To boost collagen, use an anti-wrinkle cream like Kollagen Intensiv.
Skip the tanning salon while you’re at it, and think about putting more foods with Vitamin C in your tummy. Like most things beauty-related, to boost collagen, you’ll want to do a variety of things that are good for your skin and your health in general.
Wanna chat further about how to boost collagen and easy ways to have younger skin? Pull up a chair and let’s get acquainted!
Firstly, What EXACTLY is Collagen?
Collagen is a protein. You’re probably best familiar with it as the structure that makes youthful skin. It’s more than that – collagen is the most common protein in the body[1] and can be found in skin, tendons, fat and ligaments.
When you’ve got plenty of collagen, your cells with this beauty-friendly protein take on a youthful, attractive appearance.
As well, collagen works with elastin – another protein – which is also plentiful in youth and whose best-known trait is its ability to snap back after being stretched.
Collagen and elastin both help give your skin its texture and make it stronger. And yes, we tend to lose collagen over time. Hence why it’s important to boost collagen as we get older – and why you’re reading this article in the first place.
4 Natural Ways to Boost Collagen Production
OK, so how do you boost collagen and get younger skin in the process.
You can start with the following
1 – Try Aloe Vera
A sunburnt victim’s best friend, aloe vera is a species of shrub native to the Arabian peninsula. You know it for its ability to heal burnt skin. Aloe vera can also help soothe wounds. The reason? Aloe vera helps to boost collagen[2], whether applied topically or even as an oral supplement.
You can apply pure aloe to your skin or with one of the many aloe vera products online or at your local drugstore. One study suggests oral aloe vera supplements can help with younger skin[3] as well.
2 – Eat More Vitamin C
If there is a true Fountain of Youth, it’s likely made with Vitamin C. That’s because this youth-friendly vitamin makes hyaluronic acid, which is shown to boost collagen[4]. You can (and should) get Vitamin C through your diet. Foods with Vitamin C include orange, red peppers, kale, Brussels sprouts, strawberries and broccoli.
You can also buy hyaluronic acid in concentrated form at many pharmacies.
3 – Use Ginseng
This is another easy way to boost collagen. Ginseng is a plant, called Panax Ginseng, with anti-aging benefits that are well documented[5]. Among its benefits, Ginseng absorbs into skin and is well-tolerated compared to some chemical applications.
Ginseng may also protect against UVB sun damage[6], which is important when you consider that’s the leading cause of aging skin.
Ginseng’s ability to boost collagen is also well-shown[7] in clinical studies. Ginseng helps release antioxidants into the bloodstream when ingested orally or as a drink. In turn, this helps protect healthy skin cells and gives skin a glowing appearance.
4 – Add Cilantro to Your Meals
Maybe you cook with Cilantro. If you want to boost collagen, you should – Cilantro, also called Coriander Leaf, is an excellent source of Vitamin C, and you know what that means. Cilantro has linolenic acid too, which is a powerful anti-aging agent[8] that fights free radicals in your blood.
Free radicals destroy healthy skin cells. That’s why Cilantro, which you can take as an oral extract or just add in your cooking, should definitely be in your ‘collagen-boosting’ toolbox.
Bonus Tip: Try Algae
There’s a reason so many marine products keep popping up in anti-aging circles. Most skin damage is caused by oxidation, which is when you expose your skin to the elements, like pollution and UV radiation from the sun.
Algae fights this process[9] and is shown to help preserve collagen and elastin. It’s most commonly available as an oral supplement in many health food stores.
Worst Skin Habits
These are easy ways to boost collagen. If you want younger skin, it’s just as important to practice good habits, and avoid these age accelerating[10] things many people do that make them look older. These include:
You Don’t Wash Your Face Before Bed
Washing your face may be the last thing on your mind before turning in for the night. But you should wash your face before bed regardless – dirt, oil, pollution and the general toxins you’re exposed to build up on your face. This can lead to breakouts and inflammation.
Wash your face each night with a gentle cleanser that has moisturizers that include glycerin or botanical oils can help keep your skin hydrated. Can’t make it to the sink? A facial wipe can also do the trick.
