A Personal Note from Lucy

I wanted to write this personally to explain why we’ve chosen to introduce a bovine collagen product, especially as those of you who have been part of the Lucy Bee journey from the beginning will know our products have always been vegan.

Since starting Lucy Bee, my focus has always been on creating products that support health and wellbeing, using ingredients I genuinely believe in and use myself. Our Coconut Oil, for example, was naturally vegan and, for us, it was important to create vegan skincare products.

What has evolved over time is my own personal journey, particularly through pregnancy, postpartum, and the changes that come with motherhood, including the products I chose to support myself with, one of those being collagen.

After having my boys, I experienced postpartum hair loss, something many women go through, but it can still feel overwhelming when it happens.

The second time around, I really focused on supporting my body from within. I read up on ways to support my hair through nutrition, supplements, and simple daily habits.

One of those habits was adding collagen into my routine and, after researching the best source of collagen for me, that was bovine collagen. I am not vegan myself; I eat a variety of foods including meat and fish. I personally buy free-range, organic meat and try to buy from sources where I know the traceability.

I love collagen because it’s widely used to support hair, skin and nails, and I found it easy to fit into my daily routine. I add it to my morning coffee, and it became something I could stay consistent with during a busy stage of life, which I still do daily now.

Why collagen?

Collagen is a protein that provides key amino acids, helping to support skin, hair, nails, and overall wellbeing. While it’s not a miracle fix, I personally found it to be a supportive addition during postpartum recovery.

This led me to explore whether this was something we could offer as a brand, but only if it met the same standards we hold across all Lucy Bee products.

Why bovine collagen?

Currently, there is no widely available vegan collagen alternative that provides the same collagen peptides and functionality as bovine or marine collagen. While vegan “collagen boosters” can support the body’s natural collagen production, they do not contain actual collagen itself.

As a predominantly vegan brand, this was a carefully considered decision, and we are also actively developing a vegan alternative blend, which we hope to launch later this year.

After a lot of research, we chose to use high-quality, grass-fed bovine collagen, ensuring:

• Full traceability
• Responsibly sourced ingredients
• The highest possible quality

Why did we choose French bovine collagen?

When developing our collagen, quality and sourcing were the most important factors for me. After extensive research, we chose French bovine collagen for a few key reasons:

High animal welfare standards

France has some of the strictest regulations in Europe when it comes to animal welfare and farming practices. This was incredibly important to me when making this decision.

Grass-fed, high-quality sourcing

Our collagen comes from grass-fed cattle, meaning a more natural diet and high-quality raw material. The quality of collagen starts at the source, so this was something we didn’t want to compromise on.

Purity and traceability

French sourcing allows for strong traceability and quality control, so we know exactly where our collagen comes from and how it’s produced. This helps ensure a clean, safe, and consistent product.

Highly bioavailable

The collagen is hydrolysed, meaning it’s broken down into smaller peptides so it’s easier for the body to absorb and use.

Understanding the Different Types of Collagen

When researching collagen, you’ll often come across different types, so I wanted to briefly explain the differences:

Bovine Collagen

Bovine collagen comes from cows, typically grass-fed. It’s rich in Type I and Type III collagen, which are the main types found in our skin, hair, nails and joints.

This is the type I personally chose to incorporate into my routine.

Marine Collagen

Marine collagen comes from fish. It mainly contains Type I collagen, which is often associated with skin health. It can be more expensive and isn’t suitable for those with fish allergies or certain dietary preferences. Sustainability can also be a concern with marine collagen, depending on sourcing and knowing where and how the fish were caught.

“Vegan Collagen”

There is currently no true vegan collagen, as collagen itself is an animal-derived protein. What you’ll find instead are “vegan collagen boosters.” These don’t contain collagen, but instead provide nutrients like vitamin C, amino acids, and minerals that support your body’s natural collagen production. This is what we are currently working on for our vegan customers.

As both a person and a brand, we are always evolving, and I want Lucy Bee to support people through different stages of life. Like collagen did for me, this felt aligned with our mission as we expand our wellness range.

I know this product won’t be for everyone, particularly some of our vegan customers, and I completely respect that.

This isn’t about moving away from what you know in Lucy Bee; it’s about expanding our offering to give you more choice.

As always, I only create products I use myself and genuinely believe in.

Lucy x

This article is for general information only and is not intended as medical advice. If you have concerns about postpartum hair loss, nutrition, or supplementation, please speak with your GP or qualified healthcare professional.