Collagen is the holy grail of youth and beauty. Here's everything you need to know about how collagen affects beauty and how cosmetics are involved.
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What is collagen?
Collagen is the main protein in the human body , making up about 30% of all proteins in the body and 70% of skin proteins. It is a key component not only of the skin, but also of hair, nails, joints, bones and ligaments, providing them with strength, elasticity and resilience.
After the age of 25, collagen production slows down ; after the age of 30, the body loses approximately 1-2% of collagen every year. When the face loses its contours and takes on a sad, tired look, this is a sure sign of collagen loss. This is when aging becomes noticeable.
A powerful collagen frame holds the face well . Doctors like to joke that ptosis is not terrible for the ladies on the market: they have round cheeks-apples, and all because they consume a lot of collagen of animal origin (cholodets, saltison, seltzer). It's a different story with thin girls: their fat packs are small, but they sag due to sagging skin, that is, due to a lack of collagen.
Unlike European girls, Ukrainian women are genetically predisposed to ptosis : the connective tissue is weak, and the skin is often heavy and “floats” down. But there are other factors that provoke the problem. For example, if the body lacks the amino acids necessary for building collagen, then there will be a problem with the formation of a strong framework for the skin and fat packs.
Why is collagen important for beauty?
In fact, all attributes of external beauty depend directly on collagen:
- Smooth and supple skin
Collagen forms the framework of the skin, maintaining its firmness and elasticity. Slowing down collagen production leads to loss of skin tone and the appearance of wrinkles.
- Preventing wrinkles and aging
Collagen, along with elastin and hyaluronic acid, retains moisture, helping to avoid dryness, dullness, and fine wrinkles.
- Strong and shiny hair
Collagen strengthens hair follicles, promotes hair growth, and prevents breakage. It also helps maintain natural pigment, which can slow down the appearance of gray hair.
- Strong nails
Although nails are mostly composed of keratin, collagen plays an important role in their health and appearance. Low collagen means nails grow slowly, break, and thin.
- Flexibility
Collagen protects cartilage and ligaments, thereby allowing you to train effectively, engage in your favorite sports, and maintain good shape.
Where to get collagen?
First, a lot depends on your diet. There are many foods that stimulate collagen production. First of all, these are protein foods – both animal and plant-based: meat, fish, eggs, bone broth, tofu, etc.
In order for the body to synthesize collagen more successfully, it is worth ensuring sufficient consumption of vitamin C – and this is primarily not citrus fruits, but kakadu plum with its record 3000 mg of vitamin per 100 g of product, dried rose hips – approximately 1200 mg of vitamin C per 100 g, black currants, sea buckthorn, red bell peppers, and various types of cabbage.
Zinc and copper (nuts, oysters, shrimp, seeds) support collagen fibers, Omega-3 (salmon, avocado, nuts) protects against collagen destruction.
Collagen supplements are a separate class of products, surrounded by many myths. We will debunk them here.
How do collagen cosmetics work?
It is worth working on preserving collagen reserves from a young age. After all, it is easier to preserve what you have than to try to create it from scratch. Therefore, cosmetologists advise starting prevention at the age of 25-30. This is especially important for those who have a hereditary tendency to a tired-looking face.
However, not all products work equally well. Collagen molecules are large, which limits their penetration into the deeper layers of the skin. Therefore, the main effect of such products is mainly moisturizing and creating a protective barrier on the skin's surface.
But what really works are those products that stimulate the skin to produce its own collagen.
“Often, the effect of such products is supplemented with ingredients aimed at comprehensively combating skin aging – age spots and wrinkles,” explains Olena Salenkova, a dermatologist and trichologist from Kharkiv.
“The Vichy Liftactiv Collagen Specialist line contains niacinamide and vitamin C to correct excessive melanin production, and the serum also contains a complex of ANA acids to accelerate cell renewal,” says Olena Salenkova. “The composition includes pro-collagen peptides, rice peptides, and Matrixyl. This combination stimulates collagen production to restore skin elasticity.”
Photo: Andrii Shurpin, Valerie Sagura. Style: Nataliya Tiuleneva
The formula of Collagen Specialist 16 Liftactiv serum stimulates and strengthens all 16 types of collagen in the skin. It combines rhamnose (a natural plant-based sugar) that stimulates collagen production, matrixyl (a combination of peptides) that enhances the work of fibroblasts, and maitake mushroom extract that protects cells from stress. Bonding Serum Collagen Specialist 16 Liftactiv. Also contains vitamin Cg and HEPES acid — it eliminates dead cells and fights pigmentation.
After just four weeks of use, 88.5% of consumers noted that their skin had become firmer, and 80.8% had become tighter, according to consumer testing results involving 50 people.