Does the AlgaeCal Collagen work? Women in a parenting forum I belong to were raving about it, especially for stronger nails and faster hair growth. After seeing so many positive comments, I decided to give it a try.
To play it safe, I ordered directly from Amazon rather than the official website, algaecal.com. Thanks to Amazon Prime, it arrived in about three days. Unfortunately, my excitement faded a little the moment I opened the container.
Table of Contents
About AlgaeCal Collagen
AlgaeCal Collagen is a collagen peptide powder marketed as a supplement that supports healthy hair, stronger nails, improved skin elasticity, and bone health. The product is made by AlgaeCal Inc., a company known for its bone health supplements.
The collagen powder contains four types of collagen peptides that the company claims are clinically studied for their benefits. These peptides are derived from animal sources including bovine and chicken. That means the product is not vegan, which is something many people do not realize when they first hear the name. The ingredients listed are;
Hydrolyzed bovine collagen peptides
Chicken bone broth collagen peptides
Eggshell membrane collagen
Vitamin C
Biotin
Hyaluronic acid
Each container is advertised as containing 13.3 ounces of collagen powder, providing around 30 servings. The collagen is designed to dissolve easily in beverages like tea, coffee, smoothies, or water.
The price on Amazon when I purchased it was almost $56, which immediately places it in the premium category compared to many other collagen powders on the market.
Sour First Impression
When the package arrived everything looked fine from the outside. The container was sealed and looked exactly like the product photos online. But once I opened it, I immediately noticed something that bothered me.
The container looked half filled.
Now I understand that powders often settle during shipping and that containers are sometimes larger than the product volume. But this felt excessive, especially for something that costs almost fifty six dollars.
It gave the impression that the product had already been used before I even touched it.
Being someone who likes to double check things, I pulled out my kitchen scale and weighed the contents. To my surprise, the amount inside did not match the 13.3 ounces stated on the label.
That really put me off. I could not help wondering if there are not regulations companies must follow regarding weight accuracy.
For a premium priced supplement, this kind of inconsistency is disappointing.
My experience using this Collagen powder
One thing I appreciated about Algaecal collagen powder was how well it dissolves. I started adding a scoop to my hot tea every morning and it blended completely within seconds. There was no clumping, no gritty texture, and no floating powder.
Even better, the powder has no noticeable odor or taste. That alone is a huge plus because many collagen powders have a strange smell or an unpleasant aftertaste.
Another pleasant surprise was that it did not upset my stomach. I have a sensitive digestive system, and some supplements can leave me feeling bloated or uncomfortable. Thankfully this one did not cause any issues.
I also noticed that many reviews online complained about mixing the powder with coffee. In my experience, the key is temperature. I usually drink my coffee at room temperature, and the powder mixes perfectly fine in it.
However, I would not recommend using it in very hot coffee or cold coffee, because the texture is not as smooth. Room temperature coffee seems to be the sweet spot.
Eventually it became part of my routine. I would simply add a scoop to my tea or herbal drink and move on with my day.
Luckily, I did not experience any side effects while using this collagen powder. It did not cause stomach upset, bloating, or digestive discomfort, which is something I always watch out for when trying new supplements.
That said, collagen supplements can sometimes cause mild side effects in certain people, including digestive discomfort, fullness, or allergic reactions if someone is sensitive to the source ingredients.
Because this product contains collagen derived from bovine and chicken sources, people with allergies to these ingredients should avoid it.
As with any supplement, it is always wise to consult a healthcare professional if you have existing health conditions or concerns
Does It work for hair and nails?
After using the AlgaeCal powder for about two weeks, I did notice some improvements in my nails.They became noticeably stronger. Before using this collagen powder, they were quite brittle and prone to breaking. After a few weeks, they seemed tougher and less likely to chip.
For hair growth, I didn’t notice any change.
Better Alternative
After trying AlgaeCal Collagen, I honestly plan to stick to Collagen Capsules instead as they’re more convenient, affordable, and I don’t have to worry about half filled packaging.
So I found the Nature’s Craft Advanced Multi Collagen Complex on Amazon.com. Sold for $19, it contains 90 capsules (30 days supply) and has to be take three daily.
This is my first week on it and girl, I love it so far. It’s easy to swallow, no aftertaste, great flavor. I also noticed that my hair strands are stronger and there’s less hair fall. Which is something I never noticed with AlgaeCal or this collagen patch which was flop.
Is AlgaeCal Collagen A Scam?
I would not go as far as calling AlgaeCal Collagen a scam. The product does contain real collagen peptides and it did produce some results for me, particularly with nail strength and hair growth.
However, I do believe the price is extremely high for what you get, and the packaging issue with the container looking half filled and the weight discrepancy was disappointing.
Those factors alone make it difficult for me to fully recommend the product.
Pros
Dissolves easily in tea and room temperature coffee
No odor or unpleasant taste
Noticeable improvement in nail strength
Slightly faster hair growth
Cons
Very expensive for a collagen powder
Container appeared half empty when opened
Final Thoughts
Trying AlgaeCal Collagen was an interesting experience. It mixes well, has no unpleasant taste, and did help strengthen my nails while supporting hair growth. But the high price combined with the packaging issues left me feeling disappointed.
For a supplement that costs nearly sixty dollars, I expected the container to feel properly filled and the weight to match what was advertised.
While the product itself works reasonably well, I personally do not think it stands out enough to justify the price.