You Smoke
Smoking sucks the life out of your skin. Sorry, but it’s true. Nicotine starves blood flow to your skin, so it doesn’t get the oxygen and nutrients it needs for optimum health. Tobacco damages collagen and elastin too – which leads to skin that’s thin, dull and less able to heal.
The only good news? If you can quit smoking, the damage stops.
You Don’t Use Enough (Or Any!) Sunscreen
Here’s another big offender. Sun damage causes 80% of the visible aging on your face[11] alone. That doesn’t even account for what it does to your neck, arms, hands, legs and the rest of you.
And we haven’t talked about the health implications of that sun damage to your skin – and that’s something you can’t ignore.
Want an easy solution? Apply a Broad Spectrum sunscreen with an SPF rating of at least 30. ‘Broad Spectrum’ means it guards against both UVA and UVB radiation. Use it liberally, with a ‘full teaspoon’ amount for your face. Be sure to get your hair line, nose and around your chin.
Reapply every two hours, after sweating and/or getting wet.
You Eat (Much More) Sugar Than Fruits and Vegetables
If you are what you eat, to boost collagen, it helps to be a fruit or vegetable with plenty of Vitamin C. And you don’t want to be high in sugar.
Yup, they taste good. But they’re low in nutrients that help the skin. Among the worst offenders: candy, ice cream and refined carbohydrates like pasta and white bread.
Fresh fruits and vegetables appear to have the opposite effect, in part because they’re high in antioxidants. Among the best foods for your skin[12] are carrots, apricots, most yellow fruits and vegetables, spinach and other green, leafy vegetables, beans, peas, lentils and salmon.
You Exfoliate Flakey Skin
If your skin is flakey, or has scales, that means it’s too dry. You can exfoliate these spots away, but in doing so, you may disrupt your skin’s moisture.
Instead of scrubbing dry skin away, try to hydrate it instead. Use a fragrance-free lotion or cream with moisturizers including glycerin and butters like shea and cocoa. They should absorb well and leave it hydrated, but not greasy.
Why Kollagen Intensiv Can Help
On a related note, to boost collagen, you’ll want to try Kollagen Intensiv by Skinception.
We mentioned this anti-wrinkle cream at the start of this article. That’s because it’s ideally suited to moisturize the skin without aggravating it and, well, it does a pretty darn good job of boosting collagen as well.
Here’s why we like Kollagen Intensiv:
It Can Boost Collagen – Among other things, Kollagen Intensiv is shown to reduce the appearance of wrinkles by up to 354%. That’s because of a group of patented peptides in the formula, one of which is Syncoll, which is shown to boost collagen and improve skin texture.
It’s a Small Company – Sometimes you get better results with smaller businesses than with large, impersonal companies. Kollagen Intensiv is made by Skinception, which has a good reputation in the cosmetics industry.
It’s Made in the United States – This is also good, because you can track when and where the product was made. There is less risk of undisclosed (and potentially dangerous) ingredients making their way into the product this way – and yes, that is a concern with anti-wrinkle creams that are made outside North America.
It’s Doctor Approved – Kollagen Intensiv is approved by Dr. Dave David – a Cosmetic Surgeon and one of the world’s leading aesthetic doctors.
It’s Guaranteed for 90 Days – This provides the reassurance you won’t lose cash if it doesn’t work.
It Works! – Want to look younger? Kollagen Intensiv may take a decade off your appearance with this kind of formula.
Our Conclusion
To summarize, if you want to boost collagen, you’ll want to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, preferably those that are high in Vitamin C. Think about the other nutrients we’ve talked about.
If you smoke, stop. If you don’t use sunscreen, start, and apply liberally and do it often.
Four not enough? Here are eleven more in our, “11 Anti-Aging Tips Every Woman Must Know” blog post! Stay Beautiful!
[1] https://www.healthline.com/health/ways-to-boost-collagen
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2763764/
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4345938/
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4110621/
[5] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25867599/
[6] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25867599/
[8] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25019675/
[9] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3564164/
[10] https://www.webmd.com/beauty/features/bad-skin-habits#1
[11] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3790843/
[12] https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/expert-answers/healthy-skin/faq-20058184
