Collagen a facial fountain of youth
Along with hyaluronic acid, collagen is a key factor in our quest to turn back the clock. So what exactly does that mean? How does it help our skin look younger? Read on...
1
Collagen, our skin's building block
It's naturally found in the body, mainly in the dermis, our muscles and our bones. It's an essential protein produced by fibroblasts and makes up around 5% of our body weight. It's an omnipresent substance that is fibrous in texture and ensures that our skin tissue is cohesive, flexible and able to regenerate. It works like a mechanical spring and 'body glue' that form an inner scaffolding to support our face. Just like hyaluronic acid, it's an essential component that's also affected by the passage of time.
2
Collagen's life cycle
Collagen production starts to slow down from around the age of 25. Its decline is progressive and once we hit 40 a process called glycation comes into play. This is when collagen fibres become rigid and lose their suppleness. The result is the appearance of wrinkles and sagging skin.
3
How to boost your collagen levels
Concentrated creams, injections, food supplements... There are loads of ways to boost our skin's collagen levels. Collagen may be sourced from cattle (rare nowadays) or fish. Whatever the case, the idea is to supplement the loss of our naturally produced collagen and delay any signs of ageing. Boosting your skin's collagen levels will smooth facial features, combat wrinkles and help hydrate your skin, helping you look younger.
