Do you need more collagen? Signs and symptoms of a collagen deficiency.

And how to plump up your collagen for a youthful glow.

First, what is collagen? 

Let’s get science-y. Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body and is responsible for keeping your skin soft, hair strong, and joints healthy. It's made up of amino acids that our bodies require to stay youthful. 

And it's what gives your skin its elasticity and firmness, keeping your body looking youthful and vibrant. 

As we age, our bodies lose collagen, leading to wrinkles, sagging skin, and joint pain.

What causes collagen production to slow?

Your body is so amazing, and its process of making collagen is complex, involving dozens of enzymes and other substances that interact with each other in a specific sequence. Science!
But, as we age, our bodies produce less collagen. Outside factors can also cause damage to collagen and its skin-plumping benefits. 😬

Be aware of these environmental factors that can slow collagen production:

☀️ UV exposure damages skin cells, breaking down collagen and causing premature aging and wrinkles.

🚬 Smoking damages collagen fibers, weakening skin tissue structure, and causing skin sagging.

🍸 Alcohol consumption reduces vitamin C levels in your body—an essential component of collagen production.

So if you're noticing signs of aging on your skin (like wrinkles), this could signify that you need more collagen in your diet!

(Don't worry—we have good news. There are ways to slow down this process and help maintain healthy-looking skin for longer.)

Symptoms of collagen deficiency…

If your body isn't producing enough collagen, you may see the adverse effects. And we want you to feel good when you see yourself in a mirror.

Here are some signs and lack of collagen symptoms to look out for:

You never like it when someone says you look tired (even when you're not!). Hollowness under your eyes or loss of full cheeks is evidence that your collagen is damaged or your body isn't producing enough. When your skin has a plethora of collagen, it looks healthy, vibrant, and energized.

When the skin around your jawline, neck, and even above your knees loses its structure and looks crepey, your skin's elasticity diminishes. This loss is common during the natural aging process and can be exasperated by an unhealthy lifestyle.

You can expect your skin to lose some elasticity and vibrancy as you age. But if your skin is prematurely aging, your collagen production could be damaged by environmental factors. 

Good news! You can avoid some collagen-harming nasties with a few simple lifestyle choices. 

What you can do to help replenish youthful collagen.

Before reaching for Botox (or other injectables), consider making changes to your diet and lifestyle. Maintaining healthy habits are daily edits you can make to preserve all that glow-worthy collagen…

🥗 Eat well. Foods rich in vitamins A and C, such as spinach, sweet potato, citrus fruits, and berries, will help support collagen production. Also, avoid too much sugar and refined carbohydrates that can break down collagen and elastin.

😴 Embrace the zzz's. One of the best remedies to slow aging, feel your best, and look more energetic is getting restful, regenerative sleep each night. 

⛱ Cover up. Use a daily natural sunscreen to protect your skin from harmful UV exposure. (and stay in the shade during peak sun hours).

🚭Halt the habit. If you've been over-imbibing with too much alcohol or exposing yourself to (any amount of) cigarette smoke, it's time to dial it back and seek healthier alternatives. 

🌱 Indulge in naturals. Boost your skin-plumping results with natural, clean ingredients in a consistent skincare routine. The topical love you show your skin will pay off with hydrated, smooth, glowing results. 

We adore our new Collagen Face Mask for a supercharge of extra collagen. This luxurious hydrogel gold mask feels like a magical quick fix to plump fine lines and wrinkles or when you need some extra pampering. Use weekly to see tighter skin and enjoy the long-term gain of slowing the look of aging.

Replenish and protect collagen for healthy-looking skin. 

Collagen is a critical component for younger-looking skin, healthy joints, and gorgeous locks of hair. 

And, although we all age, we can still do plenty to naturally protect our precious-plumping collagen. 

We can gracefully savor a more youthful-looking appearance by incorporating a few simple healthy lifestyle habits and clean, natural skincare into our daily routines.