Collagen

How to Increase Collagen in Skin Naturally: Get That Boost You Need! (Foods & More)

how to increase collagen

Think of it as the glue that holds everything together, collagen is the protein that forms the foundations of our skin, hair, nails, bones, joints, connective tissues, and blood vessels.

When we have a lot of collagen in our bodies, our skin is smooth, firm, and supple. Wounds heal quickly, and scars, stretch marks, and cellulite fade.

But as we age, our natural collagen production slows down, and we have less and poorer quality collagen in our bodies. That's why we begin to suffer from more aches and pains in our joints, and we see the signs of aging on our skin like wrinkles and sagging.

So what can we do to counteract this collagen loss and keep our bodies and our skin fighting fit?

Luckily, a diet rich in collagen boosters and some serious skincare with RenewSkin Inc. can help. Read on to find out how you can hack the collagen production process – supercharging your diet and skincare routine to get the most of this skin-loving protein.

More helpful reading: What is collagen good for?

What Can Foods & Supplements Do for Collagen Production?

When we consume collagen and its supporting ingredients, our bodies are given the tools they need to maintain healthy plump skin and a youthful, radiant appearance.

For the production of collagen, your body needs two amino acids; glycine and proline. When combined with vitamin C, these amino acids come together to form procollagen. This process is known as collagen synthesis.

The good news is that you can boost your body's chances of producing skin-loving collagen by obtaining these amino acids and vitamin C in your diet. There are also some collagen-boosting foods and supplements out there that can speed the process of collagen synthesis along.

Collagen is also damaged over time by hormones, stress, poor nutrition, pollution, and sun exposure. Certain nutrients can help protect your skin's collagen against this kind of damage, helping you to maintain your skin's youthful appearance for a little longer.

Learn more about the causes of wrinkles here at RenewSkin Inc.

11 Ways to Boost Collagen Production

To get the most benefits from collagen-boosting foods and supplements, you need to know where to find them. Here are the top 11 ways to naturally boost your collagen production:

More helpful reading: Can I use hyaluronic acid with retinol?

1. Algae

Various types of sea kelp are considered to be superfoods, as they are rich in nutrients like omega 3s, chlorophyll, amino acids, antioxidants, and vitamins. Seaweed, spirulina, and chlorella are the most talked about algae for health, and if you're looking for clear and youthful skin, it's worth giving them a try!

Chlorella is a freshwater green alga and one of the best types of algae for boosting collagen production. It is full of amino acids and vitamin C for collagen synthesis, plus it is packed with vitamin B12, iron, omega-3 fatty acids, chlorophyll, fiber, calcium, potassium, and folic acid.

With potent antioxidant properties, chlorella can also help remove toxins and heavy metals from the body, fight free radicals and protect your skin's existing collagen from harmful toxins.

You can find chlorella in a variety of supplements, just make sure that you're buying from a reputable source.

More helpful reading: Skin detoxification diet

2. Aloe Vera

It's not just for sunburn, aloe vera is also one of the best herbal treatments for supercharging your collagen production.

Aside from its incredible wound healing and skin-soothing properties, research has also shown that aloe vera can have major anti-aging benefits.

Aloe vera contains aloe sterols, a type of plant sterols that can trigger special skin cells known as fibroblasts to produce more collagen. In fact, a 2015 study showed that supplementing with aloe sterols (via aloe vera gel powder) can double your body's supplies of collagen and hyaluronic acid. 1

With such an increase in collagen and hyaluronic acid, the study concluded that supplementing with aloe vera gel powder can significantly reduce facial wrinkles for women over 40.

More helpful reading:

https://www.renewskinco.com/blogs/i/dietitian-tips-for-healthy-skin

3. Phytoestrogens

You probably know that estrogen is an essential hormone for your reproductive system and menstrual cycle, but did you know that it also impacts your skin?

