Modern advertising has a great influence on a person. She is able to inspire anything to a gullible consumer. This is especially true for the beauty industry. Collagen-based preparations are popular today. But before making a final choice, it is worth knowing what function a collagen face cream performs. Does our skin need it and is it able to rejuvenate it - this and many other things need to be looked into in more detail.
Collagen and its functions
Collagen is a special protein found in tendons and ligaments, moreover, it fills the empty space between muscle fibers. Its main function is to bind and provide strength, firmness and elasticity to connective tissues.
Of course, collagen fibers are maximally elastic at a young age, but over time, their elasticity is lost, as a result of which the skin sags and wrinkles appear. This is most pronounced in the mouth, eyes and forehead. This processdue to the lack of the required amount of moisture in the cells: on the one hand, collagen does not allow its loss, and on the other hand, it can absorb it into itself (it absorbs volumes of liquid that exceed its own weight by 30 times).
Operation principle
The collagen molecule is a protein spiral thread. It is due to this that the elasticity of the skin is due to the quality and quantity of collagen fibers, consisting of glycosaminoglycans. With low levels of glycosaminoglycans, the springs weaken, stop retaining moisture, which leads to sagging and stretching of the skin.
Scientists are still struggling with the question of whether it is possible to somehow influence the additional production of collagen. There are several ways: expensive salon procedures - mesotherapy (injection of cocktails based on collagen and hyaluronic acid under the skin), etc. A less expensive method is a cream with collagen and elastin for the face, but experts still argue about the effectiveness of such drugs.
Collagen Benefits
- stimulates the processes of natural skin rejuvenation;
- preparations with its content perfectly moisturize and tighten the skin;
- greatly fights age-related pigmentation of the epidermis;
- elimination of age and mimic wrinkles;
- slow down skin aging processes;
- reduced chance of upper eyelid drooping;
- scars and scars are eliminated;
- A quality collagen face cream can be used for eyelid care.
Flaws
- Regular use of these creams can lead to addiction, as a result of which the aging process may even accelerate.
- Animal collagen, which is part of most budget funds, forms a film on the skin that interferes with the normal functioning of the epidermis.
- Has a clearly defined age limit.
Views
You can always find a variety of specialized skin care products containing collagen in a speci alty store or pharmacy, but some may be confused by the cost, which fluctuates quite significantly. Many ladies, of course, may want to save money, but in most cases this will be done in vain. Today, four types of collagen are used in cosmetology, each of them has its own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. And this is worth looking into in more detail.
Types of collagen:
- Animal. Its main advantage is its affordable price and long shelf life. It is made on the basis of components extracted from the skin of cattle. The main disadvantage of this type of collagen is that it is not practical to use it. Animal protein molecules are so large that they cannot penetrate the skin. They only form a film on the surface of the epidermis that clogs the pores.
- Vegetable. Collagen, which is obtained from wheat germ, is considered safer and more effective. However, these creams are not cheap.
- Marine. Face cream with marine collagen is a luxury product, and not everyone can afford it. However, it is the marine variety of collagen that is considered the safest for humans. Marine collagen is perfectly absorbed by skin cells and effectively fights age-related skin changes. However, marine collagen preparations are not ideal - they can cause allergic reactions, and they have a short shelf life.
In addition to the types listed above, in pharmacies you can find drugs that include collagen hydrolyzate. These products are meant to be taken orally. Mandatory certification of such drugs is quite problematic and "slippery", so there is no need to talk about safety in this situation.
At what age can collagen face cream be used
Since collagen is a natural substance, up to a certain age, the body is able to renew and synthesize it on its own. In youth, this protein is produced in exactly the amount that is necessary to maintain the skin in a he althy and beautiful state. With age, this ability decreases, and then a rejuvenating face cream with collagen will come to the rescue, it is just designed to make up for the missing amount of this protein.
Young girls are not allowed to use collagen preparations. The skin "lazy" and stopsproduce this protein on their own ahead of time, while the damaged areas of the skin will not be able to renew themselves. Simply put, young skin already “cannot live” without this drug. Collagen products will have to be used constantly.
The most optimal for the use of collagen is the age of 40+, rarely when experts prescribe such creams to women from 35 to 40 years old. Withered skin needs reinforcement with auxiliary components. This is where a collagen face moisturizer is the perfect choice.
Tips for buyers
Today, the market is ready to offer a large number of preparations containing collagen. Each manufacturer does not tire of convincing potential buyers that it is his products that have miraculous properties. However, don't rely solely on ads, otherwise it could lead to disaster.
Of course, you should not subject every purchased drug to a laboratory study, but you still need to show minimal caution. When purchasing a face cream with hyaluronic acid, collagen or other active substance, first of all, you need to pay attention to the following aspects:
- Kind of collagen. As it turned out earlier, it is best to stop using animal collagen. If such information is not present on the package, most likely they want to “slip” you a low-quality product.
- Expiration date. Luxury quality creams are often made on the basis of marine collagen,which loses its beneficial properties with prolonged contact with sunlight. If you find a drug with a long shelf life, then most likely it contains synthetic preservatives.
- Price. The cost of the drug cannot be a key criterion when choosing, however, animal collagen is the budget one, which does not have the desired effect. It is best to choose vegetable collagen, however, products that contain it very rarely fall into the budget segment.
- Composition. If the word Collagen in the list is located closer to the end, then its content in the cream is negligible.
Cream with collagen for the face: reviews of cosmetologists
Despite the optimistic picture, cosmetologists are still in no hurry to recommend a face cream with collagen. The main reason is that the composition of most preparations includes animal collagen. Collagen molecules are sufficiently bulky chemical compounds that cannot enter the body through the pores. Therefore, most often such an anti-aging collagen cream for the face is washed off with water after application.
In most cases (especially cheaper cosmetics), lifting, skin hydration and other miraculous properties are a myth. However, in such cosmetics there are also auxiliary components that can positively affect the skin.
Separately, experts mention collagen creams prepared at home. This is not very successfulsolution. The effect will be minimal, but the risk of staying with allergies is very high.
Common Collagen Myths
Myth one. Collagen from food can slow down the aging process. The body is a complex system that "trusts" no one. Proteins from food are first broken down into their constituents (amino acids). Only after that the body begins to independently build its own proteins. Because of this, there is no guarantee that a dish with collagen will turn into collagen in the body.
Myth two. Subcutaneous injections are a panacea for aging. The same principle works here as with the collagen menu. Proteins injected under the skin are also initially broken down. The advantage of such procedures is that the protein is immediately injected under the skin and does not go through the entire digestive chain. The resulting amino acids are much more likely to turn back into collagen, which is essential for aging skin.
The most effective method of preserving youth is to prevent the destruction of the “youth protein” already present in the body. To do this, avoid exposure to UV rays on the skin, give up bad habits and reduce sugar intake. If you decide to purchase an anti-aging collagen cream for the face, reviews, recommendations from cosmetologists and doctors should be the decisive factor in choosing.
