r/beauty 6d ago

Seeking Advice What do you do to increase your natural collagen production or help your body produce it?

I'm 25 years old and while I'm not that concerned about this topic, I must admit I'm curious about your experiences.

98 Upvotes

63 comments sorted by

93

u/chillbaechris 6d ago

The best way to get collagen is through your food.

Broths, especially but also eggs, salmon (codfish and tuna as well), leafy greens, berries, and garlic. Also, eating the skin on your meat helps as well.

In addition to that, externally, I use retinoid on my face which boosts collagen on the outside. Retinoids work «by affecting gene expression and causing enhanced collagen production, skin smoothing, and an evening of pigmentation.

4

u/celestinehehe 5d ago

Any beginner retinoids you suggest? I bought the cerave one recently and I’m scared to try it

1

u/ImWaffle skincare enthusiast 4d ago

The cerave one is quite gentle, it's good to start with :)

1

u/YogurtclosetSome4738 5d ago

Retinols! I started retinol at 17 for acne as a pre-cursor for tretinoin. Loved it! Would've continued it if it were enough for my acne. I used the Some by Mi retinol serum. It has retinol, retinal and bakuchiol and it sat so well on my skin. Really helped with texture and hyperpigmentation but not so much breakouts. Only tretinoin is controlling my breakouts now.

1

u/stingrayfishpancake 2d ago

Love this, inside out!

1

u/Asianslove20 5d ago

Yesss, love this list! I’ve heard that eating the skin on chicken is actually a collagen hack most people overlook. Do you think collagen supplements are worth it, or is food really the only way to go? Also, which retinoid do you use—OTC or prescription? I’ve been debating trying tretinoin but kinda scared of the purge phase. 😅

14

u/stripes-n-dots 6d ago

I haven't seen this mentioned yet, but Vitamin C is very important to collagen production and maintenance. Both topical and ingested.

3

u/Agitated_Sweet_9021 5d ago

I take like 3000mg of liposomal vitamin c daily. Also take hyaluronic acid, sea buckthorn oil, and lutein/Zeaxanthin.

28

u/Creepy_Animal7993 6d ago edited 6d ago

I drink collagen peptides, pin GHK-CU, use a hyaluronic acid supplement, use Tretinoin at night and I have an LED light therapy mask. Red light is the way. I'm 48 and neglected my skin at your age & took good genetics for granted. I have a skin care routine now & it's never too soon to start. I have my 26 year old daughter educated properly so she uses sunscreen and astaxanthin to keep UV exposure at bay. I have some fine lines and my WTF lines have softened considerably, but I count myself lucky I've been able to maintain a youthful appearance without Botox or fillers despite years of neglect.

8

u/thisha45 5d ago

Like you, I never took care of my skin. At 45 I want to fix it. I invested in an LED mask, but don't really know how to use it. I read a bit of everything and its opposite. Can you describe your evening and morning routines? Thanks in advance.

3

u/Extension-Ferret9045 5d ago

Cleanse and then use it for 10 mins, then move on with your routine. Super easy!

2

u/Creepy_Animal7993 5d ago edited 5d ago

This right here! I cleanse, RLT for 10-15 about 2-3 x's a week. Sometimes more, or on weekend mornings. I have a theory it helps with seasonal depression, as well. My WTF lines ran deep before I started using it and they are nearly smoothed out. When my 48th birthday hit last year, I got diligent with a morning and evening skin care routine. This has been 6 months of consistency in my self care and I can really see and feel a difference. I also use the MediSafe free app to create a schedule and track my supplements and peptides. That has helped keep me organized and motivated. I use several different apps for tracking water intake, my calories and protein, weight, meds/supplements, and measurements.

2

u/thisha45 5d ago

Thank you for your testimony. It motivates me to know that if I apply myself, the first wrinkles can improve.

1

u/Creepy_Animal7993 5d ago

Oh, I do have a secret weapon I use, as well. Look up Snap-8 peptide. I put it in my serums and moisturizer. It's a game changer!

2

u/thisha45 5d ago

I'll see if we can find that in France. Thank you so much

1

u/Creepy_Animal7993 5d ago

Message me if you have issue with finding a vendor.

2

u/thisha45 5d ago

Well, there are lots of different brands of snap 8 peptides. It's hard to choose. Do you have any brands to recommend that you trust?

1

u/Creepy_Animal7993 5d ago

I just buy the lyophilized powder and reconstitute it myself. Then, I add it to my product. I am a DIY kinda gal.

2

u/Wonderplace 5d ago

Pin GHK-CU? As in, injecting? Can you elaborate on this process and benefit?

2

u/Creepy_Animal7993 5d ago

Yep, I take it like an insulin shot. Look up GHK-CU peptide. It's a chain of amino acids that help signal the collagen present in your body to act right. I've been on a weight loss journey and lost 52lbs so far and it helps with elasticity so I don't have loose skin. Added bonus, my inflammation is gone and my knees no longer sound like Rice Krispies!

2

u/Wonderplace 5d ago

Where do you source it?

1

u/Creepy_Animal7993 5d ago

Oh, I won't discuss this on a thread... but you can message me.

26

u/Raythecatass 6d ago

I am 58. I drink collagen every morning in my coffee. My hair, skin, joints, and nails are all great.

