Alex Campbell, director and founder of SkinGlo, highlights the success of the product marketed to vegan consumers, specifying that it has shown even faster growth than their original line of marine collagen products, thanks to consumer demand.
Paired with the collagen market estimated to reach $897.5m by 2023, those choosing to adopt a vegan diet is rapidly increasing. In fact, new market research from Mintoiro reveals that collagen supplements are one of the most common types of nutricosmetics with 43% of the market and among those about 16% are ‘vegan’ collagen ‘boosters’.
While collagen can only be obtained from animal sources, there is still a heightened demand for plant-based alternatives for consumers following a vegan lifestyle.
“If you look at the chemical composition of collagen, it is a blend of amino acids and so by substituting this animal-sourced collagen with identical amino acids, you can tape it up very closely,” Campbell argues.
The products contains a blend of Amino Acids (L-Glycine, L-Proline, L-Hydroxyproline, L-Alanine, L-Arginine HCl, L-Glutamic Acid, L-Aspartic Acid, L-Lysine HCl, L-Serine, L-Leucine, L-Valine, L-Phenylalanine, L-Threonine, L-Isoleucine, L-Histidine, L-Methionine, L-Tyrosine), alongside MSM, Vitamin C, B5, B3, Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin B2, B6, B1, B9, B7, and B12.
Campbell explains all the products in the range contain additional vitamins to aid absorption, including vitamin C, an essential player in the formation of collagen within the body. In addition, he says the products utilise NutriProtect technology to provide a protective liposome casing, ensuring delivery of amino acids where needed.
To aid ease-of-use, he says the liquid form with exotic fruit flavouring enables for a more pleasurable user experience, as well as opening potential for it’s addition to a range of beverages.
“Liquid formats allow for the nutrients to be better absorbed, getting into the bloodstream quicker and being less destroyed by the gut unlike traditional tablets forms.
“It also means you can put a lot more collagen in it. From all the studies that have been done on collagen as a nutraceutical, they have used 5g and 8g and above. We believe the optimal amount is 8g, which we use in both our SkinGlo products.”
A growing market
Collagen is the most abundant type of protein in the human body, forming our muscle, ligaments, and skin. Yet, with levels naturally reducing at around 30 years old, there is a heightened need for this protein to be obtained through the diet
“Collagen is not only the building block behind the plumpness and density of our skin, ensuring a smooth surface, but it can also aid our gut health, our bone density and help soothe achy and damaged joints post-exercise,” Campell highlights.
He adds: “It’s imperative that collagen forms part of our lifestyles, which is why we’ve created an accessible product targeted to increasing dietary needs.”
Campbell regards the fast growth of the popular collagen market, adding: “We’ve noticed a big growth internationally as well. We are now selling this to Asia and other places in Europe which is going very well.
“Because of this, we are looking into other types of skincare as well. We have just brought out the vegan product, but we have a couple more in the pipeline as well.”