Collagen For Skin: What is it, Types and Benefits

Discover what Collagen is and its benefits for the skin, plus how to boost skin Collagen naturally with diet, and NIVEA skincare.

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Read time: 8 minutes

What is Collagen & What Does it Do?
Types of Collagen
4 Benefits of Collagen for Skin
Facts Overview
5 Causes of Collagen Loss in Skin
Skincare Routine to Boost Collagen
Summary
Frequently asked questions

What is Collagen and What Does it Do?

Collagen is the most common protein in our bodies - think of it as a strong, supportive glue that holds everything together. You’ll find it in connective tissues such as skin, bones, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage, where it provides structure, firmness, and resilience.

Collagen is built from Amino Acids that link into long, twisted strands. These so called ‘triple-helix’ strands give skin its supportive framework and help it stay smooth and elastic.

In the skin, Collagen is found in the dermis (the middle layer). As we get older, our bodies produce less Collagen, which is why skin can start to feel less firm over time.

Types of Collagen

There are 28 different types of Collagen in the body, each with unique roles in supporting skin, joints, and overall health. Of these, five key types are the most abundant and well-studied, playing essential roles in skin structure, elasticity, and resilience:

Type I

Making up 90% of the body’s total Collagen, Type I Collagen gives structure to skin, bones, tendons, and ligaments, helping skin stay firm and resilient.

Type II

Found mainly in cartilage, which cushions your joints and helps them move smoothly.

Type III

Works alongside Type I to support skin elasticity and is also found in blood vessels and organs.

Type IV

Found in the layers of skin, helping with filtration and forming the base for cells in the skin’s structure.

Type V

Present in the cornea of your eyes, hair and even tissue of the placenta.

What Type of Collagen for Skin?

When it comes to skin, Types I and III are the most important, as they are directly involved in repairing skin, and helping it become more elastic. Many skincare products and supplements focus on these types because they support the skin’s structure and may help to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Where Is Collagen Found?

Natural production: Our bodies produce Collagen on their own, but levels naturally decline with age. This happens because the cells that create Collagen become less active over time, and environmental factors like sun exposure and oxidative stress can accelerate its breakdown.
Animal-based foods: Bone broth, chicken, fish, and eggs are rich in Collagen and its Amino Acid building blocks.
Plant-based foods: Beans, leafy greens, and foods high in Vitamin C don’t contain Collagen directly but help the body make it naturally.
Skincare products: Creams and serums can include ingredients that support Collagen production in the skin.

Forms of Collagen for the Skin

Collagen for the skin comes in different forms. Supplements usually contain Hydrolysed Collagen (also called Collagen Peptides), which are broken down into smaller pieces that your body can use more easily.

Most skincare products do not deliver Collagen directly into the deeper layers of skin because the Collagen molecules are too large to penetrate fully. Instead, topical creams and serums often contain ingredients such as Peptides, Vitamin C, Bakuchiol, or Retinol, which stimulate your skin’s own Collagen production or support its structure.

Collagen Effect on Skin

4 Collagen Benefits for Skin

Supports Firmness and Elasticity: Collagen provides structure to the skin, helping it stay firm, smooth, and resilient.
Reduces Signs of Ageing: As natural Collagen production slows with age, supporting it can help minimise sagging, fine lines, and wrinkles.
Boosts Hydration: Collagen helps skin retain moisture, leaving it plump, soft, and well-hydrated.
Strengthens and Protects Skin: Working alongside proteins like Elastin, Collagen helps maintain skin’s strength, flexibility, and overall health, while also supporting its repair process.

Collagen for the Skin?

Facts Overview

Benefits of Collagen: Collagen helps keep skin firm, smooth, and elastic while helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

How to Increase Collagen: Collagen can be supported through skincare products, supplements, and a balanced diet rich in protein and Vitamin C.

Uses of Collagen: Collagen is used in the body to improve skin structure, maintain hydration, and support hair, nail, and joint health.

