Collagen Production: How to Get More Collagen & What Can Boost It?
You'll see it everywhere from beauty magazines to celebrity interviews to health and fitness columns, collagen seems to be the latest buzzword on everybody's lips. This protein is an essential element in our bodies, responsible for health and beauty inside and out. So it's only natural that so many people want more.
Whether it's for healthy skin, stronger hair, better joint health, or stronger muscles, boosting our body's natural production of collagen is a no-brainer. If like us, you want to maximize your supplies of this protein, it's important to understand how collagen synthesis works in the first place, and why we need it to stay healthy.
In this article, we will explain the best ways to boost your collagen supplies, with tips about the top supplements, foods, skincare products, and treatments to make your skin glow, your hair shine, your joints strong, and much more.
So if you're wondering "what are the top 10 skin care products that boost collagen production?" then look no further than this comprehensive guide. We've got all of the top tips and tricks to amp up your collagen, inside and out!
What Is Collagen?
Many would describe it as the glue that holds us together, and for good reason. Collagen is an essential part of our bodies that we can't live without. It's a fibrous protein that helps form the structure of our skin, joints, connective tissues, bones, muscles, heart, and gut lining. It also contributes to the health of our blood vessels, teeth, and corneas.
Collagen is made up of three chains of amino acids, wound together into what's known as a triple helix structure. These chains are composed of three amino acids: glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline. When these amino acids wind together, they form long, thin collagenous fibers. These collagen fibers are very strong, and they give support and structure to many areas of the body.
We have at least 16 types of collagen in our bodies, but there are three main types that make up 80-90% of our collagen supplies. 1
What is the definition of collagens? RenewSkin Inc. explains.
Type I Collagen
The main and most commonly found type of collagen in the body is type 1 collagen. Type I collagen is a major component in human skin, cartilage, bone, connective tissue, nails, hair, and teeth. Its fibers give structure to our connective tissues, bones, and other parts of our body.
When you hear people using collagen supplements and boosters to improve their skin, hair, and nails, type I collagen is usually what they are looking for. This is the best type of collagen for anti-aging purposes, because it contributes so significantly to skin health, in particular.
Collagen degradation, specifically type I collagen degradation, is one of the biggest contributors to those pesky signs of aging like wrinkles and sagging skin.
More helpful reading: best ingredients for anti aging
Type II Collagen
Type 2 collagen is most important for your joints, bones, and connective tissue. It's the main protein that composes your cartilage, which is a connective tissue that's hugely important to the health of your joints. It functions to create a strong yet flexible cushion layer to absorb shock and allow your bones to move without friction.
Type II collagen degradation is a major factor in the development and severity of osteoarthritis, and other joint disorders.
Type III Collagen
Type III collagen is found in our organs, blood vessels, and muscles. It's also an important component in healing wounds, and it works in tandem with type I collagen to improve skin elasticity and hydration.
More helpful reading:
https://www.renewskinco.com/blogs/i/how-collagen-improve-skin-elasticity
How Does Collagen Synthesis Work?
Whatever the type of collagen, it is formed in the body in a process known as collagen synthesis.
If you're thinking about ways to boost your body's collagen production process, you might want to know how it all happens to begin with! Here's what you need to know about collagen production:
More helpful reading: skin types
Fibroblasts & the Extracellular Matrix
The collagen synthesis process might seem a little complicated, especially if you never paid attention in biology class. But don't worry, we'll break it down into simple parts.
The main thing you need to know about is fibroblasts. Fibroblasts are specialized cells that are responsible for creating collagen proteins in your body. They live in something called the extracellular matrix, which is a web-like structure made of protein fibrils and water-binding molecules.
An extracellular matrix structure forms the basis of many parts of the human body – it's kind of like a scaffolding for the body!
More helpful reading: How is collagen made?
Human Skin Fibroblasts & the Dermis
Take the skin, for example. The dermis is the foundational layer that gives your skin structure and strength. It sits below the epidermis, which is the top layer that we can see (and apply our favorite skincare to!).
The dermis is an extracellular matrix containing fibroblasts, collagen fibrils, elastin fibrils, and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Elastin, as the name suggests, is the protein responsible for the elasticity of your skin. GAGs are water-binding molecules that retain moisture in your skin, keeping it supple, plump, and soft.
When it comes to collagen formation, fibroblasts are where the magic happens. Human skin fibroblasts are responsible for forming and twisting amino acid chains in the dermis into collagen's characteristic triple helical structure, which then seeps into the extracellular matrix and becomes a structural component of the skin.
Fibroblasts also create elastin and GAGs, giving your skin all of the foundations it needs to stay firm, bouncy, and healthy.
What is the function of elastin? RenewSkin Inc. explains.
The Essential Elements of Collagen Synthesis
So what do your fibroblasts need to make collagen? Collagen synthesis doesn't happen out of thin air, your body needs a few essential ingredients to make collagen chains.
Amino Acids
First up, you need amino acids, namely proline and glycine. Glycine is the most simple naturally occurring amino acid, and it forms the basis of many proteins. It is the main amino acid involved in the production of collagen. Proline is another commonly found amino acid and a building block for many proteins.
Your body can make these amino acids on its own, but we can also get more of each from our diet, by eating protein-rich foods like meat, dairy, and fish.
More helpful reading: Skincare trends
Vitamin C
Your body also needs a few vitamins and minerals to push the collagen synthesis process along. Vitamin C is a crucial component in making collagen, it is needed to activate the enzymes that stabilize and give structure to collagen molecules. Vitamin C is known as a cofactor of collagen. 2
What does vitamin C do for your skin? RenewSkin Inc. has the answers!
