Did you know that the skincare industry is worth 180 billion dollars?
While this certainly is a lot of money, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the skincare industry is worth so much money. After all, it’s estimated that the average woman spends around $700 per year on skincare.
And, while some of that money goes towards makeup products and products that will help prevent skin cancer, a lot of that money goes towards products that will help make our skin look younger and prevent wrinkles.
But clearly, since we keep spending and spending, the magical product that completely reverses our aging still has yet to be discovered.
Luckily, there are things you can do to slow down the signs of aging.
One of the best things to do is to boost your collagen production.
Just exactly how do you do that?
Check out this guide to learn how to increase collagen production for younger, healthier-looking skin!
What Is Collagen?
First things first, what the heck even is collagen?
Collagen is a fibrous protein that occurs naturally in the skin. In fact, it is the most abundant protein in the human body, composing of 70 to 80 percent of the skin’s total dry weight.
Collagen works to provide the skin with both strength and elasticity. It also helps the skin maintain it’s firmness and suppleness, and, it helps to renew skin cells.
As we get older, our collagen production naturally starts to slow down. And, because of this, our skin starts to show telltale signs of aging, such as wrinkles and sagginess.
Luckily, as we stated earlier, there are things you can do to slow down the loss of collagen and ramp up your skin’s ability to produce collagen. Let’s dive into what your options are.
Slowing Down the Loss of Collagen
Slowing down the loss of collagen is different than boosting collagen production. Here’s what you can do to slow down the loss of collagen in your skin:
1. Protect Your Skin
Pretty much every skincare blog and skincare specialist will tell you that you need to wear sunscreen, and that’s because it’s true.
Sunscreen helps protect the skin against harmful rays that can deplete your skin’s collagen levels. So, wear sunscreen every day (luckily, there are many moisturizers. And, if you’re going out during peak sun hours, wear long sleeve shirts and hats.
2. Avoid Sugar and Smoking
In addition to avoiding the sun, you should also avoid sugar, smoking, and other pollutants as much as possible.
When you eat sugar, the glucose entering your body will bind to other proteins, including collagen. When glucose binds to collagen, it makes it more rigid and less elastic, which in turn accelerates the aging process.
Smoking and other air pollutants also contribute to the breakdown of collagen, so that’s why they should be avoided as much as possible.
How to Increase Collagen Production
Now that we’ve talked about how to slow down the loss of collagen, let’s talk about how to boost collagen production.
In order to boost collagen production, many people invest in expensive procedures such as skin filler injections or laser treatments. Not only do these procedures drain your bank account, but they can also cause some unwanted side effects.
Plus, you can longer-lasting benefits by being more cognizant of what you put in and on your body. Here’s what you can do to boost collagen production:
1. Invest in a Quality Collagen Supplement
Supplements are great because they can get deep into the dermal layers of your skin and strengthen collagen levels from the inside out.
But, you need to make sure you choose the right collagen supplement for your body. Make sure the supplement you choose is made from all-natural ingredients, and that it has important skin nutrients in it like protein, zinc, and Vitamin C.
Also, if you don’t like the idea of swallowing a pill every day, you can take your supplement in the form of a powder. Shop now for powdered supplement options.
2. Eat Well
The right lotions and potions may help some with your collagen production, but eating a healthy diet is what really will make the difference in your body’s collagen levels.
Eating foods that are rich in antioxidants is a good place to start. These include:
- Blueberries
- Cinnamon
- Basil
- Oregano
- Thyme
- Licorice extract (can be consumed in the form of tea)
- Green tea
- Mulberries
You should also eat foods that are rich in sulfur, which aids the forming of collagen. Sulfur-rich foods include garlic, beans, and cabbage.
Lastly, you should also eat foods that are rich in Vitamin C. Vitamin C works to support the formation of collagen and reduce oxidative damage.
Vitamin-C rich foods include:
- Broccoli
- Spinach
- Goji berries
- Kiwi fruits
As you can see, there’s a wide range of foods that can boost your collagen production.
3. Facial Massage
That’s right, massages aren’t just for relaxation.
A facial massage can actually stimulate collagen production and strengthen muscle memory. When your facial muscles are stimulated on a regular basis, your skin can lift, tighten, and tone. Also, regular stimulation boosts blood circulation, which helps give your skin a youthful appearance.
And luckily, you don’t need to head to the spa and spend an arm and a leg to get a good facial massage. All you have to do is rub your products in a gentle, upward motion when applying them to your face.
Are You Ready for Younger Looking Skin?
As you can see, boosting your skin’s collagen levels really doesn’t take that much effort or cost a fortune.
If you have any questions about how to increase collagen production, please let us know in the comments below.
And, be sure to check back in with our blog for more skincare tips!