If your knees complain more after a workout than they used to, or your hair doesn't feel quite as thick as it did a few years ago, you're not imagining it. That's collagen, and starting in your mid-to-late twenties, your body simply makes less of it every year. Designs for Health Whole Body Collagen is one of the most talked-about ways to fill that gap, and it's also one of our best-selling products.
We get asked about this one a lot, partly because of the price, and partly because there's no shortage of collagen powders to choose from. So here's an honest look at what's actually in it, how it's meant to work, and real Designs for Health Whole Body Collagen reviews from our own customers after trying it.
What Is Designs for Health Whole Body Collagen?
Designs for Health Whole Body Collagen is a hydrolyzed collagen peptide powder built around three separate, patented peptide blends instead of one generic collagen source. Each 390 g container holds 30 servings, and it's also available as individual travel packets if you'd rather take it on the go.
Collagen makes up about 30% of your body's total protein. It's the structural material behind your skin, joints, tendons, bones, and even your teeth. The catch is that natural collagen production starts slowing in your mid-to-late twenties, and by age 80 it may be reduced by as much as 75% compared to a young adult. That decline is the gap this product is designed to help fill, one scoop at a time.
How Do Fortigel, Fortibone, and Verisol Actually Work?
Instead of using one type of collagen and calling it a day, Whole Body Collagen combines three separately researched, patented peptide blends, each aimed at a different part of your body.
Fortigel® is built for joints. It's intended to support normal joint comfort and function, and may be particularly useful for active or aging people who notice occasional joint discomfort after exercise or physical activity.
Fortibone® is the bone-focused blend. It's a highly bioavailable peptide designed to support normal bone strength, something that becomes more relevant as you get older.
Verisol® is the one doing the heavy lifting for skin, hair, and nails. It's been studied for supporting skin elasticity and firmness, along with nail strength and length and hair thickness.
All three blends are registered trademarks of GELITA AG, a German collagen manufacturer, which is a level of ingredient specificity you don't see in every collagen powder on the shelf.
What's Actually in Each Scoop
One 13-gram scoop, or single-serve packet, gives you 12.5 grams of collagen peptides, 11 grams of protein, and 45 calories, with 30 mg of sodium. The collagen itself is sourced from grass-fed, pasture-raised bovine, and the formula is gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, and non-GMO.
It's also flavourless with no added sweeteners, which matters more than it sounds like it would. A lot of collagen powders lean on stevia or added flavouring to mask a chalky taste, and that's one more ingredient your body has to deal with. This one is built to disappear into whatever you're already drinking.
Is Whole Body Collagen Actually a Well-Made Product?
We like to look past the label copy before we recommend anything, so here's the honest version. Designs for Health cites a 2023 Ipsos survey of 160 U.S. functional medicine practitioners, in which the brand came out as the most recommended practitioner supplement brand, sold directly in practitioners' offices, in an average month. That's brand-commissioned data rather than an independent third-party study, so it's worth knowing where it comes from, but it does reflect the level of trust the brand has built with healthcare practitioners. You can read more about why practitioners recommend Designs for Health if you want the fuller picture.
The individual peptide blends, Fortigel®, Fortibone®, and Verisol®, are backed by their own published research from GELITA, the manufacturer. What hasn't been independently studied is this specific finished formula as a combined product, which is common for supplements that blend multiple researched ingredients and isn't unique to this one.
Where it clearly delivers is sourcing and manufacturing standards: grass-fed, pasture-raised bovine collagen, no gluten, dairy, or soy, and no artificial sweeteners in a flavourless formula.
Who Is Whole Body Collagen Actually Best For?
This one is aimed at people who want more than a single benefit from their collagen. If you're only looking for skin support, a simpler collagen powder might do the job just as well. But if you want joint comfort, bone strength, and skin, hair, and nail support from the same scoop, the three-blend approach is the reason to choose this over a single-source collagen.
