3 Sneaky Habits Stopping Your Collagen Production and What You Can Do About It

Ever wondered what the secret to plump and radiant skin is?

While it is important to abide by a good skincare routine and hydrate yourself daily, many people seem to forget the importance of collagen in our skin.

Collagen gives structure to your skin, bones, and joints, keeping you moving with ease. But as we age, and sometimes due to lifestyle choices, our body slows down collagen production.

In this article, we reveal the sneaky culprits behind collagen loss and what you can do to get that youthful glow back!

Lack of Sleep

With the fast-paced lifestyle in Singapore, it’s not uncommon for your busy schedule to eat into your bedtime.

While most people make up for this with a good cup of coffee the morning after, a caffeine boost is simply not enough to compensate for the detriments of sleep loss!

Do not undermine the effects of sleep loss on the body—it goes far beyond just looking tired. While dark eye circles are immediate giveaways of a restless night, the true damage happens beneath the surface.

Sleep deprivation weakens the antioxidants that naturally protect your skin, leaving it vulnerable to damage. It also ramps up cortisol, a stress hormone notorious for breaking down collagen, the very protein responsible for youthful and firm skin.

Research suggests that our bodies rebuild collagen during REM sleep. This proves the importance of getting a good night’s rest, which is essential for maintaining healthy and radiant skin. (Yes, it’s called “beauty sleep” for a reason!)

Aim for seven to eight hours of sleep every night. To regulate your body’s natural sleep-wake cycle, it is recommended that you go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even on weekends.

Overconsumption of Sugar

We are what we eat. What we put into our bodies affects us more than we think! Inflammatory diets, simple carbs, and processed meats can wreak havoc on our skin.

These foods are high in sugar, which triggers free radicals, oxidative stress, and gut issues. Over time, this can lead to tissue damage and, you guessed it, collagen loss.

High sugar levels also stiffen and break down collagen, weakening the skin’s foundation and accelerating the signs of ageing. In other words, it affects you both inside and out!

Research also shows that sugar molecules (glucose and fructose) bond with collagen and elastin amino acids, hindering the repair and healing process. It also promotes advanced glycation, which contributes to wrinkles and loss of skin elasticity.

While the occasional sweet treat makes for a good pick-me-up after a long day, overindulgence in sugar is ultimately detrimental to our skin.

Opt for less sugar or unsweetened alternatives, and be mindful of what you put in your body. Look for hidden sugars in food labels!

Not Taking a Supplement To Promote Collagen

Did you know that we produce 1% less collagen every year after we turn 20?

Lifestyle and environmental factors like smoking and excessive sun damage also come into play. Exposure to UV rays for a prolonged period of time does not only cause your skin tone to darken, it also breaks down the collagen fibres in your skin, resulting in premature skin ageing.

One way to combat this problem is to incorporate collagen supplements into your diet. Skipping out on collagen supplements won’t necessarily halt your collagen production entirely, but it can contribute to a steeper decline in your natural collagen production.

If you’re always on the move, liquid collagen sachets like Kinohimitsu’s Collagen Beauty Pro are a convenient and fuss-free way to increase your collagen intake.

They come in small, portable sachets that you can easily throw into your handbag or bring along while travelling. Just tear off the end of the sachet and consume it on the go!

One single sachet of Collagen Beauty Pro contains 2,500mg of Marine Collagen Peptide, Rose Apple Extract, Grape Seed Extract, and Aloe Vera.

You’re never too young to start taking collagen supplements! Preventative measures should be taken before the first wrinkle even starts to form.

During your young adult years, the body naturally produces more collagen, so a smaller daily dosage is ideal for optimal absorption. If you consume more collagen than the recommended dose, it will just be flushed out of your system.

As mentioned above, consuming too much sugar leads to a decrease in collagen production. You don’t have to worry about that with Collagen Beauty Pro—each serving only has 15 calories, and is fat AND sugar-free!

If you’re keen to try Collagen Beauty Pro, now’s the time to do so! April is Kinohimitsu’s annual ‘Collagen Day’, where they celebrate all things collagen.

This means 30 days of exclusive promotions on their extensive collagen range! Collagen Beauty Pro, along with other collagen products, like their best-selling Collagen Diamond, Collagen Nite, and Collagen Men are now going at up to 40% off. Stack in-store vouchers to get further discounts! Run, don’t walk!

Collagen Beauty Pro retails at S$59.90 for 15 sachets, and is available at sg.kinohimitsu.com, Shopee, Lazada, iShopChangi, Qoo10, TikTok Shop and in stores at the Kinohimitsu Northpoint City, Kinohimitsu PLQ, OG, Unity, Guardian and Watsons islandwide.

Featured image credits: wayhomestudio/Freepik, jcomp/Freepik

This article is brought to you by Kinohimitsu.