Author: Kathryn Danzey Category: Beauty, Skincare
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We hear that word every day in advertisements, is there anything the amazing collagen can’t achieve? 

Younger, more plumped, fresher, it’s the production of collagen or lack of it that is the key factor in how our outside layer appears.

What exactly is collagen?

Collagen is a key component in the structure of skin and other connective tissues in the body that maintains skin firmness and elasticity, up to 70% of protein in the body is collagen. Throughout our youth we naturally produce enough collagen to keep skin elastic and supple, however, from the age of 25 years our ability to restore and synthesise new collagen decreases and does so at a rate of about 1.5% per year.

Skin smoothness is determined by three components: collagen, hyaluronic acid and elastin, together they combine to create a firm, spongy meshwork under the skin surface. This reduction of these components and particularly collagen eventually leads to those signs of ageing – fine lines, loss of elasticity, an uneven skin tone and sagging skin. Once your skin no longer springs back into position when pinched it is definitely time for a little therapy!

Is there an answer?

An array of anti ageing creams have flooded the market with varying results, many containing collagen. Skin is a fascinatingly complicated structure with the ability to protect against external harm (bacteria, uv light etc) manage nutrient levels and water loss.  Not everything applied to the skin can penetrate this amazing system, advanced products are breaking down the molecular structure of collagen to help renewal within the dermis and creating peptides that stimulate collagen production.  This is just part of the solution.

Are injectables for you?

Injectables have become mainstream and most salons now offer the services of a monthly clinic for their clients.  The injectable market is moving so quickly with new products being produced weekly, collagen is the oldest and best-known cosmetic filler.  Newer natural and synthetic products are available, each with their own advantages and disadvantages.  Injecting cosmetic fillers helps to fill out the ageing thinned meshwork of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid.

Collagen injections are broken down naturally by the body and need to be repeated two to four times per year.

Let’s look at the new trend?

Finally the industry is turning to nutricosmetics, beauty from the inside out, collagen tablets have been around for a while but now collagen drinks are at the forefront of this trend.  Taking collagen as a drink can give you up to 20 – 30 times the potency of tablets. This is quite simply adding extra ingredients to your diet to supplement what you are missing out on.

The deterioration of skin has been linked directly to specific amino acids within the skin’s structure, like alanine, glycine, hydroproline and proline which decrease with age and bad diet.  Supplementing levels of collagen from the inside out has had amazing results and Collagen Shots the market leader has 18 amino acids within its formulation.  This is a marine based formulation with a daily serving of 10 grams of collagen and has been created for maximum effect using marine sourced collagen rather than bovine as it is believed to be more bio available.  The results and not just for the face, it treats the whole body from elbows to the soles of your feet.

Skin becomes more hydrated and plumped as the amino acids within the collagen pass through the lower intestine and straight in to the blood stream.  Users have noticed results within days, these new formulations are the perfect way to create healthy skin from the inside out and are becoming a must have on many beauty editors shopping lists.

The best strategy for youthful skin is a combination of good diet, sun protection, good skin care products and a top up from a good quality collagen drink!