Seems like every beauty and grocery store now carries edible and drinkable collagen. I’ve become more conscious of my fine lines and signs of aging in my 30s, so anything that claims to promote youthful, plump skin has my attention. But how effective is it really? Does drinking collagen really give you noticeable results?
If you’ve been wondering the same thing, I did some research for you to save you some time. I also tried drinking collagen powder from Pura Vida Naturals for a month. Keep reading to learn more and read my thoughts!
What is Collagen? How does it affect our skin?
In the simplest terms, it’s an abundant protein in our body. In our skin, collagen and elastin keeps skin plump and youthful.
During childhood and early adulthood, our bodies produce plenty of collagen. Production declines in our mid-20s and accelerates as we get older. This means there is less new collagen to replace old collagen. As a result, you’ll see more wrinkles, fine lines, and saggy skin.
Why do people drink + eat collagen?
To reverse the effect of this collagen loss, some people choose to replace missing collagen through diet and supplements. Most collagen supplements originate from animal sources and others are made from fish (“marine collagen”). Collagen supplements are available as:
- Powder
- Capsules/Tablets
- Gummy
- Liquid
Does it really improve skin health?
There are been various studies on whether it improves skin health and results are mixed. But according to the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, researchers found promising preliminary results for short and long-term use of oral collagen. They saw an increase in skin elasticity and hydration in 2-3 months.
My thoughts after I tried collagen for 2 months:
I’ve been using a collagen powder from PuraVida Naturals ($39.99) for a couple of months so far, mixing it in my smoothies. It’s a bovine collagen, sugar-free, keto-friendly, and hormone-free. I like that there’s minimal aftertaste and it’s a superfine powder. Their Collagen Powder formula is also loaded with 500mg of Hyaluronic Acid, which promotes skin hydration.
I’ve noticed stronger nails and healthier looking hair since drinking collagen. My skin also feels slightly more hydrated, but it could be a combination of my skincare routine and drinking collagen. While I don’t think collagen is a magical fountain of youth, I do think it provides benefits with consistent use and plan to continue using it. Healthy skin also requires a healthy lifestyle, diet, and effective skincare.
Collagen Triple Berry Banana Smoothie Recipe
- 1 cup of almond milk
- 1/2 banana
- 1/2 cup of frozen blueberries, raspberries, strawberries
- 1 scoop of collagen powder
- 1 tsp of chia seeds (optional)
- a drizzle of honey (optional)
