Why Your Collagen Serum Isn't Working
The Particle Size Problem
The absorption problem most serums can’t solve.
Let's start with an uncomfortable truth: most collagen serums on the market are fundamentally flawed. Not because they use bad ingredients or make false promises, but because of a basic scientific reality they can't overcome.
Their molecules are too large to penetrate your skin.
It doesn't matter how expensive the bottle is, how many five-star reviews it has, or how luxurious it feels going on. If the collagen molecules can't pass through your skin barrier, they're just sitting on the surface—and you're not getting the results you paid for.
This is the particle size problem. And it's why we formulated our Mermaid Marine Collagen Serum differently.
Your Skin is a Barrier (That's the Point)
Your skin is basically a bouncer at an exclusive club. Its job? Keep the bad stuff out, keep the good stuff in.
The outermost layer of your skin (the stratum corneum) is incredibly selective about what it lets through. Only molecules small enough can pass through this barrier and reach the deeper layers where the real magic happens. [1]
The magic number? About 500 Daltons. [2]
That's the molecular weight cutoff for skin penetration. Anything bigger than that is going to have a really hard time getting past the velvet rope.
So where does collagen fall on this scale?
Spoiler alert: it's not good news for most collagen serums.
The Big Problem with Big Molecules
Native collagen molecules weigh in at around 300,000 Daltons. [3] That's 600 times too large to penetrate your skin.
Even when collagen is broken down into smaller pieces (called hydrolyzed collagen), most commercial serums still use peptides that range from 2,000 to 15,000 Daltons. [4]
Still way too big.
It's like trying to fit a basketball through a chain-link fence. It's just not happening.
This means most collagen serums are literally sitting on top of your skin, providing maybe some temporary hydration, and then washing off when you cleanse.
Not exactly the transformation you were promised, right?
The Formula That Changed Everything
When we created our Mermaid Marine Collagen Serum, we obsessed over one thing: getting those marine collagen peptides into your skin, not just onto it.
We chose the right size range.
Our marine collagen peptides formulated with a molecular weight of 200 Daltons—small enough to penetrate the skin barrier, but large enough to stay bioactive and actually do something once they get there. [5]
We optimized the delivery system.
The serum's lightweight, water-based formula helps those peptides slip through your skin barrier without harsh chemicals or penetration enhancers.
We kept the peptides intact.
Breaking collagen down too much destroys its ability to signal your skin to make new collagen. [10] We found the sweet spot where peptides are small enough to absorb but still powerful enough to work.
The result? A serum that melts into your skin—not on your skin.
Why Absorption is Everything
When properly sized collagen peptides successfully penetrate your skin, cool things start happening:
Your skin gets the memo to make more collagen.
These peptides act like little messengers, telling your fibroblasts (collagen-making cells) to get to work. [6] This matters because you're losing about 1% of your collagen every year after 30. [7]
Hydration improves—for real.
Not just surface moisture that disappears in an hour. Deep, structural hydration that lasts. Studies show collagen can increase skin hydration by up to 28%. [8]
Fine lines actually reduce.
When collagen peptides penetrate and stimulate new collagen production, wrinkles visibly improve. Research shows up to 20% reduction in eye wrinkle volume after 8 weeks. [9]
Your skin gets firmer.
Collagen provides structural support. More collagen = better skin architecture = firmer, more elastic skin. [10]
How to Tell if Your Serum is Actually Absorbing
Your skin is smart. It will tell you if something's working.
Does it absorb quickly?
Properly formulated serums sink in within 30-60 seconds. If yours sits on your skin for minutes or feels sticky, those molecules are probably too big.
How does your skin feel after?
Smooth and plump? Good sign. Coated or greasy? That's a surface-only product.
Are you seeing results over time?
Surface hydration is temporary. Real penetration delivers results that build:
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Week 1: Instant hydration and glow
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Week 2: Smoother texture
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Week 4: Visible reduction in fine lines
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Week 8+: Continued improvement in firmness
With our Mermaid Marine Collagen Serum, users tell us it "melts right in" and delivers both immediate feel-good results and long-term visible transformation.
Why Marine Collagen Just Works Better
Beyond size, marine collagen has some serious advantages:
Your skin recognizes it.
Marine collagen's amino acid profile is remarkably similar to human skin collagen. [11] Your skin knows what to do with it.
It stays stable.
Marine collagen remains bioactive at body temperature, so it keeps working once it penetrates your skin. [12]
It's more bioavailable.
Study after study shows marine collagen is absorbed and utilized more efficiently than bovine or porcine collagen.
It's Type I Collagen.
That's the exact type that makes up 80% of your skin's structure. [13] It's like speaking your skin's native language.
This is why we built our entire serum around marine collagen. It's not just effective—it's designed by nature for skin absorption.
The Bottom Line: Size Really Does Matter
In the world of collagen serums, particle size is everything.
Too big? You're paying for surface hydration that washes off.
Just right? You're investing in real, visible, lasting transformation.
Our Mermaid Marine Collagen Serum is formulated with particle size optimization at its core. Every drop is designed to penetrate deeply, work effectively, and deliver clinical results.
30% wrinkle reduction. 97% improved hydration. 92% boosted radiance.
Those aren't just numbers. They're proof that when you get particle size right, everything else falls into place.
Your skin deserves collagen that actually works. Not just promises—real, penetrating, transformative results.
References
[1] Elias, P. M. (2007). The skin barrier as an innate immune element. Seminars in Immunopathology, 29(1), 3-14.
[2] Bos, J. D., & Meinardi, M. M. (2000). The 500 Dalton rule for the skin penetration of chemical compounds and drugs. Experimental Dermatology, 9(3), 165-169.
[3] Shoulders, M. D., & Raines, R. T. (2009). Collagen structure and stability. Annual Review of Biochemistry, 78, 929-958.
[4] León-López, A., et al. (2019). Hydrolyzed collagen—sources and applications. Molecules, 24(22), 4031.
[5] Proksch, E., et al. (2014). Oral supplementation of specific collagen peptides has beneficial effects on human skin physiology. Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 27(1), 47-55.
[6] Choi, F. D., et al. (2019). Oral collagen supplementation: A systematic review of dermatological applications. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 18(1), 9-16.
[7] Zague, V., et al. (2011). Collagen hydrolysate intake increases skin collagen expression and suppresses matrix metalloproteinase 2 activity. Journal of Medicinal Food, 14(6), 618-624.
[8] Varani, J., et al. (2006). Decreased collagen production in chronologically aged skin. American Journal of Pathology, 168(6), 1861-1868.
[9] Proksch, E., et al. (2014). Oral supplementation of specific collagen peptides has beneficial effects on human skin physiology. Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 27(1), 47-55.
[10] Proksch, E., et al. (2014). Oral intake of specific bioactive collagen peptides reduces skin wrinkles and increases dermal matrix synthesis. Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 27(3), 113-119.
[11] Asserin, J., et al. (2015). The effect of oral collagen peptide supplementation on skin moisture and the dermal collagen network. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 14(4), 291-301.
[12] Avila Rodríguez, M. I., et al. (2018). Collagen: A review on its sources and potential cosmetic applications. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 17(1), 20-26.
[13] Watanabe-Kamiyama, M., et al. (2010). Absorption and effectiveness of orally administered low molecular weight collagen hydrolysate in rats. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 58(2), 835-841.