LANEIGE Collagen Drink

Following on the Asian craze for skin tonics and collagen supplements, Korean powerhouse LANEIGE will be launching their own once-a-day Collagen Drink in Singapore on 31 March 2015, which contains 5000mg of marine collagen peptide, which is exactly the amount of collagen the average person metabolizes and needs to replenish daily. 

Collagen is necessary for maintenance of skin, hair, nails, joints, mucus membranes, and even our bones, and after the age of 25, our ability to generate collagen starts to deteriorate, which is why our skin starts to dull and sag, our hair becomes less lustrous and lush, and we also eventually start to experience joint pain and arthritis as we get older.

But just taking collagen supplements aren't always helpful. Many formulas aren't synthesized efficiently by the body after consumption, and our bodies just digest and burn them as expensive sources of energy, which is why I've always hesitated to try them.

The newer generation of supplements seem to have many of these concerns in mind though. LANEIGE's collagen peptide is synthesized from tilapia fish, which has a lower molecular weight than other sources. This is meant to enhance absorption and synthesis. While you can technically eat tilapia regularly for skin benefits, most of us are unlikely to eat a whole fish daily. (1 bottle of this Collagen Drink contains the collagen peptide found in an entire fish).

Besides collagen, the formula also contains: 

• elastin extracted from bonito fish to improve elasticity and radiance
• Vitamin C from Italian oranges and pomegranate extract, which is critical for collagen synthesis (if you lack vit C, it doesn't matter how much collagen you consume), and also other repair functions in the body

The formula is also free of artificial coloring, preservatives, and sugar, and each bottle contains just 25 calories of pure protein, so you don't need to worry about it impacting your diet.

It's also easy to stash a little bottle in your bag when you're out, although it's recommended that you consume this at night. There's only about a mouthful or two of liquid in each serving, and the generic fruit flavor makes it easy to mix in your juices. I actually find it a tad too saccharine sweet, so if you're in the habit of making your own veggie or fruit juices, it might be a good idea to mix everything in.

The only catch is each box of 10 will not come cheap, and is priced at SGD52, so it's really up to your discretion whether you want to drink it daily or take 3-4 bottles a week as a boost to your regular diet.