Updated on 12 November 2026 with 3,711 reviews from people who took British Supplements’ Clean Genuine Hydrolyzed Marine Collagen, written between October 2018 and September 2026, and 5 studies published between 2018 and 2026.
One Mumsnet member had had enough of collagen adverts and asked to hear only from people who had actually taken it. Money nobody wants to waste, and skin, hair or nails that could do with a change, are what brought others to it in the reviews. So do marine collagen supplements work? Here’s what the people who took them wrote.
We went through every review of British Supplements’ Clean Genuine Hydrolyzed Marine Collagen. That’s 3,711 reviews, written between October 2018 and September 2026 by people in the UK. Skin comes up most, then hair, nails and joints, and a few wrote about their bones.
If marine collagen itself is new to you, start with what marine collagen is and where it comes from.
TL;DR: do collagen supplements work?
- Collagen supplements work, according to the people who took British Supplements’ Clean Genuine Hydrolyzed Marine Collagen, one of them losing almost no hair within days, with strong nails by the third week and firmer skin after two months.
- Hair got thicker and skin more elastic, and people commented on a more youthful look, according to one of the 1,058 whose reviews mention hair.
- Skin hydration and elasticity came out better than on placebo across 26 trials, according to a review published in Nutrients in April 2023.
- Knee pain fell 1.90 points on collagen and rose 0.61 on placebo over 180 days, according to a trial published in Frontiers in Nutrition in September 2025.
- Skin showed a noticeable improvement a week later, according to one of the 26 who wrote that it was worth it, and two wrote that it was a waste of money.
- Nails changed first, according to four of the 10 who wrote what changed first.
- A hairdresser noticed thicker hair before hearing about any supplements, according to one of the 47 whose hairdresser noticed a change.
- No side effects at all, according to one of the 41 who had none, someone with Crohn’s and acid reflux who’d never been able to take collagen before.
- Side effects came out no different on collagen peptides than on placebo, according to a September 2023 review of four trials in the Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research.
- Nails improved hugely after three months, according to someone who’d noticed no difference on another well-known brand.
Here’s what the 3,711 reviews talk about, and how many wrote that it made no difference:
| What they wrote about | Reviews that mention it | Of those, no difference |
|---|---|---|
| Skin | 1,100 | 25 |
| Hair | 1,058 | 28 |
| Nails | 838 | 15 |
| Joints | 600 | 14 |
| Bones | 78 | 1 |
Does taking collagen work?
Yes, taking collagen worked, according to Analia C., who was losing almost no hair within days, had strong nails by the third week and firmer skin after two months.
Of the 3,711 reviews of British Supplements’ Clean Genuine Hydrolyzed Marine Collagen, 1,100 mention skin, 1,058 hair, 838 nails and 600 joints, and 25, 28, 15 and 14 of those wrote that it made no difference. Each of the four has a page of its own: collagen for skin, collagen for hair, collagen for nails and collagen for joints. Does marine collagen work? Here’s what two of the people who took it wrote:
Within a few days, I noticed that I wasn’t losing almost any hair anymore when combing or washing it. During the third week, my nails were getting very strong, with a lovely smooth surface. After two months, my skin had become firmer.
Analia C., July 2023
A wonderful side benefit is my hair is getting thicker,my skin is more elasticy( technical term) and people have commented on my more youthful appearance.
Caroline M., September 2022
Is there any evidence that collagen supplements work?
Yes, there’s evidence that collagen supplements work for skin: hydration and elasticity came out better on collagen than on placebo across 26 placebo-controlled trials. That’s according to a review published in Nutrients in April 2023, whose authors flagged bias in several of the trials and called for bigger trials to confirm it.
Here are three of the trials behind the evidence, each against a placebo, with people taking collagen by mouth:
- Skin hydration at 61.1 on fish collagen against 53.0 on placebo after 12 weeks, according to the skin trial published in Nutrients in June 2018, in 64 women aged 40 to 60.
- Glossier, stronger and thicker hair than on placebo after 24 weeks, according to the hair trial published in the International Journal of Stem Cells in August 2026, in adults with damaged hair.
- Knee pain down 1.90 points on collagen against a 0.61 rise on placebo over 180 days, according to the knee trial published in Frontiers in Nutrition in September 2025, in 80 adults with early knee osteoarthritis.
Is collagen worth taking?
Yes, collagen is worth taking, according to the 26 people who took British Supplements’ Clean Genuine Hydrolyzed Marine Collagen and wrote that it was worth it, and two wrote that it was a waste of money. For Stephanie E., a noticeable improvement in skin came a week later.
Is collagen a scam, or is it worth taking a collagen supplement? Here’s what two of the 26 wrote:
Easy to take , a week later a noticeable improvement in my skin
Stephanie E., April 2023
Since taking the marine collagen I have noticed an improvement in my skin and nails.
Catherine C., April 2024
How do you know if collagen is working?
You know collagen is working when your nails change first or your hairdresser notices, according to the people who took British Supplements’ Clean Genuine Hydrolyzed Marine Collagen. Nails came first for 4 of the 10 who wrote what changed first, and 47 wrote that their hairdresser noticed a change. Carol C.’s hairdresser said the hair was thicker before hearing about any supplements. Here’s what three of them noticed:
I first noticed an improvement in my nail strength but it took a few months before I noticed a definite improvement in my hair loss.
