Who doesn’t want that youthful, glowing, and healthy skin? Luckily, our bodies synthesize several compounds that play a crucial role in keeping our skin healthy. Collagen is at the top of those naturally occurring compounds.
If you’re a newbie to the skincare realm and don’t know much about what collagen is, how it aids your skin, and how you can boost its level in your skin, you’re in the right place. Today, we’ll help you familiarize yourself with collagen and start your journey to more radiant skin. So, let’s get to it!
What is Collagen?
Collagen is produced in ample amounts by our bodies and helps with the skin’s elasticity and bones. As a result, collagen plays a vital role in maintaining good health. It provides strength and structure to our connective tissues, bones, and muscle mass. Collagen is also responsible for giving structure to the arteries, which supply blood to your heart and the rest of the body. Therefore, collagen plays a crucial role in the health of our body, and the lack of collagen can cause health and skin issues.
There are different types of collagen; endogenous collagen and exogenous collagen. Endogenous collagen is natural collagen formed by the body, while exogenous collagen is a synthetic form of collagen. It comes from sources such as animal bones and skin and is available in supplements.
Why does our Skin Need Collagen?
One of the essential components of our skin is collagen. It makes up three-quarters of your skin and a third of the total protein content in the body. However, with aging and environmental factors, the collagen breaks down. Our body begins to lose collagen, and that leads to sagging, wrinkles, enlarged pores, and dehydration of the skin. The wounds also take more time to heal as the collagen levels drop. “We all have a finite bank of collagen which begins to deplete from the age of 25 onwards,” explains Dr. Sophie Shotter. ¹
Collagen is essential for skin tightening and flexibility. That is why it is being widely used in skincare products and supplements. From facial treatments to oral supplements, collagen is found in many forms to help us achieve our skin goals. However, as we age, the three layers of our skin, epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis, start becoming thinner. One of the significant factors behind the thinning of skin is the decline in collagen production.
What Causes Loss of Collagen?
By now, we know that collagen is significantly essential for maintaining a healthy complexion. Unfortunately, the level of collagen in our skin can drop due to various factors, paving the way to countless skin problems. Some prominent factors behind lower collagen levels are smoking, stress, hormonal fluctuations, and exposure to ultraviolet light for an extended period. Also, poor diet, the intake of refined carbohydrates, processed meat, and too much sugar can cause inflammation in the body, interfering with collagen’s ability to heal. Reduced collagen production in the skin can lead to wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, fine lines, and dehydration.
Benefits of Collagen for Skin
While searching for anti-aging skincare products, most of you might have come across collagen and its plentiful benefits for the health and appearance of the skin. There’s no doubt collagen is packed with a variety of skin-savvy properties, which keep our skin glowing and maintain its elasticity. In addition, collagen has various skin benefits as it provides a solid structure and building block for the skin, giving a fresh look to our skin.
Topical collagen treatments are one of the most effective ways of fighting the signs of aging. It improves the skin’s elasticity, revives the density of collagen fibers within the skin, and helps to lock in moisture. Unfortunately, the free radicals, ultraviolet rays, and other oxidative elements can cause blemishes and reduce the skin's firmness, making our skin look tired and saggy.
However, the collagen present in our skin fights them, leaving the skin appearing more youthful and vibrant. Adding serums and creams that contain collagen-boosting compounds in our daily skincare regimen can boost collagen production and alleviate several skin problems that arise due to a decrease in collagen in the skin.
How to Stimulate Collagen Production
Nevertheless, the loss of collagen in the skin results from the factors mentioned above, but the great news is that you can restore the dropping levels of collagen in various ways. Collagen-boosting skincare products are a great option to accelerate collagen production and repair and prevent collagen breakdown. Here are a few ingredients to look for when buying products to boost collagen synthesis in the skin:
- Vitamin C - Vitamin C is found in the layers of the skin, but with aging and UV exposure, the formation of vitamin C is also affected, just like collagen. Other than being essential for the skin’s health, vitamin C is needed to produce collagen.² Therefore, topical application of vitamin C serum combined with other compounds can limit and counteract the damage caused by sun exposure and help improve skin.
