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How Does Collagen Benefit the Skin?
You probably already know that collagen is one of the skin’s key structural proteins. It gives the skin its firmness, smoothness, and volume, with the skin producing plenty of these protein fibers in its youth.
However, with age, collagen production declines. This is why the skin takes on a wrinkled and looser appearance as it grows older. In an attempt to counter this, many people end up turning to collagen-infused skincare products, believing that these will help to replace their skin’s collagen deficit.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. The collagen produced by your skin lives in your skin’s dermis layer. It’s too deep to be touched by topical collagen, which has a relatively large molecular size. No matter how much collagen you apply to your skin’s surface, it won’t make a difference to the deeper collagen fibers that hold your skin up from within.
While that may be the case, collagen offers up a number of other benefits that still make it a very worthy skincare ingredient. Read on as OROGOLD explains how collagen-infused skincare can help to improve your complexion.
A Hydrating Humectant
One of the biggest draws of adding collagen to your skincare routine is its humectant properties. Humectants are ingredients that attract and bind moisture to the skin, therefore providing instant hydration. They’re loved for how they give the skin an instant moisture boost while still being incredibly lightweight. This makes humectants a great way to hydrate all skin types.
To amplify this effect, products often combine collagen with other humectants, with the OROGOLD 24K Deep Tissue Rejuvenation Mask being the perfect example. This hydrogel mask ramps up the hydrating properties of collagen by blending it with hyaluronic acid, allantoin, chitosan, and glycerol. All of these ingredients are also humectants. These hydrating compounds are how this mask is able to immediately plump up the look of the skin. It leaves the skin with a beautifully bright and radiant finish!
Reduces Transepidermal Water Loss
Humectants are fantastic for bringing moisture to the skin. However, unless you have a way to keep that moisture there, it won’t be long before it evaporates out of your skin. This process is known as transepidermal water loss. This is why occlusive ingredients should be used in conjunction with humectants. Occlusives form a film over the surface of the skin, preventing your skin’s newfound hydration from evaporating away.
Some ingredients stand out because of how they offer both humectant and occlusive properties, and collagen is one of these. Not only will it draw moisture to your skin, but it will then trap that moisture into your skin’s surface, providing long-lasting hydration.
This is why face creams containing collagen are known for being exceptionally moisturizing. Creams in general are great for locking moisture and other ingredients into the skin. However, if they contain collagen, they’re able to provide even better results. Take the Collagen Renewal Cream from our 24K Collagen Collection as an example. Collagen is joined by a number of other humectant and occlusive ingredients. This creates a cream that keeps the skin feeling hydrated for hours.
Smooths and Softens the Look of the Skin
The way in which collagen forms a film over the skin’s surface not only helps to prevent transepidermal water loss, but also leaves the skin looking smoother and softer.
This is why collagen is often used in products designed to tackle the appearance of aging. Wrinkles, along with a rough skin texture, are common as the skin ages. However, by applying collagen, your skin will feel better hydrated and protected, which will make those creases less noticeable.
Give the OROGOLD 24K Cryogenic Eye Firming a try and you’ll see exactly what we mean. Designed to counter the look of fine lines around the eyes, this cream makes use of soluble collagen, along with vitamins and botanical extracts, to give the delicate skin around the eyes a smoother and firmer finish.
Adding Collagen to Your Skincare Routine
As you can see from the collagen-infused products that we’ve already mentioned, this ingredient can be found in a wide range of formulas. However, if you’re trying to get the most out of a certain skincare ingredient, it’s always worth incorporating it into multiple stages of your skincare routine, rather than relying on just a single product that contains it.
The Collagen Cooling Set Limited Edition makes this easy. This skincare set contains three products, each one infused with collagen. Start by cleansing your face (we’d recommend using the gentle 24K Mousse Cleanser for this) and then spraying on some of the Collagen Plumping Mist. Follow up with the HydroCollagen Lift Mask before finishing with the Advanced Soothing Cool Cream.
Of course, don’t forget that the hydrating and moisturizing properties of collagen make it a great ingredient to use on your lips too. Lip skin is known for being extremely thin. This means that moisture retention is a common issue with the lips, as is the associated roughness. Using a collagen-infused lip balm each day, such as the OROGOLD 24K Renewal Lip Balm, will leave your lips feeling much softer while looking plumper. This lip balm is also packed with vitamins and antioxidants. It’s ideal if you want your lips to look fuller, younger, and crease-free!
