What is Collagen, and Should I Be Boosting it?

Collagen is often referred to as the fabric of youthfulness. “It is the most abundant protein found in our bodies and is a core structural component,” says Dr. Neal Kitchen, a molecular biologist, and the Chief Geneticist at HydroPeptide. Unfortunately, at the ripe old age of 28, our collagen production naturally starts to decline, and we spend the rest of our lives on the chase for more collagen. Thankfully, there are viable ways to boost collagen as you age, including:

• Adding supplements or collagen drinks into your diet.
• Use products that contain retinol, vitamin C and peptides to help trigger a response in the body that boosts collagen.
• Add foods containing protein, such as chicken and fish skin, leafy greens, avocado and garlic into your diet.
   

Menopause and Collagen Production

While collagen production begins to steeply decline in our 20s, it’s after menopause when that decline becomes even more drastic. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, women’ skin loses approximately 30% of its collagen during the first five years of menopause.” While the decline after those first five years is more gradual (about 2% loss every year for the next 20 years), it’s those early years of menopause and perimenopause that you’ll want to invest in a solid collagen-boosting skincare routine.

How can an anti-aging skincare product re-generate collagen?

Contrary to popular belief, skincare products containing collagen do not actually boost collagen production. “Collagen molecules are too large to penetrate the skin topically in a skincare product,” says Dr. Kitchen. To effectively increase collagen production, you need to use topical skincare products with ingredients like peptides that stimulate collagen production. These would include ingredients like collagen-boosting peptides, vitamin C, and retinols.

How do you boost collagen as you age?

Beginning in our late 20s, our bodies start to produce less collagen, which leads to skin that sags and wrinkles. Loss of collagen can lead to other negative effects as well, including stiffness in ligaments and joints and thinning hair. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables and protein can help regenerate collagen. According to WebMD, our bodies create collagen by breaking down the protein we eat into amino acids, which are the building blocks from which our bodies can form new proteins. “You can slow down the loss of collagen by using sunscreen every day, eating a healthy diet rich in antioxidants, and using topical skincare rich in antioxidants,” explains Allison Shoemaker, Global Education Content Manager at HydroPeptide.

How can an anti-aging skincare product regenerate collagen?

There are specific skincare ingredients to look for that can fuel collagen production. It’s a misnomer to think that products containing collagen will in fact boost collagen. Dr. Kitchen explains there are different types of ingredients that help stimulate collagen regrowth in our body by acting as chemical messengers and creating a signal telling your body to produce more collagen. Those ingredients include vitamin C, vitamin A and peptides.

The HydroPeptide Difference: Epigenetics and Skincare

At HydroPeptide, we take it one step further than making sure the active collagen-boosting ingredients are in our products. We use something called “epigenetics” that have a direct effect on our cellular health and provide the proper nutrients to tell the body to make more collagen.  “By using epigenetics in our lab at HydroPeptide, we can orchestrate ingredients that message the skin to “talk back” to your DNA, telling it when to turn on genes that act younger and healthier,” says Dr. Kitchen. This messenger mechanism (commonly referred to in science as mRNA) is what triggers the reproduction of collagen in the body and helps to change the expression pattern of how your DNA reacts to the environment.

Which skincare ingredients boost collagen production?

“We use different ingredients that boost parts of the collagen-making process,” says Shoemaker. “For instance, there are peptides that signal the skin to produce more collagen, peptides that optimize deposit of collagen in the skin, and peptides that prevent the breakdown of current collagen.”  Other topical ingredients that boost collagen include:

• Vitamin C is essential for fibroblasts to make collagen. Try LumaPro-C Serum, a highly stabilized vitamin C-packed product that boosts collagen and helps fade dark spots.
• Neodermyl that reactivates fibroblasts that have become inactive (or senescent). We use this ingredient in our collagen kickstarting Nimni Collection.
• The ingredients found in our patented Nimni Complex provide the essential amino acid building blocks to make a collagen fiber.
• Vitamin A (retinol). Studies have shown that retinol stimulates fibroblasts to synthesize collagen fibers and improve skin’s elasticity.
• Antioxidants are also essential in preventing free-radical damage that breaks down collagen and “turns off” fibroblasts. Adding an antioxidant serum into your daily skincare routine is an important part of healthy skin. Try Firma-Bright, a powerful Vitamin-C serum packed with free-radical fighting antioxidants.

Best skincare boosters for collagen production

The Nimni Dream Team Set is the best place to start, as it contains two complementary products with revolutionary formulations created with Dr. Marcel Nimni, the world’s leading collagen expert. Dr. Marcel Nimni studied collagen for over 40 years. We have utilized his research to create a patented technology that efficiently signal our bodies to produce collagen. Regular use of our Nimni Collection will keep your collagen levels high.

Meet the Collagen Boosting Powerhouse Team: The Nimni Collection

• Nimni Day Cream contains powerful antioxidants aid in protecting from free-radical damage throughout the day.
• Nimni Face Cream is a patented collagen boosting cream with time released retinol to aid in cell turnover, meant for use at night.

Power Couples: The Best Collagen Boosters

Dr. Kitchen recommends using these products along with the Nimni collection to harness and boost the collagen-boosting properties of the core Nimni products.

• Power Serum Lifting Wrinkle Treatment helps to stimulate collagen production while also stimulating other structural proteins.
• Power Luxe Hydra-Rich infusion cream is not only a rich moisturizer, but also contains three peptides that support collagen and elastin production and bakuchiol, a retinol-alternative that supports collagen and hyaluronic acid production.
• Firma Bright, a potent Vitamin C booster, adds vitamin C to help stimulate fibroblasts plus helps our bodies create vitamin C reserves.