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Shipping & Returns

Shipping

All orders are shipped from our EU based warehouse. Please allow 48 hours for your order to be processed. During Sale and holiday periods please allow additional time for your order to be processed. Please be aware that online orders are not processed over the weekends or on public holidays. Full tracking details will be sent to customers when shipped.


France
Delivery Time Frame Cost
Standard over €38

2 - 7 Business Days
FREE
Standard under €38

2 - 7 Business Days
€8.00
Standard (Signature Required) 2 - 7 Business Days €9.50
Express Shipping Next Day Delivery €15.00

 


Germany

Delivery
Time Frame Cost
Standard over €38

3 - 7 Business Days
FREE
Standard under €38

3 - 7 Business Days
€8.00
Express Shipping 1-2 Business Days €20.00

 


Belgium, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Netherlands 
Delivery Time Frame Cost
Standard over €38

3 - 7 Business Days
FREE
Standard under €38

3 - 7  Business Days

€13.00
Express Shipping Next Day Delivery €20.00

 


Rest Of Europe
Delivery Time Frame Cost
Standard over €38

4 - 10 Business Days
FREE
Standard under €38

4 - 10 Business Days
€16.00
 

Isle Of Man, Liechtenstein
Delivery Time Frame Cost
Standard over €38

7 - 10 Business Days
FREE
Standard under €38

7 - 10 Business Days
€20.00

 

European Shipping Locations:

Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia And Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Guadeloupe, Guernsey, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Isle Of Man, Italy, Jersey, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Republic of, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Aland Islands, Bouvet Island, Vatican City State, San Marino 

Shop Local

Local international sites are also available, where we ship locally from our US, UK and AU dispatch centres to ensure fast and more reliable shipping:

All customers are responsible for any import customs, duty or taxes. Given our warehouse locations, customers in the European Union, US, UK & Australia need not worry about customs as we ship using domestic mail to these locations.

Should you have any questions regarding your order we encourage you to contact hello@vidaglow.com.

Returns

Vida Glow is designed for real, active people. We specialise in active beauty solutions and active customer experience solutions.

Busy living doesn’t have time for complicated administration. Our Return and Refund Policy has been designed to be as effortless and straightforward as your Vida Glow routine.

Due to the nature of our products, we do not offer a refund for a change of mind. We have a team of experts dedicated to helping you create an individualised routine for real results. We encourage you to consult with our experts in advance of completing your purchase.

If you receive your product and it is damaged, you have 21 days to contact us and return your product for a replacement, store credit or full refund. All return items will be subject to review by our quality control team upon receipt.

Unfortunately, we are unable to facilitate returns for Vida Glow products purchased outside of vidaglow.com. However, we are happy to support you in liaising with any retailer to facilitate your needs. Reach out to our expert team for help.

To request a return, email hello@vidaglow.com.

*Any shipping costs incurred will be the responsibility of the customer for change of mind.

Subscription Information

Your Beauty Routine - on your terms

Consistency is key to maximise the efficacy of your ingestible beauty and skincare. With Subscribe & Save, you'll save up to 20% plus get free, automatic delivery. So you won't ever miss a day again.


Save up to 20%

Subscribe to your Vida Glow essentials and you'll save up to 20% on every order, every time. We offer a 20% discount on our Bundles, and 15% on all other products.


Easy Sign-up

Set-up your subscription in three clicks. Find your Vida Glow favourites, then select the "Subscribe & Save" option and your delivery frequency when you add your purchase to bag.

When you first subscribe, your order will be placed and charged to your chosen payment method immediately. For each following order, the confirmation and shipping information will be automatically sent to your nominated email address on payment.


Automatic Delivery & Free Shipping

To effortlessly replenish your Vida Glow routine, Subscribe & Save automatically delivers your order - and always with free shipping.


Flexibility

We know life gets busy and your routine changes. Whether you're travelling or just want to switch-up your Natural Marine Collagen flavour, you can easily swap, pause or cancel your subscription at any time.

 

To learn more about Subscribe & Save, visit our FAQs.

The Science Behind Collagen Peptides: Benefits, Bioavailability & How They Work
marine collagenSep 8, 20255 min read

The Science Behind Collagen Peptides: Benefits, Bioavailability & How They Work

Collagen peptides have become one of the most talked-about ingredients in beauty and wellness – and for good reason. They’re backed by a robust body of scientific evidence showing real benefits for skin health, from improving hydration, elasticity and barrier function, to reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

But what exactly are collagen peptides? How do they work once we ingest them? And is there a difference between hydrolysed collagen peptides and tripeptides? In this article, we’ll break down the science of collagen so you can make informed decisions about your beauty routine.

What is a peptide?

In the simplest terms, peptides are short chains of amino acids – the building blocks of proteins. Think of them as the “language” your body uses to build, repair, and send signals to your cells (including your skin) and tissues.

