Collagen & Beauty Supplements
Everyday exposureBeauty & personal careAlso called · 8 names▾▴
collagen powder pregnancy, collagen peptides pregnancy, collagen breastfeeding, beauty supplements pregnancy, skin hair nails vitamins, hair skin nails supplement, collagen powder breastfeeding, prenatal collagen
Other supplements
General information · effects depend on amount, timing, and how it is used. About these sources
Research strength: 1 / 5
MotherToBaby reports no human studies of collagen supplements during pregnancy. EFSA's 2025 opinion covered egg-membrane collagen peptides proposed for adults and excluded pregnant people. That opinion does not provide first-trimester outcomes for collagen products generally. Ask your provider about your situation.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-18
Research strength: 1 / 5
MotherToBaby reports no human studies of collagen supplementation during pregnancy. Its cited evidence does not give second-trimester outcomes. EFSA assessed one egg-membrane collagen ingredient for adults, excluding pregnant and lactating people, so it does not settle use of other formulas. Ask your provider about your situation.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-18
Research strength: 1 / 5
MotherToBaby reports no human studies of collagen supplements during pregnancy. A 2026 study evaluated topical recombinant human collagen serum for postpartum stretch marks, not an oral supplement. That study does not answer third-trimester use or pregnancy outcomes. Ask your provider about your situation.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-18
Collagen & Beauty Supplements — Breastfeeding
Research strength: 1 / 5
MotherToBaby reports no human studies of collagen supplements during breastfeeding. EFSA's opinion on one egg-membrane collagen ingredient excluded lactating people from its proposed adult use. The sources reviewed do not establish milk-transfer or milk-supply effects for collagen supplements. Ask your provider about your situation.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-18
Pregnancy
MotherToBaby states that no studies look at collagen as a supplement during human pregnancy or breastfeeding. EFSA's 2025 opinion assessed a specific egg-membrane collagen ingredient proposed for adult supplements, excluding pregnant and lactating people, so it does not establish pregnancy outcomes for that ingredient or other collagen products. A 2026 clinical study examined topical recombinant human collagen serum on postpartum striae; it did not test an oral supplement.
Breastfeeding
MotherToBaby reports no human studies of collagen supplementation during breastfeeding. EFSA's opinion on egg-membrane collagen peptides proposed adult use while excluding lactating people. The sources reviewed do not establish milk transfer or milk-supply effects for collagen supplements.
MotherToBaby says protein powders and drinks may include added vitamins or herbs, and that some might contain unknown or unlisted ingredients. The formula varies by product, so the label identifies the listed ingredients for that product. FDA's 2026 warning letter documented missing product specifications for Hearthy Foods' Collagen and Collagen+ products; it concerns that firm's products and is not a finding about every collagen product. FDA's ingredient directory states: "In 2004, FDA banned the sale of dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids (compounds found in some Ephedra species) in the United States." That rule concerns ephedrine-alkaloid supplements, not collagen supplements. FDA separately lists pseudoephedrine under its OTC nasal decongestant drug-products rulemaking history, a different product category.
What was tested
The non-peer-reviewed Organic Consumers Association and Clean Label Project report tested 30 selected collagen products for total arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury with ICP-MS and compared results with California Proposition 65 levels. Its sampling drew on Amazon best-sellers and an earlier Clean Label Project protein-powder investigation, so it is not a representative screen of all collagen products. Horváth et al. (2025) tested 22 commercially available protein powders, including whey, vegan, and beef-based products, for 16 elements; it was not a collagen-product survey, and the paper reports no significant heavy-metal content above regulatory limits in its samples. EFSA's 2025 opinion concerned a specific egg-membrane collagen ingredient for adults and excluded pregnant and lactating people; it was not a pregnancy-outcome study. A 2026 self-controlled study tested topical recombinant human collagen serum on postpartum striae, not oral collagen supplements.
We found no disagreement between the sources checked.
- FDA advises consumers to consult a health professional before deciding to purchase or use a dietary supplement and to read the product label. (FDA: Questions and Answers on Dietary Supplements)
- FDA explains that a Supplement Facts panel lists dietary ingredients and, except for ingredients in a proprietary blend, the amount per serving. (FDA: Questions and Answers on Dietary Supplements)
- MotherToBaby says protein needs depend on factors such as age, activity level, health, body weight, and usual diet, and describes discussing personal protein goals with the healthcare team. (MotherToBaby: What’s the Scoop on Protein Supplements during Pregnancy and Breastfeeding?)
General research, not specific to pregnancy.
Adult cosmetic research addresses skin outcomes, not pregnancy or breastfeeding. The reviews report possible improvements in some skin measures but describe important study limitations.
- A 2025 systematic review reported improved skin hydration and elasticity with oral collagen supplements. It described moderate heterogeneity, generally unclear risk of bias, and too few studies to assess publication bias. (Danessa et al. 2025: Effects of collagen-based supplements on skin's hydration and elasticity)
- A 2026 systematic review of adult trials reported improvements in some hydration, elasticity, and wrinkle measures, while rating most included trials at high risk of bias. Its search ended April 1, 2023, and one author disclosed employment at Lumanity without a review-specific conflict. (Bassila et al. 2026: Efficacy and safety of hydrolyzed collagen supplementation on skin health outcomes)
Experiences from moms and non-medical voices. Not medical evidence.
- MotherToBaby: What’s the Scoop on Protein Supplements during Pregnancy and Breastfeeding?Teratology serviceSecondaryPage dated 2026-07-14
- FDA: Questions and Answers on Dietary SupplementsUS governmentSecondaryPage dated 2026-08-27
- FDA: Information on Select Dietary Supplement Ingredients and Other SubstancesUS governmentSecondaryPage dated 2026-05-01
- FDA: Rulemaking History for OTC Nasal Decongestant Drug ProductsUS governmentSecondary
- FDA Warning Letter: Hearthy Foods, Inc. (February 10, 2026)US governmentSecondaryPage dated 2026-02-10
- EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens: Safety of egg membrane collagen peptides as a novel foodUS governmentSecondaryPage dated 2025-12-03Independent check
- Organic Consumers Association and Clean Label Project: 2020 Collagen Heavy Metals StudyPaid certificationSecondary
- Horváth et al. 2025: Heavy metal content in protein powders on the Hungarian marketUS governmentPrimaryPage dated 2025-07-16
- Li et al. 2026: Topical recombinant human collagen serum for postpartum striaeUS governmentPrimaryPage dated 2026-07-15
- Danessa et al. 2025: Effects of collagen-based supplements on skin's hydration and elasticityUS governmentPrimaryPage dated 2025-08-19
- Bassila et al. 2026: Efficacy and safety of hydrolyzed collagen supplementation on skin health outcomesUS governmentPrimaryPage dated 2026-06-24
Last reviewed 2026-10-18
Independent check 2026-10-18
Not yet clinician-reviewed
Ask your provider about your situation.