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Tone It Up Marine Collagen Review – Can It Really Give You Clear Skin?

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By Ryan Brennan

Reviewed by Juliana Tamayo, MS, RDN - Last Updated

Tone-It-Up-Marine-Collagen-Review

Everyone is beautiful in their own way, but that doesn’t mean everyone is satisfied or confident in their own skin. In fact, you have every right to feel that way, especially as you grow older and your body starts producing less of what it needs on a daily basis. This is a normal part of life.

As we age, most of us will start to show it. We’ll start to experience cognitive decline, which is characterized by a decline in brain function. Our skin will start to sag, wrinkles will form on our body, we start to lose vision, our bones become weak, and our hair loses its natural color. While this is a normal part of everyone’s life, it’s what most people fear about the aging process — especially women, who are more self-conscious about their appearance than men. Most of us want to look youthful forever and will do anything to maintain our beauty for as long as possible. 

If this sounds like you, then you’ve likely heard of something that goes by the name of collagen. It’s a protein that’s produced naturally in the body, but this production gradually decreases as we age. In fact, it’s one of the main reasons we experience the daunting aging process over time. 

To combat this, many people are turning to collagen supplements to boost their collagen levels and decelerate the aging process. While they can certainly help in this regard, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. In order to work, you must find the right collagen supplement for you. That’s why we’re going to take a look at a popular collagen choice, Tone It Up Marine Collagen. We’ll take a closer look at this supplement’s ingredients, benefits, and whether or not it’s truly worth the cost in this thorough review of Tone It Up Marine Collagen. Let’s get started!

Marine Collagen by Tone It Up

What Is Tone It Up Marine Collagen?

Tone It Up Marine Collagen is a collagen supplement brought to you by the Tone It Up team. You may be familiar with other Tone It Up supplements, such as Tone It Up Energy. Tone It Up Marine Collagen is designed for women and by women, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be enjoyed by men all over the world. In fact, it’s a very simple formula that contains one ingredient and one ingredient only — collagen.

Made from marine collagen peptides, the Tone It Up formula is the perfect addition to your daily beauty routine. It supports healthy nails, radiant hair, glowing skin, an effective digestive system, and even assists the body in repairing body tissue. It’s here to become your new beauty go-to!

With 10 grams of collagen per serving, you receive a healthy dose of collagen peptides for daily support. Since it’s available in powder form, Tone It Up Marine Collagen is easy to use and can be added to your morning smoothie, coffee, baked treats, water, or your favorite beverage.

Tone It Up Marine Collagen Supplement

To ensure you understand everything about this supplement — from top to bottom — we’re going to go over some of the most important information you need to know about collagen, what it is, why you need it, the different forms of collagen, and the best ways to take this supplement.

What’s the difference between marine collagen and bovine collagen?

Anytime you come across a collagen supplement, you should always check to see whether it’s marine collagen or bovine collagen. Don’t worry; the difference between the two is extremely simple, and it comes down to the source — where the collagen comes from.

As the names suggest, marine collagen is sourced from the skin, bones, and scales of cold-water fish. Normally, these parts of the fish would be discarded during processing. Although it’s not as popular as its counterpart, marine collagen is excellent for those sensitive to fish.

On the other hand, bovine collagen, like that found in Great Lakes Collagen and LiveWell Collagen, is mostly sourced from cows — although it can also be sourced from yak, antelope, bison, and water buffalo. Like its counterpart, it’s extracted by boiling the cow’s bones and other byproducts in the water. 

What’s the difference between Type I, Type II, and Type III collagen?

As we break down collagen a little further, you’ll notice there’s more to it than just marine and bovine collagen. Once extracted, collagen comes in many different types. In fact, there are known to be a minimum of 16 different types of collagen produced in the body. 

Of those 16 types, the three that are most important are Type I, Type II, and Type III. These three types make up over 90% of the collagen found inside your body. Understanding the difference between the three major types of collagen is important for collagen supplements

Type I collagen is the most abundant of the three. It’s widely known for its benefits to the skin, hair, and nails, which is why it’s found in most beauty supplements. Although you can find Type I collagen in both marine and bovine collagen, it’s more abundant in marine collagen. 

Type II collagen is widely known for its benefits to joint health — as well as eye and spinal health. It makes up a majority of the protein in your cartilage, which is the connective tissue providing support for your bones and joints. This type isn’t found in marine or bovine collagen.

Type III collagen is the second most abundant collagen in the body, behind Type I. You’ll find low amounts of it in marine collagen but high amounts in bovine collagen. The main benefit of Type III collagen is it improves the gut lining and supports a healthier gut overall. 

What’s the difference between collagen and collagen peptides?

Now that we understand the difference between marine and bovine collagen, as well as the three most important types of collagen and where they’re sourced, let’s go over the difference between collagen and collagen peptides — which is available in marine and bovine collagen.

Although we all produce our own collagen, there will come a time when we all need a collagen supplement since our body produces less of it as we age. The main problem with collagen is it’s not easily digested by the body, largely due to the length and strength of the collagen molecule.

