Modere Collagen Review + how it compares other collagen brands

My review of Modere liquid collagen and how it compares to other brands and types of collagen. 

Chances are you’ve heard the word “collagen” a lot lately. It’s become a popular buzzword in the world of anti-aging, skin, and joint health, but first, what is it? Collagen is a protein in our bodies responsible for making strong bones, muscles, tendons, etc. And when you’re young, your body produces a lot of collagen, which is part of why we feel so agile and youthful in our younger years.

But as we age, our body stops producing as much collagen, which results in our bodies feeling stiffer and less agile and our skin begins to sag and wrinkle and our hair begins to thin. All of the things we complain about as we age, right? But hey, it’s just part of it! (I do miss the days where I didn’t really need to warm up before a workout though!)

Your body starts to decrease collagen production in your 20s and you lose about 1% of your collagen every year, so by age 50 you have nearly 30% less collagen than you did at 20, and almost 50% less collagen by the time you’re 70.

While there are many types of collagen in our bodies, type II is most important for articular cartilage (the connective tissue in our joints). The three major components for healthy joints are type II collagen, hyaluronic acid (essential for skin hydration, tissue maintenance, etc.), and chondroitin sulfate (supports joint flexibility).

The most important type for skin, nail and hair health is Type I collagen. And some studies show that taking collagen supplements for several months can improve skin elasticity, wrinkles and roughness, as well as signs of aging.

So then the question poses itself, “Can you just take more collagen in through your diet?”.

And the answer is…sort of. I’ve taken collagen for years and years and it’s one of those things that I can’t say definitively made a difference since there are so many things that could go into my joint health and my mobility (or lack thereof!), including my exercise routine, genetics, pregnancy, breastfeeding and more. And there’s mixed research when it comes to taking collagen supplements, but I’ve found a lot of comfort in the fact that one of my favorite running cookbooks (Run Fast Eat Slow) recommends collagen since I wholeheartedly trust the authors of that cookbook (Shalane Flanagan and Elyse Kopecky). But, most dietitians recommend that if you are going to take collagen, it should come through food sources (like bone broth) for the best results.

All that to say, I love the idea of collagen supplements and I do feel like they can provide some benefits and they certainly can’t hurt as long as you’re getting a high-quality brand. I’ve always taken a powdered form, usually Collagen for Her. But when I learned about Modere and the fact that it’s a liquid, I was intrigued because a liquid form is so convenient. I find that the powder makes things taste funny (and no matter what people say, it does taste funny), so if I use Collagen For Her, I typically put it in a smoothie. But, let’s say I’m not making a smoothie. That’s when I really like Modere as a liquid collagen option.

I’ve been getting a number of questions about Modere on Instagram (where it’s quite trendy), so I ordered some to try it for myself.

(You can read my review of Collagen for Her in this post. Note that while that post was sponsored, this post is NOT.)

In this post I’m going to share how Modere Collagen is different from other collagen on the market, what ingredients it uses, the benefits they claim and the ones I’ve noticed, and my honest thoughts since trying it for a few months.

Let’s jump in.

Modere Collagen Review

Modere is unique in the way they create their collagen. They state that most collagen molecules are naturally very large in our bodies, which makes them very hard to absorb and utilize. That’s why they use a unique science to create a collagen molecule that’s small enough for our bodies to digest called BioCell. I think this is a particularly interesting argument for using a liquid collagen vs. a powdered form. I don’t know enough about the science to really dig into it and evaluate the claims, but it certainly makes sense that it’s not enough to just ingest something. It needs to be absorbed into the body to get the most benefit. Bioavailability of a supplement can be just as important than what’s on a nutrition label.

So, with that goal in mind, Modere created a highly bioavailable liquid form of sternal cartilage that is a matrix of collagen, hyaluronic acid and chondroitin. It is derived from humanely-treated chickens raised without GMOs, antibiotics and hormones on some of the world’s most reputable and regulated farms located in the US and Europe. Their products are manufactured in the United States and it’s actually headquartered in my home state, Utah, in a town where I worked during college. I always have a soft spot for Utah-based companies.

Modere Liquid collagen is a combination of Type II collagen, hyaluronic acid, and a small amount of chondroitin that work together to enhance absorption and utilization. And it works because it mirrors the composition of our body’s own articular cartilage.

Ingredients

The below list is slightly long, but it can be helpful to see everything at a glance since the liquid collagen has more ingredients than powdered forms.What I DON’T like is that all that fruit is NOT organic. More on that below.

