Skincare Ingredients 101: Hydrolyzed Collagen
When it comes to battling the signs of aging, one of the most effective ways to restore and maintain the integrity of the skin is to stimulate collagen and elastin production. This helps to restore tone and diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. So, when you use skincare products with collagen in them, including the hydrolyzed variety, will they do the trick? What’s the difference between the two types of collagen? Let’s take a closer look while clearing up a myth or two at the same time.
What Is Hydrolyzed Collagen?
First, let’s talk about collagen, the main structural protein found in our connective tissues, especially our skin. The majority of collagen is located in the dermis, the second layer of skin that resides beneath the epidermis (top layer), where it’s produced. Fibroblasts (a type of biological cell that harmonizes the extracellular matrix and collagen) are responsible for securing the remainder of the dermis, which is what gives your skin its structure and tone.
Without getting too scientific, collagen is a rather complicated and large molecule. With that said, this is where hydrolyzed collagen comes into play. It’s a mixture of small peptides obtained through the hydrolysis (the breakdown of a chemical compound into smaller elements) of collagen. As its molecular composition is tinier, it’s used in hair, bath, body, and skincare products because it can penetrate more effectively. In fact, many skincare experts and researchers believe these peptides can make their way into the dermis to provide the foundation for fibroblasts to produce new collagen.
When it comes to hydrolyzed collagen benefits, this popular ingredient is considered to be an antioxidant. Its low molecular weight protein has been widely used due to its excellent biocompatibility, a general term to describe a material being compatible with living tissue. It’s a safe cosmetic biomaterial with excellent moisturizing and skin softening properties.
Where Does Hydrolyzed Collagen Come From?
To truly grasp what hydrolyzed collagen is, it’s essential to understand that proteins are large chains of amino acids linked to peptide bonds. When these bonds come in contact with a water molecule, peptides are formed as a result. In short, hydrolyzed collagen is not truly collagen. Instead, it’s an infinite and fluctuating mix of sizable peptides.
Hydrolyzed Collagen For Skin
When used in topical skincare formulations, hydrolyzed collagen softens the skin and enhances its texture, making it feel more supple to the touch. Hydrolyzed Collagen is often used in products developed specifically to target the appearance of dry, damaged, flaky, or lackluster skin..
When To Use Hydrolyzed Collagen
While using skincare products formulated with hydrolyzed collagen won’t harm your skin, don’t expect them to be the workhorses of your routine — unless these products are also formulated with results-driven ingredients such as retinol, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin C to help stimulate collagen production. Of course, the number one way to prevent further collagen loss is to wear sun protection every day — even on cloudy, rainy, or snowy days.
Hydrolyzed Collagen: The Bottom Line
The skin loses collagen at a rate of 2% per year starting in your 20s, resulting in a gradual loss of tone, elasticity, and the formation of fine lines, wrinkles, and crepiness. As the molecular composition of hydrolyzed collagen is smaller, it’s frequently used in hair, bath, body, and skincare products because it can penetrate more effectively. Many skincare experts and researchers believe these peptides can make their way into the dermis to provide the foundation for fibroblasts to produce new collagen, so it’s worth adding products with hydrolyzed collagen into your anti-aging skincare regime.