Collagen Special Features: Many NIVEA products include ingredients like Bakuchiol, Peptides, and Hyaluronic Acid to help stimulate the skin’s own Collagen production and provide long-lasting hydration.

5 Causes of Collagen Loss in Skin

1. Ageing:

Natural Collagen production starts to slow down in our mid-20s, leading to reduced firmness and elasticity over time. This decline is caused by a natural slowdown in the activity of collagen-producing cells, and over time, the skin becomes thinner and less resilient.

3. Sun exposure:

UV rays can break down Collagen in the skin, contributing to wrinkles and sagging. This is because prolonged sun exposure generates free radicals, which can damage Collagen fibres and impair the skin’s ability to repair itself. Even short, repeated exposure over time can weaken Collagen and Elastin, making skin more prone to premature ageing.

3. Smoking:

Chemicals in cigarettes can damage Collagen and Elastin, weakening skin structure. Smoking also reduces blood flow to the skin, limiting oxygen and nutrients needed for Collagen production.

4. Poor diet:

A lack of protein, Vitamin C, and other nutrients can make it harder for your body to produce Collagen. Without sufficient nutrients, the building blocks for Collagen synthesis are limited, and the skin may lose its firmness and resilience more quickly. Diets high in sugar or processed foods can also promote glycation, a process that can damage Collagen fibres.

5. Stress and sleep loss:

Chronic stress and not enough sleep can interfere with skin repair and Collagen production. Stress increases Cortisol levels, which can break down Collagen and weaken the skin barrier. Lack of restorative sleep reduces the skin’s natural repair processes, meaning Collagen regeneration is less effective over time.

Collagen Against Wrinkles

As we get older, natural Collagen levels in the skin decline, which can make it less firm and contribute to the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Supporting Collagen through skincare and healthy diet choices can help maintain the skin’s structure, keeping it smoother, plumper, and more resilient.

While it will not completely prevent wrinkles from forming, Collagen-rich products and ingredients that stimulate Collagen production, such as Peptides and Vitamin C, can help skin look firmer and more youthful.

How to use skincare to stimulate collagen production

Skincare Routine to Help Boost Facial Collagen

Switching up your skincare routine is an easy way to stimulate Collagen production in skin. A simple, consistent routine with the right products can help maintain firmness, smoothness, and hydration. Here is a simple routine to help boost the natural effect of Collagen.

Step 1: Cleanse

Cleansing is an important first step in any skincare routine as it helps to clear away dirt, oil, and impurities from the skin’s surface. It also helps other products work more effectively, by improving their absorption into the skin.

NIVEA offers a range of gentle yet effective cleansers to suit all skin types, from nourishing gels to refreshing Micellar Waters. Each is designed to lift away impurities while caring for your skin’s natural barrier, so you can choose the texture and formula that feels best for you.

Discover NIVEA Face Cleansers

Step 2: Apply a Targeted Serum

Once your skin is clean and refreshed, it is ready to receive the benefits of a targeted Collagen-boosting serum. The NIVEA Cellular Expert Lift 3-Zone Lifting Serum has a powerful concentration of Bakuchiol which helps stimulate cell renewal and supports your skin’s own Collagen production in just 4 hours*.

The serum is designed to visibly lift and tighten skin, while helping to smooth wrinkles. In fact, women who tried it reported firmer, more elastic skin after just one week**, with improvements continuing over two weeks***. For best results, apply the serum daily to clean, dry skin.

*Compared to Bakuchiol used in Cellular Expert Lift day and night care products.

^{**Tested in vitro on skin cells}
^{**Score improvement rate, 4-week study, 44 women, 2022

***Self-assessment, 2-week study, 101 women, 2022.}

Explore Cellular Expert Lift Serum

Step 3: Collagen-Boosting Day Cream

After your serum, the NIVEA Cellular Expert Lift Anti-Age Day Cream SPF30 helps lock in moisture while boosting Collagen production. The carefully selected actives include Pure Bakuchiol, which has been shown to increase your skin’s own Collagen production by +48% in just 4 hours*. Macro and Micro Hyaluronic Acid intensively hydrates and smooths both the surface and deeper layers, delivering long-lasting plumping to the skin.

