We’re sure you’ve heard about collagen, and how it can do ✨wonders✨ for your skin. But that’s pretty vague, isn’t it? What exactly is it doing? Here’s a quick dive into the magic behind the protein collagen and the benefits it has for your skin.

What is collagen?

Collagen is a protein that occurs naturally in our bodies. Think of collagen as that kid in school who could get along with basically everyone—it can be found in our muscles, ligaments, blood vessels, and more. Of course, that “and more” includes our skin. 

Collagen works like scaffolding in our bodies, building up a sturdy or elastic structure where applicable. But as we get older, that scaffolding naturally gets weaker: From around age 25, our bodies start to break down collagen faster than they can produce it, leading to lower and lower levels of collagen. (In just the first five years of menopause, women can naturally lose up to 30 percent of their collagen!)

Adding collagen to your diet can compensate for this natural loss of the protein, which also means that parts of your body that contain collagen—like your skin—can benefit. 

So, how exactly can collagen benefit your skin?

Collagen can help your skin look younger.

Skin that loses its elasticity can look saggy and wrinkled, and give the appearance of being older than you are. Studies have shown that adding collagen to your diet can improve skin elasticity, preventing wrinkles and helping your skin look younger. 

Collagen can give you a more radiant complexion.

We all love that moisturized, dewy look. As it turns out, collagen may be able to help you get it! In one study, women who took collagen supplements for 12 weeks showed a “highly significant” improvement in how moisturized and radiant their skin looked. 

This also contributed to an improvement in texture, with the majority of women seeing improvements in skin roughness.

Collagen may be able to control breakouts.

While more research is being done to confirm this, some studies have shown that people who struggle with acne have found some relief by consuming more collagen.

How can I get more collagen in my diet?

These foods can provide your body with more collagen, and may be able to stimulate its production in your body:

• Bone broth
• Egg whites
• Gelatin
• Citrus fruits
• Garlic
• Beans
• Leafy greens

You can also get more collagen in your diet by taking a supplement. The benefit of taking supplements over eating foods with collagen is that supplements tend to have higher concentrations of collagen, which can lead to more visible results. 

Bellway Beauty takes things a step further than other collagen supplements by containing zero artificial ingredients, and 18 percent of the fiber you need in a day. That’s a big plus, considering the link between gut health and younger-looking skin. (Even more, it comes in two delicious flavors: Strawberry Lemon and Matcha Lemon. 😋)

Regardless of what supplement you choose, remember to confirm with a doctor that it’s right for you before adding it to your daily routine.