The Essentials About Collagen & Elastin For Your Skin
Throughout the years, you may be noticing the formation of lines, loss of volume and/or skin that may start to sag and doesn't exactly bounce like it used to. You can thank the decline of two things for these aspects of aging: Collagen and Elastin.
WHAT THEY ARE
Collagen and Elastin are structures in the dermis abundant in healthy, young skin that unfortunately, we tend to naturally produce less of and in lower qualities with age. Collagen is a protein (in fact, it's the most abundant protein in the body) that is responsible for connective tissue health. It gives skin cells resiliency and strength to the dermis to help prevent wrinkles and sagging skin while keeping skin plump and smooth. Elastin functions more on the surface and gives skin is flexibility and ability to regain its original shape when stretched. Think of collagen as the structure for skin and elastin as its flexibility.
THE CULPRITS
Besides the natural aging process, exposure to UV rays, environmental assaults, smoking, too much sugar, poor nutrition, and rapid weight loss just to name a few, can help accelerate decrease in the quantity and quality of collagen and elastin in the skin.
WHAT CAN BE DONE?
You may try to avoid many of the previously mentioned factors, but somethings are just unavoidable in life. There are food options that may help, but I am not a nutritionist and will mainly talk about topicals here based on my experience as an esthetician. Fortunately, there are several topicals that can help replenish what may be lost. Glycolic acid, peels, and retinoids/retinol have been shown in studies to help activate fibroblast cells that create both the collagen and elastin matrix. However, this may not be the best route for those with sensitive or sensitized skin. The inflammation that can accompany use of these ingredients for some can lead to increased free radicals and faster skin aging. These are well-tested, gold-standard ingredients, but even for those who don't seem to react on the, surface, like anything else, the key is moderation. The good news for those with more reactive skin is that there are several ingredients that are safe for daily use have been shown to help promote collagen and elastin synthesis.
BASED ON SCIENCE
Glycosaminoglycans are essential to epidermal and dermal cell metabolism and primarily function to support collagen and elastin to help keep skin plump and strong. They also support Copper Peptides' abilities to signal cells to produce molecules for skin structure support - including collagen - while reducing its breakdown. Both of these plus amino acids such as L-Lysine and L-Proline, vital to formation of collagen and elastin, can be found in the SYNERGIST - MICRO-TARGETED DEEP CREASE SERUM™ COLLAGEN SYNTHESIS REACTIVATOR.
Vitamin C (Specifically L-Ascorbic Acid) is one of the most well-researched ingredients with several independent documented data for results to help stimulate collagen and elastin production while helping to inhibit their decline. The concern with this ingredient is, this is also one of the most unstable forms of vitamin C that oxidizes quickly and may cause free radical damage to do more harm than good whenproducts that are not well-formulated. The proprietary stabilization and delivery technology in IDEAL LIGHT C+ SKIN DEFENDER™ ANTIOXIDANT + FIRMING EVEN TONE SERUM, allows the potent ingredients (including L-Ascorbic Acid) to not just promote collagen and elastin synthesis, but efficiently work on different levels of the skin to hydrate, firm, and neutralize free radical damage plus oxidative stress that break down different layers of your skin. Ingredients are kept potent and targeted to provide protection and repair where it matters most.
Hyaluronic Acid is naturally found in abundance primarily in connective tissues of healthy, young skin. Its main role is to provide essential hydration to the skin and help keep skin plump, soft and supple. It is also an important compound for collagen in the skin and studies have shown that it can help boost collagen and elastin production. However, when formulated improperly, hyaluronic acid can evaporate quickly, barely remain on the skin and actually remove hydration from the skin as it leaves. LEX & JONG'S HYDRATIVE HA+ INTENSIVE HYDRATING VOLUMIZING LIFT SERUM, solves this concern with proprietary, targeted, multi-channel trans-epidermal carrier technology that allows the skin to absorb and receive sustained hydration on multiple levels and needed channels - even to the deeper layers like never before. In this sustained-delivery, time-released system is an exclusive complex of multi-molecular weights, cross-linked Hyaluronic Acid & some of the most effective humectants known in dermatology today.
To help make it easier and in case you may be wondering, I have put together a suggested routine below that have proven to be dramatically effective to a help boost firmness (think collagen) and elasticity (think elastin). Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
THE ULTIMATE COLLAGEN & ELASTIN BOOSTING ROUTINE
1. CLEANSE
2. PROTECT & REPAIR
- Ideal Light C+ Skn Defender™ Antioxidant + Firming Even Tone Serum (day)
- Synergist Micro-Targeted Deep Crease Serum™ Collagen Synthesis Reactivator (night)
3. HYDRATE
- Hydrative HA+ Intensive Hydrating Volumizing Lift Serum (day/night either over protect & repair serums or mixed with moisturizer) If you are wondering the difference between "hydration" and "moisture", don't worry, I explain it in a previous BEAUTY MAG article HERE.
4. MOISTURE
- Synergist Re-Densifying Line Repair Rapid Firming Moisture Cream (day and/or night)
5. SUN PROTECTION