What is collagen?
Did you know that Collagen is one of the most abundant proteins in mammals and makes up 75% of our skin and 25% of total body protein?
Collagen comes from the Greek word “Kolla” which means glue.
Collagen is the body’s most important building block and it makes up approximately 30% of the protein. It can be described as a hard, insoluble and fibrous substance.
Collagen’s strong fibres work like glue to hold things together in the body. It ensures the cohesion, elasticity and regeneration of all our connective tissue including skin, cartilage and bones.
Did you know that there are at least 16 different types of collagens?
In most collagen types, the molecules are packed together to form long, thin fibrils. These molecules consist of 3 polypeptide chains wrapped around each other like a triple helix.
We lose collagen as we age and eventually, from the age of 25, we start losing up to 1% of collagen per year, making our skin loose and saggy.
TYPES OF COLLAGEN
Type 1:
Most dominant
Most prominent when young
80-85% of dermal matrix
Provides strength to the dermis
Reduced in photoaged skin
Type 2:
Second most abundant
10-15% of the dermal matrix
Smaller in diameter - more skin pliability
It is also called fetal collagen
Predominant in embryonic life, is found around blood vessels and beneath the epidermis
Type 3:
Most component of dermal-epidermal junction, forming a lattice structure
Plays a role with cell adhesion, migration, differentiation and growth
Type 4:
Functions as an anchoring fibril between the epidermis and dermal layer below
Decrease in collagen VII leads to wrinkles and skin fragility in a photoaged skin
FUNCTIONS OF COLLAGEN
Healthy body:
Maintains healthy joints
Improves muscle mass, bone strength and density
Reduces inflammation
Speeds up recovery of connective tissue
Activates energy production
Maintains a healthy digestive tract
Balances appetite
Promotes normal functioning of the cardiovascular and nervous systems
Skin Beauty:
Improves skin collagen density and structure
Enhances skin hydration
Helps to maintain skin firmness and supports the maintenance of a firmer skin
Counteracts visible signs of ageing
Enhancement of hair strength and appearance
Anti-oxidant that protects against damage caused by free radicals
Stimulates repair of damaged tissues
TOPICAL APPLICATION VS ORAL SUPPLEMENTATION
Collagen supplements get digested into amino acids and collagen peptides. In this way, the collagen can be absorbed by the small intestine, circulates into the bloodstream and is then essentially used by the body to improve its health.
Hydrolysed forms of collagen taken orally increases the collagen levels in the blood quickly.
When a collagen supplement is hydrolysed, the collagen has been broken down, making it easier for absorption. From there, the broken-down collagen peptides travel throughout the body. In the case of skin, they help support the body's natural collagen production.
Oral supplements may assist in supporting the body's natural collagen production by being absorbed through the bloodstream. Hydrolysed collagen is easiest to digest, as it is broken down into the smallest forms of peptides and amino acids.
Research shows that these collagen peptides can support skin elasticity and dermal collagen density and reduces skin wrinkling.
NIMUE INGREDIENTS THAT ASSIST IN COLLAGEN SYNTHESIS
Nimue contains certain ingredients that can assist with collagen production when applied topically in a formulation. A few products in which we will find these ingredients are listed below:
Colloidal Platinum and Acetyl Tetra-Peptide 17 (AI Range)
Remarkable increase of collagen and elastin
Improves hydration
Ubiquinone (Super Hydrating Mask, Eye Serum)
Encourages the production of collagen and elastin, thus reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and increasing skin's firmness and elasticity.
Argan Stem Cells (Multi Day Plus, Multi Night Plus)
Reduces wrinkles
Increases skin firmness and density
Peptides
(TDS™ Interactive, Skin Refirmer, Anti-Ageing Eye Cream)
Peptides are amino acids that are the building blocks of certain proteins needed by the skin, like collagen and elastin
Encapsulated Retinol (Purifier)
Decreased skin irritation
Increase skin hydration and elasticity
Vitamin A Ester (Anti-Ageing Hand Cream, Cleansing Gel)
Activate collagen production
Increase level of GAGs- improving dermal hydration
Vitamin C L-Ascorbic (Multi Rejuvenating Serum)
Stimulates collagen production and inhibits pigment production
Alpha Lipoic Acid (Rejuvenating Mask, Radiance Serum)
Boosts collagen production
Minimises the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
Prevents glycation