Research-Based

Bulletproof Collagen Protein Review – Is This Protein Worth The Cost?

Photo of author

By Ryan Brennan

Reviewed by Juliana Tamayo, MS, RDN - Last Updated

Bulletproof Collagen Protein Review

Collagen supplements are exploding in popularity these days. In fact, if you point out pretty much any nutritional supplement brand, chances are they are going to have a collagen supplement. 

Many people are taking collagen for various issues, such as aging skin, hair, and nails, painful joints; and poor recovery. 

Today, we will go over a collagen supplement called Bulletproof Collagen to see how effective it is. 

Bulletproof Collagen Protein

Continue reading this Bulletproof Collagen Protein review to learn if it truly is one of the better collagen supplements out there and whether or not it is worth buying. 

About Collagen Protein

Protein has become an American obsession over the past decade. Everyone from bodybuilders to children is being encouraged to increase their intake of protein. It comes without saying that protein is an essential macronutrient since amino acid building blocks make up most tissues in your body. 

When it comes to proteins, there are quite a few different types we hear a lot about. Soy protein is one popular type of protein. Then there is the most popular whey protein, such as Body Fortress Super Advanced Whey Protein. There are also various plant-based protein powder supplements, such as Tru Protein. These proteins have completely taken over the supplement community and have become a go-to for anyone struggling with protein consumption.

However, whey protein is far from the only protein supplement we need to know about. In fact, there is one type of protein in particular that often gets left out of the mix — collagen protein. That is why Bulletproof has added its own collagen protein to the market called Bulletproof Collagen Protein.

There are some options for collagen protein out there, like BUBS Naturals Collagen Protein and Vitauthority Multi Collagen Protein, so how do you know if Bulletproof Collagen Protein is worth buying?

We are going to break down everything you should know about collagen protein, why you need to add it to your daily diet, and whether or not Bulletproof Collagen Protein is the right supplement for you in this review.

Why Is Protein Important In The Body?

Protein plays a multitude of roles in the human body, and they all boil down to the amino acids that make them up. Amino acids are the building blocks of all proteins, and there are 20 of them that are important to the human body.

As we all know, there are various different types of protein. Their differences will boil down to the amino acid profile of that particular protein. When most people look for supplements, they are concerned about whether or not that protein is a complete protein, which means it contains all nine essential amino acids.

The essential amino acids — histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine — are not produced in the body naturally and must be consumed through our diet. An incomplete protein is one that simply does not have all nine essential amino acids, even if it contains all the other ones.

While essential amino acids get most of the love in supplements, there are a variety of nonessential amino acids that could decrease as we age. For this reason, you should consider finding a supplement that helps you find a healthy balance of essential and nonessential amino acids.

In other words, not all protein is made equal, but all protein is equally as important to the overall function of the human body, you need them all one way or another.

What Is Bulletproof Collagen Protein?

Collagen Protein is a powdered supplement offered by the popular supplement company, Bulletproof. This company is well-known in the industry for its Bulletproof Coffee and has since gone on to create a variety of other supplements, including Brain Octane Oil, Greens, Innerfuel Prebiotic, and (of course) Bulletproof Collagen protein powder.

Bulletproof Products

Bulletproof designed its Collagen Protein powder to keep your body healthy from the inside out. As the name suggests, it utilizes hydrolyzed collagen peptides from the hide of the cattle (as opposed to whey protein, which comes from milk).

Taking one serving of Bulletproof’s Collagen Protein is supposed to promote a more sturdy bone structure, improved joint function, and healthier skin. With its unique amino acid profile, you will be providing your body with nutrients that are often non-existent in today’s diet.

With Bulletproof collagen peptides, you can easily add collagen protein to your daily diet by adding it to your favorite smoothies or beverages. Much like you will find with other types of protein, Bulletproof also offers collagen protein bars as well as a variety of flavors, including the unflavored collagen protein to add to any beverage or food. They can easily substitute some of the whey protein supplements we all consume daily.

In order to fully understand the science behind Collagen Protein, you have to understand what protein is, how collagen differs from whey, why we need to supplement with collagen, and how Bulletproof intends to help.

Let’s get started!

Bulletproof Collagen

Bulletproof Collagen Protein Ingredients

Bulletproof Collagen Protein contains only one ingredient: Hydrolyzed Collagen (20g).  The nutrition facts are as follows:

  • Calories: 90
  • Protein: 22g
  • Sodium: 75mg

Hydrolyzed Collagen

Hydrolyzed collagen goes through a hydrolyzation process to break it down and make it more bioavailable.  Research shows that hydrolyzation is the best process for collagen production. Through the hydrolyzation process, collagen peptides are separated to help you obtain all the benefits and a protein boost. 

