet another cold.) While I don't think I'll start taking endless amounts of beauty supplements, collagen is so useful for the body in so many ways, so continuing to use Vida Glow is a no-brainer. It's really a no-fuss tweak you can add to your routine that will give you a daily confidence boost!

Vanese Maddix, Who What Wear Contributor

Vanese Maddix before taking Vida Glow Natural Marine Collagen.

I already knew a bit about collagen before being introduced to Vida Glow—mainly that it's a protein found in the body that helps with skin elasticity and can really help your skin look and feel more supple and radiant. However, I don't currently take any supplements, and I've always felt quite overwhelmed when researching them. There are a lot of brands on offer and a lot of claims, and while I know people who swear by beauty supplements, there are others who totally write them off. 

Right now, my hair is in braids with extensions for added length, and it's in good condition. My only general concern is keeping it as hydrated as possible until I wash it next. As a beauty journalist, I have quite a thorough skincare routine, but my main concern right now is that I'm dealing with quite a bit of dryness. As for my nails? They're okay, but I do find that they can be quite brittle and break easily. If I had a wish list of what I'd want to see after taking Vida Glow, it would be some growth in my natural hair, less dry skin and stronger nails. (I'd really love to not have to worry about them breaking.) 

Vanese Maddix after taking Vida Glow Natural Marine Collagen.

Another shout-out for the packaging! Vida Glow is so aesthetically pleasing, which made me even more excited to try it out. While I was quite apprehensive to begin with (a lot of ingestible beauty products really don't taste great), Vida Glow actually tastes pretty good. I especially enjoyed trying the pineapple flavour, which was like a subtle fruit juice.

Since taking Vida Glow, my nails are definitely starting to feel much stronger, and I've had hardly any breakage. My skin definitely looks more radiant, too. And while the dryness hasn't completely gone away, I think that continuing to take a daily supplement alongside my existing skincare routine will be really beneficial. As for my hair, it's quite difficult to tell since it's currently in braids. But halfway through trying Vida Glow, I took out my previous braids, washed my natural hair and got new braids done. I did notice that my hair seemed to have less breakage and seemed more manageable than usual.

Unlike Hannah, I'm not so good at keeping hydrated throughout the day, so I did struggle a little to fit Vida Glow into my daily routine. However, by the second week, I was getting into more of a routine with it and made sure to drink it with a glass of water before I left the house for the day. If anything, taking Vida Glow has been a great way for me to up my water intake. I think I'll continue to take Vida Glow, especially as I'm keen to pinpoint any more benefits this supplement has for my skin, hair and nails. It's definitely opened my eyes to the fact that beauty supplements can taste good, and I'm now more open to trying out other ingestible beauty products in future.

Emma Spedding, Editor

Emma Spedding before taking Vida Glow Natural Marine Collagen.

I am very cynical about beauty supplements, and I probably would have never tried one if I wasn't asked to for work. I think there is so much that goes into the health of your skin and hair, and I'm unsure how only one supplement could have that much of an impact. However, my skin has certainly felt the impact of the last year and has been dry, dull and more temperamental than usual. I've also noticed that I've started to develop more fine lines across my forehead and around my eyes. My nails have been longer than ever thanks to consistent visits to the nail salon for gel manicures. However, I did just commit the ultimate beauty sin and rip off all my gel nail polish rather than having it removed (I know!), so they're now feeling rather brittle and weak. My hair is always a little thick and tricky to style, but after a recent cut, I'm happy with its condition at the moment.

If I'm hoping to see any results from taking Vida Glow, it's an improvement in my skin. I've been lucky to have quite a consistent complexion, but I've really seen a shift since the pandemic with stress showing itself in the form of breakouts and those aforementioned fine lines. I'm getting married in 12 months, and I really want to get on top of a skincare routine that will improve the health of my skin overall. 

Emma Spedding after taking Vida Glow Natural Marine Collagen.

First of all, I thought the Vida Glow packaging was really lovely, and I liked how the sachets all come in a neat box. I went to Portugal on holiday during my trial run, and it was very easy to pop a couple of sachets into my wash bag. I also think that tea lovers will appreciate how nicely the box slotted in alongside my tea bags, which was very handy as I'd put Vida Glow in my morning coffee and my afternoon tea.

Now, here's the thing: My initial two-week Vida Glow experiment coincided with my holiday abroad, where I had to wear a face mask outside in the heat, and the maskne was real. When I arrived home, my skin had to find its balance again, and there's no denying that it really wasn't looking its best. However, I have been continuing to take Vida Glow since I got home, and I'm amazed by how many people have complimented my skin. In fact, at Fashion Week—when my skin normally looks pretty tired—both of my colleagues commented on how glowy my skin looked when I wasn't even wearing any highlighter or glowy products. (They couldn't believe I wasn't wearing a highlighter.) And our Beauty Editor, Mica, was seriously impressed with how radiant my complexion looked in these after photos.

Personally, I've been really impressed by how easy Vida Glow is to fit into my existing routine, and I'm really pleased with the glow in these after photos. I prefer taking the original sachets, which don't have a strong taste. And like Vanese, I found that it helped me achieve my other beauty goal of drinking more water. I'll definitely keep taking Vida Glow to give the supplements even more time to work their magic. Since I'm getting married next year, glowy skin is the main thing that I care about in my bridal beauty routine, so I can see myself keeping this up. Especially if the compliments keep coming in!

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