Products designed to target collagen loss seem to be everywhere. It can be hard to know what is actually going help and what is just hype. It’s a fact that, as we head through menopause, our collagen levels decline rapidly and the effects on skin can be dramatic. A scary sounding 30% of collagen is lost in the first 5 years following menopause. The intelligent ingredient you need when it comes to stimulating collagen levels in menopausal skin are PEPTIDES. So, what are these cutting-edge ingredients and how can they truly help our skin in menopause?
WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR SKIN IN MENOPAUSE?
Skin changes in menopause are caused by declining levels of oestrogen and progesterone which are essential for collagen production. As oestrogen levels decline, collagen production slows down. Skin becomes drier and thinner with a weakened skin barrier. Cell turnover slows rapidly, and skin starts to lose its ability to hold onto water, appearing less plump and radiant.
Skin can become more sensitised and prone to irritation. Hormonal imbalances can also lead to breakouts and inflammation that you may not have experienced since puberty. Your skin can be quite confused – dry and irritated on the one hand but breaking out at the same time and it can be hard to know what products are going to be right. Your skin is going through big changes which all add up to a complexion that’s dull, dry and lacking in radiance.
WHAT IS COLLAGEN?
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body found in bones, muscles, skin, and tendons. Think of it like the glue or 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 in 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 can they help menopausal skin?
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, triggering skin cells to make more collagen. This supports skin on multiple levels in menopause, 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 and wrinkles (we prefer to call them laughter lines)
- More elastic skin
- Reduced inflammation
So, peptides will actually trick your skin into making more collagen. 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 ingredient you need to combat collagen loss in perimenopause and menopause.
WHICH PEPTIDE PRODUCT TO CHOOSE?
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 much for you 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’s also jam-packed with a whole host of other great-for-you skincare ingredients - hyaluronic acid, nourishing natural butters, powerhouse antioxidants, vitamins and phytoestrogen. For all the benefits of the power of peptides and more try AM and PM for plumper, glowing, firmer skin.
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