Sip collagen in drinks or eat it like jelly beans? Why not? But there’s another strategy – getting your skin to produce more of it. After all, natural production slows down with age, so any encouragement is welcome. We’ll show you the most effective methods, according to the experts.
Let’s get the bad news out of the way – shortly after the age of 20, skin collagen production begins to decline by about 1% per year, and according to the American Academy of Dermatology, women lose 30% of their collagen in the first five years of the menopause. And because it provides elasticity and firmness (meaning youthful, plump skin that doesn’t know the meaning of wrinkles at all), most of us would like to take action. And now comes the good news – it can be done!
Pushing your skin to produce more collagen doesn’t have to be mission impossible. Maybe ‘just’ the right cosmetic arsenal is enough. What does it look like? “The key is to focus on active ingredients with a proven effect – vitamin C, retinoids, peptides, growth factors, bakuchiol and niacinamide. These promote cell renewal and stimulate the natural production of collagen”, says Dr. Leyla Aliyeva of Skinlab cosmetic studio.
Nothing complicated, right? Just be careful not to overdo it with active ingredients – listen to your skin and respect its type and skin barrier condition. And don’t forget the basics of your skincare routine. “It’s important to combine stimulation with adequate hydration and UV protection”, adds the expert.
Do you need to bring out the big guns? Try to ‘tease’ your skin a little. “Collagen loves microtrauma – controlled and precisely dosed, of course”, says the expert. That’s exactly how techniques such as microneedling, biorevitalisation or mesotherapy work, creating small punctures or wounds in skin. “These techniques can awaken the deep layers of skin and trigger repair mechanisms that naturally slow down with age”, explains Leyla Aliyeva. Loosely translated: you can look forward to firming and improving your skin’s texture and elasticity.
- Dr. Leyla Aliyeva
If you are interested in the issue of disappearing collagen, you should not miss the current hit in the form of collagen banking, i.e. saving collagen. What's the goal? To save up collagen for your stockpile! Ideally before it starts to dwindle. "Collagen banking is not just a trend - it's a new strategy to age gracefully. Stimulating collagen early is like saving in a skin savings account," says Leyla Aliyeva, on how it works.
If you had doubts about the significance of this trend, put them behind you. “If you start regular stimulation and prevention early, skin will retain its firmness, hydration and elasticity longer”, says the expert, adding: “It makes more sense than trying to make up for the loss later.”
The right time to start taking vanishing collagen seriously? Now! So come and make the most of the methods available.