You may be familiar with this: despite using a high-quality moisturiser, by the end of the day your skin feels tight and tired, and the fine lines around your eyes and mouth seem somehow more pronounced. We often tend to reach for more serums, but the condition of your skin is, first and foremost, a reflection of the processes taking place deep beneath its surface.
It is precisely there that collagen, together with hyaluronic acid, plays a key role. How does this duo work in the body, and why shouldn’t we expect them to work miracles overnight?
What happens to your skin after the age of 25?
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body. It ensures that the skin remains firm, supple and retains its shape. However, from around the age of 25, the body’s natural production of collagen gradually declines.
When collagen levels fall:
The skin loses its elasticity and the first fine lines begin to form; the dermis (the deeper layer of the skin) becomes less able to retain moisture, and the skin appears drier and duller, and regenerates more slowly.
Why does internal nutrition help?
The collagen molecules in creams are too large to penetrate the skin’s protective barrier and reach deep into the dermis. However, when you supply the body with hydrolysed collagen, the body breaks it down in the digestive tract into small di- and tripeptides and amino acids.
These peptides serve the body in two ways:
As a building block for the regeneration of connective tissues. As a biological signal for cells (fibroblasts) to boost their own production of collagen and hyaluronic acid once again.
Why are patience and synergy so crucial?
Collagen is not a magic elixir that will erase deep wrinkles in three days. The body is not a machine, and the regeneration of connective tissue is a slow physiological process.
Skin regeneration takes approximately 28 days, whilst the remodelling of the deeper layers takes even longer.
According to studies, the first measurable changes in skin hydration and elasticity usually become apparent after 8 to 12 weeks of regular use.
Furthermore, collagen itself needs some helpers: without vitamin C, the body cannot synthesise collagen properly, whilst zinc protects cells from oxidative stress and promotes cell division.
Support for the skin and the musculoskeletal system
The advantage of taking collagen supplements is that the body distributes the nutrients to where they are needed most. Collagen peptides not only form the structure of the skin, but also form the basis of cartilage, tendons and ligaments. Regular supplementation therefore not only improves your appearance but also provides nutritional support for your joints during everyday movement or sport.
Raspberry Collagen by Dr LUCULLUS
If you’re looking for a carefully formulated blend in a single product rather than having to combine several tablets, Dr LUCULLUS’s Raspberry Collagen with Hyaluronic Acid is a practical solution.
In one daily sachet, you’ll find a balanced blend with no unnecessary additives:
7,500 mg of hydrolysed fish collagen Peptan® F – low-molecular-weight peptides with high bioavailability.
102 mg of hyaluronic acid – known for its ability to bind water in the intercellular space, which promotes tissue hydration and plumpness.
1,000 mg of vitamin C – an essential co-factor for the proper formation of collagen and the healthy functioning of the skin and joint cartilage.
Zinc (zinc citrate) – a highly absorbable form of zinc to help maintain healthy skin, hair and nails.
The drink has a pleasant, refreshing taste of wild raspberries (sweetened with stevia), making it easy to incorporate into your daily morning routine. However, even high-quality collagen is no substitute for a varied diet, sufficient sleep and staying well-hydrated. It acts as a steady source of nutritional support, providing the body with the building blocks it needs to maintain tissue strength, hydration and ease of movement for as long as possible. The key here is not speed, but regularity and consistency.
Ageing is a natural and beautiful process, but the ease, comfort and vitality with which we go through it are largely in our own hands. Our body serves us every day and is constantly renewing itself. All it needs are the right building blocks and a little patience.
Taking a moment for yourself in the morning with a glass of water scented with raspberries is a small but conscious step. It’s not about chasing the perfection seen on magazine covers, but about respecting your own body, which will reward you from within for good nutrition – with a more confident stride and a healthy glow that those around you will notice all by themselves.