It tends to be the best fit for active adults noticing joint stiffness after workouts, people over 30 who want to get ahead of collagen decline rather than wait for visible changes, and anyone who doesn't regularly eat collagen-rich foods like bone broth or red meat. If you're pregnant, nursing, or managing a health condition, check with your healthcare practitioner before starting. If you're still deciding whether the brand overall is a fit for you, we've also written about whether Designs for Health is a good brand.
How to Take It
Mix 13 grams, about one scoop or one packet, with 8 oz of water per day, or as directed by your healthcare practitioner. For the smoothest texture, add the powder to your glass before the water rather than after. Since it's flavourless, it also works well stirred into coffee, smoothies, or soup, which is exactly how a lot of our customers actually use it.
What Our Customers Are Saying (Whole Body Collagen Reviews)
Independent of anything we say about it, here's what real Wellness Market customers have told us in their own Whole Body Collagen reviews after trying it.
"Started using this 6 months now and noticed healthy hair and not so much pain in my hips that would wake me up nightly! Thank God for this product! It's a must for your daily routine!"
Verified Buyer
"It's the best collagen I ever take. My knees don't hurt anymore."
Nathalie P., Verified Buyer
Several customers mentioned changes that line up with what Fortibone® and Verisol® are meant to support, not just joints.
"After a few months of consistent use the results are beyond my expectations. Most notably, my thinning hair has filled in with new growth, a lot thicker and healthier. Plus my nails are stronger. Can't wait for my next bone density test!!!"
Monica K., Verified Buyer
Taste and mixability come up often too, since this is a flavourless powder people are adding to their morning coffee or smoothie.
"The perfect collagen, fully dissolves in my coffee does not have any flavour. Great quality product."
Kathy R., Verified Buyer
"This product was recommended by my ND. I am very happy with it and already ordered 4 containers. It's tasteless and easy to drink with just water. Very clean product. I would recommend it!"
Brigitte T., Verified Buyer
Not every review reads exactly the same way, and that honesty is worth including too.
"I like the product and the very fast shipping and delivery. I like that it is not sweetened and dissolves very well in cold water. Taste is a bit strange but this is to be expected when there are no added aromas and flavours and that was what I was looking for."
Slavka B., Verified Buyer
That honesty about the taste is a good reminder that "flavourless" is relative. Most customers describe it as neutral to mild rather than completely undetectable, especially in plain water.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does Whole Body Collagen actually help with joints and skin?
It's formulated to support both, through two different peptide blends. Fortigel® is aimed at joint comfort and function, while Verisol® is aimed at skin elasticity and firmness. Individual results vary based on age, diet, lifestyle, and how consistently you take it.
Q: What does Designs for Health Whole Body Collagen taste like?
It's flavourless with no added sweeteners, which most customers describe as neutral rather than fully undetectable. It mixes into coffee, smoothies, water, and even soup without changing the flavour much.
Q: How is this different from other collagen powders, like Vital Proteins?
Most collagen powders use one collagen source aimed at one general benefit. Whole Body Collagen combines three separately researched, patented peptide blends, Fortigel®, Fortibone®, and Verisol®, each targeting a different tissue: joints, bones, and skin, hair, and nails. That's the main reason we carry more than one type of collagen at Wellness Market; depending on your goal, one may fit you better than the other.
Q: How long before I notice a difference?
Most of our customers who've left reviews describe noticing changes somewhere between a few weeks and a few months of consistent daily use. Collagen support is cumulative, so it isn't designed to work overnight.
Q: Is it safe to take every day?
Yes, it's designed for daily use as part of a regular routine. That said, if you're pregnant, nursing, or managing a health condition, it's worth checking with your healthcare practitioner first.
The Bottom Line
Designs for Health Whole Body Collagen isn't the cheapest collagen powder on the shelf, and it's not trying to be. What you're paying for is three separately researched peptide blends doing three different jobs, clean sourcing, and a flavourless formula that's genuinely easy to build into a daily routine. Based on what our own customers have told us in their reviews, for the right person, that combination holds up.
If you want to see how it compares to the rest of our lineup, you can browse our full collagen collection, or reach out to our team with any questions. We're always happy to help you find the right fit.