Maggie, March 2025
My hairdresser exclaimed my hair was thicker without me telling her I had started supplements.
Carol C., March 2025
Someone actually noticed the other week and I’ve now recommended these to her.
Christine M., May 2025
What is the downside of taking collagen?
The downside of taking collagen was a side effect for 28 of the people who took British Supplements’ Clean Genuine Hydrolyzed Marine Collagen, according to their reviews, and 41 wrote that they had none. Whether marine collagen is safe for you to take depends on what your GP or a pharmacist says. Here’s what two of the 41 wrote:
This is by far the best marine collagen that I have ever used, actual visible results and no side effects.
SHIRLEY W., March 2022
These have worked for me - I take 2 in the morning- with no side effects.
Caroline R., October 2023
Marine collagen is made from fish skin, and the product page’s Supplement details name the fish: Pangasius. Two people who took British Supplements’ Clean Genuine Hydrolyzed Marine Collagen wrote about an allergic reaction, and the skin trial and the knee trial both left out people with allergies to their ingredients.
If you’re going through the menopause, so was Lisa K., who wrote that there were no side effects and that the hot flushes had almost vanished:
Happy with the results so far (assume effects show over a period of time but I’ve experienced no negative side effects and my hot flashes have almost vanished, which may or may not be coincidental but I’m not complaining!).
Lisa K., September 2021
More of what people wrote through the menopause is on the page about collagen for menopause.
If you have IBS or Crohn’s, so do four people who took British Supplements’ Clean Genuine Hydrolyzed Marine Collagen, Lynda G. among them, who has Crohn’s and acid reflux and had never been able to take collagen before:
I have Crohn’s and acid reflux and have never been able to tolerate Collagen. I am however able to take these without any side effects whatsoever.
Lynda G., January 2026
If you’re over 60, so are four people who took British Supplements’ Clean Genuine Hydrolyzed Marine Collagen: Gillian S. at 72, Kathleen R. about to turn 80, Jeanette S. at 64 and Lesley F. in their 70s. The knee trial took people aged 40 to 75. Here’s what two of those four wrote:
I have always suffered from brittle nails and they seemed to be getting worse and I noticed my normally thick hair was thinning (I am 72) so I decided to try the marine collagen, I am really noticing a difference after three weeks, my nails are feeing much stronger and my hair much thicker, also my skin feels plumper.
Gillian S., March 2022
In my 70’s and have Been taking marine collagen for 3 months now and have seen improvement in my skin.
Lesley F., November 2023
What does the research say about safety?
The research found no side effects caused by the collagen in the skin and hair trials, and one case of hives in the knee trial, which the researchers judged unrelated. That’s according to the skin trial (12 weeks), the hair trial (24 weeks) and the knee trial (180 days), and the knee trial found no serious side effects.
A review of four placebo-controlled trials in 507 people, published in the Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research in September 2023, also found no real difference in side effects between collagen peptides and placebo.
Ask your GP or a pharmacist about what to avoid while taking marine collagen if you:
- take any medication
- are pregnant or breastfeeding
- have an operation booked
- have a liver or kidney condition
Anyone with a fish allergy should not take it.
The pack adds three lines of its own: not to be taken by under 18s, do not exceed the recommended daily dosage, and keep out of reach of children.
Are there collagen supplements that actually work?
Yes, the collagen supplements that actually work are the ones with reviews from people who saw a change while taking them. That’s people with names and dates, not what’s printed on the pack. Here’s what three of them who took British Supplements’ Clean Genuine Hydrolyzed Marine Collagen wrote:
After previously trying collagen from two other brands that left me disappointed and wasted my money on I decided to try the marine collagen from Bristish Supplements. I can honestly say this is the best collagen I have tried and will continue to buy from them.
Wendy R., June 2026
I have taken collagen before for more than 3 months from another well known company and noticed no difference. I have now been taking this Collagen for more than three months and have noticed a huge difference in my nails, which is why I started taking it.
Lynda W., November 2024
I’ve tried various collagen supplements and only this one works!
Leo7, August 2025
Thinking of trying marine collagen?
Have a look at British Supplements’ Clean Genuine Hydrolyzed Marine Collagen: 577.8mg of Type 1 marine collagen from Pangasius fish skin in every two-capsule serving, made in our own UK factory with no fillers. 3,915 reviews as of 12 November 2026, rated 4.83 out of 5. Read them; they’re real.
FAQ
Do collagen side effects go away?
Collagen side effects went away for three people who took British Supplements’ Clean Genuine Hydrolyzed Marine Collagen, according to their reviews. Three changed how they took it, and nine stopped taking it. If a side effect doesn’t settle, ask a pharmacist or your GP.
Thinking of giving marine collagen a go?
Ours is 577.8mg of Type 1 marine collagen in every two-capsule serving, from Pangasius fish skin, made in our own factory with no fillers. 3,915 people have left a review, read a few before you decide. That's what they're there for.
Claire Cane
Claire is the researcher behind the guides at British Supplements, where every capsule is made, packed and shipped from the company's own factory in Gilford.
Every article she writes is built from three things: the label, the published trials, and what the people who actually took it wrote in their reviews. No claims, just what happened to them and what the studies measured.
