What is Collagen?
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body found in bones, muscles, skin, and tendons. Think of it like the scaffolding that holds skin cells together and makes them strong. It’s the structural protein responsible for skin’s elasticity and firmness so when collagen levels start to decline rapidly around menopause, the impact on our skin is significant. Skin becomes thinner, drier and less plump and radiant. You will probably find that products that you have been using for years might not be working anymore for your changing skin needs. You need ingredients that will actively stimulate collagen production in your skin. Look no further than peptides, game changing ingredients at the forefront of skincare technology.
What Are Peptides and how do they increase collagen?
Peptides are intelligent skincare ingredients that are proven to preserve and boost collagen levels in skin. They are short chain amino acids and the building blocks that make up proteins in the body, like collagen and elastin which are responsible for skin’s firmness, texture and tone.
Our skin naturally contains peptides which send messages throughout our body. When we apply peptides topically to the skin they act as messengers creating a signalling cascade triggering skin cells to produce fresh collagen.
This supports skin on multiple levels, leaving skin firmer, smoother and plumper. By boosting collagen production, peptides have multiple benefits for skin
- Skin appears firmer, smoother and plumper
- Improved skin barrier – peptides strengthen skin’s protective barrier
- Reduced fine lines (we prefer to call them laughter lines)
- More elastic skin
- Reduced inflammation
So, peptides will trick your skin into making more collagen – clever stuff! Many products on the market contain actual collagen but it’s important to know that this won’t have any effect on collagen levels in your skin. The reason? - the collagen molecule is too large to penetrate the surface of the skin, so it just sits on the surface. Peptides are the powerhouse ingredient you need to combat collagen loss in midlife
How to Incorporate Peptides into your Skincare Routine
There are different types of peptides but the ones you need to increase collagen levels are signal peptides – they are able to act as messengers to stimulate the production of collagen in skin.
When choosing a peptide formula, peptides need to be high up the ingredient list to be effective. Just because a product claims to contain peptides it’s important that they are included at the right level to get the results you want. Ingredients are listed in the order of the amount included so if peptides are down near the bottom they aren’t going to do as much for your skin.
At Living M, we use an optimum level of signal peptides in our COLLAGEN BOOST MOISTURISER. This super-effective multi benefit moisturiser contains a blend of clinically proven signal peptides that stimulate the production of collagen and elastin making our skin appear firmer and plumper. It also contains another collagen-boosting powerhouse - Resveratrol, a potent antioxidant found in the skin of red grapes which is also a phytoestrogen which means it mimics the effect of oestrogen and collagen on skin. Resveratrol is also able to stimulate fresh collagen production as well as preserving the existing collagen we have. It’s a velvety cream that is also jam-packed with a whole host of other great-for-you skincare ingredients - hyaluronic acid, nourishing natural butters, antioxidants and vitamins. Use morning and night to harness the power of peptides and transform your skin.