Zinc & Copper
Lastly, you need zinc and copper, two more cofactors of collagen. Zinc is essential to cellular repair and it protects your collagen molecules from harm, while copper plays a key role in activating enzymes that support collagen synthesis.
More helpful reading: Anti aging foods
5 Key Factors That Slow Down Collagen Synthesis
Unfortunately, the process of collagen synthesis isn't entirely straightforward. There are a number of factors, some avoidable, some not, that impact how well our bodies can make collagen.
Here are the top 5 things that contribute to reduced collagen formation:
More helpful reading: How to increase collagen on face
1. Aging
Getting older is the first and most unavoidable factor that causes our collagen supplies to dwindle. As we age, our cells renew and repair at a slower rate, and those fibroblasts that create collagen also begin to fade.
When we are young, collagen production is fast and we can see the signs of abundant collagen in our skin and feel it in our healthy, limber joints and muscles. This is why babies have bouncy, plump skin and soft hair, and it's why we are much more agile when we are young.
As we get older, collagen production slows down. Once we reach our mid to late 20s, the fibroblasts in our dermis produce approximately 1% less collagen each year. This impacts our skin's elasticity, strength, and overall structure, and fine lines and wrinkles start to form for most people in their late 20s and 30s. 3
The bad news for women is that menopause makes matters worse, as the hormonal shifts that come with menopause accelerate the decline of our collagen production. In fact, women tend to lose about 30% of their collagen during the first five years of menopause. Yikes! 4
More helpful reading from RenewSkin Inc.: Natural menopause solutions
2. UV Rays: Sun Damage & Blue Light Damage
Ever wondered why sun-damaged skin is far more likely to wrinkle and sag than the skin of a shade-seeking sunscreen addict?
You can relate this back to collagen! Aside from the internal and unavoidable aging processes, there are a number of external and environmental factors that can damage your collagen – and UV radiation is top of that list.
When we spend too much time in the sun and allow UVA and UVB rays to penetrate the dermis, they cause an abnormal buildup of elastin that accumulates and results in the production of enzymes that break down collagen. Sun exposure also causes a build-up of free radicals in the body. Free radicals, otherwise known as reactive oxygen species, are highly reactive molecules that further the breakdown of collagen fibers in the skin.
It's not just sun exposure that we have to worry about, either. The blue light that is emitted from our phones, computers, and TV screens can also cause a similar type of damage to our skin.
More helpful reading:
https://www.renewskinco.com/blogs/i/is-blue-light-bad-for-your-skin
3. Poor Diet: Sugar & Highly Processed Foods
Nutrition also plays a crucial role in our collagen production process. We all know that a healthy, well-balanced diet can make us look and feel our best, but how does the food we choose to eat contribute to healthy skin?
One key factor in this is collagen, and knowing which foods are going to contribute to the destruction of this essential skin-plumping protein.
Unfortunately for those with a sweet tooth, sugar is the enemy of collagen formation. When we consume foods high in sugar, our blood sugar levels spike, which causes the body to produce more insulin. Insulin is the hormone needed to convert sugar into energy, but too much insulin in the bloodstream can cause inflammation that is very damaging to your body's collagen production process.
Sugar also damages the skin in a process called glycation, in which glucose attaches to proteins in the bloodstream to produce dangerous free radicals that break down collagen and elastin fibers.
Avoiding sugary foods like white bread, candy, ice cream, and sodas can help you keep your collagen, and therefore your skin, safe from harm. The same goes for highly processed foods, which are often high in hidden sugars like high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS).
More helpful reading: Sugar & skin
4. Toxins: Alcohol & Cigarettes
Sugar isn't the only offender we need to look out for when we think about what we consume – alcohol and cigarettes are two major contributors to collagen destruction.
Alcohol and skin collagen are not a match made in heaven. Alcohol is technically a toxin, and when it enters our bloodstream it creates chemicals that your liver needs to work extra hard to flush out. Unfortunately, this process also flushes much-needed water and salt from your body, as well as causing inflammation and free radical damage that break down the collagen and elastin in your dermis.
So although an occasional glass of wine at the end of a long day isn't the end of the world, you may want to be mindful of how much and how often you drink in order to keep your body's collagen, and therefore your skin, healthy and strong.
The same rings true for cigarettes, which also contain a large number of nasty chemicals that wreak havoc on your collagen supplies and cause irreversible skin damage.
Want to get rid of smoker lips? RenewSkin Inc. shows you how.
5. Pollutants
Last but not least, we should also be mindful of pollutants in our environment that can impact our body's collagen formation – not to mention our overall health and wellbeing.
If you live in a busy city like Los Angeles or New York, you're probably no stranger to smog. Unfortunately, smog is bad news for your collagen production process. Research shows that exposure to air pollution negatively impacts your fibroblasts and inhibits both collagen and elastin production, contributing to nasty inflammation and signs of aging on your skin. 5
Other toxins to watch out for can be found in household and personal care products like detergents, soaps, and other cleaning chemicals. Some of these products may contain sulfates, parabens, hydrogen peroxide, and other chemicals that can act as endocrine disruptors – disrupting your hormonal balance and contributing to inflammation and free radical damage that inhibit collagen synthesis.
Choosing organic, natural, and clean beauty products and detergents can help keep your body's collagen safe from harm.
Are there toxic ingredients in makeup? RenewSkin Inc. investigates.
Why Do We Need More Collagen?
So if our bodies make collagen fibrils on their own, why would we want or need more of it? The truth is, getting more collagen in your body can have an array of health and beauty benefits! Let's take a look at the top benefits of collagen:
1. Skin Elasticity & Hydration
The main and most sought-after benefit that collagen can offer is this one. Collagen can make your skin plump, youthful, and more radiant. The more we have, the better!
