Turn back the clock with collagen01

Whizzed into a smoothie or brewed in a bullet proof coffee, celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston, Halle Berry and Kate Hudson have fed our hunger for collagen powders, pills and potions. Here we lift the lid on the super supplement de jour and disclose how it can benefit you.

Originating from the Greek word for ‘glue’. Collagen is part of the protein scaffolding that holds the body together. Found in skin, muscles and connective tissue, it’s the secret to a supple, youthful complexion and has many other benefits to boot.

Collagen makes up about 75% of the weight of your skin

Going, going, gone

Essential for keeping our skin supple and resilient, collagen is found in the dermis and created by fibroblast cells, suspended in a ‘gel’ which consists of hyaluronic acid and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). The bad news is collagen production slows as we age, in fact by the time you hit your mid 40’s, levels have plummeted by a jaw slackening 30%, cue wrinkles, sagging and fine lines. Lifestyle factors such as poor diet, smoking and pollution, will expedite the drag of the natural intrinsic ageing process but the good news is that you as a skincare professional can help your clients slow this decline by providing the tools they need to ramp up their collagen production.

Restore & Replenish

So what’s the best way to reverse plummeting collagen levels?  It is better  to apply creams containing the nutrients skin needs to manufacture its own supply – vitamin A, vitamin C and peptides are all pivotal to collagen production. 

I advise to consume good quality Collagen supplements to work from within. Collagen is made from amino acids found in protein foods. Most of us have enough of these in our diet, so the body already has the building blocks it needs to make its own collagen. What you need are the synergistic nutrients to make this process of converting amino acids into collagen more efficient, and to protect the fibres once they’ve been created.

I find one of the most effective ways of helping the skin to reduce premature aging is to work from the inside out. You wouldn’t build a house without foundations! It’s the same as your skin, if you don’t have the foundation in there your skin won’t be as plumped.