This is where collagen peptides come in to save the day. After undergoing a process called hydrolysis, the long strands of collagen molecules are broken down into smaller molecules. This makes the collagen — now collagen peptides — much more easily absorbed in the bloodstream.

How To take Tone It Up Marine Collagen

One of the wonderful things about Tone It Up Marine Collagen is the fact that it’s completely 100% tasteless and odorless. Since it comes in powdered form, Tone It Up’s formula can easily be added to just about anything you drink or bake throughout the day — trust us!

With Tone It Up Marine Collagen, you can turn any beverage or baked treat into a versatile beauty-boosting supplement — including your smoothie, pancakes, muffin, cup of coffee, water, tea, almond milk, cookies, donuts, overnight oats, or even your morning parfait! It’s wonderful!

Tone It Up Marine Collagen Ingredients

In addition to being tasteless and odorless, another beautiful thing with Tone It Up Marine Collagen is how basic the formula is. It contains one ingredient and one ingredient only — marine collagen peptides — meaning it gives your body exactly what it needs and nothing that it doesn’t.

Since we know it utilizes marine collagen peptides, we can apply what we learned above to learn a little more about it. First off, we can rest easy knowing they use collagen peptides, making this supplement much easier to digest and absorb into the bloodstream — excellent!

Secondly, the use of marine collagen means we receive a high amount of Type I collagen — the main type associated with better skin, hair, and nails. With that said, it will contain lower amounts of Type II, which can help support and improve your joint health and gut health.

Tone It Up Marine Collagen Supplement Facts

Something we haven’t gone over yet is the amino acid profile of marine collagen. Since collagen is a protein, it’s made up of amino acids. While it’s not the best complete protein source, it does contain high amounts of the following amino acids: hydroxyproline, glycine, proline, and alanine. 

Here’s a closer look at each of those amino acids:

  • Hydroxyproline – non-essential amino acid, largely produced by the amino acid proline. It gives strength to the collagen in bones, joints, tendons, skin, and cartilage. Found in protein-rich animal foods.
  • Alanine – non-essential amino acid, largely used to break down the amino acid tryptophan and Vitamin B6. It’s a source of energy for muscles and the central nervous system. Found in protein-rich animal foods.
  • Glycine – non-essential amino acid that plays a large part in the transmission of chemical signals in the brain. The body also uses it to make glutathione, a powerful antioxidant. Found in protein-rich animal foods.
  • Proline – non-essential amino acid that is largely used for skin healing but can also improve antioxidant status, the immune system, gut health, and joint health. Found in protein-rich animal foods.

Marine collagen peptides will contain around 19 different amino acids, but most of the other levels are rather low compared to other protein sources. As far as the body is concerned, it needs proline, glycine, Vitamin C, Zinc, and Copper to produce its own collagen. 

It’s a shame they didn’t include Vitamin C, Zinc, and Copper in this formula, but it’s not necessarily needed since you’re getting the collagen peptides that your body needs — meaning it doesn’t need those other ingredients to make it. Still, it would’ve been nice to add it.

Tone It Up Marine Collagen Dosage, Packaging, and Pricing

There’s nothing special about the packaging for Tone It Up Marine Collagen. It comes in the everyday jug that you see with most protein powders. Since it’s largely marketed for women, the packaging is mostly white with some light blue designs on the bottom — looks a lot like waves.

Tone It Up Marine Collagen Packaging

There aren’t a lot of hardcore claims on the front. In addition to the name of the product, all it says is that it’s Non-GMO, Gluten-Free, and that it’s designed for skin, hair, and nails. Very simple, but the packaging definitely gets the job done. It’s not an eyesore to look at. 

On the back, you have the supplement facts. It lists the main ingredient — marine collagen peptides — and notifies the consumer that it’s sourced from fish(for those with allergies). It’s also manufactured in a facility that processes milk, eggs, tree nuts, wheat, and soy. 

Here’s a look at the supplement facts: 

  • Calories: 35
  • Protein: 10 grams
  • Sodium: 30 milligrams
  • Collagen: 10 grams

Since there aren’t any added ingredients, each serving is just one small 10-gram scoop of powder. Each jug contains a total of 14 scoops/servings, which means each jug will last you about a month when taking it daily. It normally sells for $26, but it’s currently on sale for $19.

tone it up marine collagen

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Tone It Up Marine Collagen

  • Formula includes marine collagen peptides
  • Each serving features 10 grams of marine collagen
  • Benefits nail, hair, and skin health

Tone It Up Marine Collagen Pros vs. Cons

When searching for a new supplement, no matter what type of supplement it is, it’s highly important that you weigh all the pros and cons associated with that supplement. This is especially true since not all supplements are created equal, and some might be harmful to you.

To ensure you know exactly what you’re getting yourself into with Tone It Up Marine Collagen, we’re going to detail everything we learned about this supplement in a simple pros/cons list. That way, you’ll have all the information you need before making that purchase official.

