Your cart

Your cart is empty


Not sure where to start?
Try these categories:

What is Collagen? An Ultimate Guide to Younger Skin

What is Collagen? An Ultimate Guide to Younger Skin

There are hundreds of articles on collagen, an equal amount of collagen supplements, and countless online recommendations on how to boost collagen production within the body.

But what is collagen? And why is it so important in the skincare universe? What foods naturally contain collagen? And what supplements deliver the best results?

In this highly requested blog post, I break down, in simplistic terms, what collagen is, why we need it, and where to get more of this coveted skincare protein.

After reading this post, don't forget to check out my YouTube video, where you can find more collagen informational goodies.

So What is Collagen?

Collagen is a protein, put simply, that you might be surprised to discover makes up an impressive third of all body proteins, and is the building block for skin, hair, nails, bones, ligaments, and other vital parts of the body.

There are approximately sixteen different types of collagen, with the main four being:

  • Type I
  • Type II
  • Type III
  • Type IV

More information on what different roles each type of collagen plays can be found here. I won't get into the complex science of what each type's function is, but I want to show you just how a lack of collagen (or even a boost in it) can vastly improve your skin and appearance.

Why Does Our Skin Need Collagen?

Collagen keeps our skin firm, supple, and looking young. As collagen depletes and our body produces less, our face loses volume - resulting in wrinkles, lines, and an aged appearance. 

Collagen is responsible for the strength and elasticity of the skin, so the more collagen intake, the more support and structure your skin cells are going to receive.

What Destroys Collagen?

  • Sunlight is collagen's number one enemy. Ultraviolet radiation penetrates skin, slowing down collagen production and wreaking havoc on skin cells. 
  • Smoking causes premature aging, wrinkles, and sagging skin. Of the thousands of chemicals found in cigarettes, several of them damage collagen and elastin, interfering with collagen synthesis and the rate at which your cells regenerate. More information on the effects of smoking on collagen can be found here.
  • Refined Carbs & Sugars cause a spike in the body's blood sugar. After the sugar is converted to glucose, this glucose attacks collagen in the body. Stay away from foods such as white rice, starchy breads, and carb-packed pastries.

How to Increase Collagen 

There are a variety of ways to promote collagen production in the body, specifically in the skin. Let's take a look at five tried and true ways to increase collagen:

  • Dermarolling: Also known as microneedling, dermarolling is the practice of utilizing a dermaroller to make microscopic puncture wounds in the skin, inducing the body's healing factors and boosting collagen and elastin as the skin cells repair themselves. 

  • Vitamin C Serum: applying Vitamin C serum topically has its skincare benefits, a few being its ability to thicken the dermis, promote collagen, and reduce fine lines. 

  • Collagen Peptides: collagen comes in powder form and is sold at various grocery stores and vitamin shops. Collagen peptides are derived from collagen and easily absorbed by the body for conversion into useful amino acids.

  • Bone Broth: This is a household collagen secret that not many people know about. Bone broth is said to contain large amounts of collagen, though nutrition labels rarely divulge exactly how much collagen is in the broth itself. It's best to do research and determine which type of bone broth is best for you.

  • Water: ah, good old H20. Did you know that water binds tightly to collagen and makes up approximately 60% of its substance by weight? Drinking more water hydrates your natural collagen, preventing wrinkles, lines, and premature aging.

The Bottom Line

Collagen is such an integral part of our skin and the sooner we realize its benefits, the sooner we can formulate skincare regimens to include collagen boosting practices into our daily routines. Although there's so much more to learn about collagen, the basics have been laid bare so that you can arm yourself with the knowledge you need to embark on the path towards healthier, more radiant, and ultimately more youthful skin that you can enjoy for years to come.

Thank you my Gin Amber babies for joining me on another informative blog post and I hope you put these points to good use! Good luck on your skincare journeys and leave a comment below if you enjoyed the article. Until next time!

Previous post
Next post

8 comments

  • brandy slaughter

    I’m curious what kind or brand collagen these women are using to help their joint point . My husband suffers terribly! I could use the advice please!!!

  • brandy slaughter

    I’m curious what kind or brand collagen these women are using to help their joint point . My husband suffers terribly! I could use the advice please!!!

  • Gin Amber

    I’m glad everyone enjoyed the blog post an thank you for sharing your experiences!

  • chaille Margret fuquay

    I’ve got to share my collagen story. My hip bone
    hurt an 8 on the pain scale and my doctor told me
    I had worn down cartilage in my joint. I researched collagen. and started taking it. That was two months ago and my hip pain is much more bearable.
    As a bonus, I’ve been getting compliments on my
    skin.

  • Dawna B

    Thank you for spreading the word about collagen! Three years ago I was sitting in a waiting room & I saw some guy named Dr. Axe talking about collagen being the building blocks of our joints & ligaments
    & adding collagen can help with joint pain. I went home & started doing some research of my own. Well, I’ve been taking collagen supplements for about 3 years and the difference is AMAZING! At that time I had been suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis, after 3 weeks the pain had decreased significantly. After 6 weeks, the pain was gone & I got rid of all meds completely. I had no idea that a side effect of that collagen supplement would show up in my skin but YOWZA!!! About a year ago I added a hyaluronic acid supplement to boost the collagen and it works like magic. I’m 51, which usually surprises people, and I’m looking forward to seeing how much more my skin can benefit by dermarolling!
    Btw, when I started taking collagen, I made some other lifestyle changes as well. One year (and a whole bunch of tests) later, my very baffled doctor pronounced me CURED of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published