“Real glow doesn’t come from filters or from products born in fear—it comes from a nervous system that feels safe, hormones that are balanced, and choices rooted in integrity. Beauty should never require suffering.”
Collagen has become one of the most celebrated beauty trends in the wellness industry, plastered across social media in pink jars and glossy marketing promises of firmer skin, stronger nails, and a fountain-of-youth glow. Yet behind the hype lies a side of collagen that few consumers ever hear about—one marked by hidden contaminants, hormone disruptors, and misleading formulations that often do more harm than good. In a market where the word “glow” is used as freely as glitter, understanding what truly supports beauty from the inside out has become more essential than ever.
In this eye-opening interview, neuroscience researcher and founder of NØØT, Dia Schwarz, pulls back the curtain on one of wellness’s most profitable yet misunderstood categories. With a rare blend of scientific clarity and heartfelt honesty, she exposes the unsettling truth behind traditional collagen powders while introducing a cleaner, cruelty-conscious alternative rooted in integrity and biology. Her story—from childhood moments on a farm to groundbreaking research on collagen activation—challenges everything we think we know about beauty. This conversation is not just about supplements; it’s about redefining radiance through wholeness, transparency, and science-driven care.
Thank you so much for joining us, Dia! Our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your backstory?
Thank you, Stacey. I’m really happy to be here. My journey with collagen goes all the way back to my childhood on a farm. My grandfather was a butcher, and I will never forget the day I walked into the kitchen at nine years old and saw huge steel pots boiling bones, hides, and tendons. He said, “It’s soup. Good for your joints and skin.” But even as a child, I sensed that what was in those pots wasn’t nourishment—it was stress, fear, and trauma. I started calling it “The Soup of Cruel,” long before I had the scientific language to understand what I was feeling. Years later, when I entered the wellness world and saw collagen being sold in pretty pink jars with glow-up slogans, I realized nothing had changed. The same boiling hides, just packaged differently. That realization, combined with my work in neuroscience and integrative medicine, eventually shaped my mission to create clean, cruelty-conscious supplements and ultimately led to the development of VeCoGlow.
In plain English, what exactly is collagen and how does it work in the body?
Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body. I often describe it as the scaffolding that keeps everything intact. It holds your skin firm, cushions your joints, strengthens your bones, and supports your gut lining. The body builds collagen from amino acids like glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline. Your cells weave these amino acids into strong triple-helix fibers. But that weaving process can’t happen without Vitamin C. The enzymes needed to stabilize collagen fibers rely on Vitamin C as a cofactor. Without it, collagen formation becomes unstable and ineffective. This is why people with Vitamin C deficiencies struggle with bruising, gum issues, and slow wound healing—not because their body doesn’t want to produce collagen, but because it can’t activate the process. This also means that taking collagen powders without Vitamin C or the proper cofactors makes them far less effective.
Do the different types of collagen matter when choosing a supplement?
Very much so. Different collagen types support different structures. Type I strengthens skin, bones, and tendons. Type II supports cartilage and joints. Type III supports skin, blood vessels, and muscles. Types V and X help with connective tissue and certain structural elements. When someone buys collagen, they should know which type supports their goals. The challenge is that most labels don’t educate people, so they end up taking the wrong type for their desired result.
You’ve said many collagen powders can actually harm the body. What’s happening inside when someone takes a typical collagen supplement?
Most collagen powders are derived from factory-farmed animals, which comes with a cascade of issues. These animals are routinely given antibiotics, and those residues end up in collagen powders. When consumed, they disrupt the gut microbiome, kill beneficial bacteria, and contribute to antibiotic resistance. Hormones such as estrogen, cortisol, and various growth hormones also end up in the final product, and those interact with the body’s endocrine system. This can lead to irregular cycles, mood swings, PMS changes, and more severe menopausal symptoms. Some collagen peptides cause insulin spikes, which is especially problematic for people who are insulin-resistant or pre-diabetic. Add to that the artificial sweeteners, dyes, and fillers required to mask the taste of boiled hides, and the liver becomes overloaded instead of supported. To make matters worse, bones and hides store heavy metals like lead and mercury, and many collagen products test positive for them. These metals accumulate in the mitochondria and accelerate aging, fatigue, and inflammation. Many people experiencing breakouts, bloating, joint discomfort, or hormone swings never realize their collagen powder is contributing.
People often argue the doses are tiny, so it shouldn’t matter. Why do these micro-amounts still affect us?
The body is extremely sensitive to signals, even at microdoses. Microdosing and homeopathy work because the immune and nervous systems respond to very small amounts of substances. The same applies here—but instead of microdosing something therapeutic, people are microdosing contaminants. Even tiny amounts of antibiotics, hormones, or heavy metals can create long-term patterns of imbalance in the body.
