The Skin Nerd: Everything you need to know about collagen

This way for plump, glowy skin.

The Skin Nerd: What you need to know about collagen

It’s an eternally trending buzzword in the beauty and wellness industries, but what exactly is collagen and why should we include it in our skincare arsenal?

The spring in your skin

Collagen is a key skin component that keeps our complexion plump, firm and hydrated – it also gives our skin its resilience and “snap.” This structural protein is often referred to as the skin’s ‘scaffolding,’ and is the most abundant protein found in the body. Not one to be labelled as a one-trick pony, collagen also plays a vital role in the process of replacing and restoring dead skin cells, which is important for wound healing and repair.

Why we need to ‘top up’ our collagen levels

From around 25 years old, our natural collagen levels degrade, which is why our skin loses its plumpness as we get older. Once collagen degrades, the structure of the skin can weaken, resulting in the formation of fine lines, wrinkles, increased skin laxity and dryness that can lead to a “crepey” appearance.

Environmental factors such as UV exposure, a poor diet and pollution can also accelerate this process and cause premature skin ageing. In fact, exposure to UV rays is said to account for 80% of visible signs of skin ageing. This is because the sun’s UVA rays trigger the skin to enter a state of oxidative stress, resulting in free radicals attacking the collagen and elastin fibres – which is another structural protein responsible for keeping the skin firm.

Can we get collagen from our diet?

Although there is limited conclusive research to suggest that eating a collagen-rich diet benefits skin health, many of these foods are important for a healthy diet anyway– so I would still encourage you to include them in your diet if you can. Unfortunately, foods that contain lots of collagen include bone broth, chicken and fish – which aren’t suitable for vegans. However, what you can do is stimulate collagen production by consuming foods that are rich in vitamin C – such as tomatoes, oranges and spinach – or zinc – like wholegrains, nuts and seeds. There are also many supplements on the market and if you would like to try one, I suggest looking for those containing ingredients that will promote the synthesis of collagen, such as vitamin C. Supplements aren’t the right choice for everyone though, so be sure to check with your GP before starting a course.

What can we do to prevent collagen decline?

Wear a daily broad-spectrum SPF! Exposure to UV rays can cause the skin to enter a state of oxidative stress, which is when free radicals attack healthy skin cells – including our precious collagen. For maximum protection, apply a broad-spectrum SPF in the morning as the last step in your skincare routine and reapply every two hours as advised by the Irish Cancer Society.

Product recommendations

Collagen is too big to permeate the skin, so instead we use topical skincare with ingredients that boost collagen production. Vitamin A is ideal for this as it is a hero antioxidant that speeds up cell renewal and prompts the generation of collagen.

Alternatively, you could use a skincare product that contains peptides – short chains of amino acids, which make up key proteins in our skin. Peptides are responsible for sending important messages to our fibroblasts to synthesise collagen and elastin. This is especially true for copper peptides, which are currently having a moment in the skincare industry, with search volume for “copper peptides” up more than 389% since 2019. Because of this, skincare brands have started to incorporate copper peptides into products to increase the peptides’ activity in the skin.

Today vs Payday: Collagen Boosters

Today: The Inkey List Collagen Serum (€18.50, theskinnerd.com, boots.ie)

This budget friendly serum includes the peptides Matrixyl 3000 and Syn Tacks to mimic the effect of natural collagen, keeping your skin looking plumper and smoother for longer. The formula also helps to boost collagen production, so your skin will look increasingly firm and supple over time.

Payday: Murad Rapid Collagen Infusion (€99, murad.com, theskinnerd.com)

Formulated with collagen amino acids, this fast-acting treatment produces a topical filler-like effect by plumping the skin's surface to minimise the look of lines and wrinkles.