GOOD SKIN FROM WITHIN
If you are a seasoned skincare shopper or have simply ever uttered the word ‘beauty’, chances are high the multibilliondollar collagen industry will have hijacked your algorithm and tried to tout its wares to you.
At first glance, it seems to make sense. From our mid-twenties, natural levels of collagen in the body start to decline – so much so that by 30 we will have lost up to a third. And since collagen is one of the major building blocks in our body, responsible for healthy connective tissues between muscles, bones, joints and – of course – skin, topping up levels of this crucial protein sounds like a beauty no-brainer.
However, you’ll quickly discover that not all collagen is created equal. Classified as a food and operating within a still-unregulated industry, this group of supplements can make big claims with little to no clinical data to back them up. Which is crucial when, as with collagen, you’re dealing with a substance both volatile and fragile, and incredibly hard to get into our bloodstream.
If it comes in an encapsulated and protected form, collagen peptide is far better placed to make the long journey through our gut and bypass our stomach’s acid (where it might otherwise by broken down) to reach our small intestine intact, where it is then absorbed and used effectively.
There is strong data to suggest that taking a clinically-backed collagen supplement regularly can boost not just your skin, hair and nails, but also joint health and exercise performance, as demonstrated in studies by Ingenious Beauty. But if a brand has no clinical back-up for its claims, no amount of celebrity endorsements or online offers can make up the shortfall. As with all beauty booms, truth lies somewhere within the collagen industry, but for now it is up to the consumer to find the real juice.