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Ingredients, Beauty

The Beauty Of Collagen For Skin Elasticity

Written by: Swisse Wellness
Swisse Wellness
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Collagen is a well-known ingredient when it comes to skincare. Used in countless beauty products and supplements, it’s well-loved for good reason. From supporting skin firmness and elasticity to supporting hydration and nourishing your skin from the inside out, collagen is one busy skincare staple.  

So, how does it exactly work and what are the different types? Read on to learn how to improve skin elasticity with the help of collagen. 

What is collagen? 

Collagen is a type of protein that’s also one of the main building blocks of your body.  From muscles and tendons to skin and bone, collagen is found in the connective tissue throughout your body1 

Ultimately, the main role of collagen is to provide strength, structure and elasticity to tissues. When it comes to your skin, the main collagen benefits for skin involve maintaining its firmness and elasticity and improving hydration.  

While collagen plays an important role, your body produces less over time. As you age, the rate of collagen breakdown increases which leads to your skin losing elasticity and hydration2. Other things like sun exposure, diet, stress and inadequate sleep can also influence your collagen levels.  

Marine vs bovine collagen 

Collagen is typically sourced from animal products. With that said, there are two different types of collagen that are often used - marine and bovine collagen.   

As its name suggests, marine collagen comes from marine animals. It’s commonly sourced from the skin, bones and scales of certain fish species, like cod, haddock or tilapia. In some cases, marine collagen is also sourced from sea urchins or sponges3. Marine collagen is often preferred by those who have dietary restrictions or concerns about bovine-derived products. 

On the other hand, bovine collagen is derived from the skin, bones and connective tissues of cows4. As one of the most common sources of collagen, many supplements incorporate bovine collagen for skin tightening properties, as well as supporting joint health    

While both marine and bovine collagen offer a number of similar benefits, there are a few unique differences between the two.  

Marine collagen benefits 

There are several key benefits of marine collagen that set it apart from bovine collagen, including5: 

  • Enhances skin elasticity  
  • Improves skin firmness  
  • Increases skin hydration 

Bovine collagen benefits 

Alternatively, the main benefits of bovine collagen include: 

  • Supports joint health and mobility6 
  • Muscle growth7 
  • Increases cartilage8 
  • Supports digestive health9. 

What is the best collagen for skin elasticity? 

Type I collagen is typically recognised for supporting skin health5. As the main type of collagen found in the skin, type I collagen works to provide structure and support to the skin10. Both bovine and marine collagen contain type I collagen, making them great choices for supporting skin elasticity. 

The benefits of collagen for skin care 

As a naturally occurring protein found within the skin, collagen is often added to skincare products due to its hydration and anti-ageing properties11. Many skincare products use collagen peptides for skin elasticity, which can help to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles12. Beyond supporting skin elasticity, collagen can also be used to help firm and tighten the skin, maintain moisture and hydration, improve skin texture, boost brightness. 

It’s not topical skincare though. With so many skin-loving properties, collagen is often incorporated into ingestible beauty supplements to help support your skin health from the inside-out.  

Does collagen improve skin elasticity? 

So, can skin elasticity be restored? In short, yes, you can use collagen to help boost skin elasticity and firmness11. You may be able to use collagen for loose skin or sagging skin that often occurs as your skin matures and ages.  

With that said, it’s often worth implementing other lifestyle changes alongside collagen skincare and supplements to support your beauty routine. From drinking plenty of water to getting enough beauty sleep and following a nutritious diet, taking a holistic approach to your skin health is essential. 

How to use collagen in your skincare routine 

From ingestible beauty to specially formulated skincare, there are many ways you can incorporate collagen for skin elasticity and other benefits into your daily routine.  

Adding collagen powder to your diet is one simple way to increase your intake and boost your beauty routine. These ingestible beauty supplements are often formulated with other skin-loving ingredients like vitamin C and zinc to further support skin health. Simply add a scoop of collagen powder to your morning smoothie or sprinkle it over your meal to get your dose during the day. Alternatively, you may be able to incorporate other forms of collagen supplements, like gummies, tablets, capsules or liquid formulas depending on your preferences.  

From learning about skin pigmentation to testing your skin hydration’s levels, look no further than the Wellness Hub for all things beauty, nutrition and mindfulness. 

References: 

  1. Bpharm N. Collagen supplements. 2019;11(4):385–6. Available from: https://www.publish.csiro.au/hc/pdf/HC15947 
  2. Swift A, Liew S, Weinkle S, Garcia JK, Silberberg MB. The Facial Aging Process From the “Inside Out.” Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2020 Dec 16;41(10). 
  3. Silva T, Moreira-Silva J, Marques A, Domingues A, Bayon Y, Reis R. Marine Origin Collagens and Its Potential Applications. Marine Drugs [Internet]. 2014 Dec 5;12(12):5881–901. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4278207/  
  4. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/bovine-collagen 
  5. Geahchan S, Baharlouei P, Rahman A. Marine Collagen: A Promising Biomaterial for Wound Healing, Skin Anti-Aging, and Bone Regeneration. Marine Drugs. 2022 Jan 10;20(1):61. 
  6. Osteoarthritis [Internet]. medlineplus.gov. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/osteoarthritis.html 
  7. Holwerda AM, van Loon LJC. The impact of collagen protein ingestion on musculoskeletal connective tissue remodeling: a narrative review. Nutrition Reviews. 2021 Oct 4;80(6). 
  8. Takeda S, Park JH, Kawashima E, Ezawa I, Omi N. Hydrolyzed collagen intake increases bone mass of growing rats trained with running exercise. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2013;10(1):35. 
  9.  Abrahams M, O’Grady R, Prawitt J. Effect of a Daily Collagen Peptide Supplement on Digestive Symptoms in Healthy Women: 2-Phase Mixed Methods Study. JMIR Formative Research. 2022 May 31;6(5):e36339. 
  10.  Amirrah IN, Lokanathan Y, Zulkiflee I, Wee MFMR, Motta A, Fauzi MB. A Comprehensive Review on Collagen Type I Development of Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering: From Biosynthesis to Bioscaffold. Biomedicines [Internet]. 2022 Sep 1;10(9):2307. Available from: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/10/9/2307 
  11. Sionkowska A, Adamiak K, Musiał K, Gadomska M. Collagen Based Materials in Cosmetic Applications: A Review. Materials. 2020 Sep 23;13(19):4217. 
  12. Al-Atif H. Collagen Supplements for Aging and Wrinkles: a Paradigm Shift in the Field of Dermatology and Cosmetics. Dermatology Practical & Conceptual [Internet]. 2022 Feb 2;12(1):e2022018. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8824545/ 
Swisse Wellness

Swisse Wellness - Swisse Wellness

The copywriting team at Swisse Wellness plan, research and generate blog content with inputs from multiple teams across the business. With access to our industry-leading Science team, Product Development team, Customer Service team as well as informative Brand Managers, we have the contacts to deliver a well-rounded suite of blogs tailored to an array of wellness interests....

Ingredients, Beauty