My Honest Review of Every HK Vitals Collagen Supplement: Dermatologist Recommended

Collagen supplements CAN help you get healthier, younger-looking skin – but only if you choose the right ones. And today, I’m giving you a no-nonsense, science-backed review of one of India’s most popular collagen ranges: HK Vitals Supplements.

Completely non-sponsored, by the way!

Hi! I’m Dr. Alpana Mohta, a board-certified dermatologist. After my last video on collagen supplements, I got tons of requests to review the HK Vitals Collagen Supplement range. So here we go!

What Matters Most?

Collagen supplements can come from animal, marine, or vegetarian sources. Now, when we dive into the science, here’s what we know. Animal-sourced collagen, especially from bovine or porcine sources, tends to have the strongest evidence backing its benefits for skin health. Marine collagen is next in line, but it does carry a higher risk of heavy metal contamination. Vegetarian collagen, on the other hand, is still in the experimental phase – so don’t expect miracles there.

At least until now, HK Vitals doesn’t offer animal collagen, but they do have marine and vegetarian variants. So, let's break them down.

HK Vitals Skin Radiance Collagen

This one's got 5 grams of hydrolyzed marine collagen per serving – slightly lower than some competitors like Physician's Choice Collagen Peptides and Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides, but decent for the price.

It also contains sodium hyaluronate, which is a water-soluble form of hyaluronic acid, along with vitamin C, vitamin E, and biotin.

Vitamin C and E are fantastic antioxidants that help protect your skin by slowing down collagen breakdown.

But then there’s biotin. If you've followed me for a while, you know I’m not a big fan of biotin supplements. They can mess with your blood test results, sometimes cause acne, and honestly, most of us get plenty of biotin from a regular diet.

And then we have sodium hyaluronate. Now, while topical hyaluronic acid is a superstar for skin hydration, the oral version doesn’t have as much scientific backing. There have been a couple of small studies showing improved skin hydration and elasticity, but we’re not talking life-changing results here.

My Verdict: If you’re looking for a solid marine collagen supplement, this is a decent pick. Just don’t expect the added ingredients to work wonders.

HK Vitals Collagen for Men

The men’s variant is pretty similar to the regular one. The core ingredients like collagen peptides and vitamin C are the same, but:

• Less biotin & vitamin E

• More sodium hyaluronate

• Extras like glutathione, resveratrol, zinc, and cysteine

Sodium Hyaluronate

Now, more doesn’t always mean better for sodium hyaluronate, which, as mentioned, doesn’t guarantee better results. In fact, even HK Vitals’ own website states there’s no established daily requirement for it.

Zinc

It also contains 8.5 mg of zinc per serving, which makes up for roughly 70-80% of the daily recommended dietary allowance of zinc for men. Its fantastic for skin repair and wound healing, but most people get enough from their diet. Just like biotin, zinc deficiency is also kinda rare! Also, overdoing zinc can mess with the levels of other minerals in our body, like copper.

Glutathione

Then we have Glutathione, which is often marketed as a "skin-brightening" agent, but the glow it gives you is temporary. At 125 mg per serving, you can expect improvement in you skin's "glow" but be informed that these results are temporary. Stop the supplement, and the glow fades away within weeks!

Now, let me tell you about the two ingredients that actually concern me in this supplement: resveratrol and cysteine.

Resveratrol

Resveratrol is an antioxidant that’s often praised for its potential skin, heart, and cognitive benefits. Sounds amazing, right? But, resveratrol is an enzyme inhibitor. That means it can interfere with certain medications, especially when taken in higher doses.

For example, if you’re on blood thinners, antihypertensives, or medications for diabetes, resveratrol might cause unexpected interactions. And honestly, if you’re already getting antioxidants from a balanced diet, supplementing with resveratrol might just be unnecessary extra baggage.

Cysteine

Now, cysteine is a non-essential amino acid, which means your body can produce it naturally when needed. So, why is it in this supplement? Good question. Ans: I don't know!

Also, some manufacturers use the terms 'cysteine' and 'N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)' interchangeably. But they’re not the same. NAC is a more stable and bioavailable form of cysteine, known for boosting glutathione (a powerful antioxidant) and helping with liver detox. It’s even used by physicians to treat many respiratory conditions.

Regular cysteine, however, doesn’t offer these same benefits. So, if you see cysteine in your collagen supplement, it’s probably just filler.

Plus, NAC comes with its own risks. High doses can cause slow blood clotting and trigger bronchospasms in people with asthma. The FDA even debated pulling NAC from the supplement market a while back due to its drug-like properties.

HK Vitals Veg Collagen

Now onto their vegetarian collagen. It’s made from broccoli and carrots, which sounds like it should be healthy and skin-friendly. But, collagen from veggies doesn't work the same way as animal-based or marine-based collagen.

The only vegan collagen that has shown some promise is the kind created using genetically modified yeast and bacteria. Veggies like broccoli and carrots can support collagen production thanks to their antioxidant content, but they don’t contain functional collagen.

So, if you’re vegetarian, instead, load up on foods like citrus fruits, bell peppers, tomatoes, and soy to naturally support collagen production.

HK Vitals Korean Collagen

Ah, the Korean collagen variant. Let me tell you – I went down a rabbit hole of research for this one. Seriously, hours spent digging through studies, articles, and marketing claims. And guess what I found?

It’s marine collagen with a Korean label.

Korean skincare has earned a stellar reputation for innovation, so it’s no surprise that the label might make people think it’s superior. But for collagen supplements, the country of origin doesn’t automatically translate to better results.

Marine collagen, whether it's sourced from Korean waters or anywhere else, follows the same biological principles. There’s nothing inherently unique about it compared to marine collagen from other regions. The formulation remains consistent, but the branding and pricing often suggest otherwise.

So, Which One Should You Buy?

Look, I can’t tell you what to buy – your money, your choice. But if you ask me what I'd pick? I’d go for the regular HK Vitals Skin Radiance Collagen.

Why? Because its got the core ingredients that you actually need from a collagen supplement, hydrolyzed collagen and antioxidants.

If you’re in India or any country where animal-sourced collagen is hard to find, and you're on a budget, this one's a solid choice. The other three variants from the company, are priced higher but will likely give you the same long-term results.

Since collagen supplements aren't FDA-regulated, you have to rely on third-party verifications – and this one is verified. It’s hydrolyzed, comes from a source that actually works (marine), and the amount of collagen per serving aligns with the research-backed optimum.