Say hello to beauty’s hottest ingredient right now & see what it can do for you
Collagen is having a moment. From supplements to skincare, the star ingredient is well-loved for its internal and external benefits which include plumper, firmer and more youthful looking skin. But how does it work and how do you take it?
Keep reading to get the 101 on collagen to find out if it’s right for you and how you can incorporate it into your daily routine…
What is collagen?
Collagen is one of the human body’s most abundant proteins and it’s essential for building muscle and cell repair. It makes up around 75% of our skin, 90% of our ligaments and 35% of our bones so it’s a pretty major player in the make-up of our bodies. Think of it as a kind of glue that helps to bind tissue together – and when our cells get damaged, collagen production is triggered inside the cells to help repair those wounds.
Collagen is a key protein for maintaining youthful, healthy-looking skin that is resilient, tight and wrinkle-free. It acts like supportive base structure for skin to be plump and juicy. But like most good things, it doesn’t last forever. From as early as our twenties and as we age, collagen production in our bodies drops by about 1% each year, while regeneration processes also begin to slow down. You might notice fine lines or skin sagging that doesn’t bounce back like it used to.
It's not just age that diminishes collagen in the skin; exposure to UV radiation, smoking and pollution are also contributors to lessening levels of collagen in the skin. Luckily, these are all things you can limit your exposure to, to lessen their effects.
Where does collagen come from?
Collagen is produced naturally by our bodies. It's made from amino acids and accounts for 30% of our protein. The main amino acids that make collagen are proline, glycine and hydroxyproline. We produce 28 different types of collagen, but over 90% of that is ‘Type 1’ – which helps to provide structure to skin, bones, tendons and ligaments.
What are the benefits of collagen?
Collagen’s main role is to contribute towards structure, elasticity, strength and support throughout the body. It supports healthy hair and nails and helping keep the complexion radiant… what more could you want? Some brands claim that collagen can support hair growth, however, there’s no definitive evidence to support this benefit.
What are the different types of collagen?
We briefly mentioned type 1 collagen, but did you know there are five types of collagen our body produces?
- Type 1 provides structure to skin, bones, tendons and ligaments. It’s helps the skin retain its elasticity and strength
- Type 2 is found in cartilage, helping to provide support and flexibility to joints
- Type 3 collagen is found in the muscles, internal organs and arteries
- Type 4 is found in the layers of the skin
- Type 5 is found in some layers of the skin, hair and placenta tissue, as well as in the cornea of the eyes
What is collagen banking?
Collagen banking isn’t an entirely scientific term and not all health experts are in agreement with it, but it’s definitely been gaining traction among skincare and health enthusiasts. Think of collagen banking as a pre-emptive, preventative measure to catch early signs of ageing before they become noticeable.
People who practice collagen banking are essentially trying to maintain and grow their collagen supplies while they’re still in their peak collagen-producing years in preparation for when production levels inevitably begin to decrease. Think of it like collagen saving – you build up a bank of collagen reserves while you still can, to soften the blow when your natural supply begins to decrease, allowing you to maintain firm, plump, younger looking skin for longer.
How can I take collagen?
Before you think about taking collagen supplements, it’s important to ensure that you’re doing as much as you can naturally to maintain collagen levels. This means eating a healthy diet including a mixture of nuts and seeds, a variety of colourful fruits and veggies, fish and grass-fed protein. Marine collagen, from wild-caught fish such as salmon is absorbed up to 1.5x more efficiently than bovine (cow) or porcine (pig) sources, so opt for fish when you can!
If you do want to supercharge your collagen intake to replace lost collagen or encourage your body to produce more of it, then collagen supplements might be for you. Collagen supplements come in multiple forms including collagen tablets, collagen powders, collagen capsules, collagen gummies and liquid collagen drinks, so there’s a way for everyone to incorporate it in their everyday routine.
Collagen supplements will contain hydrolysed collagen peptides, which enter the bloodstream and stimulate collagen synthesis to provide the body what it needs to build its own collagen. When choosing a supplement, it’s important to ensure it contains glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline; these are the key amino acids that make collagen.
It’s worth noting that when you ingest collagen, you can’t guarantee where it will go. Your body will use it where it needs it the most, so you might see slower, less visible results versus collagen-infused skincare.
While there is no direct vegan source of collagen (since it’s a protein found in animal connective tissue), there are vegan collagen supplements out there that work to stimulate the body’s production of collagen rather than being a direct source of it.
