45% of consumers relate collagen with skin health (1).
‘Collagen’ is a term that gets used a lot in wellness and beauty circles. By now, the word itself is enough to conjure images of plump skin, vital hair, and strong nails.
Collagen is the structural protein that keeps our complexion healthy and radiant. But it’s not in infinite supply as it starts to diminish from our mid-twenties. And for women, this loss is often accelerated by menopause.
Chemically speaking, collagen is made up of three amino acids – glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline – which are bound tightly in a rope formation.
What is collagen?
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body. Its fibrous, scaffolding-like structure provides the main building blocks of connective tissues, like skin, hair, muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
The ‘glue’ that holds us together
Collagen’s primary job is to deliver support and strength to the body. Some have called it the ‘glue’ that holds us together. Even the origin of the word ‘collagen’ implies this very function: ‘kólla’ means ‘glue’ in Greek (3).
Where does collagen come from?
The body makes its own collagen proteins from cells called fibroblasts, which are found predominantly in the dermis (the middle layer of skin) (4). The body works hard to replenish its natural collagen reserves to mitigate the breakdown. In the early years of life, this process is easy: more collagen is created than lost. But as we get older, fibroblast activity slows down and collagen production declines, tipping the balance of the scales (5).
80% of skin is formed from collagen (6).
Why is collagen important?
Collagen provides structural support to tissues and has an important role in cellular processes:
- Immune response
- Tissue repair
- Cellular communication
- Tissue maintenance
Types of collagens
Besides fat and water, the human body is mainly composed of protein – and collagen is the most prevalent (7). Impressively, scientists have discovered 28 varieties, including the following five (8).
Type I is found in skin, hair, nails, muscles, tendons, ligaments, gums, teeth, blood vessels and bones.
Type II is found in cartilage, the connective tissue between bones and joints.
Type III is found in arteries, muscles, and internal organs.
Type IV is found in the layers of skin.
Type V is found in some layers of the skin, hair, and corneas.
How does collagen affect our complexion?
Collagen is somewhat of a ‘wonder protein’, supporting many areas of the body. However, when it comes to skin, nails, and hair, it truly comes into its own. There are good reasons beauty experts keep waxing lyrical about it.
As collagen decreases with age, wrinkles and sagging of the skin increases.
What happens to collagen as we age?
Babies, children, and teenagers produce the greatest amount of collagen, which is why their skin is so plump and elastic. From early adulthood, however, the body naturally produces less collagen each year (9).
Environmental stressors, such as pollution, cigarette smoke, and UV exposure, can accelerate collagen loss even further (10). This combination makes collagen fibres weaker and leads to visible signs of ageing.
Skin
Collagen is perhaps most synonymous with skin health. Found in the dermis, collagen gives our face – and the rest of our bodies, for that matter – structure and suppleness. In fact, it may surprise you to learn type 1 collagen, present in skin and bone, has a structure stronger than steel (11). Together with elastin (another important protein), collagen provides bounce, suppleness, and flexibility.
Once you reach 25, collagen starts to decrease by approximately 1-1.5% each year (12).
Nails & Hair
Collagen doesn’t just make skin glow; it also keeps nails strong and healthy. Crucially, collagen contains the amino acid arginine, which transports nitric oxide through the capillaries to the nail bed (13). In this way, collagen sustains and nourishes the nail bed, encouraging growth and supporting infrastructure.
Collagen plays a role in hair health, too. Collagen is a component of hair follicles, the tiny structures that support hair growth and strength (14).
Introducing Collagen Beauty
- Patented VERISOL® collagen peptides
- Backed by scientific studies
- Reduces appearance of wrinkles by up to 50%
- Improves skin elasticity by up to 30%
- With vitamin C, biotin & silica
- Supports hair, skin and nails
Our high-strength collagen supplement, Collagen Beauty, provides VERISOL® Bioactive Collagen Peptides with biotin, vitamin C, and silica in tablet form. We’ve specifically optimised our formula for beauty applications, stimulating collagen metabolism, and counteracting collagen loss. Collagen Beauty contains type I collagen, found in skin, hair, nails, and type III.
What is VERISOL®?
VERISOL® Bioactive Collagen Peptides have the same nutritional profile as collagen but have undergone ‘enzymatic hydrolysis’, a process that breaks down the nutrients in collagen into shorter chains of proteins, which makes it easier to absorb.
How does VERISOL® work?
VERISOL® stimulates the fibroblasts – cells in the dermal layer of the skin – to increase their metabolic activity. The result? Higher collagen synthesis, balancing what is lost through environmental toxins and ageing.
What does the science say?
There has been extensive research into collagen supplements in the last decades. And in the context of cultivating beauty from within, the findings are promising.
Beauty from within with VERISOL®
- Increases skin elasticity
- Reduces wrinkles and fine lines
- Improves skin surface and cellulite*
- Improves hair and nails
Skin
A study on 69 women aged between 35 and 55 reported that supplementing with bioactive collagen peptides for four weeks significantly increased skin elasticity compared to the placebo treatment (15). Equally encouraging was another study on more than 100 women aged between 45 and 65, which found oral administration of collagen peptides reduced wrinkle depth after four weeks (16).
