Skin & Beauty

Glow coffee – scientifically proven effects or beauty lies?

from Mag. Margit Weichselbraun
on 26.11.2024
Glow Coffee

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?

What is glow coffee?

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”.

Glow coffee – Impact & Studies

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:

Collagen studies

  • In an 8-week study in women aged 35 to 70 years, 5 g of hydrolysed fish collagen (Naticol®) led to a significant improvement in skin firmness on the abdomen, face and forearms and to a reduction in wrinkles compared to placebo (1).
  • In a 12-week study, the intake of 10 g hydrolysed fish collagen (Naticol®) in women aged 45 to 60 years led to a 35% reduction in wrinkle values compared to placebo. In addition, there was a 9% increase in the overall assessment of the skin, a 14% increase in the moisture content, a 22% increase in the skin radiance (the glow) and a 25% increase in the firmness (2).
  • Another 12-week study with 10 g hydrolysed fish collagen (Naticol®) showed a 10% reduction in skin folds in women between 50 and 70 years of age, a 23% improvement in skin moisture and a 27% improvement in skin elasticity compared to placebo (3).

Hyaluronic acid:

  • In a 6-week study in people with dry skin, 120 mg hyaluronic acid led to significantly increased moisture content and smoother skin compared to placebo (4).
  • In a 12-week study in women and men with crow’s feet, 120 mg hyaluronic acid led to significantly reduced skin folds compared to placebo (5).

Vitamin C:

  • The data analysis of the American NHANES study showed that a high vitamin C absorption is associated with fewer wrinkles and a higher moisture content of the skin with age (6).

Hibiscus & pomegranate extract:

  • Studies with hibiscus and pomegranate extract show that plant extracts provide antioxidant protection against premature skin ageing through their high polyphenol content (7)(8).

Important: Regular consumption of glow coffee

Glow coffee or collagen powder should be administered daily and over a longer period to achieve the best results. 

Glow coffee recipe: How to make glow coffee?

  1. Open collagen powder sachet (alternatively measure dosage)
  2. Mix collagen powder into your coffee
  3. Enjoy!

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.

Which collagen powder should I use for glow coffee?

When looking for the optimal preparation for your glow coffee, you should consider the following points:

  1. How was the collagen powder produced: Make sure that the collagen is hydrolysed. This means that the collagen has been broken down into smaller peptides that are easier to digest and absorbed better by the body. Hydrolysed collagen also dissolves in liquids such as coffee without altering the texture or taste or losing its effect.
  2. Type of collagen: For glow coffee, you should be looking for types I and III collagen, as these are responsible for skin regeneration and elasticity.
  3. Collagen powder without additives & flavour: taste-neutral collagen powder is ideal for glow coffee as it does not change the taste of your coffee.
  4. Origin of collagen: Collagen comes from various animal sources. Fish collagen peptides are among the most readily available types of collagen. In addition, this collagen is sustainable: The products of the manufacturer Naticol®, which are used in Biogena preparations, utilise fish membranes from sustainable aquaculture as part of a resource-saving circular economy.
biogena-line
BIOGENA AESTHETICS Collagen+ Superior Neutral Edition

Our Glow Coffee recommendation: the collagen powder from BIOGENA AESTHETICS is tasteless, contains hydrolyzed collagen from the premium manufacturer Naticol® and is guaranteed to be free of additives.

Use one sachet per coffee to prepare it.

To the collagen powder for Glow Coffee
€49.90

Vegan glow coffee – is there such a thing?

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.

To the vegan collagen and hyaluronic acid powder

Glow coffee side effects

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.

Criticism and influencer marketing

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.

Sources for the studies:

(1) Duteil, L. et al. 2016. SPECIFIC NATURAL BIOACTIVE TYPE 1 COLLAGEN PEPTIDES ORAL INTAKE REVERSE SKIN AGING SIGNS IN MATURE WOMEN. J Aging Res & Lifestyle. :1–9.

(2)   Evans, M. et al. 2021. A randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study to evaluate the efficacy of a freshwater marine collagen on skin wrinkles and elasticity. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 20(3):825–834.

(3)   Sibilla, S. et al. 2015. An Overview of the Beneficial Effects of Hydrolysed Collagen as a Nutraceutical on Skin Properties: Scientific Background and Clinical Studies. The Open Nutraceuticals Journal. 8(1).

(4)   Kawada C et al. 2015. Ingestion of hyaluronans (molecular weights 800 k and 300 k) improves dry skin conditions: a randomized, double blind, controlled study. J Clin Biochem Nutr. 56(1):66-73.

(5)   Oe M et al. 2017. Oral hyaluronan relieves wrinkles: a double-blinded, placebo-controlled study over a 12-week period. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 10:267-273.

(6)   Cosgrove MC et al. 2007. Dietary nutrient intakes and skin-aging appearance among middle-aged American women. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 86(4):1225-31.

(7)   Wang D et al. 2022. Potential of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. and Hibiscus Acid to Reverse Skin Aging. Molecules. 2022 Sep; 27(18): 6076.

(8)   Leong-Perng C et al. 2022. Fermented pomegranate extracts protect against oxidative stress and aging of skin. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2022 May;21(5):2236-2245.

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