Estrogen is a hormone that naturally stimulates and boosts collagen production, and it can speed up the wound healing process and protect the skin against UVB damage. 2

If you want to maximize these benefits for your skin, you can look for foods containing phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens are naturally occurring compounds found in plants that can mimic the effect of estrogen in our bodies.

Foods like tofu, soybeans, edamame, flax seeds, sesame seeds, and tempeh are all rich in phytoestrogens, and including these in your diet can help stimulate collagen production by your skin cells.

There's also an added bonus for any women who may be experiencing the symptoms of menopause. Tofu is a plant protein rich in a type of phytoestrogens known as 'isoflavones' that can help to normalize estrogen levels and reduce the symptoms of menopause.

More helpful reading:

https://www.renewskinco.com/blogs/i/post-menopause-collagen-loss

4. Eggs

Eggs, particularly egg whites, are rich in proline which is one of the essential amino acids for the production of collagen.

Consuming eggs or using them as a topical skin care ingredient can help improve both your collagen and hyaluronic acid production, which in turn can reduce the signs of aging on the skin and help protect against UVB radiation. 4

Whip up a protein-filled egg-white omelet or try an egg white face mask to feel the benefits for yourself! For the face mask, you should ideally seek one out from a professional to avoid any health risk of salmonella that a DIY option may bring. You will also see whipped egg whites listed as an ingredient in many Korean Beauty products, which can be a good option for your at-home skincare routine.

More helpful reading:

https://www.renewskinco.com/blogs/i/korean-skin-care-buying-guide

5. Eat More Greens

We all know that greens are good for us, and their collagen-boosting effects can be added to the already long list of health and wellness benefits they offer.

Dark leafy greens like collard, kale, spinach, cabbage leaves, or swiss chard are rich in vitamin C, vitamin A, and antioxidants like lutein and beta-carotene.

By providing a high amount of vitamin C, these greens can aid the production of collagen throughout your body. Containing potent antioxidants, they also boost your collagen by protecting it against free radical damage.

While we're talking about greens, pouring yourself a cup of green tea will also help increase the collagen levels in your skin. Green tea contains EGCG, a type of phenol and antioxidant that works to reduce oxidative stress throughout the body, block collagen degradation, and improve skin health. 5

More helpful reading: Vitamin A for skin

6. Vitamin C

As we now know, vitamin C is absolutely essential to the process of collagen production in the body. As a potent antioxidant, it can help replenish skin elasticity, and diminish the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and other forms of skin damage that come with environmental exposure.

To boost your vitamin C levels, incorporate it throughout both your diet and your skin care routine. Eat plenty of foods rich in vitamin C like leafy greens, broccoli, strawberries, citrus fruits, and bell peppers to nourish your skin from the inside out. Vitamin C skincare products like serums, moisturizers, and masks are topical treatments that can deliver this powerhouse nutrient straight to your dermis, helping boost collagen production.

Face masks are particularly effective topical products, as they work to deliver active ingredients deep into the dermis by holding them in contact with your skin long enough for them to get to work. Taut Collagen Mask is a sheet mask that does just that.

Our luxurious sheet mask contains a powerful boost of vitamin C, hydrolyzed collagen peptides, hyaluronic acid, and botanical squalene to actively promote the production of collagen in your skin, improve skin elasticity, and brighten your complexion.

In just one 15 minute treatment, Taut Collagen Mask tones, hydrates, and brightens your skin, with instant anti-aging benefits including a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles, hydrated skin, and a radiant glow.

More helpful reading:

https://www.renewskinco.com/blogs/i/collagen-and-elastin

7. Ginseng

Ginseng is an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties that can help speed up collagen generation and protect against sun damage, resulting in a reduction in wrinkles and pigmentation.6

Ginseng also protects against oxidative stress and free radical damage throughout the body, which in turn can prevent collagen degradation and slow down the skin aging process.

If you want to feel these health and beauty benefits, pour yourself a cup of ginseng tea or try a supplement. Look out for fermented red ginseng, which is the best form of ginseng for your complexion.

