Collagen is a spiral-shaped protein that makes up the framework of our skin. It is he who gives it elasticity. With age, collagen spirals wear out, its quantity decreases - the face loses its elasticity, wrinkles appear. The portions of collagen that we ourselves give to the skin come to our aid: in injections or cosmetics. In the latter option, large collagen molecules cannot penetrate into the deep layers and integrate into the damaged mesh structure (which would be nice!). But this does not mean at all that collagen from the cream is useless.
Firstly, it, along with hyaluronic acid, attracts moisture, restoring the protective hydrolipid film on the surface of the skin. Secondly, it slightly tightens it, smoothing out small “dehydration wrinkles” and improves its appearance. In addition, collagen works as a booster conductor for other components: it increases their concentration and prolongs the effect on the surface, enhances penetration into the epidermis, and accelerates all recovery processes in the skin. This means that it indirectly stimulates the formation of new, young collagen inside.
So, which face cream should you buy?
What it is
What is it and why is collagen so important for facial skin? It is a helical protein compound. Dense and elastic collagen fibers form a supporting frame, thanks to which the oval of the face remains clear and does not blur.
Unfortunately, with age, it begins to be produced more slowly, and the skin gradually loses its elasticity. This becomes one of the reasons for the formation of multiple small wrinkles, the formation of jowls and a double chin.
With the right diet and facial care, these processes can be slowed down, but it is easier to compensate for the lack of collagen or stimulate its production.
Old age is not a joy
After 25 years, many women begin to notice disappointing and irreversible changes in themselves - the shape of the face changes, features become sharper, and the first wrinkles . For some it manifests itself more slowly, for others earlier and faster. However, after some time, it is not yesterday’s university graduate who looks at us in the reflection, but an adult woman. This, of course, has its advantages, but almost everyone wants to look younger than their age and for as long as possible.
Once, passing by the mirror in the hallway, I took a fleeting glance at myself and realized: my neck and face shape were not very good. And how could I not notice this, because the changes did not appear yesterday! After five minutes of panic, I admitted that the years would not pass me by, no matter how much I resisted them and closed my eyes. This means you need to accept the problem and take action . And, of course, I went to the Internet to find out how to help myself now, when you are 30 or a little younger, and youth is no longer something basic and taken for granted. Now it needs to be achieved, protected and preserved!
Types of collagen
Collagen in cosmetology is used in various types and forms. Its molecule itself is quite large and it is difficult for it to penetrate the protective hydrolipidic barrier of the skin. Therefore, hydrolized collagen is often present in serums and creams.
One of the simplest forms of hydrolyzed collagen is food gelatin, which is familiar to us all. It is produced by processing the tendons and bones of animals and is carefully cleaned of foreign impurities. Then, using chemical reagents, it is broken into microparticles. In this form, it is already able to penetrate much deeper into the skin.
Marine collagen, extracted from fish scales, is also in fashion today. Please do not confuse it with agar-agar - a product of processing a special type of algae. It is often used in the food industry.
Fish collagen is absorbed faster and easier by the skin, commonly found in Korean and Japanese cosmetics, and also sold in capsules and tablets.
How often can you use a collagen mask?
For the procedures to be beneficial, you must adhere to the rules for using masks with collagen:
- Apply the product to cleansed skin along massage lines.
- The holding time should not exceed a third of an hour.
- The course should be one to one and a half months, two masks per week.
While the mask is working, you need to relax. The facial muscles should be motionless. Meditation music or incense sticks will turn a beauty procedure into complete relaxation.
There are three types of collagen used in cosmetology: animal, plant and marine. The first is the cheapest and ineffective. The protein is obtained from the skin of cattle. There is no such collagen in plants. In cosmetology, it refers to extracts from wheat germ, which are effective in the fight for youthful skin. Marine collagen is obtained from fish skin - this is the most effective product, but also the most expensive.
We invite you to look at the features of collagen masks:
Beneficial features
Why is collagen so widely used in cosmetics? It is this that allows you to quickly rejuvenate the skin, since it has a complex effect on it:
- increases the protective properties of the skin;
- quickly eliminates dryness and flaking;
- helps retain moisture;
- restores the oval of the face;
- evens out skin texture;
- smoothes out small wrinkles;
- slows down the aging process.
And if cosmetics with collagen contain other useful ingredients, then it can really work real miracles and, with regular use, postpone the need for radical anti-aging procedures by 10 years or more.
