Collagen for Skin:
WHAT IS IT, TYPES AND BENEFITS
What is collagen and
WHAT DOES IT DO?
Collagen is the most common protein in your body – 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. Three chains are bound together to form what's known as a 'triple helix'. These are then assembled into collagen fibres, which give your skin its supporting structure and help it stay smooth and elastic.
In the skin, collagen is found in the dermis (the middle layer). As you get older, your body produces less collagen, which is why your skin can start to feel less firm over time.
Types of
COLLAGEN
There are 28 different types of collagen in your 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:
What type of
COLLAGEN FOR SKIN?
When it comes to your skin, Types I and III are the most important, as they're directly involved in repairing skin and helping it become more elastic. Many skincare products and supplements focus on these types because they support your skin's structure and may help to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles when you're looking for collagen for skin.
Where is collagen found?
- Natural production: Your body produces collagen on its 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. These could be partially absorbed by your body in the form of peptides or amino acids, which can then be used to reform collagen in the body if the right conditions are met.
- Plant-based foods: Beans, leafy greens, and foods high in Vitamin C don't contain collagen directly but help your body make it naturally.
- Skincare products: Creams and serums generally do not contain collagen either, but may contain ingredients that promote collagen production in your 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 is broken down into smaller pieces that your body can use more easily. In fact, whole collagen is difficult to absorb.
Skincare products don't deliver collagen directly into the deeper layers of your 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 help stimulate your skin's own collagen production or support its structure.
4 Collagen benefits
FOR SKIN
- Supports firmness and elasticity:
Collagen provides structure to your 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 your skin retain moisture, which helps keep it plump, soft, and well-hydrated.
- Strengthens and protects skin:
Working alongside proteins like elastin, collagen helps maintain your skin's strength, flexibility, and overall health, while also supporting its repair process.
Collagen for the skin?
Benefits of collagen: Collagen helps keep your 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 your body to improve skin structure, maintain hydration, and support hair, nail, and joint health.
Use of collagen boosters in skincare products: Many NIVEA products include ingredients like Bakuchiol, Peptides, and Hyaluronic Acid to help stimulate your skin's own collagen production and provide long-lasting hydration.
5 Causes of collagen
LOSS IN SKIN
Natural collagen production starts to slow down in your 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, your skin becomes thinner and less resilient.
UV rays can break down collagen in your skin, contributing to wrinkles and sagging. This is because prolonged sun exposure generates free radicals, which can damage collagen fibres and impair your skin's ability to repair itself. Even short, repeated exposure over time can weaken collagen and elastin, making your skin more prone to premature ageing.
Chemicals in cigarettes can damage collagen and elastin, weakening your skin's structure. Smoking also reduces blood flow to the skin, limiting oxygen and nutrients needed for collagen production.
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 your 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.
Chronic stress and not enough sleep can interfere with your skin's repair and collagen production. Stress increases Cortisol levels, which can break down collagen and weaken the skin barrier. Lack of restorative sleep reduces your skin's natural repair processes, meaning collagen regeneration is less effective over time.
Collagen
against wrinkles
As you get older, natural collagen levels in your 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 your skin's structure, keeping it smoother, plumper, and more resilient.
While it won't completely prevent wrinkles from forming, products and ingredients that stimulate collagen production, such as Peptides and Vitamin C, can help your skin look firmer and more youthful.
Skincare routine to
HELP BOOST FACIAL COLLAGEN
Switching up your skincare routine is an easy way to help stimulate collagen production in your skin. A simple, consistent routine with the right products can help maintain firmness, smoothness, and hydration. Here's a simple routine to help boost the natural effect of collagen.
Cleansing is an important first step in any skincare routine as it helps to clear away dirt, oil, and impurities from your 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.
Once your skin is clean and refreshed, it's 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 provide a lifting effect and visibly firm the skin, while helping to smooth wrinkles. In fact, women who tried it reported firmer and 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
***Self-assessment, 4-week study, 44 women, 2022
****Self-assessment, 2-week study, 101 women, 2022.
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 in just 4 hours*. Macro and Micro Hyaluronic Acid intensively hydrates and smooths both the surface and deeper layers of the epidermis, delivering long-lasting plumping to your skin.
With SPF30 protection, this day cream shields your 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.
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 your 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 your skin and smoothing its texture. With regular use, your skin feels more resilient, smooth, and visibly revitalised.
Explore
THE CELLULAR EXPERT FILLER RANGE
Firm up your skin with the NIVEA Cellular Expert Filler range, especially if you're exploring what is collagen and what does it do in an anti-ageing routine. With targeted creams and serums working together to strengthen and plump skin, it's designed to fit easily into your day. With pure folic and Hyaluronic acids, the Cellular Expert Filler range is a game-changer in your anti-ageing routine.
This advanced formula features both Micro and Macro Hyaluronic Acid – two anti-ageing 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 fibres*, promoting a firmer, plumper appearance. The Cellular Expert Filler range works in harmony with your skin's natural biology, supporting regeneration at a cellular level to help renew it and give it a more youthful appearance.
How to boost
SKIN COLLAGEN FOR THE BODY
While NIVEA Cellular products focus on supporting facial skin, the NIVEA Firming Body Lotion with Q10 and Vitamin C is designed to do the same for your 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 your 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
SUMMARY
Collagen plays a key role in keeping your skin firm, smooth, and resilient, both on your face and body. As natural collagen production slows with age, supporting it with a consistent skincare routine and healthy lifestyle habits can help maintain your 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 your skin looking and feeling its best every day, especially once you understand what does collagen do in your daily routine.
