Collagen Powder Packets: Can You Drink Your Way to Better Skin?

Sienna Miller, Kate Bosworth and Victoria Beckham are fans of fighting Father Time with a gulp and chug. Collagen cocktails are the new “it” drink for those aspiring to stay forever young. The powder formulas found in drink mixes and packets claim renewed skin from a sip. 

Check out three up-and-coming products, and whether doctors think they'll actually work:

TOKI

“Toki” means porcelain skin

• Contains active collagen, calcium and hyaluronic acids
• Can be mixed with any liquid from juice to gin and has only 17 calories per packet
• Featured in magazines like Elle, Fitness and Nylon
• Reportedly impacts the bloodstream and fibroblasts in the dermis, which triggers collagen production
• $175 for 60 packets

Dr. Venessa

• Promises cell renewal, firmer skin, increased energy, fat burning and freedom from acne
• Composed of three forms of pure collagen
• Includes amino acids proline, lysine, glycine and vitamin C
• Over 15 years of clinical research
• 98 calories per scoop
• Cost: $77 for 600g

Rodial Glamtox Sticks

• Includes natural collagen and peptides
• Promises a 30% reduction in fine lines and wrinkles in 12 weeks
• Reportedly improves skin’s moisture levels
• Celebrity fans like Sienna Miller and Kate Bosworth
• $76.80 for 2 week supply

Fountain of Youth in a glass?

Hold onto your wallets, says Memphis plastic surgeon Dr. Peter Aldea: "This IS a scam. Collagen is just another protein chain which when eaten is digested by the stomach acids and the upper small bowel into its particular amino acid subunits. As long as the source of protein is high in amino acids (instead of fat etc), any one source of eaten protein is not better than another. Don't waste your money."

So while collagen supplements can help drive the formation of collagen throughout the body, no studies show a specific anti-aging benefit to the skin. In fact, collagen is produced by the body in sufficient amounts so that skin is naturally toned and supple. But eating the right foods and getting good sources of antioxidants in the diet is key. Collagen friendly foods like green veggies, deeply colored fruits and omega 3's from fish and avocados promise to stave off aging far better than any drinkable powder ever could.

Still thirsty? "The best drink for your skin is actually water," adds Idaho facial plastic surgeon Dr. Temp Patterson. "[Make] sure you remain hydrated properly."

Check out this investigative video about TOKI from CBS4 Miami:

Photo credit: Bizrate, Wikimedia Commons (celebs) and Amazon.com