Looking to turn back the clock on your skin without needles or lasers? According to experts, certain supplements may hold the secret to smoother, firmer, and more youthful-looking skin. These two anti-aging powerhouses not only help reduce the appearance of age but also support your body’s natural ability to rebuild collagen—the key protein that keeps skin plump and elastic. Here’s what you need to know before adding them to your routine.
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1. Vitamin A
According to Dr. Nadir Qazi, board-certified physician, cosmetic dermatology surgeon and owner of Qazi Cosmetic Clinic, the optimal daily vitamin for anyone seeking to firm up their skin and mitigate the signs of aging is unequivocally vitamin A. He says that whether taken orally with a supplement or applied directly to your skin with a cream or serum, "Vitamin A is effective at lessening the appearance of age."
"Vitamin A stimulates collagen production and elastin formation, even after they start to break down, rebuilding and repairing what was lost," Qazi explains.
"If you think of your skin like a trampoline, the collagen would be the frame, and the elastin would be the springs that make the trampoline bouncy," he adds.
"Without the frame and springs, the trampoline is just some rumpled canvas on the ground." Luckily, your skin doesn't have to lose the frame or the springs when you add vitamin A into your daily routine!
2. Collagen
Collagen is the protein responsible for supple skin and its elasticity, Dr. Debra Jaliman, MD, board-certified NYC dermatologist and Assistant Professor of Dermatology at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai says, and can be taken in supplement form daily while also found in many foods. Collagen loss begins as young as the age of 21 and by the age of 40, women have lost "between 10-20 percent of their collage and 1% thereafter," Lisa Richards, registered nutritionist, health expert and creator of The Candida Diet, explains.
After 40, you can still promote radiant, glowing skin, she notes, by taking collagen supplements, and eating foods rich in collagen, such as bone broth, eggs, chicken, berries, etc. "There are three primary types of collagen and it is best to consume a collagen supplement that contains most of the five forms," she says, "At the least it is ideal to take types 1 and 3 together."
Collagen can be taken supplementally as a capsule or powder form. "When taken as a powder, especially mixed in with a protein powder, this can enhance absorption of the collagen," Richards advises. Jaliman recommends a simpler option, one that can be paired directly with a product designed to promote more youthful-looking skin.
She suggests “mixing collagen powder with water or any drink” to specifically target your goals. This powerful pairing helps with overall hydration as your body needs water at any age, and collagen powder directly links to collagen production. The more collagen we have, she says, the more youthful our skin will feel and appear.
