Believe The Hype: Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides
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Having been raised by a fabulous mother who always thought outside the conventional wellness box (she cured most of my childhood ailments with an array of homeopathic remedies, introduced me to the calming wonders of calcium-magnesium, and zapped my pubescent skin with her high-frequency wand) I looove experimenting with things that might make me a smarter/prettier/more well-adjusted version of myself. It’s my favorite all-consuming life passion hobby!
Thanks to the Internet and social media, we’re bombarded with infinite products, treatments, and trends on the daily, and it can be overwhelming to say the least. Some things are easy to dismiss (thank you, Gwyneth, my vagina will skip its steaming appointment), but many others promise such magical benefits that you feel like you just might need them. So, how do you know what to spend your scarce time and hard-earned money on???
Enter: Weird Blog Lady.
I’ve wasted lots of my time and money so you don’t have to!!! (I live to serve, friends.)
I’m very excited to announce that today is the first installment in a new series of columns we shall call, “Believe The Hype,” which will cover my “holy grail” food/health/wellness/beauty finds. These are the things that I’ve tested long-term and feel comfortable wholeheartedly recommending to my favorite people. None of these products or services will ever be sponsored, and I’m certainly not going to push you to shell out for them—I just thought it would be fun (and hopefully useful) to share the good shit here. Cool? Cool.
First up, the notorious Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides. Let’s dish Q+A style…
What is Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides?
It’s a collagen protein powder sourced from grass-fed, pasture-raised bovine hides from Brazil. (They also make a marine collagen as well.) Weird, I know.
Wait, but what is collagen?
Collagen is a vital building block of our bodies including skin, hair, nails, bones and joints. Our bodies don’t synthesize enough collagen on their own, and since our diets today contain minimal collagen, VP provides a helpful way to supplement this protein.
Does this shit actually work?
Not only does it work, friends, it works wonders. And it’s not just me that swears by its magic, I promise. I’ve convinced the majority of my friends and family members to start taking it, and all are now proud VP devotees. Even my mother, and she’s a tough sell.
What does it taste like?
Absolutely nothing!! That’s one of the main reasons I love it so much. (I’ve always hated protein powders because even the “unflavored” varieties tasted chalky to me.)
How do you “take” it?
Personally, I add it to my morning smoothie or coffee, but it easily dissolves in any warm or room temperature liquid. (Unless blended in a blender, the collagen tends to congeal in cold liquids. Beware, my iced coffee drinking friends!) You can also stir it into foods like oatmeal, yogurt, and pudding, or add it to baked goods.
How much do you take?
2 scoops every day that I can swing it! (Sometimes travel/life happens.)
What beauty-related benefits have you noticed, and how long did it take before you saw results?
Here’s the deal when it comes to VP’s beauty benefits. Most peeps note an improvement in the health of their hair, skin, and nails relatively quickly, but results and timeline vary from person to person. Personally, I haven’t noticed a major change in my skin (and since I’m constantly trying different skin treatments and products, it would be impossible to pinpoint VP as the source of improvement), but when it comes to my hair and nails? HOT DAMN. They’re transformed, people.
The short story: VP improved the thickness and health of my hair and made my nails super strong. It took about 6 weeks to start seeing results and about 3 months for the serious WOW-factor.
The long story:
First, let’s talk hair. Last spring, I made the regrettable choice to get tape-in hair extensions. “Get a beautiful, lustrous mane!” they said. “They won’t damage your real hair!” they said. SOLD. (Don’t judge. I’ve always wanted Victoria’s Secret hair—I was an easy target, dammit!) Fast-forward 4 months and my natural ponytail had dwindled to the thickness of my pinky finger. ‘Twas very sad.
I’d been taking VP sporadically for a few months at that point, but I really ramped up consumption post extension-induced hair loss. After about 6 weeks, my ponytail was noticeably thicker and significantly smoother, and after 3 months, my hair was back to its pre-extension state. Hallelujah! I’ve now been taking the stuff religiously for about 8 months, and my “mane” is the healthiest it’s been in years despite the hot tool torture inflicted upon it multiple times a week.
I’m also thrilled to report that I experienced a similar transformation on the nail front. My nails have always grown quickly, but I noticed last year that they had thinned and would break/peel on the reg. After a couple months on the VP train, they were notably thicker and stronger. I usually keep my fingernails short because of the whole cooking thing, but I grew them out for a few weeks before my wedding, and they were really quite impressive. Please see below for visual reference…
Any other non-beauty benefits I should know about?
INDEED. First and foremost, Vital Proteins has 9 grams of protein per scoop, so adding it to my a.m. smoothie or coffee has helped keep me more full and energized throughout the morning. Collagen is also great for gut health, and I’ve noticed an improvement in my (many) digestive issues since I started taking it regularly.
What size do you buy?
I get the 1.25-pound canister, which is the biggest size. It seems aggressively large, but I tend to go through one a month (!!). I also buy the individual stick packs (each one contains a single scoop) for when I travel or am on-the-go.
Where do you buy it?
You can purchase the peptides on the Vital Proteins website, but I order mine on Amazon (Prime, babyyy), and I’ve never had any delivery or counterfeit issues.
Have you tried any of the other products? Collagen creamer? Beauty water?
I have not! I’ve only experimented with the OG flavorless Collagen Peptides, but if you’ve tried any of these exotic things, please share your thoughts with the group in the comments.
xox,
Serena
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Do you still use this consistently? And if so, have you noticed any additional improvement to your hair? My hair used to be quite thick, and has thinned over the years for various reasons, including a period where I would pull strands out, post-high fever hair loss from having covid, and of course age. I’d love to build back some—if not all!—of my hair’s thickness and would gladly use this if it would work.
