Collagen+

When we age, we lose our ability to produce collagen as efficiently as we could before the age of 25. The rate at which this ability reduces is about 1.5% every year from our mid-twenties onwards. This leads to visible signs of ageing and loss of radiance in our skin. Our hair and nails become weaker, whilst our joints become stiffer, and we heal less quickly from injuries.

In early life there is no significant difference in collagen density between males and females. Once they reach their early 20s, males tend to have a higher collagen density which contributes to their typically thicker and firmer skin. After 25 collagen production declines in both sexes. However, women tend to experience a more rapid decrease in collagen density compared to men. This is partly due to hormonal changes, particularly the decline in oestrogen levels during and after menopause.

In the human body, as in the rest of nature, collagen exists as a long chain triple helix which cannot be absorbed without being broken down. This breakdown process is normally undertaken by the action of the stomach which breaks collagen into its constituent amino acids which can then be absorbed in the small intestine. Unfortunately, this action also destroys the nature of the collagen.

Most collagen supplements use collagen peptides, also known as hydrolysed collagen. The hydrolysation process breaks the collagen molecule into small chains of amino acids (bi or tri-peptides) which in theory can be absorbed directly into the blood stream. However, the digestive action of the stomach will also degrade these collagen peptides before they arrive in the small intestine (where 99% of collagen absorption occurs). Despite what many claim, all unprotected collagen peptide based supplements – liquid, powder, capsules, or tablets – will be degraded before they reach the small intestine.

Ingenious focuses on delivering a consistent 627mg amount of collagen peptide – targeted to reach your small intestine in our patented capsule. Our supplements are able to pass through the stomach intact and travel to the small intestine; here the change in pH levels triggers the capsule to dissolve. To ensure that the marine collagen peptide is quickly absorbed once it is released into the small intestine, we use a peptide that weighs 2,000 Daltons or less, ideal for rapid absorption. This is less than half the size of the industry average which is 5,000 Daltons. The collagen peptide and the rest of the active ingredients are then absorbed through the small intestine directly into the bloodstream.

At Ingenious we do not use ultra-processed additives such as preservatives, flavours or fillers. Neither do we need to over-fill our capsules with collagen peptide, leaving space for other key active ingredients. We use just the right amount of collagen peptide to ensure you see stunning results, knowing every bit of it will be absorbed and utilised for firmer, smoother skin and overall vitality.

Both our patented capsule and the quality of our collagen gives Collagen+ and Active unparalleled levels of absorption which no other collagen supplement can match.

Collagen+ and Active uses the most superior grade of marine collagen peptide sourced responsibly from the skin of free-swimming fresh water fish. 

HA exists naturally in almost every cell in the body. If you have sufficient HA in your body, your skin will feel soft and beautifully moisturised and the resulting elasticity will help protect against wrinkles forming. Your joints and body are more likely to feel supple and you should be able to bend and stretch with ease. However, HA has a half-life (the time it takes for the molecule to get broken down and excreted from the body) of less than 3 days in the body and as little as one day in the skin. For this reason, it is imperative that the body continually replenish itself with HA. Unfortunately, as we age, we lose the ability to replace HA at the rate required which in part explains why age-related symptoms appear, our skin becomes drier and less elastic, and wrinkles start to form.

Fortunately, supplementing with Ingenious' superior HA can help resolve this loss.

Just one molecule of hyaluronic acid can bind 1,000 times its own weight in water, bringing superior strength and firmness to your skin.

As we age and our HA lubrication levels drop, the space between bones in our joints can reduce, leading to joint stiffness, aches and pain. Taking a HA supplement has been shown to help with joint health.

Hyaluronic Acid also plays a vital part in wound healing. It works by aiding the regulation of inflammation levels as well as sending signals to the body to construct more blood vessels in the wounded area.

HA is thought to help with chronic eye dryness which affects about 1 in 7 older adults. Contact lenses with slowly releasing HA are being developed. As HA is naturally present as a lubricant in the eye, having healthy levels are believed to be important in this area.

The profile of Ingenious’ hyaluronic acid is specifically designed for targeted results. It’s 20% more effective at keeping skin and tissue hydrated and plump than industry standard.

The hyaluronan used by Ingenious is a pioneering finely modulated Full Spectrum Hyaluronan Complex, able to deeply integrate into the biology of targeted tissues, matching skin, joints, muscle and other needs. All to maximise efficiency and work exactly where you need it.



The HA found in most supplements and creams consists of only one length of HA molecule. The Ingenious Hyaluronan Complex mimics the physiology of your body’s HA. 

Modern lifestyles put our bodies under attack from free radicals produced by UV rays, pollution, stress, smoking and poor nutrition. The damage caused by free radicals is a major cause of skin ageing which affects all layers of the skin, from the visible surface to the delicate deep layers where new skin is formed, destroying both collagen and hyaluronic acid.

Astaxanthin breaks down Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), or ‘free radicals’ that directly damage collagen fibres. By harnessing the ROS reducing properties of natural astaxanthin, we aid the reduction in damage to both existing and new collagen and the fibroblasts that produce it.

A clinical trial undertaken on natural astaxanthin (the ingredient used in Ingenious formulation) revealed that taking 4mg of astaxanthin significantly reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, skin roughness and skin redness after six weeks.

Further clinical studies also reveal how taking supplemental astaxanthin every day can help to improve eyesight, protects against types of ocular degeneration and help combat screen-induced eye fatigue. You can find more information about this topic in our blog post ‘Astaxanthin and Healthy Vision’.

Astaxanthin has been shown to exert a strong protective effect on the brain and has also been used to help treat and prevent diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. The human central nervous system (CNS) contains 100 billion neuronal cells and is vulnerable to oxidative stress and inflammation due to its low cellular renewal rate. Extensive studies have found that carotenoids such as astaxanthin, with its ability to lower rates of inflammation as well as fighting free radicals, can help to protect and preserve the central nervous system and enhance brain function.

The natural astaxanthin used in Ingenious products​ is derived from a micro-algae sustainably sourced from a Swedish archipelago. The process to extract this astaxanthin operates in a carbon negative closed circuit system, with the thermal energy produced heating a local town outside of Stockholm, Sweden.