4 Effective Ways to Boost Your Skin's Collagen Production for a Youthful Glow
How to give your body a helping hand
Youthful plump skin takes work. Unfortunately, with every extra candle you add on your birthday cake each year, your body struggles more and more to naturally produce enough collagen to keep lines and wrinkles at bay. But that’s not to say it’s not possible to put in the extra work yourself to help your body out. There are a number of approaches you can take to boost your body’s collagen production. While you can pick and choose what works best for your lifestyle, we reckon there’s no harm in doing all at once!
What is collagen?
Collagen is a protein that plays a crucial role in the structure and function of skin, cartilage, bones, tendons, and connective tissue. Specifically, collagen makes up nearly 80% of your skin, providing strength and elasticity. It also supports cell turnover, helping to remove dead skin cells naturally. When collagen levels decline, signs of skin aging such as fine lines, sagging, and loss of volume become more apparent.
What causes collagen loss?
Collagen production peaks during your early 20s, but gradually declines at a rate of about 1% per year thereafter. Factors such as UV exposure, stress, and diet can also contribute to accelerated collagen loss.
4 Ways to Improve Your Skin’s Collagen Production
Retinol
If you want to address the signs of ageing in your skincare routine, you need retinol. It’s one of the best anti-ageing ingredients because of its ability to increase collagen production in skin. The way Retinol works is it triggers the cells in the outermost layer of skin to turnover at a faster rate, which helps increase collagen production, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and leave skin smoother and more even toned. Retinol also helps prevent the breakdown of collagen in your skin.
GOOD TO KNOW: Collagen is actually worthless in a topical skincare formula as its molecular weight it too large to penetrate the top layer of skin. For skincare to effectively increase collagen it must contain collagen amino acids that are small enough to penetrate the skin. Ingredients like Retinol (Vitamin A), Bakuchiol (a natural Retinol alternative), and Vitamin C are all top anti-ageing ingredients for improving collagen production.
Microneedling
Microneedling, or Collagen Induction Therapy, can increase collagen and elastin production by up to 400%. This minimally invasive treatment uses micro-fine needles to create tiny punctures in the skin, signaling the body to boost collagen production. Results can take four to six weeks to appear, so patience is essential.
Stay hydrated
Proper hydration helps skin cells function optimally, while dry skin prevents collagen from repairing itself. Water is a vital component of collagen and aids in the distribution of Vitamin C, which is necessary for collagen production. Drinking enough water daily and using hydrating skincare products can support collagen health. Check out these hydration tips from Mayo Clinic.
Collagen supplements
Your skincare routine isn’t the only way to achieve younger-looking skin. An inside out approach can help enhance the visible results and is a cinch to incorporate into your day. Collagen supplements contain broken down, digestible forms of collagen and work by travelling throughout the body to support the natural production of collagen via fibroblasts (aka the cells that produce collagen and elastin).
But not all collagen supplements are created equal. Unlike the powder and capsule options on the market, our Fabulous Moi Daily Super Shots come in a liquid form that’s convenient and easily absorbed by the body. Our formula (which is delicious, BTW!) is TGA listed and contains clinically-studied PEPTAN® B Hydrolysed Collagen and Vitamin C to help promote collagen formation and support collagen health.
By incorporating these four strategies into your daily routine, you can help your body produce more collagen and maintain a youthful, radiant complexion.
