Collagen is a protein produced by the body that serves as a primary building block of bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments – as well as hair, nails, and skin. Healthy collagen levels are essential for maintaining youthful skin texture, tone, and elasticity. Collagen fibers form a “scaffolding” of sorts under the skin that gives the complexion a plump, youthful look, and keeps it from sagging and wrinkling.

Unfortunately, the body’s production of the youth-giving protein collagen decreases dramatically with age – which is what leads to sagging and wrinkled skin. In this article, anti-aging expert Dr. Ruthie Harper explains what works (and what doesn’t) to help restore the skin’s collagen for beautiful, youthful skin at any age.

When Does Collagen Loss Start?

Surprisingly, collagen decline starts as early as one’s 20s, at which point the skin actually starts breaking down more collagen than it produces. This is when women typically first notice their skin going from “baby soft” to more coarsely textured. And, as the skin’s plumpness subtly declines, women in their late 20s start to look less like a “young woman” and more mature.

However, the biggest collagen loss occurs with the dramatic hormone decline of menopause. In fact, most women lose up to 30% of their collagen production in the first 5 years of menopause. This is often when most women notice the biggest jump in the visible signs of aging to their skin.

Do Collagen Supplements Work?

Collagen is a big “buzzword” in advertising today, with companies touting everything from collagen pills to potions that supposedly miraculously restore youthful skin. Collagen supplements, in the form of collagen powders, capsules, and liquids are now touted heavily on TV and across social media. Most of these “miracle” collagen supplements come from the ground up bones, skin, and connective tissue of animals, including cattle, horses, pigs, or rabbits.

So does just ingesting straight collagen from animal sources really work to improve skin?

The simple answer is “probably not”. There is no scientific evidence that consuming animal collagen itself – in the form of collagen supplements – benefits the skin, hair or other parts of the body. (Note: There are a few studies out there that seem to show some nominal benefits to eating collagen – but if you look closely you will see that this research was released by the manufacturers themselves.)

The reason just eating collagen doesn’t benefit skin is because most things we ingest are broken down by stomach acids – and are not absorbed into the bloodstream. So, it’s doubtful (and even somewhat controversial) that orally ingested collagen will survive being totally broken down in the stomach enough to make its way to the skin.

However, this doesn’t mean that there isn’t another “right” way to help the body build collagen with supplements!

Building Collagen the Right Way with Supplements

To turn back the hands of time, Austin anti-aging expert Dr. Ruthie Harper has formulated a proprietary supplement called SkinShift Collagen Defense specifically to address the issue of collagen loss.

However, rather than containing straight collagen derived from animal parts, SkinShift Collagen Defense contains the essential nutrients that enable the body to naturally build more of its own collagen. This scientifically designed supplement contains plant-derived choline and silicon (note: silicon should not be confused with the plastic silicone) which stimulates the body’s natural production of human collagen, keratin and elastin.

With continued use of SkinShift Collagen Defense the result is a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles, thickening and strengthening of skin, hair and nails, and even improved bone density.

Choline Supplements to Build Collagen

Choline is a member of the B vitamin family that aids in the production of cellular membranes – which helps in the production of collagen and elastin in the skin. Choline is crucial for collagen synthesis because it gets converted into glycine – one of the amino acids needed for collagen production.

A boost of Choline will also preserve skin elasticity by preventing free radical damage to skin cells because of its amazing antioxidant properties.

SkinShift Collagen Defense contains choline in the form of “Choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid” (a mixture of orthosilicic acid and choline chloride). This is believed to be a more bioavailable form of silicon, meaning that it is more effectively absorbed by the body.

Silicon Supplements to Build Collagen

SkinShift Collagen Defense also contains silicon which has been shown in scientific research to have an important function in the formation and maintenance of connective tissue, by supporting production of the protein collagen.

Exposure of the skin to the sun’s UV rays causes damage to the underlying connective tissue of the skin – resulting in a loss of elasticity and firmness. But silicon ((in the form of Choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid) has been shown to be both bioavailable (well absorbed) and effective at increasing the strength and elasticity of the dermis (lower layer of skin tissue).

In a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study, fifty women with photodamaged facial skin were given this form of silicon orally for 20 weeks. The researchers found that during the 20-week study there was a significant positive effect on the skin tone, texture, and elasticity (as well as reduced brittleness of hair and nails) in the women who took silica.

Collagen Defense Supplements

If you would like to reduce lines and wrinkles and improve your skin’s tone and elasticity, don’t fall for “snake-oil salesmen” on TV or online who say that consuming collagen from animal bone is the answer.

Instead, nourish you body with the essential nutrients needed to build collagen “from the inside out”. Shop for SkinShift Collagen Defense HERE and take the first step toward turning back time with plumper, smoother, tighter, and more youthful skin!