Find Out How to Boost Collagen and Elastin: Tips For Firm Skin and Glowy Complexion

What are collagen and elastin?

Before we get into the tips for boosting collagen, let’s briefly discuss what collagen and elastin are. Collagen is a protein that makes up 80% of your skin (as well as other connective tissues in your body). It’s responsible for giving your skin its structure and firmness.

Collagen is mainly used to provide flexibility and resistance but it also ensures the regeneration of tissues. Fibroblasts operate collagen production, which loses efficiency over time, causing our skin to sag. And the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, spots … As well as less good healing.

Elastin is a protein that allows your skin to stretch and return to its original shape. Together, collagen and elastin work to keep your skin looking youthful and healthy.

Sunscreen helps prevent premature skin aging caused by the sun.

The biggest enemies of collagen

Sun

Sun exposure, pollution, and cigarette smoke are all major enemies of collagen. UV rays from the sun damage the skin’s collagen fibers, causing them to break down. Pollution also damages collagen fibers and hastens the skin aging process.

Cigarettes

Cigarette smoke contains harmful toxins that damage the skin and prevent it from producing collagen properly. If you smoke cigarettes, it’s important to quit for the sake of your skin (and your overall health).

Sugar

Sugar or – it’s better to say – glycation is one of the main causes of skin aging. Glycation is a process that occurs when sugar molecules bind to proteins, including collagen. This process damages collagen fibers and makes them less elastic. As a result, your skin becomes saggy and wrinkled. To prevent glycation (and the resulting damage to your skin), it’s important to limit sugar intake which increases inflammation, which also damages collagen fibers.

Dehydration

Dehydration can also cause collagen fibers to break down. When your skin is dehydrated, it’s unable to properly produce collagen. As a result, your skin becomes dry, dull, and more susceptible to wrinkles. A lack of water in the skin leads to a decrease in exchanges between the layers of the dermis and stiffening of the collagen fibers. This is why over the years, it is important not only to drink water but also to moisturize your skin daily with moisturizing creams or face masks.

How to increase collagen and elastin production?

Healthy diet

To increase collagen production, it’s important to eat a healthy diet that includes foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals. Foods that are high in vitamin C, like oranges and strawberries, are particularly beneficial for the skin. Vitamin C is essential for collagen production and helps to protect collagen fibers from damage. Discover all antioxidant benefits!

Facial massage

There is a way to wake fibroblasts up: a massage! In fact, massaging the face stimulates the fibroblasts which get back to work. To make your daily skincare routine feel like a soothing, collagen-boosting massage session every time, rock your skin!

At VRAIKO, the newly launched LUX I Gua Sha tool is a full-on facial massager. After cleansing your face and lotioning, continue with a 5-minute face massage + micro-vibration + red LED light therapy + heating spa, which would beautify your face with unstoppable fibroblasts.