The lowdown on the biggest beauty buzzword – including what it could do for your skin
It’s one of the most highly searched skincare ingredients, but what actually is collagen? What are the benefits? And is it worth the hype? With so many questions, we’re here to bring you some answers about why you may need it in your skincare regime.
What is collagen?
Ready to geek out? Collagen is a type of protein that’s found in most tissues, including tendons, bones, ligaments, gums, eyes and, of course, skin.
Most skincare junkies will know that collagen helps support skin’s strength and firmness – basically it helps give skin that extra ‘oomph’. As we get older, our bodies start to produce less and less collagen. In fact, the skin starts to produce around one percent less collagen each year from the age of 20 (eeeek!), leaving skin thinner and more prone to damage. Don’t panic, though. It’s a natural process and there are easy ways to help boost your collagen supply – more on that later.
Benefits of collagen
As we just mentioned, collagen plays a key role in our skin’s strength. As well as this, collagen is a great ingredient if you want plump, smooth skin. Not to mention that it helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles! With its skin-loving benefits, it’s no wonder everyone wants in on the action.
Top collagen picks
As well as maintaining a balanced diet and staying hydrated, there are a bunch of other ways you can help keep your skin firm, smooth and plump. To help you wade through your options, we've gathered our faves below:
Try: Boots Collagen Youth Activating Day Cream SPF30
Complete with marine collagen and SPF30, this hard-working day cream helps improve the feeling of firmness for soft, youthful-looking skin. Plus, SPF helps protect against UVB rays from the sun which can cause premature skin ageing. Talk about multi-tasking!
What about supplements?
Now you’re topped up on all-things-collagen, why not add a little to your skincare routine?
*Food supplements are intended to supplement the diet and should not be substituted for a varied diet or healthy lifestyle.
