What are the beauty benefits of collagen supplements for hair, skin and body?
Collagen is the beauty buzzword on everyone’s lips – and skin, of course. It’s the (not technically new) savvy skincare ingredient that’s doing the industry rounds once again, gaining traction for its claim of many benefits for our hair, skin and body.
What started out exclusively as topical formulas, but has since found its way into ingestible supplements, synthetic collagen continues to evolve, making itself known in many beauty routines in present day. But what, exactly, is collagen, and how can it help to improve our complexion from the inside-out? Anna Lahey, Vida Glow Founder and collagen expert, shares the inside scoop on the benefits of collagen supplements, explaining exactly why they’re becoming a must in any regime…
What is collagen?
To understand the true benefits of collagen, it’s important to know what it is, where it’s found, and exactly how it behaves from one person to the next. Likely something you already knew, but spoiler alert if you didn’t: collagen is actually something that's inherently present in our body.
“Collagen is a protein that our bodies naturally produce. It acts as a building block, giving our skin, hair and nails their structure, elasticity, and firmness,” explains Anna.
“From around the age of 25, the rate at which our bodies produce collagen starts to gradually decline. This is when we start to see the early signs of ageing, like fine lines. And on top of that natural decline, our collagen is also impacted by exposure to sun, environmental pollution and stressors such as poor diet. By stimulating collagen production, collagen supplementation supports youthful skin, hair and nails.”
How does the collagen used in supplements compare to collagen naturally produced by our bodies?
“We know that as we age, our body’s ability to naturally produce collagen declines,” admits Anna. “[That’s] why taking a supplement like ingestible marine collagen can be extremely beneficial. Once ingested, marine collagen is absorbed and distributed into the bloodstream, via the blood vessels, to a deeper layer of skin called the dermis.”
“Once it reaches the collagen matrix it stimulates fibroblast proliferation, generating the production of fresh collagen. When you ingest hydrolysed collagen peptides, you are increasing the pool of specific amino acids that are needed by cells in the body to produce collagen. As a completely natural protein, marine collagen is an effective, non-invasive solution to visibly improve the appearance and health of skin, hair and nails.”
Why do we need collagen?
“Collagen is the most abundant protein in our bodies and primarily found in the skin, joints and connective tissues. From our mid-20s, our collagen levels naturally begin to deplete with the rate at which we lose collagen only increasing as we age. This causes signs of ageing including fine lines, wrinkles, sagging skin and dehydration that contributes to a lacklustre complexion.”
What is marine collagen and how does it benefit our skin?
“Marine collagen is a collagen supplement derived from the skin of fish. We use the skin that would otherwise be discarded as waste by the food industry,” explains Anna.
“The skin is put through a process called hydrolysation, which transforms it into low-weight collagen peptides. The smaller the collagen peptide, the easier it is for your body to absorb. Higher absorption means it’s more effective in replenishing and restoring collagen to a deeper layer of skin, hair and nails. This is when you start to see significant results.”
“Early results of consistent collagen supplementation – like improved skin hydration – can be seen in just four weeks. After six weeks, fine lines around the eyes and mouth begin to soften. After nine weeks of collagen supplementation, the collagen matrix is strengthened and thickened and skin is firmer and smoother. By 12 weeks, skin elasticity is improved and the full benefits of marine collagen can be achieved with ongoing supplementation. The fast growth of nails and baby hairs are also some of the first benefits our community see when beginning collagen supplementation.”
Does ingesting collagen have more benefits than applying it topically to the skin?
“The surface layer of skin, where traditional skincare operates, makes up for only 3% of the complete skin organ. Ingestible beauty products start in the body, at a cellular level where the ingredients can penetrate the other 97% of skin. So with ingestible beauty, you are able to address more of the skin, than just the superficial outer layers,” says Anna.
“Skin concerns might appear on the surface, but they begin much deeper. This is the advantage of using ingestible beauty, we can target skin concerns like pigmentation, acne and even wrinkles at the root cause and create tangible and long-lasting changes.”
Does ingesting collagen have more benefits than applying it topically to the skin?
“The surface layer of skin, where traditional skincare operates, makes up for only 3% of the complete skin organ. Ingestible beauty products start in the body, at a cellular level where the ingredients can penetrate the other 97% of skin. So with ingestible beauty, you are able to address more of the skin, than just the superficial outer layers,” says Anna.
The benefits of collagen supplements for skin
“Marine collagen supplements can help you maintain the benefits of collagen as your body’s own stores and production levels start to wind down.”
“Clinical trials show that marine collagen can improve skin tone and texture, promote skin firmness, increase elasticity and smooth fine lines and wrinkles.”
The benefits of collagen supplements for nails
“Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body and the building block of healthy hair, skin, joints and nails. As we age, our collagen levels begin to deplete more rapidly - which is why we may start to notice weaker, split-prone nails. Adding a collagen supplement to your daily beauty routine can help to replenish collagen levels and support stronger, healthier nails.
The benefits of collagen supplements for hair
“Collagen is a vital protein in the body that plays a pivotal role in maintaining the structure and strength of various tissues. It is a key component of hair follicles, providing the necessary support for healthy hair growth.”
“There are a few ways that collagen might help to increase hair growth:
- By fighting oxidative stress
- Promoting collagen production in the dermal layer of the skin, which is also where our hair follicles are found
- Slowing the rate of hair ageing.”
How often do you need to take collagen supplements to see results?
“We don’t recommend consuming more than 10g of collagen daily,” Anna advises. “Studies show that if you take a collagen with a low molecular weight, there is no need to take more than 10g a day. In fact, you only need to take one sachet of our Natural Marine Collagen, which contains just 3g of pure collagen to see results.”
“Once you’ve established your new routine, you can increase your daily dose to two or three sachets a day for enhanced results. And if you’re taking two or three daily doses, it’s best to take each serve individually and throughout the day to maximise their absorption.”
What age would you recommend starting collagen supplements?
“In terms of our Natural Marine Collagen, we recommend one serve daily for those 25-35. Two serves daily for those 36-45. Three serves daily for those 45+.”
“That’s the general rule, but if you’re new to collagen supplements, start with our 1 serve daily routine. (Too much, too soon can cause minor stomach upset.) Gradually build up to a max of 3 servings (9 g) per day over 12 weeks, depending on your desired routine.”
“That said, we’ve since expanded our collagen offering to give consumers seeking faster results or varied routine options.”
Is there anything you wish more people knew about collagen supplements?
“That it works,” shares Anna. “There are over 800 scientific research papers and trials on collagen supplementation. And over 20 double-blind placebo-controlled trials on hydrolysed collagen and its effect on skin alone. This is significant because double-blind placebo-controlled trials are the gold-standard of clinical and scientific testing. They’re expensive, they’re time consuming, yet they provide the most robust evidence.”