Revamp Your Routine with Japanese Beauty Favorites, Starting Today

If you think you can start taking care of your skin when you’re older, you might want to give it another thought! Anti-aging support has been at the heart of recent wellness trends in Japan, from diet and exercise to wholesale lifestyle changes, but there’s one word that comes up time and again: collagen. Although collagen makes up 30% of our body’s proteins, levels start to drop as early as age 20, an internal change that eventually becomes visible on the outside. When it comes to collagen, it’s never too early to start taking it seriously.

As one of a handful of proteins produced within our bodies, collagen is a core component of our skin, hair, nails, bones, and cartilage. It acts as the glue that connects tissues and cells, essential for maintaining the very structure of our bodies, and keeping functions normal.

There’s ample evidence showing how important collagen is in our bodies, but when it comes to adding extra collagen to your daily routine, it can be hard to know where to start. If you’re worried about whether you should apply it or consume it, though, the truth is that it’s important to have collagen working from inside your body! But here’s the problem: if you try to meet the daily recommended intake of 5,000mg through normal meals alone, you’ll be hit with a calorie bomb. Even if you’re aiming for overall health and well-being, this overabundance could be its own issue.

Instead, Japan’s beauty gurus have been honing in on more efficient ways to get that daily collagen, and many say the answer is the Meiji Amino Collagen series. This collagen powder is an easy addition to any daily beauty routine, and the truth is that it’s been a favorite Japanese drugstore product among repeat visitors for a while. If we’ve piqued your interest, there are plenty of reasons to try it ASAP.

Why Amino Collagen Is a Top Pick at Japanese Drugstores

Often seen among Japanese drugstore recommendations for visiting travelers, Meiji Amino Collagen has established itself as the #1 top-selling brand in the Japanese collagen market*, and the key to its popularity is the product’s high quality.

^{*According to INTAGE SRI+ Health Food Collagen Market information, based on cumulative sales by brand from January 2025 to December 2025.}

Meiji uses 100% fish-derived low-molecular-weight collagen for its Amino Collagen powder, and unlike the pig-based collagen used in days past, research shows that this fish-derived collagen is absorbed into the body at a rate approximately 1.5 times higher! Additionally, Meiji’s patented manufacturing methods and unique “masking technology” work to significantly reduce collagen’s distinct scent. If you’ve thought about adding collagen to your routine in the past, but couldn’t stand the smell, you’ll probably find this much easier.

The Amino Collagen lineup also includes a few different choices: the standard version is a good option for anyone new to collagen, while the Premium version contains the same 5,000mg of high-absorption collagen along with hyaluronic acid, ceramide, and CoQ10. The newest addition to the Amino Collagen line has even added NMN, the hottest topic on the supplement scene.

Find the Japanese Collagen for You

Amino Collagen

The standard Amino Collagen is a good choice if you’re just starting to add collagen to your routine, thanks to the solid collection of beauty-boosting ingredients in the formula. On top of the 5,000mg of collagen per serving – designed to increase absorption through low-molecular-weight technology – you’ll also get 60mg of glucosamine (which helps boost hyaluronic acid), 25mg of amino acids essential for a vibrant bare face, and 50mg of vitamin C to help collagen absorption. Combining all of these ingredients in one product makes it easy to get plenty of collagen along with everything else, even on busy days. Bring some home for yourself, or pick up a package as an unexpected souvenir for your favorite skincare lover!

Amino Collagen Premium

To really treat your skin, Amino Collagen Premium is a clear choice, perfect for anyone looking to refresh their beauty routine from the inside out. This version of the product contains all the same core ingredients as the standard version, with three “premium” additions. Each serving includes 1,200μg of ceramide, key to maintaining moisture, as well as 20mg of hyaluronic acid, which can hold a whopping 6L of water per gram. There’s also 10mg of CoQ10, an antioxidant that supports your health on a daily basis. Even the golden package feels a little luxurious – try gifting it to an older friend or family member who’s working on their skincare routine!

Amino Collagen NMN

If you’ve been curious about the latest darling of the supplement world, then you might want to try Amino Collagen NMN, which contains NMN with a purity of 99% or higher! NMN has been drawing attention around the world thanks to its ability to boost NAD+, a coenzyme in our body’s cells that has been found to gradually decrease as we age, similar to collagen. But if collagen peptides were a car, then NMN might be called the gasoline, and getting enough of these essentials together is key to supporting our bodies. If combining collagen and high-purity NMN in one convenient product sounds good for you, then you’ll want to keep an eye out for it at the drugstore in Japan. (As one of Meiji’s premium products, you can even look for the authenticity mark on the bottom left corner of the package!)

How to Use Amino Collagen: Recipe Recommendations

Since Meiji Amino Collagen lacks much of the distinctive collagen scent that some find unpleasant, it’s especially versatile. You can mix it into any number of drinks or foods you already enjoy every day, and since the collagen fits right into your daily routine, it’s easy to keep up the new habit. If you’re still not sure, though, we’ve put together a list of some of the most popular ways to consume Amino Collagen.

A Collagen Recipe for Coffee Lovers

A health-conscious twist on your daily cup of coffee: just mix coffee and milk in a cup, add ice cubes if you want it cold, and stir in about 7g (approximately 1.5 tablespoons) of the Amino Collagen powder. Give it a good mix, and your standard iced coffee could now be called a “collagen cafe au lait.” Cold drink lovers will be happy to hear that the powder dissolves well even in cold liquids, so you can enjoy your iced coffee without worrying about surprise lumps of powder.

Matcha Memories of Japan

These days it seems like matcha is the word on everyone’s lips, and coming back home from Japan, there’s no better way to think back on all your fondest travel memories. Mix about 7g of Amino Collagen powder (1.5 level tablespoons) with a teaspoon or so of pure matcha powder, and add 200ml of milk for a creamy matcha latte! Between the rich green tea flavor and the smooth milk, it won’t taste like any health drink. Treat yourself today, and look forward to results in the future!

Upgrade Your Morning Routine with Collagen

On top of coffee and tea, Amino Collagen can be added to any number of breakfast staples. Stir about 7g of Amino Collagen (1.5 tablespoons) into your morning yogurt and top it with your favorite fruit and granola for a satisfying start to the day that also supports your beauty goals, even on a busy morning!

You can also throw the collagen powder in a cup of fruit juice, or your soup at lunch. Whatever you find yourself eating, you can probably find a way to mix in some Meiji Amino Collagen.

One warning for all the creative cooks out there: collagen is easily damaged if exposed to high temperatures, so if you want to use it while cooking, just make sure to add it to the finished dish!

In Japan & Also Available in Singapore!

Singapore residents who fell in love with Amino Collagen during their trip to Japan are in luck, because these days you can actually buy it in Singapore as well. Look for it at major drugstores like Watsons, Guardian, and Welcia, or purchase it online. (When shopping on platforms like Shopee or Lazada, just be sure to use the official Watsons or Guardian stores.)

A Souvenir From Japan & a Gift to the You 10 Years from Now

In Japan, Meiji is known for its history of food and health research, and for their Amino Collagen series, the brand has developed three choices to fit a range of needs. Whether you go for the standard version, the upgraded Premium edition, or the powerful combination of collagen and NMN, why not bring home a small investment for yourself along with your memories of Japan? (If you’re in Singapore, you can keep up the habit even easier by looking for Meiji Amino Collagen at your local Watsons, Guardian, or Welcia.) If you start today, this little souvenir from Japan could help support a bigger impact on your future!

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