Peptides occur naturally in the body, but they’re also found in foods and can be created in laboratories for a range of uses. In medicine, certain peptides are used as drugs (like insulin, a peptide hormone that regulates blood sugar, or GLP-1s like Ozempic for weight management).

And in nutrition, collagen peptides – derived from animal or marine collagen – can stimulate the body’s own collagen production in the deeper dermal layers of the skin.

The science behind peptides and absorption

When we consume protein in food (such as meat, fish, or legumes), our digestive system breaks it down into smaller units – peptides and amino acids – so they can be absorbed into the bloodstream.

Hydrolysed collagen peptides are already pre-broken down from their original form (native collagen), which makes them more bioavailable – meaning they can be efficiently absorbed and utilised by the body.

Why bioavailability matters

Studies have shown that after ingesting collagen peptides, small peptide fragments can be detected in the blood within an hour, where they act as “messengers” to stimulate fibroblasts – the skin cells responsible for producing new collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid¹.

The degree of hydrolysation and the size of the collagen peptides is the most critical element to the clinical effectiveness of a collagen supplement.

This is why bioavailability matters: the easier it is for the body to absorb and use a nutrient, the more likely it will deliver visible, measurable results.

Is hydrolysed marine collagen different to collagen peptides?

You may have seen both terms – hydrolysed collagen and collagen peptides – used on supplement packaging. In practice, they mean the same thing, however, the size of the peptide is the most important factor, and this is not always evident on the label.

What is hydrolysis?

Collagen is a large, complex protein that’s too big for the body to absorb in its whole form. Through a process called enzymatic hydrolysis, collagen is broken down into smaller, more absorbable peptide chains. These are what we call collagen peptides or hydrolysed collagen. Imagine hydrolysis as a pair of scissors cutting long chains into smaller little chains (peptides) for enhanced absorption. 

What type of collagen peptides are best for skin?

Marine collagen peptides (derived from fish skin) have superior bioavailability compared to bovine or porcine sources, thanks to its smaller particle size and high proportion of type I collagen – the type most abundant in our skin. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis found that marine collagen delivered the most potent skin anti-ageing effects relative to other collagen sources².

The difference between collagen peptides and tripeptides

While “collagen peptides” is the umbrella term for hydrolysed collagen fragments, collagen tripeptides are a very specific type of peptide – made up of just three amino acids in a precise sequence that has fascinating effects in the skin.

Tripeptide benefits for skin

The best-known example is Gly-Pro-Hyp, which research suggests is particularly effective at stimulating collagen synthesis in fibroblasts³. Tripeptides are absorbed intact directly through the intestinal wall and can be delivered directly to skin cells, where they bind to specific receptors and trigger collagen production in several ways. Not only do they increase production, but they also increase the number of fibroblasts (the cellular machinery that produces collagen), having a multi-pronged effect.

Should I take collagen peptides or tripeptides?

Think of it like retinoids in your topical skin care: collagen peptides are like retinol – effective and well-researched – while collagen tripeptides are like retinoic acid – more targeted, with a faster, more direct action. Both work well, but tripeptides are more potent at lower doses, providing accelerated results.

A clinical trial comparing collagen tripeptides with standard collagen peptides found that the tripeptide group experienced greater improvements in skin hydration, elasticity, and dermal density over 8 weeks. At Vida Glow we have invested in our own clinical and consumer research for our advanced solution ProCollagen+ containing marine collagen tripeptides which has replicated these findings.

The bottom line on collagen peptides

Collagen peptides are a scientifically validated way to support the skin’s natural structure from the inside out. Once absorbed, they act as both building blocks and biological signals, helping your body bridge the gap and replenish collagen production that naturally declines with age.

Hydrolysed marine collagen and collagen peptides are essentially the same thing – the difference lies in the source, the quality of processing, hydrolysis technology and the size of the collagen peptide. Tripeptides, on the other hand, are a specialised form that may offer more targeted skin benefits and superior results due to their very low molecular size.

At Vida Glow, we focus on clinically studied forms of collagen – whether peptides or tripeptides – so that every dose you take is working as hard as you are for visible, lasting results.


References:

1. Ohara, H. et al. (2007). Collagen-derived dipeptide and tripeptide in human blood after oral ingestion of gelatin hydrolysate. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 55(4), 1532–1535.

2. Pu SY, Huang YL, Pu CM, Kang YN, Hoang KD, Chen KH, Chen C. Effects of Oral Collagen for Skin Anti-Aging: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients. 2023 Apr 26;15(9):2080. doi: 10.3390/nu15092080. PMID: 37432180; PMCID: PMC10180699.

3. Shigemura, Y. et al. (2009). Effect of prolyl-hydroxyproline intake on skin conditions and cell proliferation in human fibroblasts. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 57(2), 444–449.

4. Yazaki, M. et al. (2017). Oral intake of collagen tripeptide improves skin barrier function and hydration levels in healthy adults: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Journal of Functional Foods, 35, 271–279.

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