Two decades of collagen research informed Encore's Complete Complex formula. Here's everything you need to understand about why it works — and why single-type supplements fall short.
Collagen is the most abundant structural protein in the human body. It makes up approximately 80% of all connective tissue and accounts for 75% of the dermal volume of your skin. Quite literally — it's the glue that holds you together.
Collagen is a glycoprotein built from amino acids — primarily glycine, hydroxyproline, and proline. These amino acids form a triple-helix structure with extraordinary tensile strength. The younger you are, the fewer cross-links collagen has and the more flexible your tissues remain. As you age, cross-linking increases, tissues stiffen, and collagen quantity declines.
"60% of the body is made up of connective tissue, and collagen represents approximately 80% of all connective tissue. 75% of the dermis — the living layer of skin — is collagen. It accounts for 90% of total dermal volume."
In your teens and early twenties, growth hormone drives constant collagen production — building muscle, tendons, ligaments, and skin continuously. Around age 25, that growth phase ends. From that point forward, the collagen your body produces is used only for maintenance — and it decreases at roughly 1.5% per year.
By age 45, most people have approximately 25% less collagen than their body needs for optimal joint and skin health. The skin becomes thinner, less elastic, and more prone to wrinkling. Joints lose their cushioning. Tendons become stiffer. The decline is gradual — but it's constant.
What most people don't realize is that the body needs five distinct collagen types to maintain all of these systems. Supplementing with just one type means the other systems continue to decline unchecked.
Different collagen types can only be reliably sourced from specific origins. You can't get Type II from bovine, or Type IV from chicken. A true complete matrix requires five different premium sources — one for each type your body needs.
Encore's Collagen Complex sources 1,800mg of premium collagen protein per serving from all five:
Type I provides tensile strength for skin, bones, and tendons. Type III maintains elasticity and the resilient, plump quality of younger skin. Also supports blood vessel structural integrity.
The primary structural protein in cartilage — what cushions your joints during every step, squat, and movement. The most clinically studied collagen type for joint support.
Highly bioavailable Type I peptides that absorb rapidly and efficiently. Particularly effective for skin structure, hydration, and the visible signs of aging. Contains Fish (Cod).
The most complete natural source. Delivers Types I, III, IV, and V simultaneously. Type IV forms the basement membrane that underlies your skin and organs — critical for cellular repair. Type V regulates how collagen fibers organize. Contains Egg.
A second dedicated Type II source for comprehensive joint support. Also naturally carries Glucosamine, Chondroitin, and Hyaluronic Acid — the synovial fluid components that lubricate and cushion every joint in your body.
Encore has manufactured collagen supplements since 2006. Our facilities and practices meet the highest standards in the supplement industry.
Every production lot is independently verified before distribution. What's on the label is what's in the bottle — verified by an external laboratory.
Manufactured under Good Manufacturing Practices in an FDA-registered facility — the same regulatory standard applied to pharmaceutical drugs.
No genetically modified organisms in any part of our formula or supply chain. Verified non-GMO across all five collagen sources.
Formulated and manufactured to be completely free of gluten — safe for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.
All animal-sourced collagen in our formula is hormone-free across the supply chain.
Formulated and produced entirely in the United States. We have never outsourced manufacturing overseas — and we never will.
The FDA has confirmed GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) status for collagen/gelatine. Collagen is a food, not a pharmaceutical drug — it is non-toxic and has no known side effects when taken as directed. Note: this product contains Egg and Fish (Cod). Consult your physician if you have known allergies or medical conditions.
1,800mg of five-source collagen per serving. Third party tested. GMP certified. 90-day money-back guarantee.
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