My Honest Thoughts On Collagen Supplements

I’m going to say something that might ruffle a few feathers I'm afraid, but I think I'm past the point of caring now.

I am so fed up of everyone hawking collagen. Sorry, but there I said it.

Every January, without fail, it’s the same story. Powders, gummies, capsules and liquids, all promising plumper skin, fewer wrinkles, stronger joints and hair and nails you could apparently hammer a nail in with. And every year, I watch people spend their money on supplements that simply cannot do what they claim to do, especially when it comes to anti-ageing.

So can we please clear this up properly, once and for all.

Collagen does not work for anti-ageing unless it is absorbed into the bloodstream and used by the body to stimulate collagen production. Drinking collagen does not magically mean it goes straight to your skin and smooths out wrinkles. That is not how the body works, no matter how good the marketing sounds or how convincing the claims are.

This is exactly why I am forever recommending Skinade and why it is the only collagen supplement I stand behind for anti-ageing purposes.

Skinade

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The part that really bugs me is that most brands completely gloss over the most important piece of the puzzle. For your body to produce collagen, it needs to stimulate these little things called fibroblasts. These are the cells responsible for making collagen, elastin and the structural framework that keeps skin firm, resilient and functioning properly as we age. I always describe fibroblasts as the builders of your skin and if they are not being signalled to build, nothing happens.

In order to stimulate those fibroblasts, collagen peptides need to be absorbed into the bloodstream.

This is where almost every collagen supplement on the market falls down, because they are not absorbed into the bloodstream, they are absorbed into the gut.

Powders, liquids, capsules and gummies all go straight to the gut. At best, you might absorb around forty percent of the collagen. Then whatever does get absorbed is distributed around the body with absolutely no guarantee it will go anywhere near the skin. It can be diverted to other organs such as the liver or kidneys, which is why people often say they have been taking collagen for months and seen no change in their skin. You are essentially rolling the dice and hoping for the best.

Here are some great results I've got from my clinic (top and bottom are my own Mum ☺️)

Skinade contains hydrolysed marine collagen peptides from fresh water sea bass, which means no mercury and low sodium. More importantly, it contains a patented tiny collagen molecule with a molecular weight of 2 kDa. This is crucial, because this size allows the collagen to be absorbed directly into the bloodstream before it hits the gut. The molecular size is part of the patent and no other collagen supplement can legally have a molecule this small.

Absorption actually begins in the gums, which is why some people even swish it around their mouth before swallowing. Around ninety to ninety five percent of the collagen is absorbed before digestion even starts, meaning it can do the job it is supposed to do. That is a completely different method to every other collagen supplement on the market.

Once absorbed into the bloodstream, those peptides stimulate the fibroblasts to produce collagen. At the same time, Skinade helps protect the collagen you already have, slowing down the breakdown that naturally accelerates as we age and this is why it is so effective for anti-ageing. Remember it is not just about adding collagen in, it is about protecting what you have and encouraging your body to keep making more.

The sooner you start, the better the results, because you are supporting collagen production early rather than trying to claw it back later.

And then there is the formulation, which is where Skinade really stands apart from the rest.

It contains calcium ascorbate, a highly bioavailable form of vitamin C and also the most gentle form on the stomach too. Without vitamin C, your body cannot produce collagen at all. Not a little bit, none. The dose in Skinade supports collagen production for both skin and overall body function.

It contains B vitamins to support blood circulation, the nervous system, and hair, skin and nail health.

It contains L lysine, which supports skin immunity, helps ceramide production and has anti-inflammatory benefits.

It contains MSM sulphur, which helps maintain skin elasticity, supports collagen structure and acts as both an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant.

It also contains organic flaxseed oil, which helps prevent transepidermal water loss, where water leaches out of the skin, and balances sebaceous secretions. Basically that means oily skin becomes less oily and dry skin becomes more moisturised.

This is why cheaper collagen supplements do not give the same anti-ageing results. It is all about formulation, absorption and science. Many products are not even made in the UK, have no proper clinical backing, and rely heavily on filtered before and after images, which is honestly one of my biggest pet peeves on social media.

I’ve seen them, you’ve probably seen them too, and frankly it is incredibly frustrating and exhausting in all parts of this industry.

Collagen has become trendy, and whenever something becomes trendy, the market floods with products making claims they simply cannot back up. I don’t have the patience for it anymore, especially at this time of year when people are genuinely trying to do something good for their health and their skin and are being misled.

So, if you are going to take collagen for anti-ageing, take one that actually works. One that is absorbed into the bloodstream, stimulates fibroblasts, protects existing collagen and has the science and patents to prove it.

Otherwise, save your money.

Yes, Skinade is a higher price point, but you will not see these results with other collagen supplements, so spending less often ends up costing more in the long run.

I recommend Skinade because I see the results, in my clinic and in real people, not all these filtered images. It does exactly what it says on the tin.

If you want to talk about whether Skinade is right for you, or how it fits into your wider skin and anti-ageing plan, you can book an online skin consultation with me here and order Skinade through my site here. No pressure and no nonsense, just good, honest skincare advice from a human who has been working with skin for over twenty two years and has pretty much seen it all.

Thank you so much for listening to my TED Talk.

Emmaline