8 products to boost your skin’s collagen production

If plump and youthful skin is what you’re aiming for, collagen production is of the essence

With more and more beauty products and trends finding prominent presence on social media, the hashtag #collagen features over 2.2 billion content pieces on TikTok. The numbers on Instagram are equally startling—9,539,151 plus posts. Rocketing consumer awareness combined with the stress on inside-out beauty means that the global collagen market, valued at $5,769.57 million in 2021, is poised to touch $9,195.82 million by 2029, at an annual growth rate of 6 per cent between 2022 and 2029, reveals a report.

Subsequently, several local and international brands have started infusing collagen and/or collagen production-boosting ingredients into their skincare products. Brands that have always been incorporating collagen into their offerings are now championing those specific ingredients prominently on the label. We ask Mumbai-based aesthetic physician and celebrity skin expert Dr Harshna Bijlani to sound off her thoughts on the protein, and also round up a clutch of high-performing products that can help speed up collagen production.

Understanding the basics 

“Collagen is the most abundant protein, produced naturally by the body and found in bones, blood vessels and the skin,” says Bijlani. “It is mainly responsible for skin elasticity, making our skin look plump and youthful. We start losing 1 per cent of collagen right from our 20s, so by the time we are in our 40s and 50s, we have lost approximately 25-30 per cent of it. The fact is, even 3 per cent collagen loss can lead to the appearance of visible signs of ageing,” she adds. The depletion of collagen is what triggers the development of fine lines and wrinkles, sagging skin and dullness. 

Bijlani explains that collagen-packed topical creams and oral supplements in the form of powder or capsules are not only beneficial to slow down the ageing process but also to prevent the skin from micro-ageing and protect it from environmental damage. However, she believes that collagen-stimulating in-clinic treatments like PRF (platelet-rich fibrin), Ultherapy™, micro-needling and radio frequency deliver quicker and more solid results. “When you are applying any topical collagen product like creams or serums, it works only on the outer layer of the skin as it is difficult for them to penetrate deep and reach the dermis layer (where collagen is naturally found) to produce collagen. Topical collagen may feel good as it is hydrating, moisturising and makes your skin soft, but it doesn’t benefit significantly to boost collagen production from the inside,” explains Bijlani.

Talking about ingestible collagen, she says, “Ingested collagen supplements get digested into amino acids and collagen peptides that are easily absorbed by your small intestine and then circulated into the bloodstream. This results in an inner boost of collagen production. However, you need to have realistic expectations with oral collagen supplements as your body excretes a lot of it and it is also distributed in different parts of the body.”

The best at-home care option

If you’re looking for products that work in the interest of snowballing collagen, it’s a good idea to make space for skincare products with ingredients like vitamins C and E. “Including vitamin C and E-rich foods like citrus fruits, berries, egg whites, tomatoes and bell peppers in your diet is beneficial. Foods like bone broth contain a bioavailable form of collagen that can be used immediately by the body, making it a superior collagen booster as compared to supplements,” says Bijlani. The skin expert also bets on the power of retinoids. “It is an antioxidant that penetrates into the deeper layers of the skin to stimulate collagen production and also prevents UV rays from breaking down healthy collagen. However, the results depend on the strength of the retinoid. For example, retinoids like tretinoin work faster and better than over-the-counter retinol esters which are the weakest.” 

Here is a list of our picks:

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