If you pay any attention to the beauty industry or if you’ve ever been to a dermatologist in your life, you have probably heard the word “collagen” more than once. What you might not know, though, is exactly what this protein is or does. It’s a skincare buzzword that often gets pandered around without a lot of context for lay people.
The goal of this guide is to help you understand what collagen is and why it matters so much in the skincare world. By the time you’re done reading, you should have a good grasp of why you need to pay attention to whether or not your skincare regimen includes collagen-boosting products.
What Is Collagen?
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body. It is naturally produced and can be found in almost every part of your anatomy, from your bones, to your skin, to your muscles, to your blood vessels. Collagen is known as an “extracellular protein.” This means it fills the space between your cells, giving firmness and elasticity.
The body’s natural production of collagen slows down as you age. This is why it’s harder to maintain firm, plump skin the older you get. It’s also why muscle tone is tougher to develop in, say, your 60s than in your 20s. Fortunately, the skincare industry has developed a variety of products that not only mimic what collagen does but, in some cases, actually contain collagen. These are great for rejuvenating tired skin; every woman’s skincare routine should include a collagen booster!
What Exactly Does Collagen Do?
Although we touched on the various purposes of collagen in the last section, we will delve into them more deeply here. In skincare products, collagen is primarily intended to diminish or eliminate wrinkles and to firm the skin.
Collagen, because it plumps the skin, effectively fills-in fine lines and wrinkles, giving the skin a smooth, youthful appearance. If you aren’t happy with the results of a topical collagen product, you can opt to have collagen injections at your dermatologist’s office; these are a bit more invasive, but offer more powerful results.
Collagen also firms skin that has begun to sag; this frequently happens on the neck and around the jawline. If you’re experiencing this, you are likely to see excellent results from a collagen-based cream, collagen injections, or a combination thereof.
Collagen really is one of skincare’s most powerful weapons. It can bring youth back to aging skin like no other ingredient. If you think your natural collagen levels have begun to decline, now is a great time to talk to your doctor about next steps.
View our complete line of skincare products today to find the right collagen based product for you!
