Shaklee Liquid BioCell® Life+ takes a different approach: it delivers a patented matrix that is bio-identicle to the structure of human cartilage, now upgraded with a new layer of bioactives aimed at how collagen ages over time.
This is a look at what the product is, how the science works, and what the published research actually shows, without the hype.
What Liquid BioCell Life+ actually is
Liquid BioCell Life+ is a liquid collagen supplement launched by Shaklee in April 2026, built on the original Liquid BioCell®, a collagen technology that pioneered the liquid collagen category and has driven more than a billion dollars in sales worldwide. Rather than a simple collagen drink, it is a system: the clinically studied Collagen/HA Matrix® combined with a new set of targeted bioactive ingredients.
The thing that sets it apart is what is inside that matrix. Liquid BioCell is not a blend of separate powders stirred together. It is a single, naturally occurring matrix of three molecules that already coexist in healthy connective tissue: hydrolyzed collagen type II peptides, hyaluronic acid, and chondroitin sulfate. Because these are delivered together in the proportions the body recognizes, and at a low molecular weight designed for absorption, the matrix is built to be used efficiently rather than simply passed through.
The Collagen/HA Matrix: why “type II” matters
Most collagen supplements use type I collagen. Liquid BioCell uses type II, the form that dominates cartilage, sourced from chicken sternal cartilage. That choice is deliberate: type II collagen, paired with hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate, more closely resembles the actual composition of joint cartilage and the deeper layers of skin.
The three components play complementary roles. Collagen provides the structural scaffold of skin and connective tissue. Hyaluronic acid is the molecule that holds water in the skin and lubricates joints, and its natural decline is one reason skin becomes drier and less plump with age. Chondroitin sulfate is a building block of cartilage and connective tissue. Delivered as a unified matrix, they are intended to support the same structures they naturally belong to.
What “TriPlex Technology” adds in Life+
The “Life+” in the name refers to a new, patent-pending TriPlex Technology™ layered on top of the original matrix. Where earlier Liquid BioCell formulas focused largely on delivering collagen building blocks, Life+ is designed to address the full lifecycle of collagen, not just supplying it, but helping protect and renew what you already have.
It does this by enhancing the Collagen/HA Matrix with targeted bioactives, including calcium fructoborate, pine bark extract, and fucoidan. In Shaklee’s framing, the goal is three-dimensional: build (supply the collagen matrix the body recognizes), protect (help defend existing collagen fibers), and renew (support the body’s own collagen-producing activity). The expertly selected ingredients have been studied for their roles in supporting joint mobility and comfort, bone strength, skin hydration and elasticity, and hair and nail strength.
What the published research shows
This is where it is worth being precise. The strongest evidence is for the core BioCell Collagen® matrix, which has been the subject of multiple human clinical trials over roughly two decades. Here is what the peer-reviewed literature reports:
Skin aging. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 26 women with visible signs of aging, daily supplementation with 1 gram of BioCell Collagen for 12 weeks reduced skin dryness and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, with measurable increases in skin collagen content and microcirculation (Schauss et al., 2012). A later randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 128 women aged 39–59 reported improvements in skin elasticity and reductions in the appearance of crow’s feet lines and wrinkles over 12 weeks (Schwartz et al., 2019).
Photoaging. A peer-reviewed laboratory study published in the Journal of Functional Foods found that oral BioCell Collagen, paired with controlled UVB exposure, was associated with reduced signs of photoaging, including decreases in wrinkle formation and transepidermal water loss, and increases in skin elasticity and hyaluronic acid content, over 14 weeks, and was well tolerated.
Joint comfort. Research on the matrix for joint health has reported improvements in joint comfort and mobility versus placebo, consistent with the roles of type II collagen, chondroitin, and hyaluronic acid in cartilage and connective tissue.
Two honest caveats. First, much of this research is on the underlying BioCell Collagen ingredient rather than on the exact Life+ finished formula, which is new. Second, the added Life+ bioactives (calcium fructoborate, pine bark extract, fucoidan) have their own individual research bases, but the specific Life+ combination is recent. The matrix at the heart of the product is well studied; the newest layer is supported by ingredient-level evidence rather than long-term trials of the finished product. That is a reasonable, science-forward way to read the label, not a reason to dismiss it, and not a reason to overpromise.
How to take it, and who it suits
Liquid BioCell Life+ is a once-daily liquid, convenient for people who dislike swallowing capsules and who want collagen, hyaluronic acid, and chondroitin in one step rather than three separate products. It is most relevant for adults noticing the ordinary signs of collagen decline: drier or less elastic skin, fine lines, and everyday joint stiffness. As with any supplement, consistency over weeks, not days, is where the clinical studies showed their effects, and anyone pregnant, nursing, or managing a medical condition should check with their healthcare provider first.
If you are deciding between collagen formats, the practical question is whether you want a single-ingredient collagen powder or a clinically studied multi-component matrix designed to mirror connective tissue. Life+ is firmly in the second camp, with the added longevity-focused bioactives as its point of difference.
The bottom line
Liquid BioCell Life+ is a credible, science-anchored entry in a crowded category. Its foundation, the Collagen/HA Matrix of type II collagen, hyaluronic acid, and chondroitin sulfate, is one of the better-studied collagen ingredients available, with peer-reviewed trials behind its skin and joint claims. The new TriPlex layer extends the idea from simply supplying collagen to protecting and renewing it, which is a sensible direction even if the finished formula is too new to have its own long-term trials. For anyone who valued the original Liquid BioCell, Life+ is the natural next step; for newcomers, it is a well-formulated way to try liquid collagen backed by real research.
Explore Shaklee Liquid BioCell Life+ here.
Sources Cited:
1. Shaklee Corporation. “Shaklee Launches Liquid BioCell Life+: A First-of-Its-Kind, Three-Dimensional Approach to Collagen Health for Longevity.” Press release, April 1, 2026.
2. Schauss AG, et al. “Effect of the Novel Low Molecular Weight Hydrolyzed Chicken Sternal Cartilage Extract, BioCell Collagen, on Improving Osteoarthritis-Related Symptoms” and related skin findings. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2012.
3. Schwartz SR, et al. “A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study Evaluating the Efficacy of a Hydrolyzed Collagen Type II Matrix on Skin Aging.” Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 2019.
4. “Oral Supplementation with BioCell Collagen and Signs of UVB-Induced Photoaging.” Journal of Functional Foods, 2020.
5. BioCell Technology LLC. Collagen/HA Matrix® Technology and clinical trial summaries. Newport Beach, California.
6. Shaklee Corporation. Liquid BioCell® Life+ product information. https://us.shaklee.com/en_US/new/Nutrition/Targeted-Solutions/Collagen/Liquid-BioCell%C2%AE-Life%2B/p/21432.