Why do you think so little of this information reaches the mainstream conversation about collagen?
The collagen industry is massive, and it thrives on image and illusion. Beautiful packaging, influencer partnerships, and promises of glowing skin keep people buying without questioning the sourcing or science behind the products. When a category generates billions of dollars, there’s little incentive for companies to highlight what’s actually happening inside those jars. Education disrupts profit, and most brands prefer consumers stay in the dark.
With all of this in mind, what inspired you to create VeCoGlow?
I wanted to create a collagen option that aligned with health, science, and ethics. Through research, we discovered the power of eggshell membrane collagen—the thin membrane inside an eggshell that naturally contains collagen types I, V, and X, as well as elastin, keratin, glycosaminoglycans, and hyaluronic acid. It is cruelty-conscious, sustainable, and doesn’t require boiling hides or generating slaughterhouse waste. What made it even more exciting was a double-blind, placebo-controlled study showing that eggshell membrane collagen was equal or even more effective than bovine collagen. For me, that was the moment everything clicked. VeCoGlow became a way to offer real results without compromising integrity.
What is unique about eggshell membrane collagen in terms of results and body chemistry?
Eggshell membrane collagen is highly bioavailable, meaning the body absorbs and uses it efficiently. It also comes naturally packaged with supportive compounds like elastin and hyaluronic acid, so the body receives a more complete set of materials for building structure. Unlike bovine or marine collagen, which often require heavy processing and carry contaminants, eggshell membrane collagen offers clean, effective support without biochemical baggage. It aligns both with science and with the body’s natural rhythms.
You designed VeCoGlow with activation and protection in mind. How do these cofactors enhance results?
Collagen requires cofactors to become truly usable. In VeCoGlow, we include acerola-derived Vitamin C to spark collagen synthesis, bamboo silica to support structural integrity, and ceramides to repair the skin barrier and maintain hydration. Mangosteen and wheat seed help calm inflammation and support the microbiome. Together, these ingredients create functional synergy—helping the body activate, build, and sustain strong collagen systems while protecting the skin and gut from stress.
You often discuss the energy or frequency of what we consume. How does that relate to collagen?
Everything we take in carries a frequency. Stress, fear, and trauma have energetic signatures just as peace, safety, and nourishment do. Many people meditate, practice breathwork, and pursue holistic wellness, yet they ingest collagen derived from animals who lived in fear and stress. Our nervous system senses that, even if we aren’t consciously aware. Consuming products sourced from suffering contradicts the very balance people are trying to cultivate. I believe glow is not just physical—it’s energetic. A product should support both.
For someone holding a collagen jar right now, what is your immediate advice?
Start by reading the label carefully. Look for vague sourcing, artificial sweeteners, dyes, and fillers. If it doesn’t feel aligned, trust that instinct. Remember that collagen cannot function without cofactors, so if none are included, it won’t perform optimally. And finally, choose products that support your body rather than stress it. Beauty routines should contribute to wholeness, not harm.
You clearly tie beauty to integrity. Why is that such an essential part of your mission?
Because real glow is the result of inner balance. It’s your nervous system feeling safe, your hormones stable, your cells energized, your gut supported. True beauty doesn’t require suffering—neither from animals nor from the body processing contaminants. Everything we create at NØØT reflects the belief that integrity, science, and compassion belong together. If I wouldn’t give something to my family, it doesn’t belong in a bottle.
What final message would you like to leave readers with?
Glow without trauma is possible. Beauty without suffering is possible. When we choose clean, science-backed, conscious options, we honor the body and the world around us. Radiance should never require fear, fillers, or hidden toxins. It should come from alignment, nourishment, and integrity.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
You can learn more about VeCoGlow and our full range of conscious supplements at NØØT.us, and join our community on Instagram at @noot.world. We share science, wellness tools, and education to help people cultivate their glow from a place of truth and wholeness. I’d be honored to connect with anyone ready to rethink beauty in a more mindful way.
And for those who want to explore the science behind her work, Dia also shares the double-blind, placebo-controlled study proving that eggshell membrane collagen is equal or even more effective than bovine collagen—clean, safe, and backed by rigorous research. You can read the study here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1756464625000556
Dia, this has been such a powerful and enlightening conversation. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and your passion with so much clarity and heart.
Thank you, Stacey. I truly appreciate your thoughtful questions and the space you created today. It’s been a pleasure speaking with you, and I hope this conversation inspires others to choose beauty that supports their health, their frequency, and their integrity.