• Apple fruit juice concentrate – Supports antioxidant capacity. Made from apple (Malus domestica).
• Grape juice concentrate (fruit) – Supports antioxidant capacity. Made from grape (Vitis vinifera).
• Liquid BioCell® – Supports joint mobility and lubrication, and skin hydration. Hydrolyzed collagen type II peptides, chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid made from chicken cartilage.
• Strawberry fruit juice concentrate – Supports antioxidant capacity. Made from strawberry (Fragaria ananassa).
• Mangosteen fruit – Supports antioxidant capacity. Made from mangosteen fruit (Garcinia mangostana).
• Cranberry fruit juice concentrate – Supports antioxidant capacity. Made from ripe cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon).
• Blueberry fruit juice concentrate- Supports antioxidant capacity. Made from blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium).
• Jujube fruit – Supports antioxidant capacity. Made from jujube fruit (Ziziphis jujuba).
• Acai berry extract – Supports antioxidant capacity. Made from acai berry (Euterpe oleracea).
• Wolfberry fruit extract – Supports antioxidant capacity. Made from wolfberry (aka – goji) fruit (Lycium barbarum).
• Pomegranate fruit juice concentrate – Supports antioxidant capacity. Made from pomegranate (Punica granatum).
• Noni fruit – Supports antioxidant capacity. Made from noni fruit (Morinda citrifolia).
• Maqui berry – Supports antioxidant capacity. Made from macqui berry (Aristotelia chilensis).
• Nopal leaf extract – Supports antioxidant capacity. Made from prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica).
• Resveratrol – Supports antioxidant capacity, cardiovascular health and healthy aging. Made from Japanese knotweed root.
• Purified water – This is an absorption agent. Purified by reverse osmosis and deionization.
• Citric acid – Provides acidity regulator to preserve freshness. Made from the fermentation of sugar.
• Fruit and vegetable juice – Provides color. Made from carrot (Daucus carota sativa) and blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium).
• Ascorbic acid – Preserves freshness. Form of vitamin C made by fermentation.
• Pectin – Thickens and stabilizes. Made from citrus peel.
• Potassium sorbate – Preserves freshness. Salt of sorbic acid made from synthetic sources.
• Natural flavors – Provides mixed berry flavor. Made from natural sources.
• Sodium citrate – Preserves freshness. Salt of citric acid made from synthetic sources.
• Xanthan gum – Thickener and stabilizer. Made from fermentation of carbohydrates.
• Rebaudioside A – Sweetener. Made from stevia leaf (Stevia rebaudiana).

Modere Collagen Benefits

It’s important to note that these benefits have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and they list the typical disclaimer on their website, i.e.“This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.” But I have noticed many of these myself as I’ve been taking Modere Collagen. People typically notice a difference between 30-60 days of consistent usage.

Improved joint mobility and lubrication

I would LOVE to see a marked improvement in this since my ankles and knees are SO achy and crunch and pop and I’m not even 40. I plan to the try the Sport Collagen to see if it helps with that.

Reduced joint discomfort

Promotes healthy cartilage and connective tissue

Improved muscle tone

Reduced wrinkles

Increases skin’s collagen content

This helps with visible signs of aging.

Improves skin’s hydration, firmness and elasticity

This is one of my biggest goals and I do feel like my elasticity has improved since taking the Skin collagen regularly.

Reduces hyaluronidase

Hyaluronidase is an enzyme that can make your skin age.

Promotes healthy hair, nails, gums and eyes

Supports cardiovascular health

Boosts vitality

What does that even mean? haha.

Modere Biocell Product Line

Modere makes four different liquid biocell collagen products. All with slightly different goals, as outlined below.

Modere has done studies in controlled clinical environments to show that the body readily recognizes and accepts all types of Liquid BioCell. Their studies actually compared collagen and hyaluronic acid levels in the skin and in the blood of participants at weekly intervals. They saw measured increases in collagen and hyaluronic acid among study participants, indicating that Modere Liquid Biocell collagen is effectively absorbed into the bloodstream and is not broken down in the digestive system the same way as typical collagen proteins. (Source)

All of their liquid collagens should be taken as one tablespoon, twice daily. I typically take one in the morning and one at night.

Liquid BioCell Skin

BioCell Skin contains the Modere BioCell blend and then 18 fruit and vegetable concentrates. It’s essentially superfood juices, which are full of antioxidants. There’s no way to tell just how much of each of the 18 fruits and veggie concentrates are included, however. A study that was completed in 2004 found that these concentrates increased the antioxidants in the blood, which is what improved skin health (reduced skin aging by reducing the damage from free radicals, which speeds up aging).

Liquid BioCell Life

Liquid BioCell Life is pretty similar to the Skin version, but it contains resveratrol, an antioxidant that may play a role in the prevention of chronic diseases, and Wolfberry, which has similar benefits as well. This is the one that I’ve tried and I do like the taste!

Liquid BioCell Pure

Liquid BioCell Pure is simply the BioCell blend of collagen and hyaluronic acid. It does not contain any sugar or calories, so this is a great option if you want to ONLY get the collagen and HA. This is the best option if you’re taking collagen for your skin or joint health.

