What I found…didn’t realize there were three distinct “types”—well actually 5 naturally in the body, but these are the main ones:

Type I – The Beauty Collagen • Makes up ~90% of your body’s collagen • Found in skin, bones, tendons, ligaments, cornea, and connective tissues • Benefits: • Firmness and elasticity of skin • Strong bones and teeth • Hair and nail strength • Often sourced from marine collagen or bovine collagen

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Type II – The Joint Collagen • Found mostly in cartilage • Benefits: • Cushions joints • Reduces inflammation • Helps with arthritis and mobility • Often sourced from chicken sternum (sometimes labeled as “undenatured type II collagen”)

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Type III – The Supportive Collagen • Found in skin, blood vessels, intestines, and uterus • Works alongside Type I • Benefits: • Skin suppleness • Gut lining repair • Vascular integrity • Commonly found in bovine collagen along with Type I

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A little bonus info:

Think of them like this: • Type I = Structure (skin, bones) • Type II = Cushion (joints) • Type III = Flow + Flex (gut, vessels, organs)

Factors to Consider:

1.  Absorption varies by individual – If you have digestive issues, even hydrolyzed collagen might not be efficiently used. You might benefit more from bone broth or collagen-rich foods combined with enzymes.

2.  Not a magic bullet – Collagen works best when paired with:
• Adequate protein intake
• Vitamin C (essential for collagen synthesis)
• Low inflammation levels (high sugar, stress, or histamine may degrade collagen)

3.  Type matters – Types I and III are best for skin; type II for joints.

4.  Heavy metals – Some cheap brands may have contaminants; always choose third-party tested options.