Ingredient Highlight: Collagen in Skincare

top down image of woman scooping cream out of container, leaf

Are you tired of seeing wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging? If so, add some collagen to your skincare routine. Collagen can help rejuvenate and reconstruct skin cells and underlying skin structures. 

But wait, why do we need collagen in skincare? Doesn’t our body produce collagen naturally? As we age, our bodies produce less collagen, leading to the appearance of wrinkles and sagging skin. This is why collagen has become such a popular addition to all kinds of beauty products, from face creams to supplements and more.

What Is Collagen?  

Collagen is a structural protein our bodies produce naturally. This protein is what makes up all your connective tissues, bones, cartilage, skin, and tendons. Collagen gives these parts of the body strength and support. It helps cellular communication and migration, tissue repair, and your body’s immunity. 

Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body, making up about a third of the total. Scientists have found 29 types of collagen, with collagen type I being the most common.

Your skin, which is technically the body’s largest organ, contains mainly Type I collagen. Your dermis, the middle skin layer beneath the epidermis, has elastin fibers and collagen that aid in its elasticity and strength. The protein also helps with skin cell regeneration when cells die.  

What Role Does Collagen Play in Skincare? 

collagen proteins, pink and gold hue
Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body, and essential for connective tissues.

Imagine the skin of a toddler — it’s firm, smooth, and plump. Our skin is so healthy-looking when we’re young because it’s a time of peak collagen production. 

As we get older natural collagen levels decrease. Scientists estimat that the production of collagen is reduced by one to one-and-a-half percent annually after the age of 21. Collagen production can further decline by as much as 30 percent in the first five years of menopause.  

Age is one of the main culprits, but other factors such as an unhealthy diet, smoking, and sun exposure also reduce how much collagen your body produces. 

The problem is that your body can’t produce enough collagen compared to what it loses. And so you turn to collagen in skincare products to help make up the difference. 

Hydrolyzed collagen in skincare is particularly beneficial, because the protein has been enzymatically broken down. This means the collagen fragments can more easily penetrate the dermis and make their way to where this protein is naturally found.  

4 Benefits of Collagen in Skincare

Collagen is a building block for your body. It hydrates, hides cellulite, improves joint function, and so much more. 

1. Hydrates and Smooths Your Skin and Reduces Wrinkles 

When your body doesn’t produce enough collagen, your skin becomes less elastic and more dehydrated. With dry skin, wrinkles more readily form. 

Using products containing collagen may help to reduce skin dryness, improve elasticity, and slow skin aging as it could stimulate your body to increase collagen production.  

A review found that the female participants who used three to 10 grams of collagen daily for an average of two months experienced improved skin hydration and elasticity. 

2. Hides Cellulite 

Since collagen strengthens the dermis layer, it may reduce the tell-tale bumpy appearance of cellulite. As you age and your body makes less collagen, your skin thins, stretches, and sags. 

So, by using collagen-rich skincare products, you may help improve your skin’s elasticity and thickness. Collagen supplements fill in the gaps, which prevents cellulite development.

3. Increase Nail and Hair Strength

Using collagen may improve nail and hair strength by preventing brittleness. A 2017 study found that after participants used bioactive collagen peptides for 24 weeks, their nail growth rate improved by 12 percent and broken nail frequency decreased by 42 percent. 

What’s more, eighty percent of the participants agreed that their nails looked better after the collagen treatment. 

4. Relieve Joint Pain  

The rubbery cartilage in your joints relies on collagen for formation and integrity. Osteoarthritis and other degenerative joint diseases are easily identified by a decrease in collagen production.  

Did you know supplementing with collagen improves joint health and resilience while reducing stiffness and aches? Collagen supplements also help trigger the body’s own cartilage development, improving overall collagen levels in the joints, skin, and tissues. 

Ready To Benefit from a Dose of Collagen in Skincare? 

Collagen may help you look younger as it can hydrate your skin, smooth wrinkles, and increase the skin’s elasticity for that youthful glow. 

Clean Beauty and Wellness Face Time Cream – Collagen Retinol + CBD Revive Cream is a skincare powerhouse with hydrolyzed collagen, CBD, and retinol. It can help brighten your skin, diminish UV damage, and reduce pore size and other visible signs of aging.