Have you ever considered trying collagen peptide as part of your beauty regimen?

Because every woman wants to have clear, radiant skin, right?

If you’re anything like me, you go through a ridiculous amount of products every year. 

I feel like I’m always looking for that holy-grail product that’s going to make my skin shine bright like a freakin’ diamond.

And that adds up, right?  Not to mention the drawers full of products I forget I have…or thought I finished, so I bought another.  

My name is Annita, and I’m a skincare junkie.

But can you blame me?  It’s the organ that takes up the most area of your body, it’s the part that everyone sees…of course I want my skin to be smooth and glowing.

What with pollution, and UV rays, and way too much sugar, it’s necessary that I give my skin the TLC it deserves.

With all this hard work on the outside, it’s probably pretty obvious we would get to the point where we wonder if a supplement would give us that extra beauty boost we’re looking for.

I’ve tried a few hair, skin, and nail supplements before, with questionable success.

However, I can’t say that I thought that the way to eternal beauty was with collagen powder.

What is Collagen?

I’ve heard collagen referred to as the “glue” that keeps you together.  Collagen is a protein that makes up 75% of your skin’s dry weight!

It’s a building block of your skin, bones, muscles, and more.

As you age, the amount and quality of collagen your body produce decreases.

This is notable particularly in your skin that becomes less supple, starts to sag, and wrinkles start to appear.

Collagen powder and other forms of collagen were made to provide your body with a source of high-quality collagen to combat the signs of aging.

What Are the Benefits of Collagen Peptide?

Collagen comes in several formulations, including protein, gelatin, hydrolysate, and peptides. 

The great thing about collage hydrolysate is that it occurs in powdered form, and so can be added to drinks, smoothies, and really any type of food you want. This beautifying collagen power has shown some benefit in:

1. Improving skin health
2. Relieving joint pain
3. Preventing bone loss
4. Boosting muscle mass
5. Increasing nail strength
6. Promoting weight loss and faster metabolism
7. Promoting a healthy heart

Collagen Peptides In Research

See? I’m not just pulling this out of you-know-where…collagen has been studied for a while now.

There are several studies that suggest that supplemental collage may help improve not only skin texture but suggests benefits in arthritis and gut health, just to name a few.

In 2014, Proksch et al. conducted a study with 114 healthy females looking at eye wrinkles. That’s right.  The women who were in the collagen group showed improvement in wrinkles even at 4 weeks.  Over the course of 8 weeks, participants receiving collagen peptides showed a 20% decrease in wrinkles, compared with those getting just a placebo (sugar pill, usually).¹

Genovese et al. performed a study of 120 healthy participants for 90 days.  The portion of the volunteers that received the collagen peptide supplements showed a benefit.  Most of the participants (a whopping 95%) felt that their skin was more hydrated, 91.6% thought their skin was more elastic, and 81.7% thought their skin was stronger.

When their skin was examined under a microscope, these claims were supported.  The structure of the skin was better than before.²

In a study performed by Gui et al., women who were formally diagnosed with melasma took collagen peptide daily for 60 days.  Participants demonstrated improvement in hyperpigmentation.  This suggested that collagen supplements stopped and reversed pigmentation due to UV rays.³

What are the Side Effects of Taking Collagen Peptides?

While collagen is largely safe to use, it can cause some mild side effects.

Some people report a bad taste in their mouths, heartburn, or a feeling of fullness.

You should also be careful if you have a fish, shellfish, or egg allergy because some collagen supplements are made from these ingredients.

How Long Does It Take Collagen Supplements To Work?

Collagen peptides begin to work relatively quickly. After about 15 minutes, it likely has reached the bloodstream. In 30 minutes, it will be in the muscles.  In 90 minutes, the collagen supplement will be doing its work beautifying you.

Some people note an increase in energy.  

Of note, collagen often reduces the feeling of hunger. Some have been able to lose weight due to taking collagen.

You may start to see results, that is, stronger nails, healthier skin, and fuller hair, within 8 weeks, although most start to see a difference before this.

Which Foods Are High In Collagen?

You may prefer to ingest your collagen au naturel, or natural. 

There are a number of foods that provide a source of collagen.  

These sources of collagen are more available to your body to use, unlike supplements, that must be broken down in your system before your body can use them.

1. Chicken
2. Bone broth
3. Fish (skin on) & Shellfish
4. Citrus fruits
5. Egg whites
6. Garlic
7. Tropical fruits
8. Berries
9. Beans
10. Leafy greens
11. Cashews
12. Red bell peppers
13. Tomatoes
14. Beef

Final Thoughts on the Benefits of Collagen Peptides

Collagen is an important building block in the body. Collagen helps to form the structure of bones, skin, nails, bones, and more. 

Participants in several well-designed studies have shown benefit in terms of improvement in hydration, strength, and even structure of their skin.

There are a number of foods that provide collagen or the building blocks of collagen, so there are lots of healthy options if you prefer diet change over taking a supplement.

Collagen has shown to be safe and well-tolerated, with most side effects mild in severity and including heartburn and a feeling of fullness.

Consuming collagen peptides in the form of powders or capsules could provide you with the boost you need to get smooth, beautiful skin.

Have you or would you take supplements to improve your hair, skin, or nails?

What do you think of collagen peptides?

References:

1. Proksch E, Schunck M, Zague V, Segger D, Degwert J, Oesser S. Oral intake of specific bioactive collagen peptides reduces skin wrinkles and increases dermal matrix synthesis. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2014; 27(3):113-9. doi: 10.1159/000355523.
2. Genovese L, Corbo A, Sibilla S. An insight into the changes in skin texture and properties following dietary intervention with a nutricosmeceutical containing a blend of collagen bioactive peptides and antioxidants. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2017; 30(3):146-158. doi: 10.1159/000464470
3. Gui M., Kan J., Qu D., Chen Y., Luo R., Liu Y., Du J. Instrumental Evaluation of the Depigmenting Efficacy of an Oral Supplementation Containing Peptides and Chrysanthemum Extract for the Treatment of Melasma. Cosmetics. 2017;4:42. doi: 10.3390/cosmetics4040042.