Collagen Types Explained: Which Collagen Is Best for Skin, Hair and Joint Support?

Collagen has become one of the most popular wellness supplements for people who want to support their beauty routine, active lifestyle and long-term joint care. But not every collagen product is the same.

Some collagen powders are made for everyday skin, hair and beauty support. Others are more focused on joints, cartilage, mobility and active living. The difference usually depends on the type of collagen, the source, and the form.

In this guide, we explain the main collagen types in a simple way and help you choose the best option for your daily routine.

What is collagen?

Collagen is a structural protein naturally found in the body. It is part of the skin, hair, nails, bones, joints, cartilage and connective tissues.

As we get older, many people become more interested in collagen because they want to support:

• skin elasticity and firmness

• hair and scalp wellness

• strong nails

• joint comfort and flexibility

• active everyday movement

• beauty from within routines

Modern diets often contain less collagen than traditional diets because we usually eat muscle meat rather than collagen-rich parts such as skin, bones, cartilage and connective tissue. This is one reason collagen peptides have become popular as a daily supplement.

The main collagen types

Type I Collagen

Type I collagen is the most common collagen type in the body. It is often linked with skin, hair, nails, bones and connective tissues.

This is usually the collagen type people choose when they are looking for a beauty-from-within routine or a daily collagen powder for skin, hair and general wellness.

Common sources include:

• bovine collagen

• porcine collagen

• marine/fish collagen

Type II Collagen

Type II collagen is most commonly associated with cartilage and joint-focused supplements.

This type is often chosen by people who want to support:

• joint comfort

• cartilage structure

• mobility

• active lifestyles

• long-term joint care

Type II collagen is commonly sourced from chicken cartilage.

Type III Collagen

Type III collagen is often found alongside Type I collagen in the body. It is connected with skin, connective tissue and general structural support.

Many bovine and porcine collagen products naturally contain collagen that is used in beauty and daily wellness routines.

Collagen sources explained

1. Porcine collagen

Porcine collagen comes from pork. It is commonly used in hydrolysed collagen peptide powders and is often chosen for daily beauty, skin, hair and joint wellness routines.

A good option from Daily Health Market is:

GAL Collagen Peptides 

This product contains 100% hydrolysed collagen peptides from porcine sources. It is a neutral-tasting powder and can be mixed into hot or cold drinks, including water, milk, coconut milk, smoothies or soup.

It is a simple option for people who want a daily collagen routine that fits easily into breakfast, coffee, smoothies or evening drinks.

Best for:
Skin, hair, beauty from within, daily wellness and joint support.

2. Bovine collagen

Bovine collagen comes from cattle. It is commonly used in collagen peptide powders for skin, hair, nails and joints.

A good option from Daily Health Market is:

GAL Bovine Collagen Peptides Powder 300g

This product is a hydrolysed bovine collagen peptide powder made from pasture-raised, grass-fed cattle. It is designed to mix easily into water, smoothies, coffee, tea or soups.

Best for:
People who want a classic collagen peptide powder for skin, hair, nails and joint-focused daily wellness.

3. Marine / fish collagen

Marine collagen comes from fish. It is often popular with people who prefer a non-mammalian collagen source.

A good option from Daily Health Market is:

GAL Fish Collagen Peptides 150g – Neu5Gc-Free Marine Collagen

This product is made from premium French Naticol® fish collagen. It is a neutral-tasting powder and can be mixed into water, coffee, tea, milk, plant milk, soups or smoothies.

It may be a good choice for people who avoid beef or pork collagen and prefer a marine collagen source.

Best for:
Beauty routines, skin and hair support, flexibility and daily protein support.

4. Chicken cartilage collagen

Chicken cartilage is usually connected with Type II collagen and joint-focused products.

A good option from Daily Health Market is:

GAL Chicken Cartilage Complex – Type II Collagen

This product contains Chondractiv® chicken cartilage extract. It provides Type II collagen in its natural cartilage matrix, together with naturally occurring chondroitin sulphate and hyaluronic acid.

