Our eyes are often called “the window to the soul” but did you know our skin can be a reflection of our overall health?
As the body’s largest organ, skin plays a crucial role in protecting us from the potentially harmful effects of the environment we live in.
In return, our skin requires care and protection too. Without proper hydration and nourishment, it can become dull, dry and lacklustre.
Factor in the natural ageing process and suddenly we’re not just faced with fine lines and wrinkles or sagging skin in the mirror. Suddenly, our skin has lost its glow.
Collagen supplements can help slow and, in some cases, reverse these effects, revitalising our skin and restoring its youthful look and feel.
In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at what’s going on with our skin, and explain why a daily shot of our plant-based drink really can help your skin glow.
A whistle-stop guide to our skin
Human skin is made up of several layers, each with their own particular function.
The stratum corneum
This is the outermost layer. It is composed of between 10 and 30 thin layers of dead cells known as corneocytes, arranged like a brick wall.
Epidermis
Next comes the epidermis, made up of five layers. Although it is the thinnest layer of our skin, it’s also the first line of defence against external elements, and acts as a barrier.
Keratinocytes, which produce keratin protein, melanocytes, which produce melanin pigment, and langerhans cells, which prevent foreign substances from entering the skin, are all found in the epidermis.
Dermis
Below the epidermis is the middle layer of our skin, the dermis: a network of blood vessels, nerves, hair follicles and sebaceous glands.
Collagen and elastin, proteins made by cells called fibroblasts that provide structural support and flexibility to our skin health, are both found in the dermis.
Subcutis
Last, but not least, comes the subcutis layer. It is home to sweat glands, fat and loose connective tissue. The subcutis is crucial for conserving body heat and protecting our inner organs.
Both the epidermis and the stratum corneum play a major role in our skin’s colour, tone, texture and radiance.
Without getting too ‘sciencey’, knowing the structure of our skin can make it easier to look after it, and ensure it retains its healthy glow.
Making good lifestyle choices
How we choose to live can have a significant impact on our skin’s health. Smoking, drinking too much alcohol or prolonged exposure to the sun’s UV rays can all damage our skin.
Likewise, pollution and harsh weather conditions can accelerate signs of premature ageing, leading to an uneven skin tone or dullness.
Adopting a healthy lifestyle and sticking to a balanced diet can help our skin better cope with the environment around us, but we can also boost our skin’s glow from within.
What is collagen?
In the dermis layer of our skin lies the key to glowing skin. Our bodies produce collagen, a structural protein that acts as both a framework and a way to increase hydration. We’ll explore that issue in more depth later.
Collagen is made by combining several key amino acids with vitamin C, zinc, copper and manganese. To date, 28 different types have been identified, with Type I accounting for 90%.
It is one of the primary building blocks for our bones, connective tissues, ligaments, organs and skin.
Types II-IV, which are among the remaining 10%, are found elsewhere in the body, including our joints, arteries, muscles and organs.
A natural slowdown
Despite the presence in almost every part of the human body, our natural collagen output starts to slow by around 1% per year when we reach our mid-twenties.
That decline accelerates by our forties which, for many women, also coincides with a drop in oestrogen linked to perimenopause and menopause.
The impact on our bodies can be significant. Our bones and muscles can weaken, our joints ache more and our skin can lose its youthful glow.
All is not lost: there are ways to increase the body’s natural collagen production.
Boosting your skin glow with collagen
There is a wide range of foods that contain sources of collagen or the building blocks our bodies need to produce it naturally.
Bone broth, chicken, fish, egg whites, leafy greens, tomatoes, bell peppers, berries and tropical fruits, garlic and beans and cashew nuts can all help increase our collagen levels.
But if you can’t easily incorporate these protein rich foods into your diet, for lifestyle reasons or because of intolerances or allergies, consuming collagen drinks like ours is a great alternative.
The range of collagen supplements
Taking collagen drinks or capsules has become something of a trend in the health and beauty space, and there are lots of products to choose from.
However, all oral collagen supplementation breaks down into three main groups: animal or bovine collagen that is sourced from cows and pigs; marine collagen sourced from fish species, and plant-based collagen.
Because humans can’t absorb collagen in its whole form, it is broken down or hydrolysed into tiny fragments known as collagen peptides.
Collagen peptides
Animal and marine collagen supplements can come in powder, capsule or liquid form, but all contain hydrolysed collagen peptides that are similar to human collagen.
Plant-based collagen drinks, such as our vegan-friendly one, are different.
They obviously don’t contain any hydrolysed animal or hydrolysed marine collagen. In fact, ours doesn’t contain a single collagen peptide.
VeCollal® and biomimetics
The key ingredient in our award-winning plant-based collagen drink is VeCollal®.
It is the world’s first plant-based collagen alternative, and uses synthesised amino acids to mimic those in our own collagen production.
It works alongside Panax ginseng, vitamin C and Asiaticoside, extracted from the herb Centella Asiatica, to create a 100% precise match of human Type I collagen.
But what does it all mean for our skin health?