Forms of application
Collagen can be used for wrinkles in various forms. In today's cosmetics market it can be found in creams, masks, serums and ampoule form. Homemade collagen masks, which are usually based on food gelatin, are also popular. Let's look at the features of each of the forms.
Creams
It is advisable to buy caring creams with collagen at the age of 30-35 years. By this time, the first wrinkles are just beginning to appear, and a high-quality product will prevent and slow down their “spreading” across the face. Younger skin needs to be well moisturized and protected from the sun, since ultraviolet radiation is one of the factors that reduces the natural production of collagen.
The main advantage of the cream is its convenience and safety. It is easy to apply, there is a large selection of quality products and they usually do not provoke a negative skin reaction.
A significant disadvantage is that low molecular weight collagen is found only in expensive professional high-tech creams. But the regular one only works on the surface of the skin. Therefore, you should not expect miracles.
The most popular collagen creams are:
- Collagen Power Firming Enriched Cream from Mizon . It has a very high (54%) content of marine collagen. Intensively affects the epidermis and perfectly tightens the oval of the face. Suitable for any skin type, can reduce the depth of facial wrinkles. Contains: olive oil, adenosine, camellia extract. Perfectly moisturizes, nourishes and protects from negative external influences.
- Collagen Daily Cream from Esfolio . Day cream from a Korean manufacturer based on hydrolyzed collagen. Thanks to the content of lactic acid and whey protein, it has a moisturizing, softening effect and slightly brightens the skin. Creates an unfavorable environment for the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria.
- Collagen & Elastin from Soraya. Inexpensive, but quite effective product with collagen and elastin for mature skin. Allows you to quickly smooth out small wrinkles and restore lost tone. Refresh your complexion, nourish cells and speed up metabolic processes - the task of the multivitamin complex present in the cream.
There are many other collagen creams available on store shelves and online. When choosing, pay attention to where it is on the list of ingredients. If it is below 5-8, then its amount is too small to have a significant impact on the condition of the epidermis.
Serums
Over the past decades, facial serums have confidently moved from beauty salons to regular stores. This is good because the effect of this concentrated product is several times stronger than the cream. But serums have their own characteristics, which I already talked about in another article. I can only say that the effect will be better if you use them not instead, but together with a good cream.
The best collagen serums are:
- “Maximum hydration and lifting” from “Cryo cosmetics”. Serum with hyaluronic acid and liquid collagen, providing deep hydration and lifting. I am pleased with the affordable price and good results. Smoothes the skin, evens out the complexion, suitable for any age.
- "Bio Collagen" from "Mizon". A high-quality, high-tech Korean product, which is pure low-molecular collagen. It can be applied directly to the face or used to enrich your favorite mask or cream (immediately before use).
- “Super lifting serum” from “Belita”. Contains collagen, hyaluronic acid, Damask rose extract. It takes very good care of the skin, provides it with additional nutrition and deep hydration. Tightens the oval of the face, smoothes out fine wrinkles.
When choosing a whey, be sure to pay attention to its consistency; a high-quality product is homogeneous, has no sediment, and does not contain lumps. It is important not to overdo it when applying. 2-3 drops are usually enough to treat the entire face.
Ampoule
Unlike serums, which most often have a complex multicomponent composition, ampoule collagen usually does not contain other impurities. It is often used for injections, mesotherapy, under a dermaroller or for hardware procedures. The additional intensive effect on the skin allows collagen molecules to penetrate very deeply and gives quick and long-lasting results.
Ampoule preparations are expensive. And if used incorrectly, they do not give the expected effect. Therefore, I do not recommend buying and using professional products at home. Some of them are suitable for hardware procedures with portable devices. But it’s also better to discuss this with your cosmetologist and ask him for help in choosing a product.
Gelatin masks
This is a homemade alternative to ready-made collagen products. It is quite easy to prepare a mask from food collagen. Moreover, the base is always the same. And then, depending on the existing problems, skin type and condition, additional ingredients are added to it.
