Is Collagen Face Cream Useless?

Is a collagen face cream really your first line of defense to slow down the aging of your skin? The answer may not be as clear as you think. At this point, some basic information is needed to get started.

What is collagen?

Collagen, simply put, is a protein and an important component of connective tissues. It is not only found on the skin, but that is what we will focus on in this article.

What does collagen do?

Helps strengthen the skin, making it smoother and more elastic. As collagen breaks down, the skin becomes more prone to wrinkles and even sagging. It’s no wonder then that it’s such a big buzzword in the skincare industry.

So is a collagen face cream the solution for aging skin?

Well yes and no. It all depends on what you mean by “collagen face cream”. If you’re referring to a cream that contains ingredients that help the skin produce more collagen or help stop collagen from breaking down within the skin, then you’re right. However, if you are talking about a cream that actually contains collagen, you would be surprisingly wrong. Let’s see why.

Help, I can’t get in!

Collagen cannot be supplemented through topical application. The molecules are too large to penetrate the inner layers of the skin. So basically, a collagen face cream in the true sense of the term is not going to give you much benefit.

So what ingredients help stimulate collagen production?

Retinol is one of the most popular ingredients that help the collagen production process. Unfortunately, it has been known to irritate sensitive skin, unless used in such small amounts that its effect is almost negligible. Fortunately, the science of skin care is evolving. We now have ingredients like natural active keratin (an example is Cynergy TK) that does a fantastic job of stimulating collagen production in the skin, without the irritation associated with retinol. Other natural ingredients like avocado oil, perfect for use in night creams, also stimulate collagen production.

So choose a collagen face cream that helps your skin naturally produce more of this protein without irritation. It’s a great way to get firmer, younger-looking skin.