Best liquid collagen supplements
Try: Absolute Collagen Marine Collagen Liquid Supplement Mango & Mandarin Flavour
• Size: 100ml
• 8000mg of Hydrolysed Type 1 Marine collagen
The delicious fruity flavour of this multi award-winning marine collagen supplement makes adding it to your daily routine a breeze. Each of the 10 x 100ml sachets are infused with 60mg of vitamin C for maximum results. Whether you take it at home or on the go, mix a sachet into water or your favourite food or drink – or take it straight from the sachet.
Try: Gold Collagen Forte 10 Day Programme
• Size: 500ml
• 10 bottles
This extra strength version of Pure Gold Collagen helps to support signs of advanced aging and support healthy-looking skin. Formulated with added vitamins C,E, B6, A and D, plus copper, zinc, biotin and more, this comprehensive collagen supplement tackles the signs of aging from multiple angles.
Best collagen tablets
Try: Boots Marine Collagen
• Size: 90 tablets
Level-up your collagen routine and support skin firmness with this Boots-brand marine collagen, which also contains vitamin C to support normal collagen formation and healthy skin function. Take one tablet per day with plenty of liquids alongside your regular skincare regimen for glowing, healthy-looking skin.
Try: Bioglan Beauty Collagen Effervescent Tablets
• Size: 90 tablets
If tablets or sachets aren’t your thing, give these effervescent tablets a go and reap the benefits of a collagen-full routine wherever you are. Made with 1000mg of hydrolysed marine collagen plus added vitamin C, biotin, selenium and sweetener, upping your collagen intake has never been easier.
Best collagen gummies
Try: Unfabled Collagen Gummies
• Size: 60 gummies
• 1000mg of hydrolysed collagen per serving
• Bovine collagen
Another option for those wanting an alternative to tablets, you’ll wonder why these weren’t already in your routine. With the added bonus of biotin and selenium, this pineapple flavoured daily supplement is a must-have in your daily health and beauty regime for healthy-looking, glowing skin.
Try: Myvitamins Collagen Gummies Pomegranate
• Size: 30 gummies
• Collagen, retinol & vitamin C blend
Take your anti-aging routine up a notch with these tasty pomegranate flavour gummies from Myvitamins. They combine 500mg of marine collagen with 1200ug of retinol and 80mg of vitamin C per serving to provide a direct source of collagen, support collagen formation and support cognitive health and immune function.
Best collagen powders
Try: Ancient & Brave True Collagen Powder
• Size: 200g
Not one for tablets, sachets or gummies? We’ve got you with this collagen powder from Ancient & Brave. Support your body’s collagen levels with a 5g to 10g dose of this easily digestible, highly absorbable type 1 collagen for the best results. That’s two heaped teaspoons into any hot or cold drink, smoothie or food for a seamless integration into your daily routine.
Try: Pura Collagen glow+ Advanced Collagen PLUS Formula
• Size: 284g
Just two scoops a day to keep the aging at bay! This bovine collagen powder uses the Bioactive Collagen Peptide® VERISOL® and also contains vitamins C, B and D (biotin) to help you maintain healthy-looking hair, skin and nails. Simply stir into your drink if choice or mix into your food and that’s it!
When will I see results from taking collagen?
Although collagen absorbs quickly into the body, you won’t see or feel changes immediately. A study from 2021 found that the skin experienced improved elasticity and hydration after 90 days of taking hydrolyzed collagen supplements.
How can I add collagen to my beauty routine?
So, you’re eating well and taking supplements… but how do you use collagen for skin benefits? The jury is still out on whether applying collagen-containing serums and creams are a direct stimulant for collagen production in the skin. That’s because collagen’s molecular weight is too large to penetrate your upper layer of skin. We do know that topical collagen application to your skin can provide hydration and moisturisation benefits for the skin. If you are looking to incorporate collagen into your skincare routine, Boots has a selection of collagen-infused products, from day creams, to sheet masks and serums for you to try.
Best collagen skincare
When thinking about collagen in your day to day skincare, ingredients like retinoids, vitamin C, peptides and SPF can also support collagen synthesis and production in the skin, so it’s worth looking at your existing routine to see where you can slot these ingredients in, too.
Best collagen haircare & bodycare
Now you’ve got everything you need to know about collagen – what it does, how it works and the best collagen source for you – it’s up to you pick a supplement or skincare product that works for you and stay consistent with using it. Want to know more about supplements? Check out this article on how long you should take vitamins.
