Collagen.
OK babes! So you know that I swear by GREENS, FRUITS, VEGGIES, NUTS/ SEEDS, and HYDRATION for skincare results (read a full post on my skincare rules HERE)… But I was honestly blown away by how many of you wanted more info on collagen! I figured you knew or I would have done a blog post FOREVER ago because IT IS THE BEST.
Collagen is queen. So let’s start at the beginning.
WHAT IS COLLAGEN?
Collagen is “the most abundant” protein in your body. It helps hold synthetic tissues together. It’s made up of more amino-acids than other proteins. Sound like jibberish? Yeah kinda does to me too. We will let the Dr.s and scientists understand that part but let me tell you what it DOES for you! Keep reading! (if you’re a science lover, there is a nice long study to read linked at the bottom performed by NIH and NCBI!)
WHAT ARE THE BEAUTY BENEFITS?
Think: endless.
- Anti-aging
- So collagen production in the body lessens as you get older. That’s one of the things that lessens the elasticity of your skin and therefore, causes wrinkles. So boosting your skin’s amount of collagen over time can help prevent wrinkles. YAY! PREVENTION IS KEY!
- Glowy skin
- You can think of collagen as a “building block” for your skin. So it basically having more of it will always make your skin “bouncy” and full of life. It literally puts a brightness in your cheeks!
- Hair/ nails
- Similar to the benefits for your skin, collagen will add elasticity to your hair and nails. Your hair will feel stronger but also look shinier. It can also help hair to grow faster and fuller. Your nails will also grow faster and stronger. Who doesn’t want that?! With collagen they just get more of what they need.
- Weight/ toning
- Although I haven’t read anything to scientifically back it up, many models (including Victoria’s Secret models!) swear by collagen to boost your metabolism. It is also PROTEIN so it definitely helps keep you full and build muscle to it certainly will help you tone up.
WHAT ARE THE HEALTH BENEFITS?
- Bones
Collagen is the most “abundant” component of our bones. It is what gives our bones “toughness to withstand physical stress.”
- Tendons
The connective tissue that is super stretchy between bones? That is made up mostly of collagen. So it really helps when you have extra floating around to help it stay healthy.
HOW DO I USE IT?
- Smoothies
Y’all know I am a big fan of smoothies. I mean you can throw like a MILLION superfoods in the blender and make it taste like dessert… What could be better?! I always include collagen in my smoothies because… OH, because it’s queen!
- Oatmeal
So another easy breakfast food to add it to is oatmeal! Once the oatmeal is all plump and you’re adding your toppings, try throwing in a scoop of collagen! Mix well and enjoy all the benefits.
- Water
So I recommend only doing this with one of the flavored ones. The plain one has a sliiiight taste when it’s just in water. This won’t be something you have to gulp down though… It tastes good when its with a little lemon or apple cider vinegar over ice!
- Coffee/ tea
With coffee, the coffee creamer is the perfect way to add collagen to your daily routine. You can also throw any flavor or flavorless into tea at night!
- On watermelon
This is a new one to me that I have yet to try but it sounds AMAZING. You guys know I could eat a whole watermelon by myself with lime so this might be my new fave way to get my collagen in.
WHERE TO BUY/ WHAT BRAND?
Vital proteins is my FAVE (I will link their best products below for you to shop). It is all organic, non GMO, comes with a little scooper, etc. It is sold at Sprouts (probably Whole Foods and other health food stores) but you can always order online. They have a TON of different products – think a range of flavors, coffee creamers, and even some WITH probiotics… I ALWAYS MUST have probiotics every single day (it’s a non-negotiable!) so those are some of my favorite ones to use.
EFFECTS ON ROSACEA
One last note – many of you know I have Rosacea in my cheeks because of my stomach condition! If you don’t know what that is, it is where your cheeks/ nose get a inflamed like you’re blushing but its constant. Some people with worse cases or cases that go untreated have broken veins and/or disfiguration of the nose. If you know you have it though, it is super manageable! Well, I found out from my demonologist that Collagen is AMAZING for Rosacea and helps it to heal from the inside out!!! So if you have Rosacea too and the rest of the post wasn’t convincing enough, definitely grab yourself some Collagen powder next time you’re at the store!
As always, I believe that the CORE of good skincare is a diet rich in organic nutrients (nuts, seeds, fruits, veggies, and leafy greens) and TONS of hydration (you can read more on my skincare rules HERE). But the results are clear that collagen can help put a little life into your skin and even into your bones/ joints. Drink up bbs & you can shop my favorite brand below!
Xx,
Antigone LoVoi
SHOP THE POST:
Classic, chocolate blackberry, strawberry lemon, lavender lemon, coffee creamer, beauty greens, and a sampler pack.
If you’re curious to read a scientific study about the effects of Collagen on your skin, checkout this one done by National Center for Biotechnology Information in tandem with The National Institute of Health: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5707681/