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How To Restore Collagen In The Face: Effective Tips From Experts

Alexandra Engler
Author: Expert reviewer:
July 06, 2023
Alexandra Engler
mbg Beauty Director
By Alexandra Engler
mbg Beauty Director
Alexandra Engler is the beauty director at mindbodygreen and host of the beauty podcast Clean Beauty School. Previously, she's held beauty roles at Harper's Bazaar, Marie Claire, SELF, and Cosmopolitan; her byline has appeared in Esquire, Sports Illustrated, and Allure.com.
Ashley Jordan Ferira, Ph.D., RDN
Expert review by
Ashley Jordan Ferira, Ph.D., RDN
mbg Vice President of Scientific Affairs
Ashley Jordan Ferira, Ph.D., RDN is Vice President of Scientific Affairs at mindbodygreen. She received her bachelor's degree in Biological Basis of Behavior from the University of Pennsylvania and Ph.D. in Foods and Nutrition from the University of Georgia.

Collagen is the most abundant structural protein in the body and skin. And, oh boy, is it important if you care about healthy aging and skin care.*

The gradual and natural decline of the body's collagen supply contributes to what we consider signs of aging: fine lines, sagging, sallowness, loss of volume, and more.* It's no wonder that people are constantly looking for ways to "restore" their natural levels. 

Here, we look into why collagen declines and the most effective (and natural) ways to support your own levels of this protein in the skin.* 

What is collagen? 

Collagen is a structural protein1 naturally found in the body. There are several types of collagen, but types I, II, and III are the most common in the human body.

Collagen is found in many areas of the body: skin, bone, cartilage, and muscle, with the purpose of helping tissues be simultaneously more firm, elastic, and withstand stretching.* So, for example, it keeps skin looking young and supple.*

For a full explainer on the role of collagen in the body, check out our collagen guide, which dives into the details more thoroughly.   

Summary

Collagen is found in many areas of the body and helps tissues be simultaneously more firm, elastic, and withstand stretching.* It also keeps skin looking young and supple.*
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Do you need to restore collagen?

Here's the good part: Your body makes its own supply of collagen via fibroblasts2 (assuming the amino acid building blocks are present from your diet). Essentially, these cells take amino acids (the constituents of protein) that we ingest and then turns them into protein. 

The bad part is that this process slows over time. "Our bodies always balance collagen production and degradation," says board-certified dermatologist Gary Goldenberg, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York about collagen decline. "When we are young, our bodies produce more collagen than we break down. That balance tips the wrong way with age since tissue regeneration decreases." 

Collagen production peaks in your 20s, but at some point in that precious decade, the decline begins. The exact point is different for everyone, but typically mid- to late 20s is a good bet. After that, your collagen declines at a steady rate of 1% per year3, every year.

For those who go through menopause, collagen takes another drop during that time: They experience a 30% drop in collagen4 during that time frame, and then that stabilizes to an about 2% decline every year thereafter. 

Collagen levels can also take a hit from natural lifestyle factors like UV exposure, stressors, and diet. 

Summary

Your body makes its own supply of collagen via fibroblasts. But that process naturally slows as we age.

How to restore collagen

Now that you've been briefed on why you should pay attention to your natural collagen levels, let's look into the ways in which you can enhance them.

As an overview, there are several routes to take when it comes to collagen support—and, as always, we recommend taking care of your skin from all angles.* 

Here, a few options for collagen restoration:

1.

Supplements

Collagen supplements have become a popular tool for skin health and longevity.* They're made of collagen peptides, or short-chain amino acids, which are more easily absorbed by the body.*

Once absorbed, they are able to travel around the body, exerting their beneficial effects: Research shows they are able to enhance your body's own collagen production3 by stimulating fibroblasts, those same cells that make collagen and elastin to begin with.* 

As for collagen's effects on skin, you might expect results like better hydration, smoother skin, and improved skin quality.*

For example, clinical research has shown that collagen can support skin elasticity5 and potentially make fine lines appear smaller.* And a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial found that participants' moisture levels in the skin were seven times higher6 than those who did not take collagen supplements.*

Of course, not all collagen supplements are created equal. It's imperative that you find a quality manufacturer that is transparent about their sourcing, excipients, amino acid profile, and the amount of collagen actually in the product. 