Pros

  • Marine collagen peptides are high in Type I collagen
  • Type I collagen is most beneficial for hair, skin, and nails
  • Collagen peptides are easier to absorb and digest than normal collagen
  • Marine collagen is also good for gut health and joint health
  • Each scoop delivers 10 grams of marine collagen
  • No additives, fillers, or harmful ingredients — just collagen
  • Powdered formula, easy to add to any beverage or baked treat
  • Can help you turn any beverage or baked good into a beauty-booster
  • Marketed for women, but can also be used by men
  • Reasonably priced compared to other competitors

Cons

  • Sourced from fish, so pay attention to allergies and sensitivities
  • Doesn’t contain Vitamin C, Zinc, or Copper (help the body produce its own collagen)
  • No flavor, which is both a positive and negative
  • Won’t replace daily dietary protein
  • Not a good source of Type II or Type III collagen
  • Only available in powdered form, no capsule version

Claims vs. Reality

Tone It Up Marine Collagen is exactly what it says it is — a marine collagen peptide supplement. It’s marketed towards women that want to increase the collagen inside their body, which is essential for healthy skin, hair, and nails. If you’re after beauty, it’s perfect for you!

The 10-gram serving of collagen peptides is more-than-enough for daily support. Not only that, but it’s extremely easy to add to your daily routine. With no taste or odor, you can add the powdered formula to your hot or cold beverage, as well as your baked treats for versatility!

One of the best features of Tone It Up Marine Collagen is the fact that it won’t contain any added ingredients, fillers, or harmful additives. It gives you marine collagen peptides and nothing else — making this a clean and effective supplement for anyone, including men and women!

Tone It Up Marine Collagen For Skin

Tone It Up Marine Collagen Competitors and Alternatives

As you enter the collagen peptide market, you’ll come to find that marine collagen is much more rare than its bovine collagen counterpart. In fact, we would go as far as saying that Tone It Up Marine Collagen is one of the better marine collagen supplements available today!

With that said, some people have fish allergies, and others are sensitive to fish-sourced supplements. If this sounds like you, then bovine collagen might be a better source of collagen for you. Don’t worry; we’re going to highlight some alternatives and competitors to consider!

Vital Proteins

Vital Proteins Supplement

Collagen Peptides by Vital Proteins is one of the most popular collagen supplements out there. Instead of being sourced from fish, it’s sourced from bovine hide — mostly cows. This means you get a balance of Type I and Type II collagen for all-around beauty support and joint health.

They offer a basic formula, much like Tone It Up, that contains just bovine hide collagen peptides, but you can also get an advanced formula that adds Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid. This not only helps boost natural collagen production, but also improves the immune system.

In addition to that, you’ll find these formulas in both powdered-form and capsuled-form. With 20 grams of collagen per serving, it’s definitely a good daily source and costs $25 per 14 servings (powder). They also supply a wide range of other collagen-related supplements to check out!

Frog Fuel Collection

Frog Fuel Supplement

The Frog Fuel protein collection is one of the most effective and efficient protein supplements on the market today. In fact, it’s trusted by over 4,000 medical facilities as medical food and comes in liquid shot form for quick consumption. It’s not your typical protein supplement, but it works!

There are four main supplements in the collection — Frog Fuel Power Protein, Frog Fuel Power Protein Energized, Frog Fuel Ultra, and Frog Fuel Ultra Energized. They all utilize a patented form of bovine collagen peptides called Nano-Hydrolyzed Collagen, but that’s not all. 

Since collagen protein isn’t a good source of complete protein, Frog Fuel fortifies their formula to include all 22 amino acids. The Energized formulas include caffeine for an energy boost, while the Ultra formulas include extra ingredients to improve your workout performance and results. 

Bulletproof Collagen Protein

Bulletproof Collagen Protein Supplement

Bulletproof Collagen Protein powder mix is very similar to Toen It Up Marine Collagen. The main difference here is that Bulletproof Protein uses bovine collagen peptides, opposed to marine collagen peptides. That means you get Type I and Type II collagen.

Another difference here is the 18 grams of collagen per serving, compared to the 10 grams in Tone It Up Marine Collagen. Of course, it also comes with nearly twice as many calories, but makes up for it with a smaller price tag. Each 25-serving jug (50 scoops) will only cost you around $40.

With that said, you will need two scoops per serving. While it’s unflavored and easy to add to anything, the larger scoop might make it a little more difficult to mix in your drink. Nonetheless, it gives you everything you need when taking collagen and nothing you don’t — which is important!

Final Verdict: Tone It Up Marine Collagen

If you’re on the lookout for a marine collagen peptide supplement, you’ve found an excellent option in Tone It Up Marine Collagen. It’s a clean formula that contains nothing but your much-needed collagen for daily nail, hair, and skin support. It’s the best marine option available!

One thing to keep in mind is that this isn’t a replacement for your daily protein needs. It’s high in the amino acids proline, hydroxyproline, alanine, and glycine, but falls short in other amino acids. Still, it makes the perfect addition to your protein routine since most protein sources don’t contain a lot of these amino acids. 

If you’re not someone who likes fish products, you’re better off going with a bovine collagen supplement. Although neither of these options is vegetarian, they’re a powerful and effective protein supplement along with your normal protein intake — especially if you want glowing skin, healthy hair, strong nails, improved joints, and a more efficient gut.

Overall Rating:
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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.

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