Eggshell Membrane vs Collagen: Why 300 mg Went Head-to-Head With 8 Grams

If you've ever taken a collagen supplement, you know the ritual. A big scoop of powder, stirred into coffee or a smoothie, every single day.

So here's a question that surprised a lot of people this year: what if a dose smaller than a fingernail could keep up with that scoop?

That's essentially what a clinical trial published in Frontiers in Nutrition set out to test. Researchers compared 300 mg of eggshell membrane against 8 grams of hydrolyzed collagen, which is more than 25 times the amount. The results are worth talking about, honestly and without the hype.

First, what is eggshell membrane?

Crack an egg and look closely. Between the hard shell and the egg white is a thin, almost see-through film. That's the eggshell membrane (ESM).

It looks like nothing. But biologically, it's a remarkable little structure. ESM naturally contains type I collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid, the same trio that gives our own skin its strength, bounce and moisture. It also contains glucosamine and chondroitin.

For decades, almost all of it has gone straight into the bin as food-industry waste. That's the part that first caught our attention at Vicky En France. My husband Jean-Yves, a stem cell scientist, and I kept coming back to the same thought: the thing the world throws away is structurally one of the most skin-like materials in nature.

The study: 300 mg ESM vs 8 g collagen vs placebo

Here's what the researchers from the University of León and other Spanish institutions did:

• Who: 62 healthy women aged 40 to 70 with visible wrinkles, dry skin, dullness and uneven tone
• What: each woman took one of three things daily: 300 mg of an eggshell membrane ingredient (MKARE®), 8 g of hydrolyzed collagen, or a placebo
• How long: 8 weeks
• How it was measured: instruments measured skin hydration (a Corneometer) and firmness/elasticity (a Cutometer) on day 1, day 28 and day 57

What they found

• Firmness and flexibility: the eggshell membrane group improved significantly compared with placebo by day 28. By day 57, it had also pulled ahead of the collagen group.
• Elasticity: similar pattern. One key firmness measure rose by around 45% in the ESM group by day 57, while the collagen and placebo groups showed no comparable change.
• Deeper hydration: the ESM group showed a marked drop in water loss from the skin, which was statistically significant at day 28. The researchers noted the strongest hydration effects were in the deeper skin layers.
• How women felt about their skin: on the self-assessment questionnaire, the ESM group rated their skin and hair better than both other groups.

What they didn't find

This part matters just as much. Wrinkle count only decreased slightly, and the change wasn't statistically significant. The researchers called it promising, but it isn't proof. I'd rather you hear that from us than discover it later.

Why could such a small dose keep up?

The researchers' explanation comes down to composition. Most collagen supplements give you collagen, and only collagen.

Eggshell membrane gives you a matrix: collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid together, in the proportions nature built them. In skin, these three don't work alone. Collagen provides strength, elastin provides spring, and hyaluronic acid holds the water that keeps both working properly. The study authors linked ESM's results to exactly that structural combination.

This fits other research, too. Lab studies have found that peptides in ESM can stimulate the skin cells that produce collagen and hyaluronic acid. A separate randomized, placebo-controlled trial in Korea also reported improvements in elasticity, hydration and skin roughness after 12 weeks of ESM supplementation, with no adverse events reported.

This is the way we think about it at VEF. More isn't always better; better-designed is better. It's the same shift you're seeing across skincare right now, with fewer products, smarter formulations and less "more is more."

Let's keep it real: what this study doesn't tell us

I spent 15 years on a trading floor. I learned to read the fine print before getting excited about a headline. So here's the fine print:

1. It's one trial, with 62 women, over 8 weeks. That's meaningful, but it's not the final word.
2. It tested a specific ESM ingredient, not C'est La Berry. Different sources and processing can behave differently.
3. The researchers themselves noted limitations, including the need to control for lifestyle and environment in future studies.
4. Collagen isn't "bad." This study simply suggests ESM deserves a place in the conversation.

The good news is that the science keeps growing. A new French clinical trial is currently testing an eggshell membrane supplement against placebo over 60 days for wrinkles, hydration, firmness and elasticity. We'll share what it finds.

Why we put 500 mg in every C'est La Berry stick

When we formulated C'est La Berry, we made eggshell membrane the hero, not a sprinkle.

Every stick contains 500 mg of eggshell membrane, which is roughly 30 eggs' worth of ESM. That's more than the 300 mg used in the study above, and above the 300–400 mg daily range used in earlier human studies.

We built the rest of the formula around it:

• Vitamin C, which contributes to normal collagen formation
• Biotin, for normal skin and hair
• Glutathione, blueberry extract and rice germ extract
• Apple cider vinegar and FOS prebiotic fibre
• No added sugar, no preservatives, no artificial colouring, and no animal gelatin or fish collagen

And it comes as a jelly stick, not a pill or a scoop. You can tear it and take it at your desk, on the school run or between meetings. Because let's be honest: the best supplement is the one you actually remember to take.

There's one more reason ESM matters to us. Every gram is upcycled from eggs that were already part of the food chain. Our brand line is "Beautiful Earth, Beautiful Me," and we mean both halves. I want our kids to inherit a planet we didn't strip bare in the name of looking good.

How to get the most out of eggshell membrane

• Be consistent. The studies measured changes at 4, 8 and 12 weeks, taken daily. Give it at least 8 weeks before you judge.
• Don't forget the basics. Sunscreen, sleep and hydration do the heavy lifting. Supplements support them; they don't replace them.
• Check with your doctor first if you're pregnant, breastfeeding, on medication or managing a health condition.
• Egg allergy? ESM is derived from eggs, so please avoid it.

FAQ

Is eggshell membrane the same as eating eggs? No. The membrane is the thin film attached to the shell, not the white or the yolk. You'd never eat it in normal cooking.

Can I take eggshell membrane together with collagen? There's no known conflict for most people, but check with your doctor if you have any health concerns.

Is C'est La Berry vegetarian? It contains no animal gelatin or fish collagen. The ESM comes from eggs, so it suits ovo-vegetarians but isn't vegan.

How long before I see a difference? In the study above, some changes were measurable at 4 weeks and more at 8 weeks. Everyone's skin is different, so think in months, not days.

Ready to try the 30-egg stick? Shop C'est La Berry →

With love from our lab-meets-kitchen table, Vicky

This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. C'est La Berry is a food supplement and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

References

1. Comparative effects of MKARE® eggshell membrane and hydrolyzed collagen as nutricosmetics on skin biophysical properties: a randomized clinical trial. Frontiers in Nutrition. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2025.1689701. Summary via NutraIngredients, Jan 2026
2. Effects of oral supplementation with eggshell membrane (Ovoderm®-AS) on skin health: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. ScienceDirect
3. Eggshell Membrane: Nature's Biological Matrix for Healthy Skin. NYSCC
4. Study to Assess the Efficacy of EMC-CAP-2025A on Age-Related Skin Parameters (Circul'Egg). ClinicalTrials.gov NCT07493850