LUX LIST: boost collagen production in your skin with these top products (including gin!).
Collagen acts as the glue that holds our bodies together and is the second most abundant substance in our body behind water and is the building block of our tissues. In our mid-twenties, our collagen production begins to decrease, this is what is known as the ageing process and is most noticeable in our skin and hair, whether it’s wrinkles, sagging skin, finer hair or grey hair. But the good news is, there are plenty of help out there to add collagen back to our bodies. Here are our top picks of products, that actual work, from snacks, supplements to skincare products to add collagen.
Collagen Snack Bites, Your Beauty Food
Is it possible to eat yourself gorgeous? The most effective way to look good on the outside is to boost your insides and collagen is your body’s natural ally since it tightens and rightens, seals and heals. If injections aren’t for you then eating collagen might be a better (and tastier) option. The yummy collagen snack bars from Your Beauty Food comes in two flavours; Choc chic and Peanut Butter and ar perfectly formulated to maximise collagen absorption.
The Verdict:
We love these little treats! Since these super-charged collagen balls are individually wrapped they are easy to pop in the handbag. The fact that they only contain 1.9% sugar and are gluten, dairy and soy-free make them a healthy option and good for anyone with allergies. The flavour is nice and the texture is rich which makes one snack bite go a long way.
Price: $39.95/ 12 pack
5 Second Nano-Collagen Boost Firming Eye Patches, Activlayr
The ActivLayr™ 5-Sec Firming Eye Mask from New Zealand consists of sustainably sourced high purity deep-sea marine collagen, with kiwifruit skin and sauvignon blanc grape extracts, and hyaluronic acid.
The Verdict:
It’s important to use plenty of the natural spring water that comes with the pack. The skin needs to be properly damp/wet in order for the collagen to come off the eye-patches and stick to the skin. The patches themselves are easy to apply and comes up easily if the skin has been correctly prepared. The result is quite astonishing and gives a lift-effect almost immediately. It also tightens the skin and leaves a nice smooth surface all around the eyes.
Price: $89.95
Vida Marine Collagen 30x3G Bluberry, Vida Glow
Replenishing collagen levels in your body with a natural supplement such as the Vida Marine Collagen, derived from the scales of ocean fish, containing no wheat, gluten, sugar, additives, preservatives or flavours as well as free from any heavy metals, toxins or pollution. The Blueberry marine collagen blend is a delicious option for those who want to add a bit of flavour to their collagen intake. Blueberries naturally contain lots of Vitamin C and the naturally occurring Vitamin C in Blueberry Vida Glow helps with the absorption of collagen in your system and is an essential component in the body’s production of collagen.
The Verdict:
The individual sachets are easy to bring anywhere. The flavour is nice and the powder can be mixed in anything (!) including plain water (hot or cold) to smoothies and juices. The convenience of the packaging in combination with the premium collagen and added vitamin C makes this a winner for us!
Price: $59.95
Vida Marine Collagen 30x3G Pineapple, Vida Glow
Vida Marine Collagen Pineapple is similar to Vida Marine Collagen Blueberry using the same sourced collagen. Pineapples are a superfood for your hair, skin and nails. The collagen, vitamin C and nutrients present in Pineapple Vida Glow work together to nourish your skin and may assist in healing the skin. Pineapples also have collagen synthesising properties, which help to combat the ageing process and makes skin smooth, firm and flexible.
The Verdict:
Similar to Vida Marine Collagen Blueberry, the Pineapple flavour is sweet and tasty and mixes well with most things. It is actually very nice to simply mix it with water.
Price: $59.95
Lumiere Collagen Beauty Mist, Vani-T
Lumiere Collagen Beauty Mist is a lightweight 3-in-1 illuminating prep, refresh and setting mist. Infused with collagen peptides, skin-loving ingredients and light-reflecting particles, this hydrating mist restores skin’s youthful appearance and gives a burst of radiance any time of the day.
The Verdict:
The Lumiere Collagen Beauty Mist smells divine and a few pumps of the mist onto the face gives an instant radiant glow. It’s not sticky and leaves the skin feeling fresh.
Price: $37.95
Collagen Boost Serum, essano
essano Collagen Boost Serum contains plant peptides and rosehip oil to stimulate your skin’s repair processes from within. These ingredients are clinically proven to plump and soften wrinkles and fine lines, improve firmness and elasticity and tighten pores and refine texture. The collagen serum also provides intense moisturisation and can be used daily for a youthful complexion.
The Verdict:
The Collagen Boost Serum from essano is easy to apply to the skin and smells nice. It feels very soft and smooth. It can be used daily and gives enough hydration to be used as a moisturiser. Use it on its own or before applying makeup.