More helpful reading: Anti-aging vitamins

8. Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid and collagen are a dream team when it comes to maintaining healthy skin. When you boost your hyaluronic acid levels, you are helping to keep your collagen supplies intact.

Hyaluronic acid fills out the free spaces between the collagen and elastin fibers in your skin, it is needed to keep collagen flexible (on its own, it doesn’t have much stretch). Hyaluronic acid acts as a nourishing agent to keep collagen limber and pliable, retaining moisture in the skin and maintaining healthy skin elasticity.

You can boost your levels of hyaluronic acid through foods like beans, soy, root vegetables. You can also use it in your skincare routine with topical products, treatments, and supplements.

Taut Hydrate hyaluronic acid supplements work by boosting your levels of hyaluronic acid from the inside out, backed by science and research and specially formulated to deliver maximum benefits to your skin.

Each capsule of Taut Hydrate contains 120mg of 99% pure plant-based hyaluronic acid, and 120mg of grape seed extract, which is a potent antioxidant. Together, these ingredients work to support your skin's collagen, keeping it flexible and protecting it against free radical damage.

Our proprietary hyaluronic acid has high purity and low molecular weight optimal for skin rejuvenation and hydration, attracting water by 1,000 times its weight to make the skin more hydrated, full, and plump.

Use it daily to support your skin's collagen, reverse the signs of aging, and even plump up lips!

More helpful reading:

https://www.renewskinco.com/blogs/i/hyaluronic-acid-benefits

9. Bone Broth

Bone broth is often quoted as one of the best meals if you want to boost collagen in the skin. It can be made at home by simmering animal bones (chicken, pork, or beef) in water.

Bone broth is considered to be a rich source of protein as it is packed with nutrients from animal bones and connective tissue. While many health and wellness fans will swear by it, recent research concludes that it is not as effective as taking properly formulated collagen supplements. 7

Bone broth is more likely to boost type II collagen in the joints than it is to help your skin, which needs type I collagen.

More helpful reading:

https://www.renewskinco.com/blogs/i/can-bone-broth-boost-collagen

10. Marine Collagen Supplements

Including a collagen supplement in your daily routine is the best way to increase collagen and improve your skin's appearance and overall health.

Collagen supplements can take a powder, capsule, or liquid form, and they work to replenish our bodies' collagen supplies and slow down the aging process for our skin. When we digest collagen peptides via a supplement, the peptides enter our bloodstream and activate special cells called fibroblasts to start making more collagen.

When choosing a supplement, it's important to check the source of collagen to make sure you are taking the best type for optimum skin health. Fish collagen, or marine collagen, is made from either the meat or scales of cold sea fish and is primarily Type I and Type III collagen i.e. the best types for skin health.

One of the main benefits of marine collagen is its superior “bioavailability,” which describes the rate at which it can be digested and absorbed into the bloodstream.

You should also check to ensure that your choice of supplement contains hydrolyzed collagen peptides, meaning that the collagen has been properly processed and broken down to enable it to be absorbed and used by the body.

More helpful reading: How is collagen made?

Why Choose Taut?

Taut Premium Collagen Drink checks all of the boxes.

It contains a high dose of top-quality collagen that has been properly hydrolyzed to ensure maximum absorption into the bloodstream. Every bottle of Taut's hero formula contains 13,000 mg of hydrolyzed marine collagen peptides, using only premium marine collagen that has been wild-caught from red snapper in the Indian ocean.

To make it even better, our advanced formula also contains elastin, hyaluronic acid, grape seed extract, vitamin C, ceramide, and vitamin B6, which work synergistically to deliver maximum rejuvenation.

More helpful reading by RenewSkin Inc.: Collagen drink benefits

11. Collagen Treatments

Aside from foods, topical treatments, and natural supplementation, there are also various treatments you can find at the dermatologist's office that can boost collagen in the skin, such as LED red light therapy, chemical peels, and dermal fillers.

Red light therapy works by using infrared light to penetrate deep into the dermis, stimulating the fibroblast cells that are responsible for collagen and elastin production.