Amino Acid Profile 

While not necessarily ingredients, it is important to note that you can find the following amino acid profile in Bulletproof Collagen Protein: 

  • Alanine
  • Arginine 
  • Aspartic Acid 
  • Glutamic Acid 
  • Glycine 
  • Histidine 
  • Hydroxyproline 
  • Isoleucine
  • Leucine 
  • Lysine 
  • Methionine 
  • Phenylalanine 
  • Proline 
  • Serine
  • Threonine 
  • Tryptophan
  • Tyrosine 
  • Valine 

It is important to note one missing ingredient that makes Bulletproof Collagen Protein an incomplete protein: tryptophan. This is an essential amino acid that must be obtained through diet, and not having it in this supplement, makes this protein powder incomplete. All that to say, you should not base your entire protein intake simply on Bulletproof Collagen Protein. 

Bulletproof Collagen Protein

Bulletproof Collagen Protein Benefits

Like most other collagen supplements, Bulletproof Collagen Protein is advertised to deliver the following benefits:

Smoother, More Hydrated Skin

One of the advertised benefits of Bulletproof Collagen Protein is to support healthy skin. Specifically, Collagen Protein is designed to decrease the effects of aging and give you glowing and hydrated skin, while also improving skin elasticity and reducing wrinkles. 

While the body naturally produces collagen, production slows down after age 25. That is where Bulletproof collagen peptides from grass-fed pasture-raised sources provide high-quality collagen and protein to help supplement the collagen that your body is not producing anymore.  

That sounds like quite the anti-aging combo for the skin!

Stronger Joints and Bones 

Many people struggle with joint pain, soreness, and lack of flexibility. But Bulletproof Collagen Protein is designed to minimize those symptoms by upregulating cartilage production and enhancing the connective tissues around the joints. Users are supposed to get stronger, healthier, and more flexible joints. 

Most of the health benefits when it comes to joint and bone health are there thanks to glycine, the most common amino acid you can find in collagen supplements. A good collagen protein powder will surely help strengthen your joints and bones and prevent normal degeneration that comes with activity and aging. 

Faster Recovery

Intense exercise can take a toll on the body and many athletes and fitness enthusiasts suffer from everyday aches and pains. Fortunately, Bulletproof Collagen Protein claims to be able to improve your recovery time by enhancing tendon and joint health, just to name a few. 

And this may mean you can be more consistent and get after it more often, without all of the pain holding you back. 

These benefits surely sound fantastic. But does Bulletproof Collagen Protein actually work? Read on to find out!

Bulletproof Collagen Protein Powder

More On Collagen 

Collagen is a protein found in connective tissues in the body, such as the joints, skin, tendons, hair, and nails. In fact, collagen is the most abundant protein in the body, so the logic is that supplementing with it would increase total collagen and thus benefit whatever areas are rich in it. 

Collagen peptides and especially grass-fed collagen supplements have the most research behind them. This is particularly true when it comes to enhancing skin health, such as decreasing wrinkles, improving hydration, firmness, and elasticity, and overall decreasing skin aging. 

Furthermore, collagen supplementation also has been shown to improve joint flexibility and mobility, while also decreasing joint pain and stiffness. 

Finally, some research shows that collagen supplementation may have specific benefits for athletes, such as improving body composition, strength, and recovery. 

For best results, the recommended dose is 2.5 to 20g. Although 10 to 15g is most common for general purposes. 

Collagen Joint and Bone Support

Is There A Difference Between Collagen And Whey Protein?

Many of you are probably wondering why Bulletproof has an entire formula dedicated to collagen protein, especially when whey protein is so popular right now. As we mentioned before, the difference between these two proteins will boil down to their amino acid profile.

Where whey protein is largely centered around the essential amino acids and other proteins that target BCAAs, collagen protein will contain high amounts of nonessential amino acids. For the right person, collagen protein could help restore depleted levels of nonessential amino acids.

In particular, collagen protein is known for containing high amounts of hydroxyproline, glycine, and proline. They are essential to the structure and strength of the connective tissue found in our bodies, including the skin, bones, cartilage, and blood vessels.

Due to the amino acid profile, collagen protein will lead to stronger and healthier bones, skin, hair, nails, joints, and the overall structure of the body. With that in mind, though, it is not going to fully replace other protein sources, as it is not a complete protein. 

Collagen Peptides

Don’t We Naturally Produce Collagen? 

