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From the addition of daily supplements to topical peptides, the chase for youthful skin through collagen is a popular one. But what works? Why is collagen so important to our skin? And what’s the best way to incorporate it into our daily regimen for optimal results? Today, we’ll be sharing some of our expertise, debunking myths, and sharing our recommendations to help you achieve healthy, happy skin.

What is collagen?

Let’s start with the basics. As one of the most abundant proteins in your body - collagen - plays a huge role in keeping your skin youthful and fresh. Although there are four main types of collagen, type I and type III are most important to our skin as they constitute over 85% of the skin and are responsible for providing the skin with strength and structure and their depletion leads to skin thinning and fragility.

When we’re young, our bodies naturally produce high amounts of these forms of collagen. But as we age, our bodies begin to slow down production—by the time we’re in our 20’s, we’re losing about 1 percent of our collagen each year.

Skin is supported by an underlying matrix of collagen and elastin fibers. Most of the skin’s repair systems take place in the dermis, where collagen and elastin undergo cycles of breakdown and renewal. To build collagen and counteract its depletion, active ingredients have to penetrate to the dermis (where the fibroblasts reside, and where collagen is made) and signal cells to stimulate increase in their collagen production.

Lack of collagen production is often expressed through rough, dry, thin, sagging, or wrinkled skin — all that makes us look in the mirror and find ourselves suddenly looking “older”.

While age is the number one factor, environmental factors also play a large role. Consistent exposure to sun, cigarette smoke, pollution, and even diet can contribute to the gradual breakdown and loss of collagen.

Debunking collagen myths  

There’s plenty of debate on how to effectively boost your body’s natural collagen through diet, supplements, or through topical skincare - creams and serums.

When it comes to supplements, it’s too soon to know if these products are 100% effective. More evidence and scientific research must be done. Some studies have shown improvements in skin elasticity and signs of aging; others have shown that collagen supports bone strength and improves joint pain. Unfortunately, most of these studies have been small and funded by collagen companies.

Until we have an objective study on collagen supplements, we recommend a mix of collagen creams and a healthy diet filled with collagen-rich foods as your best path to youthful skin.

We do know that collagen creams directly impact our cells by signaling to the body to produce more collagen. Numerous researches that shows the effectiveness of collagen-building actives—such as Vitamin C, peptides, hyaluronic acid, and our complex—as we’ll discuss next.

A diet rich in collagen can be beneficial. Sipping your daily bone broth and eating oily fish (such as wild-caught salmon), rich leafy greens, avocado, and algae all help support your body’s natural immune system and promote the production of collagen. If you want to show your skin some love, avoid highly processed foods, sugar, and dairy products.

How to protect and elevate the collagen in your skin 

Although no one can stop aging, the good news is your skin is naturally renewable. Thanks to our body’s natural processes, collagen and elastin can both breakdown and renew.

When choosing your skincare products, seek out some of these key ingredients. They’ll help provide you with that extra radiance you’ve been looking for!

• Vitamin C

Found at high levels in the epidermis (the outermost layer of the skin) as well as the dermis (the inner layer of the skin), Vitamin C is necessary for your cells to produce collagen and elastin, two proteins that are responsible for keeping your skin firm and supple. It’s also a powerful antioxidant.

Vitamin C is one of the only vitamins that our bodies don’t naturally produce—we need Vitamin C on a regular basis for optimal health. If you’re seeking a new product to add to your routine, consider our Resurrection All-in-One Serum. Active levels of an advanced deep-penetrating form of vitamin C, paired with vitamin B3 provide powerful brightening and antioxidant activity that smooths and evens skin tone, helps with hyper-pigmentation, all while refining natural pore size and texture.

• Peptides

When collagen breaks down in your body, the chains of amino acids turn into shorter fragments. Known as peptides, these shorter chains of small molecules penetrate deep into the skin and signal to your body that collagen has been lost. To compensate, it begins to produce more collagen.

Peptide-enhanced products can have a massive impact on fine lines, wrinkles, and the overall youthful glow of your skin. Rich in antioxidants, progressive peptides, and flower stem cells, our Orpheus Flower Cell Peptide Complex™ is the key ingredient in our All-in-One Serum and our Bio-Luminous Dewy Essence. Composed of three concentrated bioactives that reinforce one another, these products work on a cellular level to rejuvenate, protect, and plump your skin on every layer. You’ll find yourself with healthy, luminous, and visibly 'reborn' skin.

And peptides really do work. Progressive tri-peptides found in our complex are proven to support skin’s natural DNA repair and increase skin’s vitality, boost natural collagen production and smooth lines, while improving skin texture and skin health. 

• Hyaluronic Acid

A naturally occurring sugar that holds water in our cells and keeps our skin hydrated and plump, hyaluronic acid is a critical component of healthy skin. The magic of this ingredient lies in its impressive natural ability to retain moisture. If you can believe it, hyaluronic acid can hold more moisture than any other natural or synthetic polymer—up to 1,000 times its weight in water! When you use a product with hyaluronic acid, it acts as a natural humectant, drawing moisture to the cells from surrounding areas and providing lasting hydration and softness.

In our power-packed Resurrection Serum Duo, we’ve incorporated both small- and medium-weight molecules of hyaluronic acid to ensure multi-layer hydration. By combining collagen-boosting high-tech bioactives with super-hydrating botanical extracts, our Serum Duo keeps your skin youthful, plumpy, and glowy.

Here’s a quick tip on using our products to activate your cells into protecting and producing collagen: Mist our Resurrection Bio-Luminous Dewy Essence on your skin and tap with your fingers to lock in moisture. This will help increase the absorption of the other products you use. We recommend using the Resurrection All-in-one Serum for intense, long-lasting hydration during the day (thanks to hyaluronic acid hard at work!) as well as overnight transformation. For the ultimate glow, spray our essence serum on top of your makeup. 

Regardless of the debate, it’s safe to assume that some form of collagen is best for your skin, especially if you’re looking for a powerful antioxidant to aging, wrinkles, and dull skin. We believe that skincare and supplements, including a healthy diet, go hand-in-hand. When you choose bioactive collagen-boosting skin along with the right supplement for you (don’t forget to consult your physician first!), you’ll be well on your way to achieving that long-desired, supple, radiant skin.

Curious about something you just read? Feel free to reach out with questions! We’d love to hear from you. 

• #Powerful Bioactives