If you’ve ever discovered a few wrinkles while looking into the mirror, it’s important to know that you’re not alone. Millions of individuals suffer from the effects of premature aging and would do just about anything to tap into the ever-elusive fountain of youth. Fortunately, many skincare specialists theorize that modern science may have just found the answer. Collagen, whether in the form of supplements or superfoods, has received ample praise from doctors and celebrities alike for helping them maintain youthful and healthy skin. But what is this popular skincare ingredient, and how exactly does it work? This is how collagen can reduce the signs of aging and bring back your youthful glow.

The Collagen Fundamentals

Collagen is a large protein structure that’s comprised dominantly of the amino acids proline, glycine, arginine, and hydroxyproline. It’s the richest protein we have available in our bodies as it’s responsible for building everything from our bones and tendons to our external layers of skin. Collagen acts as the glue that holds cells together, making it a critical component in the development of any and all connective tissues. As such, it’s one of the top contributing factors for healthy, youthful-looking skin. Though this material is naturally produced, this production tends to slow down around the age of 25—and it begins to show on our faces. It’s about this time when individuals begin suffering from the first signs of premature aging.

What Collagen Does for the Skin

Collagen has a series of useful effects on the skin that all contribute to its appearance and health. All these effects working together is how collagen can reduce signs of aging overall. So, when the rate of its productions begins to decrease as we age, we begin to lose the benefits we once took for granted. Wrinkles become more prominent, our skin texture becomes uneven or dulled, and we even begin to experience some sagging as our complexions lose their elasticity. But with collagen incorporated into your skincare routine, you can bring back these vital effects.

Improved Skin Elasticity

Having a high concentration of collagen in your skin is essential to both maintaining and regenerating its natural bounciness and resilience. This is because the more collagen you have, the stronger your cells are being held together. When healthy cells are held together in this way, it helps them retain additional nutrients and minerals that they need to survive. Things like moisture are also more effectively locked into collagen-rich skin, keeping these areas from thinning out and sustaining damage.

Protection from Sun Damage

As the skin’s elasticity improves, it also begins to respond better to injury and potential causes of damage—mainly the sun. It’s common knowledge that the sun’s UV rays are the number one cause of premature aging. Though our bodies need sunlight in order to receive vitamin D, too much exposure wears down the building blocks of your skin and kills cells. But with collagen as a regular part of your skincare regimen, your skin is able to keep important substances like moisture trapped within your cells. This provides an extra layer of protection from sun damage and helps your skin bounce back quicker from burns. Keep in mind, however, that this isn’t a substitute for wearing sunscreen.

Reduced Cellulite and Stretch Marks

While the development of cellulite and stretch marks is a normal occurrence that everyone experiences, it doesn’t mean that you can’t do anything to treat them. Collagen’s main purpose is to strengthen the skin so that it’s thicker, more resilient, and generally firmer. Because of this, it can also help reduce the appearance of cellulite and stretch marks as an added effect. Unfortunately, there are no proven ways to fully eliminate these blemishes. But with more collagen in your skin, they won’t be nearly as noticeable.

How to Incorporate Collagen into Your Skincare Routine

Now that you’re familiar with how collagen works within your skin, you need to figure out how to best make it a part of your daily skincare. Since collagen is a naturally formed protein, it can be obtained in a variety of different ways to suit your needs. Some prefer to include it in their diet, while others might find it more effective to apply as a lotion. But no matter which method you choose, it’s important that it works well with your lifestyle and is easily maintainable. These are some potential ways you could incorporate collagen into your daily regimen.

Eat the Right Foods

If you ultimately decide to change your diet to get more collagen, there are several important foods to keep in mind. Meat broths, such as chicken or beef broth, are the most efficient way to get a day’s dose of collagen. This is because they’re made directly from organic animal materials such as bone, muscle, and fat. They’re also versatile and can be combined with a series of different ingredients to suit your tastes. You can also get collagen by eating berries, eggs, garlic, and common crops like tomatoes and beans. However, if you find it too troublesome to switch up your meals, you can always take a collagen supplement to make up for it.

Use Collagen-Based Skincare Products

Collagen is also a very common ingredient in lotions, creams, and general skincare products. As such, you can easily switch your skincare routine to include collagen. While it can be found in a variety of different treatments and products, it’s important to note that it can often vary in amounts. The amount of collagen present in a product will affect how much is absorbed into your skin and, likewise, how effective it will be. This is why anti-aging products, in particular, have the highest concentration of collagen. The higher the concentration, the faster you’ll begin to see results and the longer those results will last. Just be sure to talk to your dermatologist before increasing the amount of collagen you’re using in your routine.

At Flawless Beauty & Skin, we want to ensure that each of our customers gets the most out of our skincare products. That’s why we only use ingredients that are clinically proven to improve the health of your skin in our skin brightening soaps and supplements. Our anti-aging products, in particular, use collagen as an active ingredient to not only strengthen your skin and bring it back to health but to also revitalize its appearance.