It is a powder that dissolves in water or another liquid and can be taken as part of a daily joint support routine.

Best for:
People who want cartilage-focused support, joint comfort, flexibility and active everyday movement.

5. UC-II® undenatured Type II collagen

UC-II® is a specific form of undenatured Type II collagen. Unlike regular collagen peptides, UC-II® is used in much smaller amounts and is designed for joint and cartilage-focused formulas.

A good option from Daily Health Market is:

GAL UC-II® Cartilage Joint Complex

This formula contains UC-II® undenatured chicken cartilage, Chondractiv® chicken cartilage extract, vitamin C, bamboo shoot extract and turmeric extract.

It is a capsule-based option for people who want a more advanced joint and cartilage support formula.

Best for:
Joint comfort, cartilage support, active lifestyles and long-term joint wellness routines.

Which collagen should you choose?

Here is a simple guide:

For skin, hair and beauty from within

Choose:

GAL Collagen Peptides 300g – Hydrolysed Porcine Collagen

or

GAL Bovine Collagen Peptides Powder 300g

or

GAL Fish Collagen Peptides 150g

These are good options for people who want a simple daily collagen powder that can be mixed into drinks or food.

For women who want a simple hair, skin and scalp routine

Many women choose collagen peptides as part of a daily beauty-from-within routine, especially when they want to support their hair, skin, nails and overall wellness.

For this type of routine, collagen powder is usually the easiest choice because it can be mixed into:

• coffee

• tea

• smoothies

• yoghurt

• water

• plant milk

• soups

A simple routine could be:

Morning: collagen powder mixed into coffee, smoothie or breakfast
Daytime: water, balanced meals and daily movement
Evening: light meal, hydration and sleep routine

A good starting option is:

GAL Collagen Peptides 300g – Hydrolysed Porcine Collagen

For joint comfort and cartilage support

Choose:

GAL Chicken Cartilage Complex – Type II Collagen

or

GAL UC-II® Cartilage Joint Complex

These products are more joint-focused and may suit people with active lifestyles, physically demanding jobs or those who want to support long-term joint care.

Why collagen peptides are easy to use

Collagen peptides are popular because they are usually:

• easy to mix

• neutral in taste

• suitable for hot or cold drinks

• simple to add to a daily routine

• convenient for busy mornings

Powder collagen can be especially useful for people who do not want to take many capsules every day.

Collagen and vitamin C

Vitamin C is often mentioned together with collagen because vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin, cartilage, bones and blood vessels.

This is why some people like to combine collagen peptides with a vitamin C product as part of their daily wellness routine.

For joint-focused support, you may also consider:

GAL UC-II® Cartilage Joint Complex

This formula includes vitamin C together with Type II collagen-focused ingredients.

Shop collagen and joint support products

You can explore the full Daily Health Market joint and collagen support collection here:

Shop Joint Support Collection

Featured products:

GAL Collagen Peptides 300g – Hydrolysed Porcine Collagen

GAL Bovine Collagen Peptides Powder 300g

GAL Fish Collagen Peptides 150g – Neu5Gc-Free Marine Collagen

GAL Chicken Cartilage Complex – Type II Collagen

GAL UC-II® Cartilage Joint Complex

Final thoughts

The best collagen product depends on your personal goal.

For beauty from within, skin, hair and everyday wellness, collagen peptide powders are usually the easiest place to start.

For joint comfort, cartilage and mobility support, Type II collagen, chicken cartilage complex or UC-II® formulas may be more suitable.

If you are not sure where to begin, start with your main goal:

Skin, hair and beauty routine: collagen peptides
Joint and cartilage support: Type II collagen or UC-II®
Avoiding pork or beef: marine/fish collagen
Simple daily routine: collagen powder mixed into your favourite drink

A consistent routine is often the easiest way to make supplements part of everyday life.

Disclaimer: Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied and balanced diet or a healthy lifestyle. Always follow the recommended daily intake. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or under medical supervision, speak to a healthcare professional before use.