With SPF30 protection, this day cream shields skin from harmful UV rays that can break down Collagen and accelerate ageing. Apply every morning to a cleansed face and neck, massaging in upward circles.

^{*Tested on skin cells. 4-week study, 2021}

Cellular Expert Lift Day Cream

Step 4: Night Cream for Collagen Support

Night is when your skin works hardest to repair and regenerate, making it the perfect time to use a rich, nourishing cream. The NIVEA Cellular Expert Lift Advanced Anti-Age Night Cream supports Collagen and helps to leave skin looking and feeling renewed by morning.

The advanced formula contains Pure Bakuchiol, which helps boost Collagen production in just a few hours*, improving firmness and reducing the appearance of wrinkles. Macro and Micro Hyaluronic Acid deliver deep hydration, plumping the skin and smoothing its texture. With regular use, skin feels more resilient, lifted, and visibly revitalised.

Cellular Expert Lift Night Cream

Explore The Cellular Expert Lift Range

Boost collagen production with the NIVEA Cellular Expert Lift range. With targeted creams and serums working together to strengthen and plump skin. Enriched with Pure Folic and Hyaluronic Acids the Cellular range is a game-changer in your anti-aging routine.

This advanced formula features both Micro and Macro Hyaluronic Acid—two anti-aging essentials known to effectively fill wrinkles, smooth the skin, and provide intense hydration. Folic Acid plays a vital role by supporting skin cell renewal and helping to repair the skin’s bounce fibers*, promoting a firmer, plumper appearance. At its core, Cellular Expert Filler works in harmony with your skin’s natural biology, triggering regeneration at the cellular level to help renew and rejuvenate from within.

^{*in vitro test with active ingredient}

NIVEA Cellular Expert Lift Range

Explore The Cellular Expert Filler Range

How to Boost Skin Collagen for the Body

While NIVEA Cellular products focus on supporting facial skin, the NIVEA Q10 Firming Body Lotion and Vitamin C is designed to do the same for the body. The nourishing Collagen Booster Complex*, containing Pure Q10 and Vitamin C, helps firm skin and improve elasticity in just 7 days**, while locking in moisture for up to 72 hours**.

The light, fast-absorbing texture makes it easy to apply, leaving skin smoother, softer, and more hydrated. Use daily on normal skin to help support Collagen and maintain firmness from head to toe.

^{*Complex tested in-vitro on skin cells}
^{** Self-Assessment Study, 43 participants}

NIVEA Q10 Firming Body Lotion

Summary

Collagen plays a key role in keeping skin firm, smooth, and resilient, both on the face and body. As natural Collagen production slows with age, supporting it with a consistent skincare routine and healthy lifestyle habits, can help maintain skin’s elasticity and youthful appearance. From targeted serums, to Day and Night creams, there are simple ways to help support Collagen production and keep skin looking and feeling its best every day.

Frequently asked questions

Is Collagen safe to use on sensitive skin?

Yes, just make sure to choose dermatologically tested products without harsh fragrances or irritants. Collagen supplements are often derived from animal sources, so avoid them if you have a known allergy to fish, beef, or chicken.

Is collagen good for you?

Yes, collagen is important for healthy skin, hair, nails, and joints. Supporting its production helps maintain firmness, elasticity, and overall skin structure.

How does collagen production change as we age?

Collagen production naturally slows from our mid-20s onwards. This can lead to reduced firmness, elasticity, and the appearance of fine lines.

How to stimulate collagen production on your face?

Use skincare products with Peptides, Vitamin C, Retinol, or Bakuchiol and maintain a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet, sun protection, and adequate sleep.

What is the effect of Collagen on skin?

Collagen provides structure, firmness, and elasticity, keeping skin smooth and resilient. It also supports hydration and overall skin health.