A powerhouse duo worthy of any skin regimen...

This is a pair that you wouldn’t have seen coming, but they complement each other when used in the same routine. Collagen Peptides and Vitamin C have gained immense popularity recently for their unique skin-enhancing benefits.

What are Collagen Peptides?

In the skin, our natural collagen provides firmness and elasticity to protect our skin barrier and keep the skin healthy. It also helps maintain a youthful appearance by keeping the skin plump and reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. However, with age, collagen production naturally declines. This is especially seen during menopause as estrogen levels decline, so does the production of collagen. Hence, leading to the sagging of the skin and visible signs of aging.

People everywhere are always looking for the fountain of youth, especially a way to enhance their natural collagen! Not everyone is aware that pure topical collagen is a large molecule that is not absorbed through the skin. Collagen Peptides, however, are used topically in products to help support the skin with these age related skin changes. Peptides are amino acids and can be absorbed into the skin. Collagen peptides are hydrolyzed molecules, which are smaller allowing it to be absorbed to a greater extent and ultimately providing more benefits of supporting the skin structure and strengthening the external skin barrier. They are delivered to the skin through moisturizers or serums. These also stimulate our natural collagen and elastin to help skin more firm and taut while easing inflammation and repairing damaged uneven skin. See Healthline for more information on how different peptides are used.

What is Vitamin C and why is it so popular?

Vitamin C boasts of being one of the best ingredients in the market. It’s renowned for multifaceted benefits in skincare, excelling in anti-aging, skin brightening and the smoothing of the skin’s texture.  Environmental exposures lead to free radicals on our skin, causing oxidative damage that decreases the body’s immune inflammatory response. Fortunately,  vitamin C operates as a potent antioxidant that combats harmful free-radical like air pollution.

Additionally collagen in our body and skin relies on Vitamin C which supports the synthesis of collagen as well as defends against those factors which cause the breakdown of collagen. Whether this be from age related bodily changes to environmental damage as discussed above. Vitamin C is also significant for hyperpigmentation treatments as it effectively inhibits melanin synthesis by down-regulating tyrosinase enzyme activity. Vitamin C also possesses anti-inflammatory properties that can help acne prone skin by regulating sebum production. Regular application will reduce acne lesions and puffiness. 

How Do Collagen Peptides and Vitamin C Work Together?

As we mentioned earlier, collagen levels decrease as we age, causing increased signs of aging, laxity, sagging and thinning. This is where collagen peptides, which are smaller molecules and are more easily absorbed by the body, can be applied. They work well when paired with other products particularly vitamin C and moisturizers. Vitamin C is crucial for the synthesis and maintenance of collagen. It does so by preventing the auto-inactivation of key enzymes used in collagen biosynthesis explains PubMed. It effectively stimulates collagen production while maintaining the vitality of existing collagen. Hence, when the two are combined, collagen synthesis is more than doubly enhanced. Incorporating them into your skincare routine can help achieve stronger, more resilient, plumper skin with a healthy glow. 

Maintaining good skin health aside, this combination provides many other benefits such as wound, bone and joint healing. Deficiency in vitamin C would mean that the collagen produced is unstable hence, tissue repair is less efficient and wounds would take longer to heal.

How best to use these two products?

The rule of thumb is to layer your products in order of thinnest to thickest. Vitamin C is often delivered as a serum as in the Skin Sutra ReVITalize C and this should be applied first and allowed to absorb into the skin for a few minutes. This can be followed by Skin Sutra Replenish Collagen Peptide Moisturizer to seal in the Vitamin C for enhanced delivery into the skin which allows greater hydration, repair and nourishment to the skin. Ideally, use at night but daytime is fine too. Just be sure to follow it with sunscreen.

Just 2 weeks of use and you will see a difference! Your skin will be brighter, softer and more radiant. The Results will be Amazing!