Redefining Beauty from the Inside Out

Over the past few years, collagen has been making waves in the beauty industry, with everyone from celebrities to dermatologists touting its ability to support healthy skin, hair, and nails and, of course, reduce wrinkles. But is collagen just the latest skincare craze, or is it truly worthy of praise? While many age-defying beauty treatments are only short-term cosmetic solutions, collagen supplements tackle aging on a deeper level, stimulating cells deep within our bodies to produce more collagen. The result? A healthy, hydrating glow from the inside out. Let’s dive into why collagen supplements make sense, how they work, and the key factors driving their buzzworthy status.

Why collagen supplements make sense

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body and the main structural element of most connective tissues like skin, cartilage, bones, muscles, and tendons. When we’re young, our body has all the collagen it needs, but as we enter our early 20s, natural collagen production starts to slow down at a rate of 1% per year.¹ Over time, this progressive decline in collagen cues one of the hallmarks of aging – wrinkles. But wait, there’s more. Along with this natural collagen decline, lifestyle factors also negatively affect our collagen levels. For example, an increase in stress can stimulate an elevation in cortisol, which can further degrade collagen.¹ Also, the sun’s UV rays, inadequate nutrition, inflammation, smoking, and even hormonal shifts can further contribute to collagen breakdown.¹ While that may seem discouraging at face value (no pun intended), collagen supplements have been designed to address collagen loss at the source.

How collagen supplements work

Natural collagen production mainly occurs in specialized cells called fibroblasts. Collagen supplements are formulated to specifically target or activate these fibroblast cells to start producing more collagen. How do they do that? First, it is important to understand three main terms when it comes to collagen – proteins, peptides, and amino acids.

Proteins – Large complex molecules made up of many amino acids

Peptides – Smaller than proteins, they are molecules made up of a few amino acids

Amino acids – Organic compounds that combine to form peptides and proteins

Now that we understand these three basics, let’s continue to explore how collagen supplements work. Collagen is a protein sourced from the connective tissue of animals. It can be sourced from bovine (cattle), marine, chicken, natural eggshell membrane (NEM), or other animal origins. Because collagen is a large, complex protein, it’s too big to be absorbed in its whole form, so it must be modified in a way that allows our bodies to absorb it. Most collagen products on the market are modified into what we call “hydrolyzed” collagen, which means that the large collagen protein has been broken down into smaller components called peptides. When we ingest these collagen peptides, our fibroblast cells recognize them as collagen fragments. In other words, our bodies recognize collagen peptides as an increase in the breakdown of our own collagen, therefore communicating to our fibroblast cells that it’s time to start making more collagen. Additionally, some key manufacturers go a step further and create what’s called bioactive collagen peptides. These specialized peptides have a high concentration of specific amino acids (glycine, hydroxyproline, and hydroxylysine) that can enhance the stimulation of fibroblast activity and collagen production, compared to generic hydrolyzed collagen. Still have doubts? The good news is that there is well-established research that supports this mechanism of action and proves that bioactive collagen peptides work.

For example, a recent double-blind, placebo-controlled trial shows a statistically significant reduction in eye wrinkle volume after just four weeks of consuming BOVINE BIOACTIVE COLLAGEN PEPTIDES™.² Similarly, another double-blind, placebo-controlled trial shows significant improvements in skin elasticity again after just four weeks of consuming BOVINE BIOACTIVE COLLAGEN PEPTIDES.³ Interestingly, marine collagen studies have revealed similar skin health benefits. Clinical results show that consuming marine bioactive collagen peptides resulted in a 19% reduction in deep wrinkles after just four weeks, and an 8% increase in skin hydration after three months.⁴ Furthermore, another study showed that consuming bioactive collagen peptides significantly helped with the appearance of cellulite, with the first results visible after three months and more pronounced results after six months.⁵ While there are plenty of studies that support the use of collagen and skin health, other studies provide evidence that bioactive collagen peptides can also support healthy hair, nails, bones, and joints.^6–9

Although the research is convincing, not all collagen supplements are created equal. It’s important to choose a high-quality, clinically supported collagen that has been tested for potency, purity, and absorption.  

Choose quality collagen – A simple guide

If you’re wondering how to choose a high-quality collagen supplement, here are a few key things to look for:

☑️ If choosing bovine (cattle) collagen, look for non-GMO, pasture-raised, grass-fed, and free of steroid hormones and antibiotics

☑️ If choosing marine collagen, look for odour-free, non-GMO, wild-caught, and sustainably sourced

☑️ Instead of buying generic hydrolyzed collagen, look for bioactive collagen peptides – these are unique peptides designed to improve absorption

☑️ Make sure the collagen has been third-party tested by companies such as ISURA^® – ISURA is a Canadian independent verification lab that tests for over 800 possible contaminants and ensures a non-GMO, contaminant-free, adulterant-free, authenticated, and accurately labelled product

Total Body Collagen^TM is a household brand that checks off all the boxes and has been clinically proven to reduce wrinkles, increase skin elasticity, address cellulite, support nail and hair growth, and so much more.^2–7 There are a handful of products within the Total Body Collagen lineup, so here’s an easy guide to help you choose the one that is right for you based on your goals, preferences, and lifestyle.

Whether you choose tablets or powder, bovine or marine (or a mix!), there is no difference in terms of effectiveness, it really comes down to personal preference. All Total Body Collagen products will provide you with clean, clinically researched, third-party tested, bioactive collagen peptides that can achieve results in less than 30 days.^2–4

The bottom line

Is collagen just a passing trend, or does it truly live up to the hype? Beyond its trendy appeal, collagen supplements have been researched extensively and proven to provide many health benefits not only for skin, hair, and nails, but also for joint comfort, mobility, and bone health. So, if you’re looking for an easy, natural way to combat collagen loss and support healthy aging, collagen supplements may be the key to unlocking beauty from the inside out.

Article by: Natasha Paroutis, Nutritionist, BASc

References

1. Reilly DM, Lozano J. Skin collagen through the life stages: Importance for skin health and beauty. Plast Aesthet Res. 2021; 8:2.
2. Proksch E, Schunck M, Zague V, et al. Oral intake of specific bioactive collagen peptides reduces skin wrinkles and increases dermal matrix synthesis. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2014; 27(3):113-9.
3. Proksch E, Segger D, Degwert, et al. Oral supplementation of specific collagen peptides has beneficial effects on human skin physiology: A double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2014; 27(1):47-55.
4. PLT Health Solutions. Collactive™ collagen complex nourishing beauty. [Online] 2020. Available from​https://www.plthealth.com/resources/collactive-hm-product-sheet/
5. Schunck M, Zague V, Oesser S, et al. Dietary supplementation with specific collagen peptides has a body mass index-dependent beneficial effect on cellulite morphology. J Med Food. 2015; 18:1340-8.
6. Hexsel D, Zague V, Schunck M, et al. Oral supplementation with specific bioactive collagen peptides improves nail growth and reduces symptoms of brittle nails. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2017; (16):1-7.
7. Oesser S. The oral intake of specific bioactive collagen peptides has a positive effect on hair thickness. Nutrafoods. 2020; 1:134-8.
8. Clark KL, Sebastianelli W, Flechsenhar KR, et al. 24-week study on the use of collagen hydrolysate as a dietary supplement in athletes with activity-related joint pain. Curr Med Res Opin. 2008; 24(5):1485-96.
9. Garcia-Coronado J, Martinez-Olvera L, Elizondo-Omana R, et al. Effect of collagen supplementation on osteoarthritis symptoms: A meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials. Int Orthop. 2019; 43(3):531-8.