If you've found your way here, there's a fair chance it was in a quiet moment. Maybe someone mentioned collagen. Maybe you saw the word on a label and wondered whether it was worth understanding, or just another thing you're supposed to be doing.

Wherever you've come from, we've gathered the research for you. Here you'll find a clear look at what collagen is, why it changes through the years of motherhood, and what the studies show, all in one place, so you can understand the essentials without spending hours searching.

What is collagen?

Collagen is a protein your body naturally makes. In fact, there is more collagen in your body than any other protein.

Think of it as the framework that helps give structure and strength to your skin, hair, nails, tendons, ligaments and joints, the parts of you working through every full day.

There are several types of collagen, but two do most of the work in skin. Type I gives structure and strength, and Type III gives suppleness. Together they make up the large majority of the collagen in your skin. It's worth knowing this, because it's the profile that grass-fed bovine collagen most closely mirrors.

Why collagen changes through the years of motherhood

Here's the part many mothers recognise. From your mid-twenties, your body naturally begins to make a little less collagen each year. Studies measuring collagen in adult skin have estimated the decline at roughly 1% per year across adult life, with the reduction continuing steadily as we age.

Motherhood sits on top of that natural change. Pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, broken sleep and the invisible daily labour of caring for a family ask a great deal of the body over a long stretch of time. It's the context we describe in our guide to postpartum depletion, the cumulative physical demand many mothers describe in the months and years after birth.

These changes help explain why many mothers choose to make collagen part of a simple daily nourishment ritual.

What the research actually says

Collagen peptides have been studied fairly widely. It's helpful to look at that research honestly, including where the evidence is strong and where it isn't.

A quick note: the studies below use specific doses and collagen preparations, often over 8 to 24 weeks. They show what researchers observed in those trials. We describe Honour Wellness Pure Collagen simply as a source of protein, while sharing the research so you have a clear, balanced picture.

Skin

Most collagen research has focused on skin. A 2023 review brought together 26 trials involving more than 1,700 people and found that collagen peptides may help improve skin hydration and elasticity compared with a placebo.

There is an important caveat. A 2025 review in The American Journal of Medicine found the benefits were smaller, or no longer clear, when it looked only at the strongest studies and those without industry funding. Overall, the research is encouraging, with more independent, high-quality studies still needed.

Nails

A 2017 study reported faster nail growth and fewer broken nails in women with brittle nails. After taking 2.5g of specific collagen peptides daily for 24 weeks, nail growth increased by 12% and broken nails fell by 42%, with most women noticing a visible improvement. The study was small and did not include a placebo group, so the results are encouraging, with more research needed.

Joints

Joints do a lot of work in motherhood: lifting children, getting up and down from the floor, carrying bags and pushing prams. While research specifically in mothers is still to come, one six-month trial followed 250 adults with knee osteoarthritis. Those taking 10g of collagen hydrolysate daily reported improved knee comfort, with the clearest results among people who began with more joint deterioration. A later review of four trials also found an overall improvement, while noting that all four had a high risk of bias. The research is encouraging, with more high-quality studies needed.

The part that matters most for mothers: protein

Step back from skin and nails for a moment, and there's a simpler reason collagen earns a place in a mother's morning.

Collagen is protein. And protein is one of the nutrients most consistently discussed in maternal nutrition, particularly during breastfeeding. The current dietary reference intakes suggest breastfeeding mothers need meaningfully more protein than they did before pregnancy, an increase of roughly 15 to 20 grams a day, and some newer research suggests the true requirement may be higher still. Protein is used throughout the body for building and maintaining tissue, and everyday needs simply rise during this season. You can read more in our guide to how nutritional needs change after birth.

For many mothers, meeting those needs can be difficult in the early weeks and months, when time, energy and appetite are stretched. Collagen offers one simple way to add protein to something already in your routine.

Honour Wellness Pure Collagen provides around 9g of protein in every 10g serve. It naturally contains glycine, proline and hydroxyproline, three amino acids found in collagen throughout the body.

If you've read our piece on wholefood versus synthetic supplements, you'll know we care about what's on the label, and what isn't.