By boosting your collagen production, you are increasing the density of your skin's foundational layer, which will help keep it firm and smooth for longer. It's a great way to help reduce the appearance of fine lines like crow's feet and smile lines and to future-proof your skin against loose skin, sagging jowls, and turkey neck.
You don't just have to take our word for it, either. Collagen's anti-skin-aging effects have been proven by numerous scientific studies. By boosting collagen production (through oral supplements), science shows that you can achieve a serious boost of hydration and improved skin elasticity in 4–12 weeks. 6, 7
Want to get rid of jowls? Here's how collagen can help.
2. Luscious Hair & Strong Nails
Aside from its key skin-boosting properties, there is evidence to suggest that collagen also helps maintain the health and strength of your hair and nails. 8, 9
When we increase our collagen production with the right foods, supplements, and beauty products, we are providing our body with amino acids and vitamins that can help make hair thicker, shinier, and stronger. The same goes for our nails, which can grow longer and stronger with increased collagen production.
More helpful reading: Collagen for hair
3. Healthy Joints
Type II collagen is a crucial element in the structure of your cartilage, without it, your joints would collapse. In fact, collagen degradation is one of the main reasons behind joint conditions like osteoarthritis.
Increasing your body's natural collagen production processes with natural remedies and supplements can help strengthen your joints and reduce the risk of degeneration. This can be especially helpful as we get older, as our collagen levels naturally decline and our joints become more prone to damage.
Collagen supplementation is often used to treat the symptoms of arthritic conditions, and it is especially effective at reducing inflammation and joint pain. Be warned though, as collagen supplements vary greatly. If it's joint improvement that you want, you should look for undenatured collagen supplements made with specifically type II collagen. A wide variety of collagen-rich foods and collagen boosters will also give your body the ingredients it needs to improve joint health, too (more on this below).
Read more about collagen supplements for joints here.
4. Muscle Mass
We all know that taking protein after a workout helps boost your muscle growth, so it makes sense that increasing your collagen protein intake can have a similar effect.
Collagen forms between 1–10% of your muscle mass, so if we can improve our collagen synthesis process, we are also contributing to muscle growth. In fact, research has shown that taking collagen peptides after a resistance training workout can increase muscle mass and strength. 10, 11
More helpful reading: How to lose weight
5. Heart Health
Collagen plays an important role in the structure of blood vessels, giving them strength and structure that allows a healthy blood flow to the heart. Without collagen, our arteries would be weak, which in turn would increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
By improving our body's collagen production and increasing the density of collagen in our blood vessels, we can help reduce artery stiffness and also increase our levels of "good" HDL cholesterol. 12
More helpful reading: Prevent wrinkles
6. Gut Health
Last but not least, getting more collagen into your body could also improve your gut health. Collagen plays a role in a number of barrier layers throughout the body, one of which is the lining of your gut.
If you suffer from digestive conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or leaky gut syndrome, increasing your collagen intake could prove helpful. Collagen helps repair any damage to your gut lining, which in turn could improve your digestion and reduce discomfort.
Is there a link between collagen peptides & weight loss? Find out here.
The Best Way to Boost Collagen Production & Reverse Collagen Loss: Collagen Supplements
If you're wondering how to get more collagen in your body for healthier skin, hair, joints, muscles, and more, then your first stop should be a high-quality collagen supplement. Collagen supplementation is the best and most effective way to replenish your lost collagen, period.
Although some food products contain collagen (which we'll get to in a minute), the reality is that these foods probably won't deliver a form of collagen that will actually make a big difference to your body. This is because collagen in its natural state is too large a molecule to penetrate through your intestinal wall and into your bloodstream. And if it doesn't reach your bloodstream it's not able to do anything for your skin, or anything else.
To make collagen effective, you need to break the collagen molecule down into smaller particles that can be digested and absorbed properly by the body. Supplements are expertly formulated to do just that.
In making supplements, experts use a process called hydrolysis to break large molecules down into nano-sized particles that your body can absorb quickly. These particles are called collagen peptides – the magic behind collagen supplements!
More helpful reading: Can I use hyaluronic acid with retinol?
Choosing the Right Collagen Supplement
Collagen supplements can be found in capsule, powder, and liquid forms. Be careful what you choose though, as not every collagen supplement will offer the results it promises. If you're looking for an effective supplement for beauty and anti-aging benefits, you should check that:
- It contains the right collagen types for your needs – types I and III are best for anti-aging and beauty purposes, type II is better for joints.
- It comes from a high-quality source – among the benefits of marine collagen is that it is the richest source of type I collagen for skin health. Chicken collagen is the richest source of type II collagen, and other animal collagens can vary in quality and collagen types.
- It contains a high dosage of hydrolyzed peptides– depending on your age, you will need at least 5,000-10,000mg (5-10 grams) of peptides per day to see visible results.
- It contains high-quality supporting ingredients – if you're taking a collagen supplement for skin health, the best supplement will also contain some other skin-loving ingredients, like vitamin C, antioxidants, or hyaluronic acid, to support collagen synthesis.
Once you've found some supplements that check those boxes, you may be wondering which format is best for you. Our top picks are liquid collagen and collagen powder, here's why:
More helpful reading: best collagen drink
Why Choose Liquid Collagen?
When it comes to choosing the right form of collagen supplementation, we believe liquid collagen is an all-around winner. Liquid collagen beats powders and pills because:
- It delivers a higher concentration of peptides per serving – making it the fastest and most effective solution, especially when it comes to treating aged skin.
- It has the best absorption rate – liquid collagen is much easier to digest than solid supplements.
- It's convenient – there's no mixing involved, just a reliable dose of peptides every time.
