Collagen is up there with one of the buzziest ingredients in skincare, touted as the holy grail for next-level glowy, plump, youthful skin, as well as healthy nails, hair and bones. But hands up, how many of us actually know what collagen is and why it’s so beneficial for our skin?
“Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body,” explains Dr Martin Godfrey, Independent Medical Consultant at Minerva Research Labs. “It plays a crucial role in providing structural scaffolding for cells, tissues and organs, including the skin. It is essential for the skin’s mechanical strength, texture and resilience.”
You may think collagen isn’t something you have to think much about, but our collagen production actually starts to slow down as early as our twenties. “With time and natural ageing, the body’s ability to replenish collagen decreases by about 1.5% per year in the dermis (the middle layer of the skin) after the age of 20,” says Dr Godfrey. “The collagen structure becomes more fragile and brittle, leading to a weakening of the skin’s structural support.”
That’s where collagen supplements come in, and Gold Collagen – the first and a leading collagen supplement brand in the UK – is perhaps the most well-known, and well-respected, of the bunch. Their latest launch, Gold Collagen Forte Ageless liquid beauty supplement, is the strongest collagen formula currently on the market with 12g marine collagen (sourced from ethically farmed fish skin), plus elastin, ceramides, hyaluronic acid and pro-retinol to provide ground-breaking support for the skin. These ingredients work together to deliver intense hydration, boost elasticity, shield skin from environmental stressors, and effectively reduce deep lines and wrinkles.
The campaign is fronted by supermodel Yasmin Le Bon, who, approaching her 60th birthday in October, related to the brand’s ethos of seeing ageing as a privilege, promoting a holistic approach to beauty that starts from within and celebrating the beauty of every age. Yasmin, whose skin hasn’t been retouched in any of the images for the campaign, says, “Growing older happens, fact, but feeling ‘ageless’ is a state of mind.”
Taking Gold Collagen Forte Ageless every day is one of the wellness rituals Yasmin swears by for feeling her best. “I know we’re all looking for that magic thing; it’s nice to believe there’s this ‘one thing’ that’s going to cure all… but I have to say, Gold Collagen is convenient, it does what it says on the bottle, it tastes good, and I just find it too easy,” she says. “I’ve actually been buying it since 2011, I remember when it first launched!”
The liquid form not only makes it super simple to take – it is much easier to swallow than regular powder capsules – but also easier to digest, “as it is more readily absorbed as soon as it enters the stomach,” says Dr Godfrey. “The star ingredient in the formula is hydrolysed collagen,” he explains, “which is made up of small peptides – highly digestible pieces of collagen – which are then easily absorbed and distributed throughout the body.” Plus, it’s free from sugar, preservatives, lactose and gluten.
The results speak for themselves. “Typically, if taking the supplement daily, you should see increased skin hydration after just three weeks and reduction in the appearance of fine lines after six weeks,” says Dr Godfrey. “Clinical trials have shown that after three weeks, volunteers saw a 12% increase in skin hydration, and up to a 20% increase in skin elasticity after nine weeks.”
It’s no wonder over 60 million bottles have been sold worldwide. We shot ours in the morning before brekkie, but you can also mix it into a glass of water or your morning smoothie.
Use code GLAMOUR10 for £10 off at boots.com or gold-collagen.com, also available at Boots stores.
