It’s time - you’re going to take the plunge and invest in a collagen supplement. But as you stare at the rows of collagen powders, tablets and collagen pills, you realise choosing the correct product won’t be easy. This is going to be more complicated than you thought.
If there’s one thing you need to know about collagen supplements, it’s that not all supplements are made equal. Some have small amounts of collagen, and others are mainly fillers. Then, there are supplements containing bioactive collagen and formulated with beauty and wellness-enhancing ingredients for next-level results.
In this article, we’re taking a sneak peek into what you should look for in your collagen supplement selection. Read on to find out more.
What are collagen supplements?
Collagen supplements replenish your body with lost collagen, which is the ‘glue’ that holds everything together. Without enough collagen, your skin loses elasticity, joints become sore, and you may struggle with your energy levels. Collagen levels fall as you age, so replenishing them with a supplement is a great idea for looking after your health and beauty.
What should I be looking for in a collagen supplement?
The first step to blissful wellness is choosing a product that promotes collagen synthesis combined with ingredients that support and enhance collagen results. So, what does that look like in the form of a supplement?
High-quality vegan collagen
You might wonder why we’re specifying vegan collagen. Well, there are many reasons. One is that animal collagen causes mass deforestation, and we want to do everything we can to protect and restore the planet. The other is that animal collagen isn’t as amazing as companies make it out to be.
Although animal collagen is similar to human collagen, it’s not the same. Your body can’t absorb all the collagen in an animal collagen supplement, but vegan collagen is different. It provides your body with the compounds to build collagen from scratch.
Arella Beauty’s Vegan Collagen uses VeCollal® - the world’s first vegan-collagen alternative. It’s a biometric, plant-based alternative to animal and marine collagen that provides you with chains of amino acids for collagen production. The exact amino acids you need. Not ‘very similar’ or ‘close enough.’ The amino acid chains are identical to human collagen, so your fibroblasts can rapidly increase your collagen levels.
Read more: VeCollal® Vegan Collagen: What is it and how does it work?
Vitamin C to help collagen synthesis
You don’t just need amino acids to make collagen, Vitamin C is also crucial. Vitamin C defends your collagen from atoms called free radicals that attack and break down collagen. The vitamin does this by stabilising loose atoms, so they’re no longer a threat. The process prevents collagen from declining for glowing skin, better energy and healthy blood flow.
You can also increase your vitamin C intake by eating citrus fruits like kiwis, oranges, and grapefruit. Bell peppers and dark green veggies such as broccoli are also great sources of vitamin C.
Read more: The Truth About Vitamin C: Do You Really Need It?
Anti-inflammatories for mental wellness
At Arella Beauty, we didn’t want to create an ordinary collagen supplement. We wanted every sachet to be enriched with invigorating and balancing ingredients. Introducing: Panax ginseng.
Panax ginseng, also known as Korean ginseng, is an Ayurvedic herb used throughout history to heal physical and mental ailments. It has incredible anti-inflammatory properties that reduce chronic stress and lower anxiety.
A 2017 journal article discusses how ginseng lowers inflammatory cytokines linked to depression. It can also balance an overactive nervous system to decrease the severity or onset of panic disorders. This is shown in a 2018 study when researchers gave Korean ginseng to participants for 6 weeks. The herb levelled out the nervous system, reducing stress and boosting cognitive function.
Panax ginseng isn’t only fantastic for your mental health. It may also contribute to Type 1 collagen production and is a potent antioxidant to defend collagen from degrading.
A 2012 study shows that Panax ginseng increases collagen production in the fibroblasts (the cells that create collagen). This means it has potential anti-ageing effects on the skin. Another study in 2016 demonstrated that the potent herb could reduce eye wrinkles and increase skin hydration. But ginseng’s not the only skin-enhancing ingredient to look out for in a collagen supplement.
Read more: 7 Best Anti-Inflammatory Ayurvedic Herbs and How to Use Them.
Skin-supporting ingredients
Your skin is your body's largest organ, so it needs a lot of collagen to keep it bouncy, elasticated and firm. Our collagen supplement includes ingredients that promote healthy skin from the inside out.
Retinol (Vitamin A)
You may use retinol on your face, but did you know it’s actually an active form of vitamin A? It enhances cell turnover, shedding old skin cells and replacing them with new, fresh ones. As you age, this process slows down, and you may experience dry, dull skin and deepened fine lines and wrinkles.
Retinol encourages cell rejuvenation, particularly while you sleep, replenishing your skin with collagen. It keeps skin youthful and plump and smoothes out facial creases.
Read more: 5 Reasons Why You Need Retinol in Liquid Collagen.
Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid is a humectant that draws water molecules from the air. When you put hyaluronic on your skin, it sucks moisture from the air and into your face. But why do you need hydration in the first place?
Your face has a skin or derma barrier, which must be watertight to lock moisture in and keep bacteria out. However, as you age, you lack the collagen needed to build a strong skin barrier. Your derma barrier loosens, sinking into natural crevices and highlighting fine lines and wrinkles.
A collagen supplement infused with hyaluronic acid sucks in extra water to replace lost moisture, rehydrating and plumping skin. It’s also a fantastic lubricant that works with VeCollal® and vitamin C to lubricate and treat joint pain.
Read more: 7 Unique Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid to Reduce Wrinkles.
Get the right collagen supplement formula with Arella Beauty
These aren’t the only magical ingredients in our award-winning collagen supplement. There are so many more that supercharge your energy, reduce inflammation, support supple skin and increase collagen production. Try it for yourself and get the Arella Beauty Liquid Collagen Supplement today.
_
Written by Emma Carey for Arella Beauty.
Emma is a holistic beauty and wellness writer. She has three years of experience in the well-being industry and a Master’s degree in Creative Writing and Wellness. Check out her portfolio and follow her on Instagram.