Taut Liquid Collagen Drink is the gold standard of collagen supplements, checking all of the boxes for the very best beauty benefits. Our luxury formula contains 13,000 mg (13 grams) of hydrolyzed marine collagen peptides, sourced from wild-caught red snapper fish. This potent dose of top-quality peptides is rich in types I and III collagen, offering the perfect balance for skin health.
Even better, this tiny formula really packs a punch, because it has been expertly created with a whole family of skin-rejuvenating ingredients: elastin peptides, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, grape seed extract, ceramide, vitamin B6, and salmon DNA.
Every ingredient has a powerful function, and there are no nasty additives. Elastin and hyaluronic acid work together to improve your skin elasticity and skin hydration; for softer, smoother, and more supple skin. Vitamin C and grape seed extract support collagen synthesis and protect against free radicals; for a brighter and more radiant complexion. Ceramide hydrates, vitamin B6 relieves tension, and salmon DNA promotes our skin’s defenses against premature aging.
One bottle of this delicious orange-flavored formula (containing real orange juice and naturally sweetened with Stevia leaf) can provide your body with everything it needs to transform your skin naturally from within – revealing fuller, smoother, healthier, younger-looking skin.
The Perks of Collagen Powder
Taut Collagen Powder is the perfect pick-me-up for anyone who needs to replenish their collagen supplies in between collagen treatments or stronger supplements.
Each sachet of this lighter powdered formula contains 1500 mg (1.5 grams) of marine collagen peptides, along with hyaluronic acid and grape seed extract, offering a little boost of skin-loving goodness that you can take whenever and wherever you go. The trio of ingredients has been combined to combat gradual collagen loss, help prevent and slow down signs of aging, support your skin's collagen and elastin, and protect your skin from free radical damage.
This lower dose option is also a great option for a busy lifestyle. Taut Collagen Powder doesn't need refrigeration so you can keep it in your purse or your car – you can always have it close by!
When it's time to top up your collagen, simply stir the sachet into a glass of water or dissolve the delicious powder directly on your tongue. If you're under the age of 35 and blessed with young skin, just a couple of sachets a day are all you need to keep your skin collagen topped up. Over the age of 35, when the skin begins to show a little more signs of age, you might want to use the powder as a top-up to support your liquid collagen supplement or other collagen treatments.
Pack it in your purse and take your secret to healthy, glowing skin wherever you go!
Supporting Collagen Synthesis With Your Diet: Collagen Foods
As well as taking collagen supplements, you can also support your body's collagen production process with the right balance of nutrients in your diet. Some foods contain collagen itself, while other foods provide vital support to the collagen synthesis process. Let's take a look:
Collagen-Rich Foods
The only foods that actually contain collagen are animal and marine by-products, and unfortunately, this doesn't mean that a tasty seafood platter or a steak will give you all the collagen you need. The animal and fish parts that are rich in collagen are the least appetizing and often inedible parts – we're talking about the bones, cartilage, eyes, and skins of meat and fish here.
Not particularly appealing, right?
The secret to finding collagen-rich foods that are actually edible comes from extracting the collagen from these animal parts. When cartilage, bones, and skins of chicken, pork, or beef are boiled in water they secrete gelatin, which is a more digestible version of collagen that has been broken down into smaller molecules by a process of partial hydrolysis. Gelatin particles are not as small as hydrolyzed peptides, but they offer some support to your body's collagen production and can be digested quite easily.
Many people boil down animal parts to make a soup called bone broth, which is rich in gelatin and can provide some hearty nutrients to keep you healthy. When bone broth is made with bones and cartilage, however, it is going to provide mostly type II collagen, which will benefit your joint health but it won't do a whole lot for your skin.
More helpful reading:
https://www.renewskinco.com/blogs/i/can-bone-broth-boost-collagen
Collagen Builders
If a bowl of bone broth doesn't appeal to you, or you simply want to find foods that can help the right type of collagen production to combat skin aging, then you should look for foods that contain collagen-building elements.
Although there aren't a huge number of foods containing collagen itself, there are plenty of foods out there that contain one or more of the essential elements in the collagen production process: amino acids glycine and proline, plus vitamin C, zinc, and copper.
If you can get a healthy dose of these amino acids, vitamins, and minerals in your diet, you will be helping to support your body's overall wellbeing and speed up the collagen synthesis process. Let's take a look at which foods can help you do just that:
Glycine
Glycine is a key element in the collagen structure, so including glycine-rich foods in our diets can help improve our collagen levels. In fact, glycine makes up about 35% of the collagen in your body, so it really is important that we get enough of this good stuff in our diets! 13
By eating more foods that are rich in glycine, we can help your body produce collagen more efficiently. Foods rich in glycine include:
- Red meat like beef, lamb, or venison
- Poultry meats such as turkey and chicken
- Pork, particularly pork skins and pork hocks
- Seeds such as sunflower seeds or sesame seeds
- Nuts, particularly peanuts and almonds
- Canned salmon
- Soybeans
- Tofu
- Eggs
- Pasta
Your body can make glycine on its own, but by including a variety of glycine-rich foods in your diet you can give your body an extra boost of this essential element in collagen production. This can speed up the collagen synthesis process, which will help keep your skin, joints, and heart healthy.
The best news is that boosting your glycine won't only help boost your collagen levels, it will also have an array of other health benefits. Glycine also plays a key role in regulating your nervous system, and it can also (briefly) boost your happiness hormone: serotonin. This can in turn help improve the quality of your sleep, enhance your memory and overall cognition, and elevate your mood.
Proline
Proline is the second crucial element needed to complete collagen's amino acid composition. The human body can make proline on its own, but again you have the power to boost your body's supplies of this essential nutrient.
