Collagen Benefits Explained

It can be very confusing for someone to begin shopping for skincare products. This is particularly true for anyone hoping to address a specific condition or problem. Try to find a product to reduce the appearance of fine lines or wrinkles and you may find yourself doing hours and hours of research that leaves you feeling dizzy and yet still confused.

 - What really helps with fine lines and wrinkles?

 - What actually offers deep moisturizing solutions?

 - Why is there so much water or mineral oil in some of these products?

 - What ingredients are best, safest, etc?

When it comes to the word "collagen", many people don’t really understand what it is. It has long been touted as a ‘fountain of youth’ by many cosmetic companies and seen as an essential building block in the body. 

However, as is so often the case with healthy natural ingredients, larger pharmaceutical and so-called "beauty" companies have used this information to mislead consumers or simply add to the confusion.

So, let us take a few moments to consider just what collagen is, and how it can be beneficial to our skin (and bodies).

"What is Collagen?"

Collagen is a protein that is used by the cells in all parts of the body - including the skin. It appears in our hair, eyes, teeth, fingernails, bones, cartilage, organs, blood vessels, hemoglobin, and more. 

It is something that the body relies on for maintaining the strongest connective tissue, and as you might have guessed, this is why it comes up so often when we talk about wrinkles, the signs of aging, and general skin care.

In fact, one expert points out that "collagen is responsible for eighty percent of all connective tissue and seventy five percent of the skin." (Dr. Venessa). 

The entire collagen issue is still something that skin experts are studying because there are actually more than 25 kinds of collagen, and the body needs "types I, II, and III" to produce all 28 other varieties as the body needs them. The body also needs the right amount of vitamin C to complete the process as well. Thus, it can be very challenging to maintain adequate supplies of collagen to reduce the signs of aging.

Sadly, and as you might have also guessed, the body slows down its collagen production as part of the aging process. After the age of thirty, most people see a 1.5% reduction in their natural collagen levels each year. And that is why, ten years later most of us see some early signs of lines and wrinkles in the face and skin - we've likely lost around 15% of our total collagen count.

As hormones change and other aging processes take their toll, we notice the distinct difference in the tone and texture of the skin, and it all has to do with reduced collagen.

That means, we need to try and restore or revive the skin as best we can, and often it is collagen that comes to the rescue. 

Collagen Creams and Supplements

As an example, you can buy a standard tub of moisturizer from a pharmacy or beauty counter at a department store, and it might claim to contain collagen. 

This isn’t always the case as it may not be the best form of collagen that the body can use to create long lasting improvements. The moisturizer may also contain many types of chemicals and harsh ingredients that may do more harm than good.

The good news is that there are some very responsible producers of collagen-based products. It’s important to remember that although there are many collagen topical creams and products, there are also some good collagen supplements which may help improve the skin from the "inside out". 

Using this combination of topical collagen creams and collagen supplements is sure way to help make positive changes quickly and safely.

These are just some of the excellent collagen products available via our online store...you can read more about them by clicking on the links below:

 - Pure Collagen + Elastin

 - Roen Collagen Creme

Works Cited

Dr. Venessa. What is Collagen? Are there Collagen Benefits? DrVenessa.com. 2013. http://www.drvenessa.com/dr-venessa-difference/collagen/

By Jessica Sanders - Jessica is the Retail Manager for New Zealand Health Food Company. You can read more content from Jessica on Google+