Liquid BioCell Sport

Liquid BioCell Sport is very similar to the Skin and Life options. It contains BioCell and a variety of fruit and vegetable concentrates, but it also has an amino acid blend of branched-chain amino acids (leucine, isoleucine, valine) and L-carnitine. These help improve exercise performance and increase muscle strength. None of the other BioCell options contain protein, but this does contain 1 gram. This product is also NSF certified, so athletes can take it since it fuels physical and mental performance.

This is the one I want to try next since my ankles really bother me as I’ve started aging (almost 40) and I’m hoping this will improve some of my joint issues.

My Review of Modere Collagen

Okay now that you know all of the details, let’s get into my personal thoughts.

Pros

Tastes good!

Like I mentioned above, powdered collagen does taste funny, no matter what people say, and the only way not to taste it is to bury it in a smoothie. I cannot take it in coffee. I don’t find that the Modere BioCell Collagen tastes bad at all; in fact, I like it. But, I haven’t tried all the different types they sell (only Skin and Life), so maybe the Pure or Sport is nasty. (If you’ve tried others, let me know!)

Different types of collagen for different goals

I love that there are options. If you prefer to skip on the fruits and veggies, the BioCell Pure is a perfect option. I prefer to have all of the superfoods in my collagen, and I have that option with the Skin or Life Biocell.

Less joint pain

I have noticed that my ankles and wrists (which are VERY prone to a deep ache) don’t hurt as much since regularly taking collagen. They do say it improves joint health. Placebo effect? Maybe. Worth it? Yes.

LONG lashes

My lashes and nails grow so much faster when I’m regularly taking collagen! This took a few months to notice but it definitely is noticeable if you stick with it. When I stopped taking it, I noticed a distinct difference.

Cons

Expensive

It’s VERY expensive collagen, especially considering I feel like I’m paying for juice. Superfood juice, yes, but still juice. They do have referral codes that customers can share with their friends and this link should save you $10. Every bit counts, right?

There ARE a few ways to save however.

• You can join Modere as a Subscribe & Save member (there’s an option at checkout). Once you select that, you get 5-15% off monthly orders and off any a la carte orders. On your second shipment, you’ll receive $20 in product credit and on your third shipment, Modere will MATCH your savings (i.e. if you are at the 10% off tier, your third shipment will be 20% off). You get a text message each month before it ships and it’s super easy to cancel.
• Additionally, each customer receives their own referral code, GIVE $10, get $10 in product credit for future purchases.

Not organic

Considering how many fruits and veggie concentrates are added, I feel like they should be organic, especially since non-organic berries have some of the highest levels of pest control spray.

Bottom Line

Overall, I really like Modere Collagen. I use it a few times per week, when I’m not having a smoothie (I use Collagen for Her with I have smoothies since you can’t taste it) and when I run out of Collagen for Her, I’ll probably switch to this exclusively. I wish Modere’s wasn’t so expensive. But that’s the case with so many things where you’re paying for convenience!

I tried a few other items from Modere when I ordered the BioCell. This may sound weird, but I am truly OBSESSED with the toothpaste. I also tried the TRIM that’s supposed to inhibit fat storage, reduce fat cell formation (help with weight loss), improve muscle tone and restore youthful skin, but no luck with that. It gave me diarrhea (sorry, I know that’s TMI, but how’s that for side effects!).

If you decide to place an order with collagen, below are other things I like as well as a few things I just ordered. One to note is that while they DO have a generous return policy (full refund), it’s kind of a pain. I had to get on the phone with them vs. just process it online. So keep that in mind.

A few other Modere products I love:

Toothpaste – I didn’t know I could be THAT obsessed with toothpaste. My teeth feel like I just had professional cleaning and it’s free of crap that’s in most commercial toothpaste! I love the mouthwash too!

Digestive Enzymes – filled with lots of good things to help with upset stomachs after an occasionally heavy meal.

Phytos – these are powdered greens, fruits and superfoods. I ordered them to see how they compared to Balance of Nature, which I’ve used for 20+ years. I’ll do a full review soon, but in short, I actually like them BETTER, which is did NOT expect.

Sunless tanning foam – I haven’t used a self tanner since middle school and was still scared 25+ years later since it was so streaky and smelled so bad, ha! I was BLOWN away by how easy this is to apply (the mitt is fantastic) and how natural it looks. I’ve gotten so many comments about how tan I am and people ask if I’m hitting the pool a lot. No, no I am not. 🙂

I have all of these items and the Skin Collagen on Subscribe & Save so I save money and if I’m not out of anything when it comes time to ship, I just remove whatever I don’t need. (You get texts before your order ships.)

This link has all my favorite products if you want to add them all to your cart and it will also let you just delete what you don’t want. That link should also give you $10 off – it’s not much but better than nothing!

Alright, that’s it! I hope this is helpful. If you have questions, let me know and I’ll do my best to help answer!