Collagen shots: What is the best way to drink them?
Scarlett Gray
BNutrDiet (Hons), APD, SDA
Reviewed by Scarlett Gray · About Scarlett
Accredited Practising Dietitian with Dietitians Australia (APD200526). Accredited Sports Dietitian and Credentialled Eating Disorder Clinician. First Class Honours in Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Newcastle.
Scarlett Gray
BNutrDiet (Hons), APD, SDA
Accredited Practising Dietitian with Dietitians Australia (APD200526). Accredited Sports Dietitian and Credentialled Eating Disorder Clinician. First Class Honours in Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Newcastle.
What is the best way to drink collagen shots?
Collagen shots are small quantities of a liquid formula containing hydrolysed collagen peptides and complementary nutrients. They're a form of daily supplement — an alternative to mixing a powder into a drink or yoghurt, or swallowing capsules each morning.
Think of your espresso shot in your cappuccino, or the shot you down after a long week. The idea of collagen shots is to provide a concentrated daily dose by drinking a small amount of liquid. Kollo comes as a daily collagen shot in a pre-measured sachet.
But what is the best way to drink collagen shots? Let's explore.
What does collagen do?
Marine collagen is hydrolysed collagen derived from the skin of fish — predominantly Type I collagen, the same type that makes up most of the collagen in human skin. It's taken as a daily supplement to support the body's own collagen production.
The human body produces collagen naturally. Collagen is the protein that gives structure and elasticity to skin, bones, tendons, ligaments, cartilage and connective tissue. The catch is that we don't get meaningful amounts of collagen from a typical diet — we don't generally eat a lot of skin, bone or connective tissue — so the body's own production has to do most of the work. That's part of why hydrolysed collagen supplements have become so widely studied: they deliver collagen-specific amino acids in a form the body can absorb and use.
Collagen production starts to decline by roughly 1% per year from around the mid-twenties, which is when many people consider starting supplementation. It's also worth starting if you're noticing the early signs of collagen change — fine lines, weaker nails, hair changes, or stiffer joints — regardless of age. For the full detail, see our complete guide to liquid marine collagen.
What consistent supplementation may support
- Skin elasticity and hydration — the most well-researched outcome; clinical trials typically show measurable improvements at 8-12 weeks of consistent daily use
- Hair strength and thickness — often noticed alongside skin changes
- Nail growth and resilience — frequently the first noticeable change, sometimes within 4-6 weeks
- Joint comfort and mobility — evidence base at 12+ weeks of consistent use, particularly for those with exercise-related joint discomfort
- Gut lining integrity* — emerging research area
- Bone density support* — emerging research area, best supported alongside resistance training and adequate dietary protein
*Emerging research area. Evidence is at an earlier stage than for skin outcomes, and supplements are not a treatment for any medical condition.
What is Kollo?
Kollo is a premium marine collagen supplement taken as a daily liquid shot. It contains Type I collagen derived from fish skin. This collagen is extracted and hydrolysed using enzymatic processes to break it into small peptides that are readily absorbed.
Every sachet contains 10,000mg of Naticol® marine collagen peptides — the dose used in the clinical research — alongside vitamin C, several B vitamins and l-lysine. Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin. Every batch is Informed Choice certified for purity. Not suitable for anyone with a fish allergy.
With consistent daily use, clinical trials typically show measurable skin improvements over 8-12 weeks. Some people notice nail changes earlier and joint comfort improvements at 12+ weeks.
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Premium Liquid Marine Collagen
10,000mg of clinically studied Naticol® marine collagen daily, in a pre-measured tear-and-drink sachet.
Shop Now →So what is the best way to drink collagen shots?
Moving back to the original question: what's the best way to drink collagen shots? There are several ways you could consume the liquid in Kollo sachets — and all of them work. There's no single "best" way; choose the method that fits your daily routine.
With that in mind, let's look at three methods.
1. Mix it with water
This is what the Kollo team had in mind when developing the liquid shot format. Pour a glass of approximately 170ml of water, tear open a sachet, empty it into the water, give it a quick stir, and drink. The process takes less than a minute and lets you consume the full daily dose in one go.
On taste: although the collagen is derived from fish sources, there's no fishy taste. Naticol® collagen peptides are neutral in taste, and Kollo includes natural tropical flavourings and sweeteners. Kollo is sugar-free. When mixed with water, most people find it tastes like a fruit squash — a pleasant addition to a morning routine.
2. Mix it with another drink
Not everyone will like the taste of Kollo with plain water — everyone's palate is different. Fortunately, the liquid shot is versatile enough that you don't have to mix it with water. You can mix it with fruit juice, a smoothie, or a soft drink. Points to keep in mind:
- The tropical flavour of Kollo may interact with the flavour of your chosen drink
- Fruit juice or smoothies will add their own sugars — if you're watching your intake overall, factor that in
- Not recommended for mixing with a hot drink — this is a product-specific instruction related to the flavour formulation
3. Drink it straight from the sachet
Perhaps not the first choice for many, but you can drink Kollo straight from the sachet. This is a quick option if you're in a rush or travelling. You could also take a sachet to work with you to have later. Some people prefer to keep the timing consistent day-to-day — pick what fits your routine.
One thing to note: taken neat, the flavour is concentrated and quite sweet. If a sudden sweet hit isn't for you, dilute it with water. Otherwise, this is the fastest way to get your dose down.
Don't throw the sachet away
However you choose to drink your collagen shots, keep this in mind: don't throw the sachet in the bin. Kollo aims to minimise waste — we ship the Kollo box in cardboard packaging, and the sachets come in a fully recyclable cardboard box.
Kollo sachets are part of the TerraCycle® "Zero Waste Box™" programme. You can send them back to us for recycling, or find a TerraCycle® drop-off point near you. However you choose to do it, engaging with the programme helps prevent hard-to-recycle plastic waste from entering landfill.
Collagen shots: final thoughts
Kollo is presented as a daily liquid shot because it's a convenient way to build a consistent supplementation habit. Both liquid and powder deliver the same clinical dose of hydrolysed collagen peptides — the genuine difference is convenience and how each fits into your daily routine.
Liquid sachets require no preparation: just drink directly or mix with a splash of water. This makes liquid ideal for people on the go, travel, keeping at work, or following a specific routine where timing matters. The sachet already contains the liquid form, ready to consume immediately.
Explore Kollo's Complete Guides
For more depth on any area of your routine: complete guide to liquid marine collagen, complete guide to collagen powder, complete guide to menopause supplements, complete guide to creatine, and complete guide to electrolytes.
Kollo Health was co-founded by Jenni Falconer — TV presenter, Smooth Radio breakfast host, ten-time London Marathon runner and host of the RunPod podcast. Read her story and why she created Kollo.
