When it comes to collagen, it would be surprising if you haven’t heard about it before. But some people are still confused; so what is collagen? One of the building blocks of health, this protein can be found throughout the body but is the most abundant in skin, bones, muscles and joints. Thanks to collagen, we’re able to move, bend and stretch. Collagen also is behind keeping our hair shiny, skin glow and nails super strong. It seems as if collagen got popular overnight and has been found in so many health foods and skincare items!

What is Collagen?

Collagen is a protein that aids in the growth of cells and blood vessels and made up of amino acids. An important building block for the skin, as it makes up to 30% of the protein in our body and 70% of the protein in your skin. Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a nutrient that’s essential in the formation of collagen. Without adequate amounts of dietary vitamin C, the body can’t actually form or store collagen so make sure you’re getting enough C when taking collagen! For more information or to read up on other anti-aging ingredients, check out my Retinol blog post.

Collagen in Your Beauty

Incorporating collagen-infused products may help your skin retain that youthful, dewy appearance, but it won’t be because of the collagen! The molecule of collagen is actually much too large to be absorbed from the skin and it can’t pass through. Collagen in skincare works great at hydrating and plumping up the skin temporarily since it attracts water, but don’t expect it to fill fine lines and wrinkles permanently!

Collagen in Your Diet

Taking a trip down the wellness aisle of your local health food store, you’ll notice everything from powdered collagen to collagen pills. Is taking collagen beauty products orally likely to improve skin tone? Maybe, maybe not. The jury is still out as there has not been conclusive data to determine one way or another. Many people are consuming collagen either in their smoothies or stirred in their coffee as it’s almost tasteless. There are also some collagen powders that include additional nutrients and minerals to help improve the skin’s texture and elasticity over time. If you do go the supplemental route, look for a hydrolyzed collagen as it can be easily used and digested by the body. Ultimately although collagen supplements are a great way to add to your diet, a healthy diet is key for both inside and outside wellness.

Have you tried supplementing collagen in your diet? Let me know what you’ve thought!