Collagen is the beauty buzzword on everyone’s lips – and skin, of course. It’s the (not technically new) savvy skincare ingredient that’s doing the industry rounds once again, gaining traction for its claim of many benefits for our hair, skin and body.
What started out exclusively as topical formulas, but has since found its way into ingestible supplements, synthetic collagen continues to evolve, making itself known in many beauty routines in present day. But what, exactly, is collagen, and how can it help to improve our complexion from the inside-out? Anna Lahey, Vida Glow Founder and collagen expert, shares the inside scoop on the benefits of collagen supplements, explaining exactly why they’re becoming a must in any regime…
To understand the true benefits of collagen, it’s important to know what it is, where it’s found, and exactly how it behaves from one person to the next. Likely something you already knew, but spoiler alert if you didn’t: collagen is actually something that's inherently present in our body.
“Collagen is a protein that our bodies naturally produce. It acts as a building block, giving our skin, hair and nails their structure, elasticity, and firmness,” explains Anna.
“From around the age of 25, the rate at which our bodies produce collagen starts to gradually decline. This is when we start to see the early signs of ageing, like fine lines. And on top of that natural decline, our collagen is also impacted by exposure to sun, environmental pollution and stressors such as poor diet. By stimulating collagen production, collagen supplementation supports youthful skin, hair and nails.”
“We know that as we age, our body’s ability to naturally produce collagen declines,” admits Anna. “[That’s] why taking a supplement like ingestible marine collagen can be extremely beneficial. Once ingested, marine collagen is absorbed and distributed into the bloodstream, via the blood vessels, to a deeper layer of skin called the dermis.”
“Once it reaches the collagen matrix it stimulates fibroblast proliferation, generating the production of fresh collagen. When you ingest hydrolysed collagen peptides, you are increasing the pool of specific amino acids that are needed by cells in the body to produce collagen. As a completely natural protein, marine collagen is an effective, non-invasive solution to visibly improve the appearance and health of skin, hair and nails.”
“Collagen is the most abundant protein in our bodies and primarily found in the skin, joints and connective tissues. From our mid-20s, our collagen levels naturally begin to deplete with the rate at which we lose collagen only increasing as we age. This causes signs of ageing including fine lines, wrinkles, sagging skin and dehydration that contributes to a lacklustre complexion.”
“Marine collagen is a collagen supplement derived from the skin of fish. We use the skin that would otherwise be discarded as waste by the food industry,” explains Anna.
“The skin is put through a process called hydrolysation, which transforms it into low-weight collagen peptides. The smaller the collagen peptide, the easier it is for your body to absorb. Higher absorption means it’s more effective in replenishing and restoring collagen to a deeper layer of skin, hair and nails. This is when you start to see significant results.”
“Early results of consistent collagen supplementation – like improved skin hydration – can be seen in just four weeks. After six weeks, fine lines around the eyes and mouth begin to soften. After nine weeks of collagen supplementation, the collagen matrix is strengthened and thickened and skin is firmer and smoother. By 12 weeks, skin elasticity is improved and the full benefits of marine collagen can be achieved with ongoing supplementation. The fast growth of nails and baby hairs are also some of the first benefits our community see when beginning collagen supplementation.”
“The surface layer of skin, where traditional skincare operates, makes up for only 3% of the complete skin organ. Ingestible beauty products start in the body, at a cellular level where the ingredients can penetrate the other 97% of skin. So with ingestible beauty, you are able to address more of the skin, than just the superficial outer layers,” says Anna.
“Skin concerns might appear on the surface, but they begin much deeper. This is the advantage of using ingestible beauty, we can target skin concerns like pigmentation, acne and even wrinkles at the root cause and create tangible and long-lasting changes.”
“The surface layer of skin, where traditional skincare operates, makes up for only 3% of the complete skin organ. Ingestible beauty products start in the body, at a cellular level where the ingredients can penetrate the other 97% of skin. So with ingestible beauty, you are able to address more of the skin, than just the superficial outer layers,” says Anna.