The best ways to boost collagen production

Collagen is that precious stuff that makes up approximately one-third of our body’s protein. It is responsible for boosting the elasticity in our skin, which is what keeps us looking supple and plump. Not only does collagen keep our skin looking healthy, it also offers incredible joint and gut-health benefits too. Unfortunately, collagen production declines as we age, which is why we start to develop fine-lines, wrinkles and sagging skin.

It’s safe to say that we want to preserve our natural collagen production at all costs, and also boost it as best we can, because let’s be real, who doesn’t want to give their skin a hand in stopping sagging skin? But the question is how to boost collagen production without wasting your time (and money) on products and procedures that just don’t work.

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Here are our top 5 ways to boost collagen production.

Facial Massage

Facial massage is one of the best known tricks to helping our body’s natural production of collagen. Stimulating our facial muscles through facial massage will help to oxygenise our skin, increasing the blood flow to our face. Blood flow is essential for the collagen production process, so the more you focus on facial massage the more collagen your facial skin is going to produce!

bh loves: Nutrimetics Jade Roller

Collagen creams

Collagen based face creams are a really important way to give your skin a collagen boost every day. But there are so many options available that deciding on one that actually works and isn’t just an expensive gimmick can be tricky. Look out for creams with active ingredients, and try and avoid using ones with collagen as a molecule – it has been proven that these do not absorb into the skin as well as you would need for them to have an impact. The best creams to look out for are ones that encourage collagen production, containing ingredients like retinol, peptides and hydroxy acid (if you’re pregnant consult your GP before using any collagen creams).

bh loves: Dr LeWinn's Reversaderm Collagen Accelerator Serum, Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery, Paula’s Choice Resist Intensive Repair Cream

Collagen Boosting Foods

Research has found that some foods that are high in antioxidants can really help boost collagen production. Get these foods into your diet regularly to start surging your body with extra collagen, or prevent your body from collagen breakdown!

Fish – high in omega-3 fatty acids, fish will help ease inflammation in your body. Since inflammation can promote collagen breakdown, fish is the perfect way to counteract this.
Bone broth – While most food contain antioxidants to help produce collagen, bone broth actually contains a form of collagen that our bodies can use straight away. This is highly recommended for collagen production from experts.
Berries – They're high in vitamin C, which is known to bring certain amino acids together, which essentially creates collagen formation.

Collagen supplement

Collagen or collagen promoting vitamins or ingredients can also be ingested via supplement form. Supplements containing omega-3, vitamin C, or just plain collagen supplements in tablet or powder form will help the production of collagen in your body, even if you aren’t getting the correct source of proteins through your diet.

bh loves: Skin Physics Collagen Beauty Booster, Abeeco Collagen + Keratin, Swisse Ultiboost Age protect

Red Light Therapy

LED light therapy is a form of phototherapy, used to increase blood flow, which as we know is key to stimulating collagen production. Frequent and consistent use of Red Light Therapy is a great way to boost your skin's natural collagen production. You can even buy an at home affordable LED Light Therapy system, making it as simple as holding a light to your face while you watch TV!

bh loves: Skin Physics Photon LED Photo-Rejuvenation Starter Kit

23 Member Comments

Yohanna 27 Jan 2019 7:10 PM

I'm boosting with healthy diet of raw seasonal fruits, nuts, seeds, and trying now even gizmos like red spectrum and IR LED

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Sootyhere 12 Dec 2018 3:58 PM

red light therapy looks interesting.

GeeJ 14 Oct 2018 1:21 AM

One more thing I have to incorporate in my regime.

skincare junkie 19 Aug 2018 10:51 AM

A lot of these are not entirely scientific. Vitamin C though, has a good proven track record.

melanie-suzette 17 Aug 2018 9:33 PM

Omg yes! Freeze frame collagen powder actually works!! But you have to drink it and it tastes funny

Elunia 17 Aug 2018 7:34 PM

A good facial massage sounds good to me.

Sootyhere 17 Aug 2018 2:42 PM

red light therapy sounds interesting. Wonder if it really works.

Neel8888 17 Aug 2018 2:25 PM

I recently purchased a jade roller after reading one of these articles and after a couple of uses I couldn't be bothered. My skin is too pesky for me to irritate/stimulate it all the time so my jade roller now just sits on the bathroom vanity.

Goddess..... 15 Aug 2018 3:30 AM

Great article, I like retinol & there's one I would like to try from The Ordinary but have to finish other product's first before having that one, didn't think that would boost this but that's good to know & a bonus too, I take vitamin C tablet's & sometimes have orange juice so got that sorted there. I've also got a rosehip serum that I use & that has collagen in it but to be honest I haven't really noticed any difference with that in it I use that mainly after applying a clay mask on my face as that help's with my pimples disappearing the next day I find that great mainly for that :)

That is a beautiful brunette women in main photo, I would like to have my eyebrows like hers.

Seashells 14 Aug 2018 9:13 AM

As I'm getting older I'm realising more & more the importance of collagen in my skin, especially now that I'm really beginning to see fine lines on my face (particularly around my eye area). I've had a rather expensive rose quartz facial roller trialled on me & it did feel quite nice, but I wasn't going to shell out the bucks for it when I know there's cheaper options out there. I'm keen to try the light therapy, but I'm unsure whether it's suitable for me given my history of skin cancer. Guess I'll have to keep up my collagen levels via berries then...

Chrystalage 13 Aug 2018 10:41 PM

I'm interested in the light therapy but I don't know whether to believe it actually works or it's another marketing gimmick

onlyoni 13 Aug 2018 8:16 PM

So I need to eat more Collagen boosting foods and do the red light therapy.

Amazeballs16 13 Aug 2018 4:33 PM

A good facial massage is heavenly! =) Really does invigorate the skin and boost circulation to the area. I have been taking a collagen supplement drink but yet to see any benefit from taking it. Definitely need to incorporate more fish into the diet! Great tips once again BH ♡

Tee631 13 Aug 2018 4:12 PM

Interesting

NellAdams 13 Aug 2018 4:03 PM

Collagen has been on the edge of my mind... started taking a supplement because it was on sale but never really thought about the whole picture, so this article came at just the right time! Thank you for making sure to also include a plant-based source for collagen production :) all you ever hear is bone broth and not all of us can/want to resort to that!

Ellelily 13 Aug 2018 3:31 PM

I found this interesting and thinking of taking extra berries

Belindarella 13 Aug 2018 12:14 PM

Great article! Wish I could afford more regular facials! My diet is pretty good luckily... fingers crossed! Haha!

Miss19 13 Aug 2018 12:09 PM

I love berries and I do take omega 3 supplements as well

ThisIsMe 13 Aug 2018 11:45 AM

The Skin Physics LED sounds interesting! I don't use any cream or anything that has collagen in it or take supplements either so that might be the way to go!

Bellefleur 13 Aug 2018 11:23 AM

I think I have a LED machine at home that I received as part of a prize pack from BH years ago and never got around to trying as I felt my skin was doing ok wrinkle wise at the time. I might need to dig it out and give it a try now as I am certainly noticing small creases on my face now.

clearcrystalwater 13 Aug 2018 10:25 AM

I used to have, several years ago, the Skin Physics LED product but it died on me after a year and I can't find where to buy replacement heads. : (

Lucrecia629 13 Aug 2018 9:59 AM

Vitamin C is just a good all-rounder! Bone broths and vitamin C rich foods are great any time of the year, but I'm finding them especially easy to incorporate into my diet now given their immunity boosting properties as well. Well timed article!