Does Collagen Really Work for Better Skin, Hair, and Nails?

Collagen is a vital protein that provides structure and strength to our entire body, including skin, bones, muscles, tendons, hair, and nails. Think of collagen as the framework of a house, holding everything together; collagen is the building block of our entire body.

Simply put, collagen is vital to maintaining your skin’s health, vitality, and firmness.

Imagine collagen as a rushing river in our youth, flowing abundantly and nourishing everything in its path. As we age, this collagen river starts to slow down, and by the time we reach our 40s and 50s, the collagen decline accelerates even quicker because the source of the river is drying. This is particularly noticeable for women going through menopause as hormones shift dramatically.

The good news is, you can continue to stimulate your body's natural production of collagen, even after it has started to decline.

Collagen can be sourced from various foods and supplements, offering a range of options to support and restore your body’s natural collagen levels.

Amino acids are the building blocks of collagen. When you consume collagen-rich foods, your body breaks down the collagen proteins into amino acids, which are then used to produce new collagen. 

Here are some examples:

Animal-based sources are some of the richest and most direct ways to obtain collagen, as they provide the specific proteins that our bodies use to support skin, joint, and overall health.

• Bone Broth: Made from simmering animal bones, this is a rich source of collagen.
• Meat: Especially cuts that include connective tissue, such as beef, chicken, pork, and fish.
• Fish and Shellfish: Skin, scales, and bones of fish are particularly rich in collagen.
• Egg Whites and Eggshell Membrane: These parts contain collagen and related nutrients.

While plants do not contain collagen, they provide important nutrients that support collagen production in the body.

• Vitamin C-Rich Foods: Citrus fruits (oranges, lemons, limes), Berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries), Bell peppers, Kiwi, Pineapple
• Copper-Rich Foods: Nuts and seeds (cashews, almonds, sesame seeds), Legumes (lentils, chickpeas), Dark leafy greens (spinach, kale)
• Proline-Rich Foods: Dairy products, Asparagus, Mushrooms, Cabbage, Wheat germ
• Zinc-Rich Foods: Meat, Shellfish, Nuts and seeds, Whole grains, Legumes
  
  

Supplements are taken alongside your regular diet to supply additional nutrients that may be lacking from food alone. When taken consistently, collagen supplements offer many benefits, and have a significant effect on:

• Improved Skin Health: Increased skin elasticity, hydration, and reduced wrinkles that promote a youthful glow.
• Stronger Nails & Hair: Many people report faster-growing nails and hair with improved strength and less breakage.
• Joint and Bone Health: Collagen supports joint flexibility and bone strength, reducing the risk of joint pain and osteoporosis.

Incorporating collagen supplements into your routine can support your body’s natural collagen production, providing targeted support to maintain youthful, healthy skin.

But what exactly are these supplements, and do they live up to the hype?

Collagen supplements are typically made from animal or fish sources, providing a concentrated dose of this essential protein. 

They contain a range of amino acids that are vital for your body's natural collagen production.

There are different types of collagen supplements, each with unique benefits:

1. Bovine Collagen: Sourced from cows, and is beneficial for skin, bones, and muscles.
2. Marine Collagen: Sourced from fish, easily absorbed by the body for skin elasticity and hydration.
3. Chicken Collagen: Chicken is excellent for joint health and cartilage.
4. Porcine Collagen: Similar to bovine collagen, supports skin, joints, and connective tissues.
   
   

Supplements are not a must-have for everyone, but can be a valuable addition to your skincare and health regimen to ensure your collagen river keeps flowing strong throughout your life.

I personally take collagen supplements, but I don’t believe this alone will keep my skin young forever.

Supplements can fill in nutritional gaps to support your body’s natural production of collagen, but they are not replacements for healthy habits.

A balanced diet and a daily, collagen-building skincare routine are also essential to combat signs of aging.

Daily skincare is one of the most valuable tools you can have when it comes to building collagen and fighting signs of aging.

However, it's important to note that topical products cannot deliver collagen directly to the skin because the collagen molecule is too large to be absorbed. Instead, skincare products aim to stimulate the skin cells to produce more collagen on their own.

Skincare products containing ingredients like Retinol, Vitamin C, and Niacinamide can activate collagen production at the cellular level.

These ingredients work by sending signals to skin cells to ramp up collagen synthesis, getting that collagen river flowing again.

If you’re not using a product that gets down to the cellular level and activates collagen production, you are wasting your time and money.

The entire reason for putting skincare products on your face is to get your cells to produce collagen again. This natural production of collagen will help slow down, prevent, and hopefully, even reverse signs of aging.

When I formulated Trifecta, I wanted to create an effective skincare routine that stimulates collagen production for the long run, while also being easy enough to use daily and stay consistent.

If you are using collagen-building skincare every day, you will resist and restore aging skin.

If you are not consistent with your routine, then collagen levels will increase for a few days, and then will begin to decline again when you stop.

Trifecta was built around the core concept of consistently getting the body to produce collagen again at a whole new level.

A synergistic approach is essential to achieve the best results for your skin. 

With a collagen-rich diet, integrating collagen supplements, and a daily skin care routine, you can achieve a comprehensive approach to maintaining and enhancing your skin’s health and appearance.

I personally use collagen every day as part of my routine, but there are other important nutrients and supplements I include as part of my day-to-day beyond just collagen.

Making sure I have all of these components helps me see noticebale changes in my hair, skin, and overall health, energy, and vitality.

If you are curious about other supplments to improve your skin and boost your anti-aging efforts, check this out.

I go in-depth into other supplements you can incorporate into your skin health strategy, discuss which ones are worth your money, key tips and tricks for incorporating them into your daily regimen, as well as which supplements my wife and I take every day. Enjoy!