Collagen decline & complexion
Changes in collagen correlate with changes in your complexion. Collagen loss may be subtle at first. It may appear around the naturally fuller areas of the face, such as the cheeks. You may even find the area around the eyes looks a little less supple or notice the odd line creeping in. As to the rest of your body, your nails may become more brittle, and the texture of your hair may change.
Nails
Nail health is another area where studies support collagen supplementation. A 2017 study on a small group of women aged 26 and 50 reported bioactive collagen peptides decreased cracked and chipped nails by 42% after six months of use (17).
VERISOL® increases hair thickness, a key aspect of improved hair structure and appearance.
Hair
Collagen supplements may also support hair health. In a randomised, placebo-controlled study on 44 women aged between 39 and 75 years, researchers found those taking bioactive collagen peptides saw an increase in hair thickness after 16 weeks (18).
Take a look at our Collagen Beauty formula…
Easy and Convenient: We understand that life can get busy, so we've made it effortless for you to incorporate our Collagen Beauty Supplement into your daily routine. Simply take 1-3 tablets daily with water, and let our powerful blend work its magic while you go about your day. For best results, our Nutrition Advisors recommend taking 3 tablets daily for a minimum of 8 weeks.
Collagen Beauty contains:
PRODUCT INFORMATION:
Typically per tablet: %NRV*
Vitamin C 12mg 15
Biotin 20µg 16
Collagen Peptides 833mg -
Silica 20mg -
*NRV = Recommended Daily Value
A winning combination
Colladeen® Visage makes the perfect partner to Collagen Beauty. Whilst Collagen Beauty aims to counteract collagen loss, Colladeen® Visage supports collagen production.
Don’t settle for dull, lacklustre skin any longer. Unleash your inner radiance with our Collagen Beauty Supplement and be prepared for compliments that never end. Reveal your true beauty potential today!
Code: 782-60 £22.95
Experience a visible reduction in the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, giving you a smoother, more youthful complexion, in just 4-8 weeks.
References:
- FMCG Gurus, Healthy Ageing: Skin Health Global Report, 2022.
- Wu, M. and Crane, J.S. (2019). Biochemistry, Collagen Synthesis. [online] Nih.gov. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507709/.
- Deshmukh SN, Dive AM, Moharil R, Munde P. (2016) Enigmatic insight into collagen. J Oral Maxillofac Pathol. 20(2):276-83.
- Brown, T.M. and Krishnamurthy, K. (2018). Histology, Dermis. [online] Nih.gov. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535346/
- Fisher GJ, Varani J, Voorhees JJ. (2008) Looking older: fibroblast collapse and therapeutic implications. Arch Dermatol. 144(5):666-72.
- Reilly, David M., Jennifer Lozano. (2021). Skin collagen through the lifestages: importance for skin health and beauty, Plastic and Aesthetic Research. 8: 2.
- Stefanovic B. (2013) RNA protein interactions governing expression of the most abundant protein in human body, type I collagen. Wiley Interdiscip Rev RNA. 4(5):535-45.
- Ricard-Blum S. (2011) The Collagen Family. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 3(1): a004978.
- Reilly, David M., Jennifer Lozano. (2021). Skin collagen through the lifestages: importance for skin health and beauty, Plastic and Aesthetic Research. 8: 2.
- Al-Atif H. (2022) Collagen Supplements for Aging and Wrinkles: A Paradigm Shift in the Fields of Dermatology and Cosmetics. Dermatol Pract Concept.12(1): e2022018.
- Physiopedia (2020). Collagen. [online] Physiopedia. Available at: https://www.physio-pedia.com/Collagen
- Reilly, David M., Jennifer Lozano. (2021). Skin collagen through the lifestages: importance for skin health and beauty, Plastic and Aesthetic Research. 8: 2.
- Hexsel D, Zague V, Schunck M, Siega C, Camozzato FO, Oesser S. (2017) Oral supplementation with specific bioactive collagen peptides improves nail growth and reduces symptoms of brittle nails. J Cosmet Dermatol. 16(4):520-526.
- Martino, P.A., Heitman, N. and Rendl, M. (2020). The dermal sheath: An emerging component of the hair follicle stem cell niche. Experimental Dermatology, 30(4), 512–521.
- Proksch et al. (2014) Oral Supplementation of Specific Collagen Peptides has Beneficial Effects on Human Skin Physiology: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. Skin Pharmacol Physiol, 27:47-55.
- Proksch et al. (2014). Oral Intake of Specific Bioactive Collagen Peptides Reduces Skin Wrinkles and Increases Dermal Matrix Synthesis. Skin Pharmacol Physiol, 27:113-119.
- Hexsel et al. (2017). Oral supplementation with specific bioactive collagen peptides improves nail growth and reduces symptoms of brittle nails. J Cosmet Dermatol, (16)1-7.
- Oesser (2020). The oral intake of specific Bioactive Collagen Peptides has a positive effect on hair thickness. Nutrafoods, 1:134-138.