Pure Collagen has one ingredient: grass-fed and grass-finished bovine collagen peptides. No synthetic vitamins, no fillers, no flavours, no sweeteners. It's the same standard of reading-every-label care you already give your children's food, applied to something for you.

We chose bovine collagen because it's naturally rich in Type I and Type III, the two forms that make up most of your own skin and ligaments. One ingredient. The collagens you're built from.

How it fits into a real morning

The whole ritual is one scoop.

Stir a 10g scoop into your coffee, oats, smoothie or a glass of water, hot or cold. It's unflavoured and dissolves without fuss, so it doesn't ask anything more of you than thirty seconds. It also folds easily into a wider routine, sitting comfortably alongside our Mother's Replenishment for mothers who want both.

A small, daily act of returning something to yourself.

Frequently asked questions

Why do mothers use collagen? Most often as a simple, versatile way to add protein to the day. Collagen is naturally rich in amino acids and stirs into almost anything, which makes it easy to keep up during a busy season.

When is the best time to take it? Whenever suits your routine. Many mothers stir it into their morning coffee, smoothie or breakfast bowl, but there's no wrong time.

Does collagen actually work for skin and nails? Research is encouraging, but results vary. Reviews have reported improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, and a small study found faster nail growth and fewer broken nails. More independent, high-quality research is still needed. We describe Pure Collagen simply as a source of protein.

Is it suitable postpartum or while breastfeeding? Collagen is a source of protein and amino acids that can complement a nourishing diet. As with any new addition during pregnancy or breastfeeding, we recommend checking with your healthcare provider for advice specific to you.

Can I take it with other Honour Wellness products? Yes. Collagen fits naturally into a daily nutrition routine and mixes seamlessly with Revitalise Superblend. Follow the directions on each product.

What's actually in it? One ingredient: 100% grass-fed and grass-finished bovine collagen peptides. Unflavoured, and free from gluten, dairy and soy.

Honour Wellness creates premium, Australian-made wholefood products for mothers. Our range is designed to nourish everyday wellbeing as part of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle. It is not a substitute for medical advice or care.

Disclaimer: This article is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended as medical advice and should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult your GP or a qualified healthcare professional for personalised advice, particularly during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Honour Wellness products are not therapeutic goods and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

References

Reilly DM, Lozano J. Skin collagen through the lifestages. Plast Aesthet Res, 2021 — collagen as ~30% of body protein and its role in skin structure.

Wang H. A Review of the Effects of Collagen Treatment in Clinical Studies. Polymers, 2021 — Type I and Type III collagen in skin/dermis.

Shuster S, Black MM, McVitie E. The influence of age and sex on skin thickness, skin collagen and density. Br J Dermatol — ~1% per year decline in skin collagen across adult life. (Summarised in: Biochemical, structural and physical changes in aging human skin, PMC10316705, 2023.)

de Miranda RB et al. Effects of hydrolyzed collagen supplementation on skin aging: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Dermatol, 2021 / Effects of Oral Collagen for Skin Anti-Aging, Nutrients 2023 (PMC10180699) — pooled RCTs on skin hydration and elasticity.

Effects of Collagen Supplements on Skin Aging: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. The American Journal of Medicine, 2025 — quality- and funding-adjusted analysis showing attenuated effects.

Hexsel D et al. Oral supplementation with specific bioactive collagen peptides improves nail growth and reduces symptoms of brittle nails. J Cosmet Dermatol, 2017;16(4):520–526.

Benito-Ruiz P et al. A randomized controlled trial on the efficacy and safety of a food ingredient, collagen hydrolysate, for improving joint comfort. Int J Food Sci Nutr, 2009;60(Suppl 2):99–113 — 250 adults with primary knee osteoarthritis, 10g daily for six months.

Lin CR et al. Analgesic efficacy of collagen peptide in knee osteoarthritis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Orthop Surg Res, 2023;18:694 (PMC10505327) — four randomised trials involving 507 adults with knee osteoarthritis.

Institute of Medicine — Dietary Reference Intakes for protein; and Moore et al., Protein Requirements of Healthy Lactating Women Are Higher Than the Current Recommendations, Curr Dev Nutr, 2020 — increased protein needs during lactation.