Proline is widely found in both animal and plant-based foods. These include:
- Red meat
- Poultry
- White fish like monkfish and cod
- Eggs, particularly egg whites
- Dairy products like milk, cream, and butter
- Wheat germ
- Peanuts
- Chickpeas
- Beans
- Asparagus
- Mushrooms
- Cabbage
Including more proline in your diet can help speed up the production of collagen, as long as it is combined with glycine and our next essential element: vitamin C.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is the third crucial element in collagen synthesis. It works by oxidizing proline into hydroxyproline, which is needed to complete the triple helix structure of the collagen fibril. Vitamin C also stabilizes collagen proteins in the skin, as it has an antioxidant effect that protects against collagen degradation.
Unlike glycine and proline, vitamin C cannot be made by your body, so it is absolutely essential that you include it in your diet. Foods rich in vitamin C include:
- Bell peppers
- Tomatoes
- Strawberries
- Blackcurrants
- Citrus fruits
- Leafy green vegetables like kale, spinach, and collard greens
- Broccoli
- Brussel sprouts
- Potatoes
These colorful fruits and veggies can nourish your body from the inside out, providing the nutrients you need to amp up your collagen production. So it's not just a refreshing treat, that glass of OJ in the morning can also have serious anti-aging effects!
Zinc
Alongside the amino acids and vitamin C needed to produce collagen matrices, there are some essential minerals that can help the process along. Zinc is needed for cell repair and it can help protect your collagen from harm. Foods rich in zinc include:
- Red meat
- Poultry
- Whole grains like whole-grain bread, brown rice
- Milk
- Fortified dairy products
- Fortified breakfast cereals
- Oysters
- Chickpeas
- Beans
- Nuts
By mixing a variety of the above foods into your diet on a regular basis, you can support the production of collagen for healthy skin!
Copper
Last but not least, copper can also be included in your diet to support collagen synthesis. It activates an enzyme called enzyme lysyl oxidase, which is essential in the formation of both collagen and elastin. 14
Foods rich in copper include:
- Organ meats like liver
- Oysters
- Lobster
- Tofu
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Shiitake mushrooms
- Spirulina
- Dark leafy green vegetables like spinach, kale, and collard greens
- Sweet potatoes
- Dark chocolate
As you can see, copper is readily available in a wide variety of foods, so it's relatively easy to top up your supplies if this collagen synthesizing ingredient with your diet. And with oysters and lobster on the collagen-boosting menu, it's a great excuse for some decadent dining!
More helpful reading:
https://www.renewskinco.com/blogs/i/dietitian-tips-for-healthy-skin
The Best Skincare Products for Collagen Production
Now that we've covered the best inside-out solutions to boost all kinds of collagen production in your cells, let's take a look at some more ways we can boost skin collagen specifically. Lucky for us beauty addicts, there's a huge array of topical skin care products with collagen-boosting ingredients that can maximize your skin's collagen.
So if you're on a quest for healthy skin, get ready to beat skin-aging with these collagen-boosting skincare ingredients:
Vitamin C
In all of the topical treatments out there to help you get extra collagen in your skin, vitamin C has to be the most important ingredient you should look for. Vitamin C, which you may see on skincare labels as L-ascorbic acid, is an essential cofactor of collagen and an antioxidant that protects your collagen supplies against free radical damage.
Topical vitamin C skincare products include cleansers, face serums, masks, and moisturizers, and these can vary in strength. The highest potency of L-ascorbic acid you are likely to see is 20% but be warned that these high-strength treatments may cause some skin irritation, especially for sensitive skin types.
The benefits of vitamin C skin care include:
- Boosting collagen synthesis and protecting existing collagen
- A lighter, brighter, more even skin tone
- Fading of dark spots, acne scars, and hyperpigmentation
- Reducing fine lines and wrinkles
- Preventing free radical damage
- Healing wounds and skin damage
- Reducing skin inflammation and redness
Because vitamin C has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, it can help protect and repair photoaged skin, reversing some signs of damage like pigmentation and wrinkles.
If you're looking for a topical treatment that boosts vitamin C and collagen, look no further than Taut Collagen Mask. This luxurious sheet mask is a one-stop shop for boosting the production of collagen in your face and neck, reducing fine lines and wrinkles, plumping up your skin, and maximizing your glow factor.
Each sheet mask is infused with a luxurious essence packed with vitamin C, hydrolyzed marine collagen peptides, hyaluronic acid, and botanical squalene. Vitamin C and marine collagen peptides work hand-in-hand to boost the production of collagen; marine collagen peptides trigger your fibroblasts to begin the collagen production process, while vitamin C acts as the essential cofactor to complete collagen chains.
Meanwhile, hyaluronic acid acts as a moisture magnet to hydrate and plump up your skin, and squalene gently restores your skin's natural oils for a softer and smoother complexion.
Simply apply the sheet mask and relax for 15 minutes, allowing these skin-loving ingredients to soak into your skin. Once removed, massage any remaining essence into your face and neck then step back and admire your seriously glowing skin!
More helpful reading:
https://www.renewskinco.com/blogs/i/collagen-face-mask-benefits
Retinol
Ask any dermatologist or skincare expert about a topical treatment for aged skin and wrinkles, and you can bet that retinol will be on their list of favorite ingredients. Retinol belongs to a family of ingredients known as retinoids, which are derivatives of vitamin A.
Retinol is renowned for its anti-aging effects, and beauty addicts in the know use it regularly to brighten skin, reduce the appearance of acne, encourage the turnover of our skin cells, and give a kick-start to collagen production.
