Before we talk about specific products, it's worth understanding why fish collagen peptides sit at the heart of Larens, Nutrivi, Larens Colour and Cannavi formulas — and what sets them apart from ordinary shelf collagen.
Collagen is the main structural protein in the human body — it makes up as much as 30% of all proteins. It acts as a "tissue filler": it maintains the structure of tissues and organs, gives them mechanical strength (hardness, stiffness, resilience), participates in blood clotting and wound healing, and in the skin is responsible for elasticity, smoothness and holding the right amount of water. It also increases the absorption of mineral components — which matters for bone density — and supports the regeneration of cartilage tissue, affecting joint condition.
Collagen production naturally declines with age. This is also accelerated by excessive UV exposure, low physical activity, a poor diet, hormonal imbalances and menopause, excess cortisol (the stress hormone), lack of sleep, environmental pollution, and stimulants such as alcohol or cigarettes. The result of collagen deficiency is poorer skin, hair and nail condition, a tired appearance, slower wound healing, wrinkles appearing sooner, joint pain and stiffness, and even disruption to the integrity of the gut barrier and difficulty concentrating.
The market offers various types of collagen — including animal collagen (bovine, porcine), obtained mainly from bones, tendons and cartilage. Producing it as a hydrolysate requires aggressive chemical or enzymatic processes that degrade the protein and lower its biological value. So-called plant collagen (phytocollagen), meanwhile, is actually a plant polysaccharide — it only forms a protective film on the skin, without offering the properties of real collagen.
Collagen from fish skins has a biological advantage: its triple-helix structure resembles human protein, which ensures effective absorption, and the lower molecular weight of the peptides increases bioavailability and absorption by up to twofold. It also contains key amino acids — hydroxyproline, proline and glycine — that support the regeneration of skin, joints and connective tissue.
WellU's biotechnologists obtain fish collagen peptides using a method known as cold extraction, carried out at around 16°C — without using aggressive chemical compounds. This means the life-giving protein isn't denatured, but merely breaks down into smaller fragments: peptide chains and free amino acids, whose ability to penetrate deeper skin layers is significantly greater than that of large-molecule collagen. The result is Biopeptide Complex — a cocktail of oligo- and polypeptides — which hydrates the skin, fills in furrows, prevents sagging, supports collagen and elastin production, brightens discolouration, and transports active ingredients deep into the skin.
The complex is patented by WellU — this fact consistently appears on the product pages of nearly every Larens product containing Biopeptide Complex. The raw material is selected freshwater and saltwater fish living in temperate and warm climates — according to Nutrivi's product catalogue, this includes silver carp and grass carp, among the healthiest species with a high content of amino acids, peptides and collagen, as well as Atlantic salmon, particularly rich in amino acids and peptides. Fish skin was chosen deliberately — it's where the highest concentration of these sought-after components is found. The full amino acid composition, research and a comparison with Liposomal Collagen Complex can be found on the dedicated page about both complexes →
Research into Biopeptide Complex has shown that among the smaller peptides, chains of 7 to 29 amino acids are most common, originating from type I, IV, VI and VII collagen, type VIII procollagen, and the proteins decorin, lumican and histones (H2A, H2B, H4) — compounds involved in repairing and regenerating skin structures. One independent scientific paper on the subject, "Identification of Small Peptides of Acidic Collagen Extracts from Silver Carp Skin and Their Therapeutic Relevance" (Wroclaw Medical University, 2016), analysed precisely this kind of peptide extract from silver carp skin.
Nutrivi's peptide drinks and Collagen Booster contain freeze-dried collagen. Freeze-drying is sublimation drying at temperatures below 0°C under very low pressure — a method used, among others, by NASA, applied to dry particularly delicate substances that can't withstand heat. It keeps vitamins, proteins and minerals from being destroyed, and the resulting product contains only trace amounts of water, so it doesn't need preservatives.
That's exactly why Nutrivi sachet products should never be mixed with warm water — high temperatures denature the collagen and break down the delicate signal peptides, defeating the purpose of using them.
Liposomes are microscopic (0.01–10 µm) spherical structures that allow various compounds to be enclosed inside them and delivered to deeper skin layers. The lipid bilayer shell of a liposome is identical to the lipid bilayer of the skin itself — which intensifies the transport of active ingredients and extends their release over time. Liposomal Collagen Complex is a unique combination of natural fish collagen, peptides, amino acids, as well as decorin, lumican and histones — proteins involved in repairing and rebuilding skin structures. Products containing this complex work on two fronts: filling and reconstructing already-damaged skin structures, and triggering the formation of new collagen.
Fish collagen peptides activate many repair processes in the body — among other things, they trigger the work of HSP (Heat Shock Proteins), known as chaperone proteins. These are substances mobilised into action in situations critical for the body (such as a burn), which protect cells from damage after contact with stress-inducing factors — bacteria, viruses, fungi, heavy metals or oxidative stress. That's why products like Biopeptide Serum Spray work so well when introducing a new, intensive skincare routine — they help the skin ease into the change and recover faster.
Forms a protective film on the skin, hydrates, brightens discolouration, smooths wrinkles, improves facial contour and thickens the skin.
Reduces hair loss, stimulates new growth, nourishes the follicles, strengthens the hair shaft and gives it shine.
Firms the skin, restores its density, reduces the visibility of stretch marks and cellulite, and speeds up the healing of wounds and burns.
Stimulates the immune system, supports joint mobility, bone mineralisation and the regeneration of collagen-based tissues.
The formulas are overseen by the WellU Scientific Board, whose members include Dr Marzanna Kurzawa (a chemist specialising in the analysis of natural compounds, author of more than 50 scientific publications) and experts in cosmetology, dietetics and physiotherapy. WellU also partners with the Czech research centre CEITEC (Central European Institute of Technology) — one of the most advanced research centres in Europe, specialising in life sciences and advanced biomaterials. This work has resulted in numerous awards, including recognitions from the prestigious French trade publication LNE Les Nouvelles Esthetiques.