August 12, 2026
I think of collagen as one tool in the toolbox, not the toolbox itself.
Where Are You in Your Menopause Journey?
Take Our QuizThe story of our Skin & Bone supplement starts in a dressing room: I was trying on swimsuits before a vacation when I caught a glimpse of my legs under the fluorescent lights. I’ve always been a thin person, but I noticed more cellulite and that my skin looked different. Thinner. Less firm. Menopause changed my skin quality while I was busy living life.
I started looking at the scientific literature to find out if there was anything supported by good science that could help. It was through that research that I found some great randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies about a specific type of collagen, a bioactive collagen peptide called VERISOL®.
Soon afterwards, I learned the same company had developed another bioactive collagen peptide called FORTIBONE®, that had been separately studied for bone health. If there were two different collagen peptides, each studied for a different purpose, I didn't want women to have to choose between them.
Here’s a bit more about the benefits of each ingredient and how I use them in my own daily routine.
A Quick Collagen Explainer
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body. Think of it as one of the body's building materials. It provides structure and strength to skin, bones, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and other connective tissues. As estrogen declines during the menopause transition, our body's natural collagen production also declines. That's one reason many women notice changes in their skin and bone health during midlife.
What many people don't realize is that not all collagen supplements are the same. "Collagen" is an umbrella term. Different collagen peptides are produced using different manufacturing processes and have been studied for different purposes.
VERISOL®: The Bioactive Collagen Peptide That Caught My Attention
VERISOL® isn't simply a collagen powder with a trademark attached to it. It's a patented bioactive collagen peptide with a specific peptide profile that has been evaluated in multiple human clinical trials. A bioactive collagen peptide is a collagen peptide produced through a carefully controlled process that creates a consistent peptide profile. That consistency allows researchers to study the same ingredient across multiple clinical trials.
One randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study followed women between the ages of 35 and 55 who consumed 2.5 grams of VERISOL® daily. Researchers observed improvements in skin elasticity after four weeks, with additional improvement after eight weeks compared with placebo.
Other published studies have evaluated skin appearance, wrinkle depth, and nail health with consistent daily use. What I appreciated most wasn't one positive result. It was seeing multiple studies pointing in the same direction.
After reviewing the research, I started using it, and over time, I noticed changes in my own skin and started getting compliments. That's my personal experience, not scientific proof, of course. But, the fact that there were well-designed clinical studies to back up the claims gave me the confidence that other women may experience similar benefits with consistent use.
Why FORTIBONE® May Be Even More Important
Most conversations about bone health focus on calcium and vitamin D, and for good reason. Both are essential nutrients. But healthy bones are more than minerals. They are built on a collagen framework that provides structure before minerals are deposited.
When I discovered FORTIBONE®, another bioactive collagen peptide developed using a similar manufacturing process as VERISOL®, I realized researchers had been studying a completely different peptide profile for bone health.
A year-long randomized clinical trial followed postmenopausal women with age-related reductions in bone mineral density. Women who consumed 5 grams of FORTIBONE® daily experienced improvements in bone mineral density and changes in bone remodeling markers compared with placebo.
Reading those data shifted the way I thought about collagen. This wasn't simply about supporting healthy-looking skin. It was about supporting how women move, age, and stay active for decades to come.
How Are VERISOL® and FORTIBONE® Different From Generic Collagen?
Many collagen supplements are marketed by collagen "type." Type I collagen is most abundant in skin, tendons, and bone. Type II collagen is found primarily in cartilage, while Type III collagen is found in skin, muscles, blood vessels, and other connective tissues. Those labels describe the collagen's natural source, but they don't necessarily reflect the ingredient that was evaluated in clinical research.
| Conventional Collagen Peptides | VERISOL® | FORTIBONE® | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Hydrolyzed collagen that varies by manufacturer | Patented bioactive collagen peptide | Patented bioactive collagen peptide |
| Research focus | Varies | Skin Health | Bone Health |
| Human clinical research | Depends on the ingredient | Multiple published human clinical studies | Published randomized clinical trial in postmenopausal women |
| Primary outcomes studied | Varies | Skin elasticity and skin appearance | Bone mineral density and bone remodeling markers |
| Typical daily amount studied | Varies | 2.5 g/day | 5 g/day |
Why I Combined Both in Skin & Bone
I decided to create Skin & Bone to offer a formulation built around ingredients that had been studied for the tissues that require support during midlife. Combining VERISOL® and FORTIBONE® not only simplifies the routine, it reflects the way I practice medicine: start with the evidence, ask good questions and follow the science.
No supplement replaces the fundamentals. Protein, strength training, adequate calcium and vitamin D, quality sleep, and not smoking all play important roles in healthy aging. I think of collagen as one tool in the toolbox, not the toolbox itself. The published studies on VERISOL® and FORTIBONE® also looked at consistent daily use over weeks and months, which is a good reminder that nutrition works best when it's part of habits we practice every day .
Everything I create starts with the same question: Is this supported by evidence I would feel comfortable discussing with my patients? If the answer isn't yes, I don't move forward. My hope is that by sharing the research behind these ingredients, you'll feel more confident evaluating collagen products, whether you choose mine or another brand that uses the same clinically studied ingredients. The education comes first and always will.
