Our skin changes and aging will be inevitable, but why not make it so graceful and seamless that you can barely notice it? A lot of conditions can cause our skin to drop in firmness and radiance from menopause, UV light, drinking, smoking, lack of sleep, or just natural aging effects. One of the most important beauty agents that decrease in the process is collagen.

We might not stop the process of collagen loss altogether, but we could practice preventive care and encourage collagen preservation and boosters. 

WHY IS COLLAGEN IMPORTANT

Collagen is a gelatinous glue substance that binds and provides elasticity for many body parts. One reason our skin can stretch without leaving marks is because of collagen. Our skin is, in fact, 70-80% collagen depending on skin age. Collagen provides skin with its agile mechanical structure and suppleness. It is extremely important because it's a protective body that protects the skin and helps regenerate skin cells and keep skin vitality and juvenility.

What’s great to know is that collagen restoration and preservation are possible in the body and protected from outside conditions to extend its persistence and efficacy within our bodies.

HOW YOUR BODY MAKES COLLAGEN

The great thing about collagen is that it comes from nutrition and dietary proteins. The amino acids extricated from consumed proteins become the collagen in the skin. You can make sure you are having a balanced diet of highly nutritious foods that supply your body with the right amount of fatty acids from fish, poultry, citrus fruits, garlic, and vibrant colored tropical fruits. Other nutrients that are important to consume are zinc, whole grains, nuts, and vitamin C.

Eating your way to healthy skin is the most productive and sustainable habit you could develop. 

COLLAGEN LOSS SIGNS

Some symptoms of collagen loss 

• Decrease of plump skin

• Skin tissue stiffness 

• Joint stiffness

• New wrinkles

• Dry Skin

We can preserve collagen by identifying the signs of collagen loss and repairing the symptoms. Nutrition and sufficient water intakes are some of the best and easiest steps one could take to ensure collagen preservation. Stretching and practicing yoga are also of great help and can help you keep in shape while at it.

Finally, get enough sleep and make sure you are sun-protected throughout the year even when it is not sunny or summer.

COLLAGEN BANKING

Collagen banking is a concept that has been going around recently through the beauty and skincare communities, and it means what it says. Your body will decrease collagen production by 1% every year starting from 30.

You can start with collagen banking treatments which help your skin remember how to produce collagen regularly so that your skin can keep producing enough collagen later. Some of the collagen banking treatments come as Red LED light treatment, Micro-needling, Ultherapy, and other forms of treatments. Mostly, these treatments are more suitable for when you are over 30 as they are minimally invasive. These treatments trigger collagen reproduction in maturing skin as a protective gateway against skin sagging and wrinkling.

Although, it is widely known that the best solution to protect your collagen reproduction is by practicing good sun protection and antioxidant-rich skincare like Argan and Hemp Seed Oils. 

PREVENT COLLAGEN LOSS

As advised earlier, eating your way into producing more collagen by taking in adequate amounts of vitamins, fats, amino acids, and moisture is your first step into collagen preservation and restoration. As you become more collagen conscious and regularly integrate collagen nutrition into your daily life, you will then be able to move to the next step, which is collagen skincare routines.

I wouldn’t advise starting with collagen banking treatments or invasive skin procedures, especially if you are not experiencing any collagen loss symptoms. However, what you can do is take simple home-based practices and habits that can help stimulate skin besides using any chemically manufactured products like retinol or peptide serums.

You can start by applying skin-soothing facial massages using vitamin C-rich oils to your skin. Facial massages can be self-applied either using your hands or a cold marble facial roller. Massaging helps circulate blood flow to all of our facial muscles and also leads to tighter skin and even complexion. Muscles are collagen-rich and stimulating and relaxing the muscles using facial massages will help keep the skin shining with collagen. 

COLLAGEN ESSENTIALS: ARGAN OIL, HEMPSEED OIL, PRICKLY PEAR OIL

If you feel that collagen procedures are not an option right now but also feel motivated to preserve your collagen levels, then massaging your skin with facial oils is your key option. 

Begin by applying one of Beauty Legacy’s antioxidant and vitamin C-rich facial oils like the fragrant Argan and Hemp Seed combo facial oil or the balmy prickly pear seed oil. Rich with fatty acids, vitamins, phenols, and antioxidants, facial oil massages are your best-advised solution to preserving and boosting collagen production within your skin. It’ll keep your skin muscle memory sharp at remembering collagen and boost the collagen levels even when your skin is maturing.

A facial oil massage is the best skincare routine as it is efficient, simple, quick, and non-invasive.