Restore your skin’s youthful firmness!

Sagging skin? Not you! While each year most women lose about 1% of their natural collagen— the connective protein that gives skin a firm, unwrinkled appearance—new research reveals how easy it is to replenish your collagen levels, so you can enjoy younger-looking skin!

1Supplement with collagen!

Women over 40 who mixed powdered collagen into a glass of water, juice or smoothie daily increased their collagen levels more than 20% in just eight weeks—and noticeably decreased their fine facial lines! One option: Reserveage Collagen Replenish Powder, $15.99, Vitaminshoppe.com.

2 Eat a colorful fruit salad!

Enjoying a half- cup of vitamin C-rich kiwis, strawberries or citrus fruit daily stimulates your body to build collagen from the inside out, says Lisa Drayer, R.D., author of The Beauty Diet. No wonder recent British research found this one step can reduce wrinkles more than 10%!

3Apply vitamin A!

Experts at the Skin Cancer Foundation confirm that daily use of retinol—a compound derived from vitamin A—speeds cell turnover to repair damaged skin, while also rebuilding firming collagen in the deeper layers of your skin! One option: ROC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream ($19.95, Jet.com).

4 Enjoy a dark chocolate treat!

Dark chocolate’s potent flavonols boost blood flow to skin and stimulate collagen production. This may be why one study found that women who enjoyed a cocoa-rich drink most days had firmer, plumper skin after 12 weeks! ( Their skin was more resistant to collagen- depleting UV rays, too!)