Collagen and glowing skin
As the body’s most abundant protein, collagen is key to our bone density and muscle mass. It’s also crucial for flexible arteries and even gut health.
But it’s our skin, hair and nails that provide the visible results of what plant-based, animal and marine collagen products can do.
As well as helping to hydrate and strengthen dry hair and brittle nails, collagen powders and collagen drinks can have a significant impact on our skin.
Cell renewal
Our skin glows when we are younger because our cells are renewed around every 28 days.
As we get older, not only does collagen synthesis slow down, our skin cell turnover - where older cells are replaced with new ones - also declines.
Remember the wall of corneocytes that make up the stratum corneum, our skin’s outer layer? This accumulation of dead cells doesn't reflect light in the same way as newer, smoother skin.
The ageing process, coupled with external factors from our health and diet, to hormonal changes, medication and even our sleep quality, can slow down cell turnover.
Blood circulation
Many pregnant women often have glowing skin, as does anyone who works out as part of a healthy lifestyle. The reason for that is the same in both cases: increased blood circulation.
Boosting the supply of blood to our skin’s surface makes it appear glowing when reflected in the light. It can also help increase the amount of toxins to our sweat glands, keeping our skin clean and healthy.
Collagen plays a key role in both cell renewal and blood circulation. It helps fibroblasts form in the dermis that support the growth of new cells, and keeps our arteries and veins flexible, enabling unrestricted blood flow.
Collagen supplements can boost collagen production, increasing skin cell turnover and enhancing blood circulation to boost our skin’s glow.
Collagen and our skin’s elasticity
Oral collagen isn’t just important for skin cells and blood flow. The benefits of collagen supplements go much deeper.
Taking a daily sachet to increase collagen production will also help improve skin elasticity, thanks to the ability of collagen peptides to increase hydration levels throughout our bodies.
But here’s the really great news for anyone looking for healthier skin: collagen drinks are not the only way that you can improve skin elasticity and boost skin hydration.
Our plant-based collagen drink also contains the following:
Hyaluronic acid
Collagen peptides work well on their own to help give us smooth skin that glows. But, combine it with hyaluronic acid, and the effects can be even more significant.
Found naturally in our skin, hyaluronic acid binds to water and helps retain moisture. It also boosts collagen production, helping to hydrate our skin and increase elasticity. In some cases, HA can reduce wrinkles and repair acne scars.
However, the natural ageing process, exposure to UV rays, smoke and pollution can decrease the levels of HA in our skin, leading to duller skin and potentially deep wrinkles.
As one of the best collagen supplements on the market, our plant-based liquid contains vegan-friendly hyaluronic acid derived from the fermentation of bacteria.
Panax ginseng
Ginseng can support the production of our own Type 1 collagen and can also slow down collagen degradation.
Ginseng has many other benefits, including protecting our skin against free radicals and UV damage that can lead to fine lines and wrinkles.
It can also increase the circulation of our skin's smallest blood vessels, boosting collagen synthesis, resulting in firmer, glowing complexion.
Retinol
Retinoids are the active form of vitamin A, and studies have shown people with more vitamin A in their skin look younger.
Retinoids include retinol, which can promote the formation of new blood vessels, stimulate cell turnover and collagen production. The overall result is healthy skin with a youthful glow.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is absolutely essential for producing all the types of collagen found in the body, including Type I, which contributes to smooth, radiant skin.
But vitamin C is also a powerful antioxidant, with anti-inflammatory properties that can boost hydration, improving skin tone, texture and hydration to give it that all-important glow.
The science behind taking collagen supplements
There have been many studies of the benefits of collagen on our bodies. The International Journal of Dermatology published an analysis of 19 trials, featuring more than 1,120 participants.
They found that those who used collagen supplements, including products that contained collagen peptides, HA and vitamin C, saw an improvement in their skin’s firmness and suppleness, and skin hydration, with wrinkles appearing less noticeable.
The importance of glowing, radiant skin
It’s fair to say that having glowing skin can give us a mental and psychological boost.
Looking good and feeling good are closely connected. The recent focus on wellness has helped more people take better care of themselves, adopting a balanced diet and taking regular exercise.
In our busy lives, finding the time for proper self care can be challenging, but taking a daily sachet of our plant-based collagen drink is a great place to start.
One 30ml dose can help revitalise your skin’s natural collagen production, helping to smooth away fine lines and wrinkles, and restore your natural, youthful glow.
Not to mention strengthen your hair, nails, bones and muscles. Collagen supplementation is a win-win.
Try our plant-based liquid collagen supplement
Why not try out our plant-based collagen drink and take the first step towards gorgeous, glowing skin?
Our offers include a 28-day subscription. Sign up and you will receive sachets of our liquid vegan collagen supplement every four weeks, plus a free bonus bundle.
Find all the details here.
Questions or queries? Let us know
If you want to ask us anything about our plant-based collagen supplement, or any of the other products in the Arella range that aren’t covered by our FAQs, drop us a line.
You can email us at info@arella-beauty.co.uk, telephone 03303 209 190, or fill in this contact form and we’ll get back to you straight away.
