On social media you can hardly ignore the trend: Glow coffee – coffee enriched primarily with collagen, but also with other beauty nutrients, which enjoys great popularity as a “beauty coffee”. It is designed to bring a fresh glow to your face and reduce wrinkles. We are examining the trend: How does glow coffee work and is there scientific evidence of the positive effect on skin, hair & nails?
Glow coffee is a coffee or coffee-based beverage enriched with collagen and additional ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and other beauty nutrients designed to improve the skin, hair and nails and create the “glow effect”.
There are no studies on glow coffee as such. However, what are very well known are studies on collagen and other specific ingredients that are stirred into the coffee. For example, the following studies showed a positive benefit of frequently used active substances:
Glow coffee or collagen powder should be administered daily and over a longer period to achieve the best results.
For most collagen powders: one sachet per coffee. Many collagen manufacturers also calculate 1-2 tablespoons per coffee. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for taking the product when preparing it.
When looking for the optimal preparation for your glow coffee, you should consider the following points:
Collagen is not vegan as it is usually made from the skin and bones of cattle, pigs or fish. Procollagen is considered a vegan collagen alternative: A special blend of amino acids that provide the body with the necessary building blocks for its own collagen production. The taste-neutral procollagen is suitable for glow coffee.
Glow coffee can potentially cause side effects, but these are mainly associated with the caffeine content of the coffee drink. Possible side effects of high consumption of caffeine-containing coffee could include insomnia, nervousness, racing heart or stomach problems. Collagen itself is considered safe and well tolerated by most people. If it is enjoyed in high quantities it can cause digestive problems in some people – a normal reaction of the body when suddenly taking large amounts of protein.
Depending on the source of the collagen (e.g. beef, fish), allergic reactions may occur in people who are allergic to certain animal products. This applies in particular to people with a fish allergy in the case of fish collagen. If you have concerns, especially if you have existing health problems or are taking medications, it is advisable to talk to a doctor before adding glow coffee to your beauty routine.
Many of these products are strongly promoted by influencers who often have little scientific background and rely more on anecdotal experiences. Marketing is often designed to focus on beauty. This can lead to the fact that the actual scientific findings are exaggerated or presented in a distorted manner, e.g. in the form of retouched before and after pictures. Therefore, pay attention to the quality criteria listed above if you want to buy collagen.
Conclusion: While glow coffee per se has not (yet) been studied in skin health scientific studies, the key ingredient – collagen – is well-confirmed in studies as working towards wrinkle reduction and improved skin hydration, as are the other ingredients of high-quality collagen powder. A glow coffee is only as good as its beneficial ingredients. The use of high-quality, hydrolysed collagen in peptide form with high bioavailability is therefore essential for the efficacy of the glow coffee, which can actually be used by the body to optimise the skin structure and bring the desired glow.
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