Dermal fillers are hyaluronic acid injections that smooth wrinkles, and they can stimulate the production of collagen as well. Chemical peels with salicylic acid or glycolic acid may also help stimulate collagen in the epidermis.

More helpful reading:

https://www.renewskinco.com/blogs/i/thin-skin

How to Maximize Your Results

Aside from including collagen boosters in your day-to-day diet and skincare regimen, you should also be aware of the foods and environmental stressors that can damage your precious collagen supplies. To make the most of your skin's existing collagen, here are our top lifestyle tips:

More helpful reading: best ingredient for anti aging

Wear Sunscreen

Aside from aging, sun damage is perhaps the number one destroyer of collagen in the dermis.

Sun exposure and damaging UVA and UVB rays lead to oxidative stress and free radicals forming in the body, which in turn break down collagen.

So if it's youthful, taut skin you want, it's essential to protect the skin against harmful UV rays with broad-spectrum sunscreen every day. Including plenty of antioxidants in your diet and your skincare routine can also help protect against the sun's harmful rays.

More helpful reading: best way to tighten skin above knees

Reduce Your Sugar Intake

Another enemy of collagen and a healthy, youthful appearance is sugar.

When we eat too much sugar and refined carbohydrates, our bodies produce an excess of insulin which leads to something called glycation. In the process of glycation, sugars attach to your collagen and elastin proteins and weaken them to breaking point.

This makes collagen brittle and dry, your skin loses elasticity and you become more prone to fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging. So if you're trying to boost your collagen levels, be sure to cut back on candy, soda, and processed foods.

More helpful reading:

https://www.renewskinco.com/blogs/i/how-sugar-destroys-skin-collagen

Stop Smoking

Smoking cigarettes, as we know, is not good for our health.

Aside from the damage to the lungs and cardiovascular system, smoking will also cause long-term damage to your beauty by affecting your skin, hair, and nails. The sad news is that smokers are likely to look years older than their non-smoking counterparts.

There are 4000 chemicals in cigarette smoke, which contribute to an accelerated decline in both your elastin and collagen levels. To protect your skin and keep your collagen intact, try to quit smoking or at least cut back on cigarettes.

More helpful reading:

https://www.renewskinco.com/blogs/i/smokers-lips

Cut Back on Alcohol

Drinking alcohol in excess can cause dehydration, inflammation, blemishes, acne, and premature aging. The inflammation caused by alcohol consumption releases enzymes that break down the collagen and elastin in your dermis.

So while you don't have to give up your happy hour habits entirely, cutting back on alcohol will help you improve your skin and prevent the breakdown of collagen.

More helpful reading: Is alcohol bad for your skin?

Commit to Your Skin With Our Ultimate Transformation Program

By boosting collagen naturally with supplements, foods, and lifestyle changes, you will be well on your way to achieving the healthy, youthful complexion of your dreams.

If you want to commit to your skin and maximize your results, our Ultimate Transformation Program can help you get your complexion on track. It contains a 24-day supply of Taut Premium Collagen Drink, Taut Hydrate, and Taut Collagen Masks. Together, these three skin-loving products can nourish your complexion from the inside out and the outside in.

Drinking our Taut Premium Collagen Drink for 24 consecutive days will provide your skin with the ultimate collagen peptide boost. Taut Hydrate helps you maximize your results by improving the flexibility and elasticity of collagen in your skin. Together, these can make your skin more supple, soft, and hydrated, and less likely to form wrinkles.

Taut Collagen Mask is the cherry on top of this package – a topical treatment that can soothe and plump your skin with a dose of vitamin C, collagen, hyaluronic acid, and squalene.

More helpful reading: How to avoid wrinkles

Still undecided? Contact our team or try our skincare guide to find the perfect solutions for your skin.

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How to Increase Collagen in Skin Naturally: Get That Boost You Need! (Foods & More)

What Can Foods & Supplements Do for Collagen Production?