Retinol can be found in anti-aging serums, creams, and moisturizers. When applied topically, it activates enzymes in the skin which convert it into retinoic acid – the active form of vitamin A that communicates with the receptors of skin cells and encourages them to function like younger, healthier skin cells. This triggers your fibroblasts to produce more collagen, and it helps increase your skin's thickness, which has major wrinkle-reducing benefits!
The downside of this skincare ingredient is that it can cause some serious skin irritation, especially when you first start using it. In fact, this ingredient has a reputation for causing what's known as "retinol burn". When you first start using retinol creams, you may experience redness, peeling, and tenderness, and dry skin, and this is pretty inevitable for most people. But the benefits do come, once your skin has adjusted to the formula. Essentially, it needs to get worse before it will get better!
If you want to start using this ingredient and feeling the benefits of retinol, try a low-dose cream and use it only one or two nights per week, until your skin can adjust to it. If you have super-sensitive skin or suffer from any allergic reactions, you can try bakuchiol, a similar but more gentle ingredient.
More helpful reading:
https://www.renewskinco.com/blogs/i/vitamin-a-for-skin
Hydroxy Acids
Another family of ingredients that can help speed up skin cell turnover and assist the production of collagen in your dermis is hydroxy acids. You may know these ingredients as AHAs (alpha-hydroxy acids) and BHAs (beta-hydroxy acids).
These acids are a series of chemical exfoliants that help dissolve the bonds between dead skin cells and allow them to shed away more easily, which encourages the growth of new skin cells and in turn increases the production of collagen. They also help reduce pigmentation, fine lines, and wrinkles, and they boost blood flow in the skin for a brighter and more radiant complexion.
Hydroxy acids are often used in cosmetic dermatology in chemical peel treatments for aged skin (more on these later), but you can also find them in lower doses in at-home exfoliating formulas. The most commonly used AHAs and BHAs in skincare treatments are salicylic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, mandelic acid, kojic acid, and citric acid. Studies have shown that using glycolic, lactic, or citric acid, in particular, can boost collagen in the dermis. 15
You can find these acids in toners, serums, creams, and peel treatments, in a concentration of up to 10%. Be warned though, as they can be strong and cause some irritation if used too frequently. You can use a serum or toner with a low concentration of AHAs or BHAs (5%) daily, or opt for a stronger peel treatment (max 10%) once a week.
More helpful reading:
https://www.renewskinco.com/blogs/i/best-face-serum
Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid is a glycosaminoglycan (GAG) that supports collagen and elastin in the dermis, giving moisture and flexibility to your skin. Hyaluronic acid regulates tissue repair and protects fibroblasts (your essential collagen-making cells) from harm. Like collagen, hyaluronic acid is abundant in young skin, but as we get older, our supplies dwindle. 16
This acid is also what's known as a humectant, which is a type of ingredient that can attract and retain water. Hyaluronic acid is an especially powerful humectant, being able to attract and retain up to 1000 times its weight in water. This functions to support skin hydration and skin elasticity, reducing the instances of wrinkles and dry skin.
Adding hyaluronic acid to your skincare routine is a great way to support skin health and encourage collagen production. You will find it in serums, moisturizers, and masks to hydrate your skin from the surface level, and it is also used in filler injections as a means to plump and fill in wrinkles. You can also try a hyaluronic acid supplement, which can work to boost your supplies of this skin-loving acid from within, reaching deeper than any topical treatment or filler can penetrate.
Taut Hydrate, RenewSkin Inc.'s hyaluronic acid capsules, have been expertly formulated to plump and hydrate your skin from the inside out.
Each capsule contains a potent combination of 120mg of 99% pure plant-based hyaluronic acid and 120mg of grape seed extract, two ingredients that work synergistically to hydrate, protect, and brighten your skin.
Hyaluronic acid deeply hydrates and nourishes the skin from within to reveal more moisturized, luminous and supple skin. It also functions in the dermis to fill out the free spaces between the collagen and elastin fibers to keep collagen flexible (on its own, collagen doesn’t have much stretch). This not only improves skin hydration and reduces dry skin, but it impacts your skin elasticity too, helping your skin bounce back from daily wear and tear more easily.
Grape seed extract is one of nature's most powerful antioxidants, helping to protect skin and skin collagen from free radicals formed at the cellular level.
Consider this 100% Vegan, preservative-free, gluten-free, and non-GMO supplement to be your skin's new best friend! Everyone will want to know your secret to glowing, young skin.
More helpful reading from RenewSkin Inc.: Hyaluronic acid benefits
Antioxidants
"Antioxidants" is a broad term for a family of ingredients that protect your cells against oxidative stress from harmful free radicals. Oxidative stress is a process that severely damages your collagen supplies, so antioxidants play an extremely important role in the rate at which your body can produce collagen, affecting how young and healthy your skin looks (not to mention your hair and nails, too).
We have already mentioned vitamin C, retinol (vitamin A), and grape seed extract as three great antioxidant ingredients that can be included in our skincare routine to protect and enhance your skin's collagen supplies, but there are a huge number of other antioxidants out there that can also help improve your skin health and fight skin aging. These include French pine bark, niacinamide (vitamin B3), vitamin E, coenzyme Q10, and resveratrol.
The benefits of including antioxidants in your skincare routine are endless. Whether it's an antioxidant-packed serum, mask, or toner, it can also help your skin in the following ways:
- Protect and boost skin collagen
- Protect against damage from sun exposure
- Repair and rejuvenate photoaged skin
- Reduce pigmentation and fade dark spots
- Reduce inflammation
- Brighten skin tone
- Reduce wrinkles, sagging, and loose skin
It helps to renew your antioxidants from all angles, with topical skincare, a healthy diet, and supplements. That's where Masquelier's French Pine Bark OPC comes in.