Some of you might have heard about collagen because we naturally produce it in our bodies. In fact, it makes up nearly 35% of all the proteins found in the body. Furthermore, roughly 57% of all collagen will consist of the three amino acids detailed above: hydroxyproline, glycine, and proline.

The body will naturally synthesize glycine from threonine, serine, and choline. Additionally, it will produce proline from arginine and hydroxyproline from proline. This is why most people will not think about supplementing with collagen protein, since the body is already producing it from the dietary protein we consume.

While we do produce collagen naturally, our bodies also naturally produce less of it the older we get. In fact, scientists have discovered that this decrease in collagen production can start as early as 25 years old in some individuals.

Without proper levels of collagen in the body, you will likely experience a loss of elasticity in the skin, wrinkles, slower healing of wounds, worn-out cartilage, loss of flexibility, a decrease of muscle mass, and thinning of the intestinal lining.

What Type Of Collagen Products Does Bulletproof Offer?

When it comes to Bulletproof, they offer plenty of products, including Bulletproof Brain Octane Oil and other collagen products, such as collagen protein bars. Their most popular collagen protein will come in powder form and can be added to any beverage. The powder comes in an unflavored, vanilla, and chocolate flavor. It can also be found in individual packets.

Bulletproof Collagen Protein Scoop

If you are not into collagen protein powder, they also offer collagen protein bars that come in a variety of unique, creative, and seasonal flavors — including cafe latte, vanilla shortbread, lemon cookie, chocolate chip cookie, apple pie, fudge brownie, and mint chocolate chip.

Furthermore, Bulletproof offers several different collagen formulas with a boost. Their Joint Boost, Beauty Boost, and Gut Boost provide extra ingredients to increase the benefits you receive from just collagen protein.

Does Bulletproof Make Any Claims Or Guarantees With Collagen Protein?

When you look at a product’s packaging, social media, website, or whatever marketing channel that brand is utilizing, you likely do not think much about the various claims and guarantees being thrown at you.

Even though we understand a majority of these claims are only designed to capture our attention, they will oftentimes be the driving force behind our decision to purchase a product. Unfortunately, misleading claims and guarantees will cause misinformed decisions.

This is why it is essential to compare the claims or guarantees to the reality of what you will actually get when you purchase it. Believe it or not, most people will not consider that second part and will only let the claims guide their choice.

In terms of Bulletproof’s Collagen Protein, there are various claims that you will want to understand before we break down the ingredients. Luckily, they keep it rather simple — healthy skin, bones, and joints. It is designed to be easy to use and can be used in either a hot or cold beverage.

Dosage, Packaging, and Pricing

To avoid any confusion, right on the front of the packaging for Bulletproof Collagen Protein, you will see the protein content (22g), the claims (healthy skin, bones, and joints), and the flavor. On the back, you can see the ingredient label, nutrition facts, and amino acid profile.

Bulletproof Collagen Protein Powder

This supplement comes in three different size containers, as well as in packet form. 

The three container options are 12 servings, 25 servings, and 60 servings. You can also choose the Stock Up and Save option, which is three 25-serving containers. 

Also, with all options, you can either choose the regular price or choose the Subscribe & Save option, which lowers the price by 20%

Since there are so many options, we listed below the pricing breakdown:

Size Regular Price Subscribe and Save Price
12 Servings $23.99 ($2/serving) $19.19 ($1.60/serving)
25 Servings $43.95 ($1.76/serving) $35.16 ($1.41/serving)
60 Servings $76.99 ($1.28/serving) $61.59 ($1.03/serving)
Stock Up and Save (3, 25-serving containers) $118.67 ($1.58/serving) $94.94 ($1.27/serving)

So, you will pay pretty much anywhere from one to two bucks per serving. Now, that is sort of on the expensive side, but keep in mind you are getting 20g of collagen, so you could always start with just one scoop, which halves all of these prices. 

Lastly, you can buy 15 packets at a time, which costs $23.95 ($1.60/serving) for a one-time purchase and $19.16 ($1.27/serving) for the Subscribe & Save option

Also, all Subscribe & Save purchases can be delivered every 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, or 12 weeks. 

Bulletproof Collagen ProteinGet 25% off Bulletproof Collagen ProteinUse code “FITNESSCLONE25” to get 25% off your order of Bulletproof Collagen Protein. Click the button below to get this deal!GET THE DEAL

 

Shipping and Returns

You also get free shipping on orders in the U.S. over $35. They also ship to Canada and other parts of the world, although they do not ship to some countries. Most orders will be delivered within two to 12 days. 