Price:
Eternal Plumping Deep-Sea Malachite Collagen Serum, Rawkanvas
A super-charged serum that works to brighten and revitalise the complexion by encouraging skin renewal, stimulating collagen production, improving skin elasticity and combating the signs of ageing as supported by active ingredients including Malachite (Copper) Extract, Seaweed Collagen and Vitamin C (Kakadu Plum, Finger Lime, Desert Lime).
The Verdict:
We love it! The pump function on the bottle makes it easy to get the right amount of product and once applied to the face it absorbs quickly. It leaves the skin feeling tightened and fresh.
Price: $58
Impression Gin (launching this month)
Australia’s first boutique gin made with vitamin C and collagen-rich botanicals is launching this month (March 2020) and we couldn’t be more excited. Finally, a tipple that does not only taste good but will also make you look fabulous. As Cherida Forde, Co-Founder explains “we wanted to do gin differently, something for the health-conscious people who like to keep fit and eat well, yet are still up for good time with friends. After all, life is all about balance”. Botanicals include: Mangosteen, a natural source of vitamin c and collagen, Kakadu plum, rich in antioxidants straight from the Australian outback, Dandelion, to detoxify and aloe vera, the ultimate hydrator.
Stay tuned for this one!
Price: $75
Certified Organic Collagen Boost Night Crème, essano
The Collagen Boost Night Creme contains plant peptides to stimulate collagen production and skin repair while you sleep. Certified Organic Rosehip Oil provides intense moisturisation for more youthful, resilient skin. Regular use will smooth and soften wrinkles and promote a youthful-looking complexion.
The Verdict:
This is a great night cream for those with dry skin. It is a rich cream and goes onto the skin very nicely. It smells amazing and waking up in the morning after using the night cream the skin feels plump and soft.
Price: $17.39
Jellyfish Collagen Hydrating Face Mask, Dr. Lewinn’s
Jellyfish Collagen Hydrating Face Mask is a luxurious mask using Bio-Cellulose technology which allows the mask to adhere perfectly to the face, acting like a second skin for an instant and continuous moisture surge. The Face Mask contains a highly potent serum of Jellyfish Extract, which is rich in Collagen protein to strengthen the skin’s barrier, Juveleven peptide and Hyaluronic Acid to boost skin’s moisture, improve skin suppleness and promote younger, healthier-looking skin.
The Verdict:
everyone loves a sheet mask and if it’s packed with jellyfish collagen, even better! The mask is easy to apply to the face and comfortable to wear. When removing, the extra product left on your face can be massaged into the skin as an extra boost and the result is glowing firm skin.
Price: $9.95
Collagen Beauty Peptides Lumiere, Vani-T
Designed to nourish from the inside out, Lumiere Collagen Beauty Peptides is an advanced, effective and bioavailable collagen. The product claims to drastically improve skin, hair and nail health within 30 days reducing wrinkles, fines lines, dry, blemished or thinning skin. Collagen Beauty Peptides Lumiere also assists with gut health and energy levels and is dairy and gluten-free and contains 18 amino acids and 100% pure collagen. Take up to 10g daily with 250ml of water, stir well and drink. Best taken first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.
The Verdict:
This product is completely odourless and tasteless and mixes well with water, juices, coffees and smoothies. After taking around 10mg for 4 days we’ve already been seeing a big difference in our skin, which is brighter and has a nice glow.
Price: $49
Mor products for a healthy body…
Replenish, Kissed Earth
Replenish is a blend of nutrient-rich vegan proteins, amino acids, organic fibre & mineral salts combined to help replenish, repair and support your body from within. The powder is a great bio-fermented organic plant protein source and contains iron, fibre and probiotics which assist with muscle recovery and improves endurance & stamina.
The Verdict:
It tastes really good! We’ve been mixing 20g with 250ml water daily have noticed an increased energy level. An added bonus is that Replenish doesn’t leave you with a bloated feeling. Two thumbs-up!
Price: $59.95
Tummify (shots)
Good health starts in the gut! Every ingredient in easy to drink and delicious Tummify is natural, from the organic fresh milk base to nature’s probiotic kefir. A shot of Tummify achieves the same performance as market-leading capsules with 13 unique strains and 35B CFU and is also 98% sugar-free, low in lactose, and gluten-free.
The Verdict:
Tummify is a drinkable shot which tastes like a kefir yoghurt. It is easy to drink from the bottle and although it is 98% sugarfree it still tastes slightlhy sweet. We tried one shot every morning for three days and noticed our stomach feeling calm and balanced.
Price: $59.95
Zoe Bingley- Pullin on how to stay healthy whilst travelling