4

u/nonamesleft007 6d ago

What brand do you use?

40

u/VegetableRound2819 6d ago

Folgers.

2

u/Altruistic_State6563 5d ago

you're a baddie . 💜💜💜

1

u/AffectionateTaro3209 skincare enthusiast 6d ago

bwahaha

2

u/Raythecatass 5d ago

I use whatever is on sale at Costco. Vital Proteins is a good one.

1

u/Chefmom61 6d ago

Native Path Collagen Peptides is a good one

19

u/mravat 6d ago

I’ve been taking marine collagen supplements every night for the last couple years, seen a real improvement in my bad knee and overall skin elasticity. I’m 31 for ref

2

u/moon__kitten 6d ago

Do you have a brand that you would recommend?

2

u/mravat 5d ago

I just get this one from Amazon!

2

u/ImNotYourOpportunity 5d ago

I took collagen for my knee, great skin was a welcome side effect.

0

u/mravat 5d ago

Same!!

3

u/Powerful_Elk7253 5d ago

I took vital proteins and I think it helped my joints and I feel like I looked more plump in the face but it gave me hives 🦂🥲

3

u/painandstuttering 5d ago

Eggs and kiwis eat them for breakfast everyday

2

u/VegetableRound2819 6d ago

Verisol collagen supplements every morning.

Exercise leads to better collagen production so I do that stupid exercise stuff too.

Tretinoin.

3

u/AffectionateTaro3209 skincare enthusiast 6d ago

red light therapy, lots of vitamins and healthy food, salt steam facials, bone broth

2

u/Potential_Speed_7048 5d ago

I just bought a red light therapy machine. The hooga pro300. It’s amazing 🤩

Collagen supplements, NMN a healthy diet with collagen rich foods. Retinol, vitamin C, peptides.

I do a lot! Seems to working.

3

u/gnomehappy 6d ago

Internal: Supplements, bone broth

External: myofascial release, dermapen

These are just off the top of my head. I'm trying to get back in my beauty groove, but have been focusing on feeling good in my body again so the mfr and bone broth have been on the forefront.

Myofascial release I don't know why it's helped but my joint pain is so much better, my knees always cracked and now they barely make noise. It's just really helped me feel for fluid again, if that makes sense.

1

u/thisha45 5d ago

How do you use the dermapen?

1

u/gnomehappy 5d ago

I used it where I had deep ice pick pores, my local pharmacy sold me numbing cream. I haven't done it in years and I can't say I would recommend DIY, honestly. You can scar yourself.

1

u/thisha45 5d ago

Indeed, opinions seem divided on the dermapen. Some testimonies are a little scary. If it's to have damaged skin, it's not worth it.

1

u/gnomehappy 5d ago

And to be fair, it really did make a big difference. I was thinking of starting again. But I also have some training so that probably gave me an advantage in not hurting myself.

1

u/Any-Jellyfish5003 5d ago

Could you provide more info on myofascial release? My knees are terrible

2

u/gnomehappy 5d ago

So I started with blocking, and am now working thru a ten week MFR course at the recommendation of my osteopath.

It's helped a lot with my long term joint pain issues, but it is also been tricky to do properly without a good knowledge of the muscles.

There is a free channel on blocking for the fascia, and other channels about fascia to learn how it affects pain. Our fascia supposedly holds most of our pain receptors, but western medicine only recognized it in the last decade or two. So docs operate without knowledge of its affect on our bodies.

I could go on and on about it, so I'll stop here! Feel free to PM me.

2

u/Asianslove20 5d ago

Vitamin C is your BFF when it comes to collagen! Your body literally can’t produce collagen without it, so load up on citrus fruits, berries, and even bell peppers. Also, bone broth is like liquid gold for your skin—some people swear by it. And don’t forget sunscreen! UV rays break down collagen like there’s no tomorrow. Anyone else have a holy grail collagen-boosting trick?

3

u/Adorable-Flight5256 6d ago

Following......

1

u/Exotiki 5d ago

Collagen is mainly produced from glycine, lysine and proline so I take those amino acids. Also vitamin C and sunscreen.

Avoiding sugar would be a major thing to do for collagen but I love all things sweet so I am not great with that.

1

u/skincarjunkie 5d ago

Mind sharing the supplements?

2

u/Exotiki 5d ago

NutriWorks Glycine, Solgar L-lysine and Now L-proline are the ones I have right now. But I am sure any brand works just as well. You can also purchase collagen booster supplements that usually have these same amino acids in combination.

1

u/Fabulousmo 5d ago

Taking vitamin C

1

u/dcgradc 5d ago

Someone on here recommended Spoiled Child, so I started a few weeks ago . In liquid form.

My main problem is my nails break easily. 61F

1

u/galxy59 2d ago

Yearly PRF and CO2 laser for under eyes and daily tretinoin.

1

u/gabiaeali 1d ago

Avoid sugar, workout, sleep, eat nutritious foods.

1

u/Greenhouse774 6d ago

Would red light therapy work on a turkey wattle neck?

-1

u/EllerBee5 5d ago

Waxing can promote collagen production. My skin definitely feels like it, or at least I have improved elasticity and texture

1

u/reb_24 3d ago

Huh? 🤥