Additionally, there are other nutrients you can take that support your collagen production through other pathways. While this isn't an exhaustive list, here are some of the most efficient options to look for: 

  • Vitamins C & E: In addition to being great micronutrient antioxidants, these vitamins play a very specific and major role in collagen production: Vitamin C is required in collagen formation in the body by aiding in the synthesis process, while vitamin E is an essential fat-soluble vitamin important for normal collagen cross-linking.* Both are vital molecules for skin health and offer additional intrinsic support.* 
  • Astaxanthin: The carotenoid has powerful antioxidant properties, especially in regard to dealing with free radicals that are the result of UV exposure (which can affect your natural collagen levels).* Additionally it protects your collagen layer.* 
2.

Topicals 

Skin care products are an excellent way to spur collagen production—not to mention they offer some of that immediate gratification that is oh-so-rewarding.

But if you're looking to improve collagen production, topical collagen products aren't actually not the way to go. Collagen and collagen peptides are too large to be absorbed effectively by the skin (unlike the gut), and thus don't affect the natural collagen level. However, some actives have been shown to boost collagen production:

  • Retinol7 or bakuchiol: These have been scientifically shown many times over to increase collagen production in the skin8, thereby reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.* They do so by accelerating your skin's natural turnover cycle. When this happens, you have more healthy, fully functioning skin cells: These young cells are better able to produce collagen. 
  • Vitamin C: Much like it supports collagen production when ingested, it can help when used topically as well. Again, it plays a role in the collagen synthesis process as well as stabilizing the existing collagen9
  • Glycolic acid: This has been shown to increase collagen production10 when used topically. It's thought to do that as it triggers a restorative healing response in the skin, which spurs collagen production. 
3.

Diet

While supplementation provides a targeted approach to collagen support, your day-to-day diet is the foundation upon which this is built.

Ideally, you're eating a robust diet with a wide variety of nutrients—and one that doesn't spur inflammatory processes in the body.

For collagen specifically, you can also consume foods that have an amino acid profile themselves such as chicken (with skin on), lean meats, lentils, and so on.

You should also consume foods high in vitamins C and E (for collagen synthesis and cross-linking), a variety of nutrient and phytonutrient antioxidants (to protect your collagen layer), and essential minerals, like zinc (which also play a role in protein production).

Finally, you may want to avoid high-sugar diets, which have been linked to hardening and fragmentation of collagen in the skin11

4.

Lifestyle

This is less about production and more about making sure the collagen you do have remains stable, but there are several things you can do to make sure your collagen levels remain healthy. As I often say: everything is skin care. 

  • Manage stress: Stress causes an increase in hormones like cortisol, which research has found can decrease the production of collagen. Additionally, when we are stressed, our bodies redirect nutrients to organs like the lungs and brain, meaning the skin doesn't get as many resources to produce a healthy amount of collagen. 
  • Sleep: Beauty sleep is real: The REM cycle is actually when the body is able to do most of its cellular rejuvenation, collagen included. During this time the skin sees a surge in HGH (human growth hormone) in the nighttime sleep cycle. The release of HGH helps rebuild body tissues and spurs increased cell production to replace cells naturally lost throughout the day. 
  • Practice smart sun care: Natural light is a vital part of a healthy lifestyle. 

For more tips, visit our guide to producing collagen naturally

FAQ

How can I naturally rebuild collagen?

You can naturally support the collagen production process by using topicals such as vitamin C and retinol, collagen peptide supplements, eating a nutrient rich diet, and avoiding habits that damage the collagen (such as poor sleep and sun exposure.) 

What destroys collagen in the face?

Collagen declines in the face and body naturally over time and with age. But a few things accelerate this loss such as smoking, sun damage, stress, and poor sleep.

What foods produce collagen in the face?

To support collagen via your diet, consume foods with an amino acid profile (like chicken, lean meats, bone broth, egg whites, and lentils). You should also eat foods high in vitamin C and E to promote the collagen synthesis production process (like berries, citrus fruits, and leafy greens).

Summary

Collagen supplements, topical skin care products, and a nutrient-rich diet are a few ways to help restore collagen.* Stress management and a healthy sleep routine can also help.*

The takeaway

While your skin naturally declines with age, there are ways to protect and support the collagen you have—as well as promote new collagen production, like via topicals or supplementation. For other ways to keep your face looking firm and supple, check out our guide to promoting elasticity

If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking medications, consult with your doctor before starting a supplement routine. It is always optimal to consult with a health care provider when considering what supplements are right for you.

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