These French Pine Bark OPC oral supplements deliver a potent dose of antioxidant power that can support your body's production of collagen, boost your defenses against free radicals, improve blood flow throughout the body, strengthen blood vessels, and improve your overall skin quality.
In fact, tests have shown French Pine Bark to be significantly more powerful than vitamin E and 20 times more powerful than vitamin C as an antioxidant. This offers a huge amount of protection for your body and your skin against the damage caused by sun damage, pollution, and other toxins in your diet and your environment.
By offering anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergic properties, a daily dose of Masquelier's French Pine Bark OPC can help protect against the breakdown of skin collagen and elastin and thereby reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and loose skin and improve skin suppleness.
Growth Factors
Last but not least, you'll find a group of ingredients known as growth factors on the list of many beauty editor's skincare favorites.
A growth factor is a naturally-occurring protein produced by your cells, it works to communicate between your cells throughout the body and to signal essential cell growth and healing. In the dermis, they are cell-signaling proteins that encourage your skin cells to repair and replicate, and they work on your fibroblasts a.k.a. those collagen-creating cells we need for youthful, healthy skin!
Basically, growth factors tell your body when to make more collagen (and elastin and a bunch of other good stuff). When we get older, we start to lose the number of growth factors in our bodies, and they decline in quality. That's where skincare products and cosmetic treatments come in.
You'll also find growth factors in anti-aging skincare products like serums, moisturizers, and night creams, as well as in cosmetic dermatology treatments. These growth factors can be bioengineered in labs or extracted from human stem cells such as skin cells, bone marrow stem cells, fat stem cells. This might sound unusual, and maybe a little icky, but once these growth factors are extracted and used on your skin, they begin to encourage cell growth, increase collagen production, and fight the signs of photoaging for seriously younger-looking skin. So the payoff could be worth it! 17
If you want to include some growth factors in your skincare routine, look for transforming growth factor beta (TGF-B), which is to boost collagen specifically. 18
When to Visit Your Dermatologist: Collagen Treatments That Support Collagen Synthesis
Aside from the supplements, foods, and skincare products that you can source for yourself and use at home, there are also some professionally administered treatments out there that boost collagen production. If you feel your skin needs an extra special rejuvenation, or you feel your aged skin is not responding as well as you'd like to your at-home treatments, you can visit your dermatologist for something a little stronger.
Here are our top picks of collagen-boosting treatments that you can get at your dermatologist's office:
LED Red Light Therapy
LED (Light-Emitting Diode) therapy, or phototherapy, is a treatment that uses red LED light to promote the faster growth of new skin cells. Funnily enough, the idea behind it actually came from NASA, as astronauts noticed that plants growing under LED lamps were growing at a much faster rate than others. After some research, they found that red and infrared light therapy helps speed up the growth of plant cells by up to an incredible 200%. 19
Dermatologists have since applied this theory to human skin, with excellent results. LED therapy uses light to penetrate deep into your skin and trigger biological reactions. Red light penetrates deep enough to impact your dermal layer, activating the fibroblast cells to stimulate collagen synthesis and reduce inflammation. This therapy helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles, speed up wound healing, and fade acne scars and pigmentation.
The good news about LED therapy is that it is a non-invasive treatment, making it a good option for a quick collagen boost, and you can walk right out of the clinic with no downtime. The downside is that you will need a number of sessions to see results, ideally having one session per week for about 10 weeks. This cost can add up quickly, as you could be paying up to $85 per session. 20
What is the best collagen treatment for skin? RenewSkin Inc. investigates.
Microneedling
Microneedling is a facial treatment that involves rolling a series of small needles over the skin with a handheld roller device. The idea behind it is that these needles create microscopic wounds that signal to your cells that more collagen is required to heal the skin, in what we call the wound repair response. So while your skin is not seriously wounded, your fibroblasts still respond with a hit of collagen, which in turn plumps up the skin, reducing wrinkles and fading scars and stretch marks.
If you're afraid of needles, microneedling might not sound appealing! But, these needles aren't as scary as they sound, they're more like pinpricks. They are usually between 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm in length for your face, or 1.5 mm to 2.5 mm for the body, and your dermatologist will typically apply a numbing cream before the treatment to ensure you don't feel pain (although there may be a little discomfort).
When you go in for a microneedling treatment, you can expect to spend about 30 minutes in the clinic. During the procedure, your dermatologist will apply a numbing cream, before rolling the microneedle device evenly over the skin. This will be followed up by a soothing serum, then you're good to go!
The downside of microneedling is that your skin may be a little red and irritated after the session, so you won't want to book any important meetings directly after the treatment. Our Taut Collagen Mask is a great soothing treatment you can use at home after a microneedling session to calm the skin and boost your results!
More helpful reading from RenewSkin Inc.: Micro skin needling explained.
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels are a great way to rejuvenate your skin, brighten your complexion, and encourage new collagen growth. These treatments are a stronger, in-office version of the hydroxy acid exfoliants that we mentioned earlier.
Chemical peels can be done on your face, hands, or neck, and they involve applying an exfoliating hydroxy acid substance to remove the top layer of your skin. When this top layer of older, dead skin peels away, the skin below is younger and fresher. This treatment also encourages collagen and elastin production in the skin, and new cell growth.
There are a few types of chemical peel available, depending on your needs. A light or superficial chemical peel will work quite gently on only the outermost layer of the skin. A medium peel will penetrate a little deeper, and a deep peel will fully penetrate the dermis to remove damaged skin cells. Recovery from a light peel will take a few days, with only mild after-effects. A medium peel will take about a week to recover from, but some redness may persist for up to a month.