They also offer a 30 Day Return Policy. You must have an authorized return and return it within 30 days of receipt and your product has to be bought directly from their website

Bulletproof Collagen Pros and Cons

We now understand the science, the claims, and the ingredient behind all the magic. If you are still wondering whether or not Bulletproof Collagen Protein is right for you, take a look at these pros and cons for a last-minute view of this product. 

There is nothing that can capture the overall value of a product better than a pros vs. cons list. While there is plenty to love about Bulletproof Collagen Protein, you have to wonder whether there are better alternatives out there. More importantly, you have to know that it will not do more harm than good.

Let’s take a look at the pros and cons associated with Bulletproof Collagen Protein!

Pros

  • Collagen protein contains high amounts of hydroxyproline, glycine, and proline
  • Hydroxyproline is generally non-existent in other proteins
  • Can be combined with the whey protein already in your daily diet
  • Comes in chocolate and vanilla flavors, or unflavored for more versatility
  • If you are not a protein shake lover, Bulletproof offers a variety of collagen bars you can eat
  • Has several different “Boost” products with added ingredients (Gut, Joint, and Beauty)
  • Can lead to healthier skin, bones, joints, hair, nails, tendons, and ligaments
Bulletproof Collagen Protein Bottles

Cons

  • It is not a complete protein, which means it cannot replace other protein sources in your diet 
  • Only fully necessary if you have started experiencing a loss of collagen
  • Does not have a capsule version, and only comes in powder form
  • Having chocolate and vanilla is enough, but supplement users are starting to like unique flavors a lot more
  • Can become expensive if you are taking this with a whey supplement or another protein powder 
  • They have recalled a batch of the product before due to undeclared milk (2018)
  • Consumers could experience an upset stomach or heartburn 

Woman Drinking Bulletproof

Claims vs. Reality

All in all, Bulletproof can stand by its claims

Collagen supplementation has been shown to enhance skin hydration and smoothness, benefit the joints and improve recovery, just as they claim. Given that they use a high enough dosage, it is likely that Bulletproof Collagen Protein will be effective. 

Of course, this all does not mean it is a cure-all, so do not expect it to completely erase joint pain or turn back 20 years on your skin. But it definitely should improve all of these areas at least a little bit. 

Lastly, you likely need to take Collagen Protein on a consistent basis for a while to see results. All in all, you are looking in the neighborhood of at least two months (but you really should just take it daily indefinitely because it is very simple to implement). 

Is Bulletproof Collagen Protein Safe?

Possible side effects of Bulletproof Collagen Protein include bloating, upset stomach, and other gastrointestinal symptoms. These symptoms should go away with time, and if they do not, stop taking the product and visit your health care provider. 

Also, make sure that you consume other protein sources (especially ones containing tryptophan) besides collagen to get the full spectrum of amino acids. 

Bulletproof Collagen Protein is keto-friendly, soy-free, gluten-free, free from added sugar, non-GMO, and dye-free. 

It is made in an FDA-approved and GMP-certified facility. 

Who is it Best For?

Bulletproof Collagen Protein is best for anyone who wants a high-dose collagen supplement for their skin, joints, and/or athletic recovery. 

Final Verdict: Bulletproof Collagen Protein Review

Well, we have reached the end of this Bulletproof Collagen Protein review. 

Many people simply are not getting enough collagen in their diets and this increases the risk of a number of potential problems. 

Bulletproof Collagen Protein seems to be a high-quality collagen supplement that might be your next best weapon for enhancing skin health, strengthening your joints, and improving recovery. 

I recommend this collagen supplement as a solid option for anyone looking for an easy and safe way to get more collagen into their diet. If you have doubts, purchase the product directly from Bulletproof, and get a full refund if you are unsure about its benefits. 

Overall Rating:
Photo of author

Ryan Brennan

Ryan Brennan is a health and fitness writer with both personal and professional experience in the field. His passion for nutrition stems from personal experiences dealing with malnutrition, low energy, and other health complications. Through research and experimentation, Ryan was able to overcome these issues and take control of his health. He now aims to help others do the same. Ryan has been writing about nutrition, fitness, and supplementation for the past 7 years. He also has experience in the field, serving as the manager of a high-end fitness facility in Las Vegas, NV where he currently resides.

Alternatives to Bulletproof Collagen Protein

manna liposomal collagen peptides

Manna Collagen

  • Liquid Collagen
  • Highest Absorption
  • Made in the USA
vitauthority multi collagen peptides

Vitauthority Collagen

  • 5 Types of Collagen
  • Skin Health Ingredients
  • Great-Tasting Flavors
primal Collagen Sachet 3 packs

Primal Collagen

  • 2 Types of Collagen
  • Grass-fed Collagen
  • Cost-effective