Does Collagen In Skincare Really Work?

Whenever we talk about the structure of your skin, collagen always takes centre stage. And for very good reasons. Below, a quick masterclass in this spotlight-stealing skin component. 

First Things First, What Is Collagen?

Collagen is one of the most abundant proteins in your skin (and, in fact, your whole body). It makes up around 75 percent of your skin’s structure, acting like scaffolding to bind everything together and give your skin strength, support, stability and flexibility. Fun fact: some types of collagen are even stronger than steel.

Sounds Great, So What’s The Problem?

One word: ageing. Like most things in the human body, collagen levels decrease and degrade as you get older. As you hit your mid-20s, your skin produces around 1 percent less collagen every year.

What’s more, the stuff it does produce is nowhere near as good as it once was. This is why your skin becomes thinner, weaker, less elastic and more prone to the visible effects of ageing such as fine lines, wrinkles, dryness and sagging.            

The frustrating fact is that natural collagen loss is something you have no control over. However, there are many other factors that speed up this process including sun damage, pollution, smoking, stress, poor sleep and a rubbish diet. This is why making good choices and leading a healthy lifestyle is super important for the sake of your wrinkles.

Then, there’s what you put on your skin…    

What’s The Deal With Collagen In Skincare?

Let’s get one thing straight, most skincare companies use animal-derived collagen which is quite different to human collagen and much harder for your skin to absorb. We’re not down with that.

However, our Imperial Eye Gel and Imperial Moisturiser are formulated with a far more effective and animal-friendly type of collagen that’s extracted from seaweed. 

Seaweed collagen has a very similar molecular structure to human collagen so it can penetrate the skin better and give you much better results than the animal-derived alternatives.

This means it’s far more effective at maintaining soft, supple, radiant skin. As an added bonus, seaweed collagen contains water-binding hyaluronic acid which is one of the best ingredients for hydration. 

Excellent, So Collagen In Skincare Really Does Work?

Yes. But perhaps not exactly how you would expect…

The truth is, collagen-enhanced skincare can’t magically replace the stuff you’ve naturally lost. Neither does it kick-start your skin to produce more. If you’re looking to physically boost your natural levels of collagen at a deep, cellular level, that’s where the likes of retinol, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid come into play. 

However, the right kind of collagen (seaweed for the win!) can absolutely soften, strengthen and hydrate your skin and thus help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This makes it an excellent addition to a well-rounded skincare regime.

We recommend applying a small amount of Pre-Eminent Beauty Serum daily to cleansed, toned skin. This anti-ageing serum is packed with retinyl palmitate, vitamin C, aloe and hyaluronic acid to boost collagen and help repair damage from the slings and arrows of daily life. Follow this with your collagen-enriched Imperial Eye GelCream and Imperial Moisturiser and you’re on to a real winner.

PS: The sun is THE biggest culprit when it comes to collagen degradation, so don’t forget to apply Organic Tinted Moisturiser with SPF 25 as the final step of your morning routine. And if you’re looking to promote healing and reduce free radical damage even further, try some collagen-boosting Organic Age-Defying Facial Oil before bed. Gorgeous!