A deep peel can take months to recover fully from, and the immediate after-effects are quite severe, with swelling, redness, and burning that can cause major discomfort. This is why mild to medium peels are best for simple anti-aging purposes, and deep peels are reserved for very deep pigmentation, wrinkles, or even for treating pre-cancerous growths.
Peels are a great way to rejuvenate photoaged skin, reducing pigmentation and dullness and treating fine lines and wrinkles with a hit of collagen and elastin.
More helpful reading:
https://www.renewskinco.com/blogs/i/skincare-for-redness
Collagen Injections
Collagen injections or collagen fillers are, as the name suggests, a treatment in which your dermatologist will use a needle to insert a substance into your skin to replace lost collagen. This substance may be collagen or hyaluronic acid, and it works to make your skin look like it has extra collagen, giving you a youthful, healthy appearance.
Collagen injections can be used on even the more sensitive areas of your skin, including around the eyes, nose, and mouth. They are a great option for treating crow's feet, smile lines, frown lines, and forehead wrinkles.
In the past, collagen injections used bovine collagen (collagen derived from cows) to boost skin health. Today, these have been discontinued, and there are many options out there for those who don't want to rely on animal products. The most popular face fillers today use hyaluronic acid to stimulate collagen growth and protect against collagen loss.
The best thing about collagen injections is that their effects are immediate and that they can help reduce even the most stubborn wrinkles. The downside is the cost, as injections can cost up to $700 each, and you may need multiple injections to treat more stubborn wrinkles. You can expect the results from fillers to last approximately 6 months, after which you will need another treatment or you will lose the effects. 21
More helpful reading: What is a collagen facial by RenewSkin, Inc.
Vampire Facial
Despite sounding like something straight out of a horror movie, the vampire facial has become a popular rejuvenating facial treatment for many celebrities and beauty addicts around the world. A vampire facial is a treatment that combines microneedling with an extract from your own blood to rejuvenate your skin and induce collagen synthesis.
Vampire facials went viral when Kim Kardashian posted a selfie during her treatment on Instagram, and it has quickly become a popular option for those looking for the next anti-aging skincare secret. The secret to the vampire facial's success is growth factors, those cell-signaling proteins derived from human stem cells that we spoke about earlier.
In a vampire facial treatment, your dermatologist will extract a vial of blood from your arm, and from this, they will extract something called platelet-rich plasma (PRP). This PRP is a clear/yellow substance that is a very potent growth factor, and when applied to your skin it can trigger the growth of new cells and encourage more collagen and elastin to form.
Once your blood has been drawn, your dermatologist will use a microneedle roller to create pinpricks on the surface of your skin, and then smother your skin in the PRP serum. This serum is able to penetrate deep into your dermis thanks to the microneedling procedure that came before it, and your skin will get a double hit of collagen-boosting goodness.
So although the vampire facial isn't going to be for everyone, once you can get past the blood and needles, you may find it to be an effective way to fight skin aging, reduce wrinkles, and improve your complexion.
Laser Skin Resurfacing
Last but not least, laser skin resurfacing is a facial treatment that stimulates collagen production in the dermis, and it's a popular option for treating aged skin, wrinkles, pigmentation, and more. There are two types of laser resurfacing: ablative laser skin resurfacing and nonablative laser skin resurfacing.
Ablative laser skin resurfacing is a treatment that uses a wounding laser to remove a thin outer layer of skin and heat up the dermis below. By heating the dermis, this laser encourages new collagen to form, and when the top layer of skin grows back, it will be tighter and smoother.
Nonablative laser skin resurfacing is a treatment that uses a non-wounding laser to stimulate collagen formation without removing the top layer of your skin. This treatment is less invasive than ablative laser resurfacing, but it is naturally less effective.
Because laser resurfacing helps promote the growth of new collagen, it can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, fade pigmentation and scarring, and tighten your skin for a more youthful complexion. The downside is that you may experience some itching, tenderness, redness, and swelling for a few days after the treatment.
What's the best type of facial? RenewSkin Inc. investigates.
Take Your Collagen Production to the Next Level
If you want to transform your aged skin into the young skin of your dreams, without the need for costly and painful treatments, then our Intense Transformation Program could be the perfect option for you.
Collagen supplementation is the most non-invasive yet effective way to boost your body's supply of this essential protein because it combines expertly formulated collagen peptides with other collagen-boosting ingredients that maximize its effects.
Our Intense Transformation Program contains a three-week supply of Taut Liquid Collagen – the perfect amount to kick your collagen production into high gear. Over the course of the program, by drinking one tiny bottle of Taut Premium Collagen daily for three weeks, you are providing your skin and body with a maximum high potency of marine collagen peptides alongside 6 clinically-studied ingredients that convert aging skin into a glowing, youthful complexion.
Our premium collagen drink combines hydrolyzed marine collagen peptides with elastin, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, grape seed extract, vitamin B6, and ceramide, to not only boost collagen formation but also to speed up elastin production, maximize hyaluronic acid supplies, and increase antioxidants in the body for stronger defenses against free radical damage. Together, the ingredients in our formula can treat aging skin; improve skin hydration and elasticity; fight skin damage, pigmentation, scars, and stretch marks; and reduce sagging and loose skin.
In three weeks, you can significantly boost your collagen supplies with Taut's transformative skincare bundle. So if you want to achieve healthy skin, why wait to upgrade your skincare routine? Try our three-week program today, and soon everyone will want to know your secret to youthful, glowing skin.
Why not treat yourself to a skincare subscription from Taut skin care line? Sign up here and save up to 15% on your transformation program.
References:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK21582/
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/collagen-synthesis
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1606623/
- https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-secrets/anti-aging/skin-care-during-menopause
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6163910/
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- https://www.healthline.com/health/red-light-therapy
- https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/dermal-fillers/cost
