Collagen for the Skin
What is Collagen and Why Does It Matter?
Without collagen, your body wouldn’t function properly. This vital protein is the key component of connective tissue, providing the structural support that strengthens our muscles, bones, joints, cartilage, tendons and ligaments. Although your body naturally produces collagen, it breaks down faster than we can replace it as we age. The result? Fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin. But can collagen really help reduce wrinkles? Let’s explore how.
What is Collagen?
Collagen is a structural protein produced in the dermis, the middle layer of our skin. Its fibrous structure creates a stable framework for cells. It’s also packed with amino acids, which are essential for your body’s natural processes. There are 28 identified types of collagen, each supporting a variety of functions throughout the body.
A large part of your body’s connective tissues is made up of collagen. Its strong, elastic fibres provide the strength and flexibility these tissues need to stretch and move. In youthful skin, collagen accounts for up to 80% of its structure.
How Does Collagen Support Your Body?
Thanks to its ability to bind water, collagen gives your skin volume and stability. Together with flexible elastin fibres, collagen proteins create a supportive network that keeps skin firm and plump. Collagen plays a vital role in maintaining the elasticity of blood vessels. It also helps protect against injuries like ligament and tendon tears or bone fractures, while supporting the body’s natural repair processes.
Collagen is not only key to a youthful appearance but also vital for the healthy functioning of your organs and the entire musculoskeletal system.
How Collagen Levels Change with Age
From around the age of 25, your body's natural collagen production begins to decline by 1–2% each year. Hormonal changes, such as those during pregnancy or menopause, can speed up this process. As collagen levels decrease, the skin’s stability weakens, leading to the appearance of wrinkles. Declining collagen levels also impact the strength and resilience of muscles and joints.
Additionally, lower collagen reduces the skin’s ability to retain water, resulting in a gradual loss of volume. This loss becomes especially noticeable in areas like the cheeks as we age.
Other Factors Behind Collagen Breakdown
Genetics and lifestyle choices play a significant role in collagen breakdown. Smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, lack of sleep, stress, overexposure to the sun, and an unbalanced diet all weaken your skin’s structure. These factors increase the production of free radicals – unstable oxygen compounds that damage collagen fibres and disrupt the skin’s natural support system.
Foods to Boost Your Collagen Naturally
Certain foods naturally contain collagen, especially animal-based sources like slow-cooked cuts of meat (such as brisket or shank), bone broth, gelatine, and the skin of chicken or fish. There are also plant-based foods that support your body's natural collagen production:
- Berries and citrus fruits. High in vitamin C, these fruits neutralise free radicals that can damage your cells.
- Lycopene-rich vegetables and fruits: Found in tomatoes, watermelons, and papayas, lycopene neutralises harmful free radicals.
- Carrots, apricots, and sweet potatoes: These foods support cell growth and promote collagen production.
- Lysine-rich foods: Lentils, soybeans, and cashew nuts provide lysine, an amino acid essential for forming connective tissue.
Ingest or Apply Collagen?
Collagen supplements, available in capsules and powders, are thought to support joints, muscles, bones, and skin. Some studies suggest that taking collagen supplements may help reduce symptoms of early osteoarthritis.
When it comes to skincare, collagen also plays an important role. However, due to the large size of collagen molecules, they can only reach the upper layers of your skin. Here, they offer temporary benefits, such as improved elasticity, hydration, and smoothness.
Weleda’s contouring facial care range takes a different approach. Rather than adding collagen directly, it stimulates your skin’s natural collagen production. The patent-pending Collagen+ Active Complex, featuring organic blue gentian, organic edelweiss, and centella asiatica, has been shown in tests to increase collagen content by 60%.
Where Does Collagen Come From?
Collagen is typically derived from animal sources, as it closely resembles human proteins. Plant-based collagen, in its natural form, does not exist.
At Weleda, we do not use collagen in our formulations. Instead, our natural cosmetics are crafted to boost your body’s own collagen production.
Collagen+ Active Complex
Our patent-pending COLLAGEN+ ACTIVE COMPLEX with organic blue gentian, organic edelweiss and centella asiatica powerfully counteracts skin ageing by increasing your skin's natural collagen and effectively protecting against collagen loss. Look and feel naturally beautiful, with sharper contours and reduced deep wrinkles.