The recipes are simple and time-tested. To prepare the base, take a tablespoon of edible gelatin and fill it with three tablespoons of clean water at room temperature. For very dry, thin and aging skin, you can take milk. We wait 10-15 minutes for the crystals to swell, and then heat the composition in a water bath until they are completely dissolved. The temperature should not exceed 60°C. The base can be used as a ready-made mask or added to it:
- for oily skin: a teaspoon of lemon juice, 2-3 drops of sage oil, make the base with a decoction of oak bark;
- for problematic: two tablets of crushed activated carbon, 2-3 drops of tea tree oil;
- for very dry: a teaspoon of honey and the same amount of liquid glycerin;
- for the tired: beaten egg yolk with a tablespoon of honey until white foam and a teaspoon of olive oil (double the amount of base);
- for dry: a tablespoon of cream, a teaspoon of honey, 2 capsules of the drug “AEVit”.
The finished composition is mixed until completely homogeneous and applied in layers to clean, dry skin. Then it is advisable to lie down quietly so that the lifting effect is maximum. After 15-20 minutes, the mask will completely harden. It can be pulled off with one gentle movement from bottom to top or washed off with warm water without soap.
Many other interesting recipes for gelatin masks, more complex and labor-intensive, can be found on the Internet. But remember, for folk remedies to work, they must be done regularly for at least a month.
Elasticity is the secret!
Skin tone depends on elasticity. Until the age of 25-35, it usually comes with us. Many of us don't have to try very hard to preserve and maintain it. And it seems it will always be like this. It seems that it was we, it was me, who pulled out the lucky ticket, and I will be forever young. But be that as it may! Sooner or later you will have to fight for smoothness. I suggest studying the enemy in person!
The condition of the epidermis depends on many factors:
- Genetics,
- Nutrition,
- Climate,
- Age,
- The work of the body
- Care,
- Lifestyle.
It's no secret that southern women age earlier because they are exposed to the sun's rays longer. Smokers also often suffer from early wrinkles.
If in your family your mother, grandmother, or aunt aged early, then, most likely, you too cannot avoid this fate (but it can be delayed, I will tell you how below). The functioning of the sebaceous glands, the production of collagen and other proteins, the thickness and type of skin are genetically determined in us. It is impossible to change the structure of the epidermis, but you can influence it (creams, masks, salon procedures will help, but more on that later).
Food also affects the condition. If there is an excess of salty and fatty foods in the diet, the appearance of any person will be painful.
Caring for the neck, décolleté and face also requires proper care, depending on the time of year. Properly selected cosmetics based on the type of epidermis, problem, weather, composition will give and prolong elasticity for several years.
Our youth and freshness are also influenced by our lifestyle: how often you are outdoors, how you move, whether you experience stress, whether you sleep well, what you eat.
In addition, if there are any health problems, in particular with hormones , metabolism, this will also affect your appearance.
As you can see, there are many factors that can undermine our beautiful appearance. All of these points are interconnected and affect collagen production. It is he who is responsible for the elasticity of the epidermis.
If you are no longer satisfied with your appearance, the first thing I suggest is go to the doctor and check your health. Get tested, undergo examinations by specialists and only then take action.
Contraindications
Collagen itself is harmless. But like any biologically active substance, in some cases it cannot be used. Limitations depend primarily on the form of the product:
- Cream. It has minimal contraindications, as it works superficially. So, in the absence of individual intolerance to any of the components, the product can be safely used.
- Serum. More active and often used during hardware salon procedures. It rarely causes allergies, but is contraindicated for people with a tendency to form keloid scars. It is also necessary to take into account contraindications to hardware cosmetology.
- Ampoule. If ampoule collagen is used for any type of mesotherapy (except ultrasound), it enters directly into the bloodstream. Such procedures are prohibited for people with cancer and autoimmune diseases, serious problems with the liver, kidneys and heart, blood clotting disorders, and active inflammatory processes.
During pregnancy and lactation, any biologically active drugs, including collagen, should be used only in consultation with the supervising specialist.
Summing up
According to reviews from my clients, the benefits of collagen products are obvious and they really quickly improve the condition of the skin even when used externally. And injections allow you to get visible results after the first procedure. But you shouldn’t get carried away with them. If our skin receives something from the outside in sufficient quantity, it stops producing it itself.
It is better to use collagen for the face at home in the form of creams and gelatin masks. This is exactly the case when I welcome folk cosmetology. Moreover, they are very easy to make, and the risk of an allergic reaction is minimal. Entrust the work with professional serums and preparations to specialists. Only they know how to get the maximum results from them, worth the considerable money spent.
Have you tried products with collagen? Share your impressions in the comments!