Does Topical Collagen Cause Any Side Effects?
It’s all very well raving about the benefits of a particular ingredient, but it’s also important to understand if that ingredient comes with any potential side effects.
In the case of collagen, you most likely won’t need to worry. It’s a gentle and mild ingredient that doesn’t generally cause any side effects.
The exception would be if you’re allergic to cow’s milk. Collagen is sometimes obtained from cows, which could trigger an allergic reaction. Fortunately, there are other sources of collagen available, so seek one of these instead.
Topical Collagen vs Oral Collagen Supplements
It’s not just topical collagen that has been making the headlines – collagen supplements are becoming increasingly sought after too. While these used to take the form of pills, there are now plenty of other options out there, from pre-made collagen drinks to collagen powders that you can add to your own food and drink.
So, which is better? Should you be applying collagen or eating it?
When it comes down to it, both have been proven to be beneficial. The downside to collagen supplements is that it can be difficult to find reliable products. They’re not FDA-regulated, meaning that there are many out there that are all gimmick and no substance. Many collagen supplements also contain potentially harmful animal byproducts and may be sourced from animals that have been given antibiotics.
If you’re able to find a safe and trustworthy collagen supplement, then, by all means, give it a try. However, unless you’re absolutely certain about the supplements you’ve chosen, stick with the tried-and-tested collagen skincare products that we’ve shared above instead.
Collagen-Rich Foods
Of course, let’s not forget that certain foods are rich sources of collagen too. If you’re trying to give your body more of this ingredient, then incorporating these foods into your diet is a great way to naturally bump this up.
Here are some of the foods worth eating more of due to their high collagen content:
- Bone broth. The long and slow cooking method is great for extracting collagen from bones and depositing this into the broth.
- Oily fish, such as sardines, with the skin on.
- Chicken with the skin on.
- Organ meats.
Preserving Your Skin’s Existing Collagen Fibers
If you’re feeling disappointed after reading this because you were hoping that your use of topical collagen would strengthen the collagen fibers that you already have in your skin, keep reading. Although topical collagen isn’t capable of doing this, there are other ways in which you can preserve the collagen fibers that are currently in your skin while helping them to feel more robust:
Protect Your Skin From the Sun
There’s plenty out there that can damage your skin’s collagen fibers, but UV rays are the biggest culprit. They weaken those collage fibers, resulting in accelerated skin aging.
Keep your skin looking firm and youthful by ensuring that it’s always protected from the sun. The OROGOLD 24K Skin Tone SPF 30 will help with that. It’s a two-in-one moisturizer and sunscreen that will not only keep your skin safe from UV damage but will also give your skin a boost of moisture.
Establish a Good Skincare Routine
There are many skincare ingredients out there that, when used regularly, will keep your skin looking smooth and firm. A good skincare routine that encompasses a variety of these is one of the best ways to maintain a youthful complexion.
A vitamin C serum, for example, is a must if you want your skin to feel tight and elastic. A rich moisturizer will also work to keep your skin feeling protected against environmental damage, something else that can interfere with collagen production.
Don’t forget about your eye area either. With the skin here being particularly thin, it’s more prone to protein degradation. A high-quality eye serum or cream will ensure that the skin around your eyes remains smooth and wrinkle-free.
LED Light Therapy
LED light therapy is revered for how it can counter the look of skin aging. Invest in an at-home LED skincare device, such as the Photonix-2 Jade Eye Wand, and you’ll be able to work on your complexion from the comfort of your own home. Featuring multiple modes, this device will not only help to keep your skin looking firm and bouncy, but it can also be used to tackle various other visible skin concerns, from the appearance of acne to the visibility of dark spots.
Summary
As you can see, the topic of collagen in skincare is quite a complex subject. It’s important to fully understand how the topical ingredient differs from the collagen that your skin produces so that you can use it in the correct way. Although applying collagen to your skin isn’t going to miraculously leave you with a smooth and wrinkle-free complexion, it’s still an ingredient worth adding to your skincare routine thanks to the hydrating and moisturizing benefits that it provides.
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