Girl 1. I had the same issue with my stupid tape in extensions- also Ann easy target! 2 I’ve been taking the Sleep formula for a few days now (cause stress-I don’t sleep). And it is amazing and also has the collagen! Love it sleeping better and getting the collagen!
So you haven’t noticed any skin benefit?
What has improved wrinkles for you?
Does vital proteins contain soy?
Hello,
I’ve been taking VP for about
1.5 months. Normally I get it from Walmart but my last order came
Shipped from VP. I noticed some differences on the ingredients.
This order came with a picture of grass instead of a cow and has Vitamin C and The grass one which I just started this week
Actually has Hyaluronic Acid.
And vitamin C
So it has 2 more ingredients.
So which one should I be on the lookout for?
I had no clue there was so many choices.
Thanks for your help and information.
They have improved it. Vitamin C helps with absorption and Hyaluronic Acid helps maintain moisture in the skin and keeps it younger looking. HA is good for cartilage too.
I’ve been taking VP for about 8 weeks now and I’m starting to notice that my nails are stronger, my skin is clearer, and my hair is thicker. I’m now beginning to use 2 scoops, so hopefully I’ll see more results quicker. 😊
I recently started following you and I love you already! LOL. No seriously, love your post and your Instagram stuff.
About VP, I usually put it in my coffee but do find it messing with the flavor of my coffee. I thought you said it didn’t mix well with cold drink but yet you blend it in with you smoothie. Can you explain that, please?
Hi and thank you!! So glad you found me! Apologies for the lack of clarity re: cold drinks. The reason its not great mixed into cold liquid like iced water or coffee–room temperature liquid is fine–is that the collagen has a tendency to congeal, BUT in a smoothie the blender blades disperse it evenly and quickly throughout the drink which seems to prevent any collagen “chunks.” (sorry for that description)
I just received my first container in the mail & immediately made a smoothie for lunch. I love Mindy Kaling & she said she puts it in her smoothies every morning, so here we are. I see on the label that VP isn’t fda approved; is it safe?
OMG sign me up! Except I am pregnant, I hope that’s okay?! I too succumbed to tape in hair extensions pre wedding and am now paying for it!
Not meaning to be as dense as this sounds, but how do you get it into your morning smoothie? Stir in after it comes out of the blender? Scratch that, I just read it again – unless blended in a blender, it tends to congeal. Thank for sharing!
They really do work! I buy the tub for when I am in the States and pack the sticks in my luggage when I go to work in South Africa. My hairstylist commented on how much less I shed and that my skin is more luminous!
Yessss!! I’m so happy you believe in them too! The shedding reduction is the BEST.
LOVE to hear that!! I hope the wonders keep on coming with the double scoop.
I’m very intrigued about the protein and gut health. Gonna try it. Thanks for doing our homework!
It was my pleasure ;)!! Fingers crossed you love it as much as I do!
Nailtiques is a miracle for nails.
cow hide? from Brazil? you are kidding, right? ugh. Think I will pass! Wonder if vegans use this stuff?
I get it–definitely not for everyone!! (No, vegans definitely don’t use collagen protein.) And I agree, Nailtiques is great!
Yes and Nailtiques is full of cancer causing chemical. Ingredients. Ethyl Acetate, Butyl Acetate, Nitrocellulose, Tosylamide Formaldehyde Resin, Isopropyl Alcohol, Acrylates Copolymer, Epoxidized Soybean Oil, Wheat Amino Acids, Calcium Pantothenate, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Gelatin, Benzophenone-1, Etocrylene, Violet 2/CI 60725, Dimethicone.
Vital Nutrients and other countries make collagen suitable for vegans.
These are cows raised without chemicals unlike in the U.S. They are grassfed and pastured.
Just ordered! Cannot wait to join in on the VP hype.
WHOOP!!! I hope it works its magic for you!
I’ve got to check this out! My nails are in sad, sad shape thanks to a gel manicure over the holidays. (But it lasts so long and it looks so pretttyyyyy.) Would also be interested in hearing your opinion on botox!
You must try! Haven’t tried botox and don’t have any plans to in the near future, BUT I’m not against it because I’m a big believer in people doing whatever makes them feel good. My fear with Botox is that it hasn’t been around long enough to know the long, LONG term effects. We don’t yet have evidence of the effects of starting Botox at age 30 and doing it for 50 consecutive years, you know?
p.s. I feeeeel you on the gel. Wrecked my nails with it after 1 manicure a few years ago and never did it again even though it was so great at the time.
Very interesting! Is there any benefit to taking the powder versus the capsules?
The only real difference is the protein, so it just depends on whether that’s important to you! Each scoop of powder has 9 grams of protein (so 18 grams in a 2-scoop serving), whereas the capsules have a total of 3 grams per serving.
That is – so thanks! I’ll give it a shot. Thanks for the intel. 🙂
Thanks for the suggestion. I have autoimmune disease that can involve my joints and a friend of mine with autoimmune disease also recommended this to me. You have pushed me over the edge, and I will now try it! I’m going to try it in these protein granola bars from Runing with Spoons (http://www.runningwithspoons.com/2014/01/07/soft-and-chewy-protein-granola-bars/)
Fingers crossed this helps out with the auto symptoms and has some other fringe benefits!! (And those bars sound delicious.)
Also want to say that I love love love your recipes. Many of the recipes in the Dude Diet are go-to recipes for me and my friends. You have a great way of getting veggies in while still making the dish appealing. You’re awesome!
chocolate blackberry sounded weird, but I got a tub and it is DELISH
This is VERY intriguing…