Marine collagen costs 2-3x more than bovine. Here's why, and why we chose it anyway.
The Sourcing Cost
Wild-caught deep-sea fish cost more than cattle hides. Korean waters produce premium fish, but premium means premium pricing. Bovine collagen comes from cattle raised for meat—the hides are essentially waste products sold cheap.
Marine collagen comes from fishing byproducts, but processing fish skin and scales requires specialized facilities. The volume is lower. The equipment is different. The expertise is rarer.
Extraction Is More Complex
Marine collagen requires gentler extraction. Fish collagen is more delicate than bovine. The enzymatic hydrolysis process needs precise temperature control. Go too hot, and you destroy the peptides. Too cold, and extraction is incomplete.
Bovine collagen is tougher. It tolerates harsher processing. Cheaper, faster methods work fine. Marine collagen can't take shortcuts without losing quality.
The Molecular Weight Advantage
Marine collagen naturally has smaller peptides—around 3,000 daltons. This isn't free. Achieving consistent molecular weight requires multiple filtration steps. Each step adds cost but improves absorption.
Studies show marine collagen absorbs 1.5x better than bovine. That smaller molecule size costs money to achieve, but it's why marine collagen works faster.
Testing Adds Up
Every batch of marine collagen must be tested for heavy metals. Fish accumulate mercury, lead, and cadmium from ocean waters. Responsible brands test every single batch. Testing costs $500-1,500 per batch.
Bovine collagen has fewer contamination risks. Less testing required means lower costs. We choose to test thoroughly because your safety isn't negotiable.
Smaller Production Volume
The marine collagen market is smaller than bovine. Less volume means higher per-unit costs. Manufacturers can't achieve the same economies of scale.
As marine collagen grows in popularity, costs may decrease. For now, being a premium product in a smaller market means premium pricing.
What You're Actually Paying For
Break it down per day. A quality marine collagen costs $60-80 for a 30-day supply. That's $2-3 per day.
Compare that to what you already spend on beauty. Your daily latte costs more. Your face cream costs $50-150 and lasts 2-3 months—that's $0.50-1.50 daily. Aesthetician visits run $100-300 monthly—that's $3-10 per day.
Marine collagen sits right in the middle of what you're already investing in your skin.
The Alternative Costs More
If marine collagen prevented just one Botox appointment per year, you'd save $200-400. If it reduced professional treatment frequency from monthly to every 6 weeks, you'd save $400-600 annually.
We're not saying skip those treatments. We're saying effective collagen supplementation could reduce how often you need them.
Type 1 Collagen Specificity
Marine collagen is 90%+ Type 1—the exact collagen your skin needs. Bovine is a mix of Type 1 and Type 3. If your goal is specifically skin health, marine delivers more targeted results.
You're not paying extra for nothing. You're paying for specificity. For skin, hair, and nails, marine collagen is the specialist. Bovine is the generalist.
Our Position
Could we sell bovine collagen for $30 instead of marine for $60? Yes. Would it work? Also yes. But we built this product for people who want the most effective option, not the cheapest option.
We use Korean marine collagen, triple-test every batch, and manufacture in FDA-certified facilities. These choices cost more. They also deliver better results.
The Bottom Line
Marine collagen costs more because it's harder to source, more complex to process, and requires more testing. The tradeoff is better absorption, faster results, and targeted Type 1 collagen for skin.
At $1.50-2 daily, it's less than your coffee. More than basic bovine collagen, but not by much when you look at cost per day. If you're serious about skin health and willing to invest in quality, marine collagen is worth the difference.
