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From skincare to supplements, it's the must-have ingredient at the moment, but why is collagen important? Here we'll explain everything you need to know, including why collagen is good for skin, how it helps with sagging and answering the question we all want to know: do collagen supplements actually work?
Collagen is the most plentiful protein we have within our body. It's the main part of the tissues that make up our body parts including tendons and muscles, but most notably - our skin. Collagen is a pretty key player in the make-up of our skin. It helps strengthen it as well as maintain elasticity and hydration.
Unfortunately, as we age our bodies start to produce less collagen, which is what causes that (perfectly normal) sagging in older skin. With that in mind, there isn't really a set time to start taking collagen, but some experts suggest late 20s is a good time to start if you want to see optimum results as your skin starts ageing.
Collagen supplements are meant to help our bodies stimulate collagen production or promote other proteins that can help form the structure of healthy, more elastic skin. You can get collagen from certain food types, but these mostly include animal fats like chicken, beef or fish. Supplements can therefore provide an easier daily source of collagen and their efficacy has been proven by scientific study.
Yes! Although the most common type of collagen is animal-derived (as gelatin is often the most direct source of collagen), vegan alternatives do exist. We recommend this one from the inner beauty experts, The Beauty Chef.
For promoting collagen production long term
A collagen supplement has been shown to have positive results in helping to stimulate our body's natural production of collagen. For optimum long term results, opting for a collagen supplement is your best bet.
For hydrating and plumping skin short term
Collagen skincare works very differently to a supplement in that it doesn't deliver collagen to skin, but instead works to protect the skin barrier and deliver moisture-rich ingredients that help to create immediate soft, plump results.
Before you start your collagen journey, it's important to make sure you understand the basics. Here are the questions we're frequently asked.
Like any supplement, there are some reported side effects from taking collagen. Because most collagen supplements are sourced from fish and eggs, this usually comes down to a food intolerance. You should always speak with your doctor before taking a new supplement.
The simple answer is: when it comes to your health and wellbeing, why compromise? A longer answer would be that given a common source of collagen is animal fat, buying a natural or organic formula is the best way to support ethical production and ensure that you don't end up putting added extras (like cheap fillers and bulkers) into your body.
No, but they're very similar! Ceramides are lipids found in a different layer of skin to collagen and while they complement it, they play a very different role. Collagen is what makes skin plump and elastic while ceramides work as a barrier to lock moisture in and keep environmental aggressors out. When used together, they make a pretty powerful duo.
While age is the most common reason our collagen levels start to deplete, environmental aggressors, diet and lifestyle all have a role to play too. Eating lots of healthy fats, avoiding alcohol and smoking, taking a supplement and having a good skincare routine is your best defence against visible collagen loss.
It will vary from person to person, but some scientific studies show positive results in as little as 69 days. Check out individual product pages for a more specific indication of when you can expect to see results.
The full range of cleansers, exfoliants, treatments (and more) targeted at dry and dehydrated skin.