- Hyaluronic Acid - Hyaluronic acid is also a naturally found molecule in the body and can be found in different skincare products. It helps by retaining the moisture in the skin and protecting the lipid barrier. Incorporating hyaluronic acid in our daily routine can be beneficial and lead to hydrated, plumper, and smoother skin.
- Retinol/Vitamin A - Vitamin A, also called Retinols or Retinoids, is being used to treat and prevent signs of aging. When added to skincare products, it can enhance collagen synthesis and stimulate skin renewal. These functions also speed up the production of new blood vessels, which improves skin color. Since retinol can penetrate deeper into the skin and helps in skin shedding, it reduces the emergence of fine lines and wrinkles, fades dark spots, and helps tighten skin. Overall, vitamin A helps lead to healthy-looking skin.³
- Peptides – Peptides, also widely known as polypeptides, occur naturally in the skin. Not many people are familiar with peptides and their benefits like other skincare ingredients like Vitamin C and Vitamin A. They play a significant role in boosting elastin and collagen levels in the skin. Peptides are included in serums and creams to enhance amino acid production, forming collagen. When these peptides are used in skincare products, they can activate collagen synthesis by signaling the skin’s cells to stimulate more collagen to make up for the lost collagen, resulting in firmness and tightness of the skin. Peptides are also believed to improve the skin barrier.
Sundree’s Bio-cellulose Eye Masks contain copper peptides, white tea extract, cucumber, and CBD to help hydrate, firm, and brighten the delicate eye area while reducing puffiness. We love using these under-eye masks for a quick me-up. Just apply the masks, sit back and relax for 15 minutes for brighter, well-rested eyes.
- Niacinamide - Niacinamide is a form of Vitamin B3. It is a versatile nutrient that protects the skin against environmental pollution and triggers collagen production. Niacinamide is well known for its anti-aging attributes. When the skin cells are damaged or compromised to aging and some other external factors, niacinamide enhances collagen production to reverse the damaging effects and restore the skin’s healthier and plumper appearance. Also, niacinamide possesses anti-inflammatory attributes, making it great for acne-prone, sensitive, or dry skin. It also revamps the skin's overall texture by minimizing the pore size.
Here at Sundree, we formulated RYSE+SHYNE facial serum with power-house ingredients; hyaluronic acid, vitamin c, niacinamide, and CBD. Our hydrating facial serum helps brighten and firm skin while minimizing the appearance of pores and improving the skin’s texture. This lightweight serum can be used day or night. Just a few drops daily will lead to happy skin.
Final Thoughts
Collagen is one of the essential components of the skin, and its optimal level is needed to help the skin looking healthy and youthful. However, a myriad of external and internal agents can lead to collagen breakdown, lowering its level in the skin. Countless skincare products aim to boost the production of this protein to help you reinstate a vibrant, supple, and smooth complexion.
The key is to find skincare products with the best active ingredients that can help to stimulate collagen production. While purchasing skincare products to boost collagen production, some of the ingredients to scan for are vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, peptides, niacinamide, and retinol. So, add these collagen-stimulating ingredients to your skincare routine today to hopefully see your skin become fresher, firmer, and brighter in the long run.
Citations:
- March, Bridget. (2021). ‘#SkinSchool: How to stimulate collagen production’, HarpersBazaar. Accessed January 26, 2022. Available at: https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/beauty/skincare/a37526913/how-to-increase-collagen/
- Mayoclinic. ‘Vitamin C’, MayoClinic. Accessed January 27, 2022. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-vitamin-c/art-20363932
- WebMD. ‘Vitamin A – Uses, Side Effects, and More’, Webmd.com. Accessed January 26, 2022. Available at: https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-964/vitamin-a
