Things that Fight Wrinkles and Aging

A healthy diet and lifestyle are primary for skin health, but finding the right supplement blend is helpful for anyone looking to naturally address those wrinkles and improve the hydration and elasticity of skin. But people really feeling the effects of living in a high-stress world may need extra support to transform skin health from the inside out.

When people feel “wired” at the end of the day or notice gripping tension in the shoulders and neck, this stress can show up on the skin in the form of wrinkles. That’s why expensive wrinkle-fighting creams only go so far. They only serve as a band-aid instead of getting to the root causes of the problem: excess stress, lack of restorative sleep and loss of a key protein, collagen.

Here's a closer look at how and why collagen protein supports skin health:

It’s your skin’s first layer of defense.

Protein acts as a support network for the dermis (the skin layer that helps keep skin resilient and supple). The skin is the largest organ in your body and plays a critical role in protecting your insides from the external environment.

It makes up most of your skin.

Roughly 70 to 80 percent of the protein found in skin is collagen. In general, consuming hydrolyzed collagen has been shown to help increase the density of collagen fibrils and fibroblasts that form the skin.

It aids skin cell turnover.

Because skin has such a tough job, skin cells are constantly being damaged from external factors such as sunlight, abrasions, pollution and more. We need protein, especially collagen protein, for skin cell turnover, or the natural ongoing skin renewal and repair process.

Timing matters.

Did you know that when collagen supplements first came out, it was recommended that they be taken an hour before bed? There is a belief that consuming collagen at night while you rest can potentially boost the skin repair benefits for your body during the deeply restorative state of sleep.

Consider testing this theory yourself by timing your collagen supplement intake in the PM hours. There is no “wrong” time to take collagen, and it certainly will not interfere with getting deep sleep if taken before bed.

While more research needs to be conducted, certain research shows that astaxanthin is one of the most powerful antioxidants in nature. In fact, its ability to fight free radicals has been shown to be up to 6,000 times higher than vitamin C, up to 550 times higher than vitamin E and up to 40 times higher than beta-carotene.

It’s that antioxidant support that helps protect against oxidative stress. But its benefits can actually show up on your face, too. Astaxanthin supports healthy aging by repairing skin and improving the depth of wrinkles.

 Proven Stress Fighters and Sleep Aids

Getting a good night's sleep is so critical for so many things, from your hormones to the health of your skin to looking and feeling your absolute best.

Enter ashwagandha and magnesium, two supplements known for calming effects on the body.

Ashwagandha

Organic ashwagandha root and leaf extract helps support healthy sleep and a healthy response to stress. The most commonly used and more extensively researched adaptogenic herb, ashwagandha is a staple in the Ayurvedic tradition and has been used for more than 2,500 years.

The stress- and body-balancing agent helps the body maintain homeostasis, even in moments of emotional or physical stress.

Magnesium

Magnesium is calming, promoting restful sleep and a relaxed state of mind. In fact, it’s vital for GABA function, a neurotransmitter that produces “feel good” neurotransmitters like serotonin. In short, magnesium plays a role in calming the body and promoting relaxation, which is one reason why a magnesium shortfall can negatively impact sleep.

Tying It All Together

With the right diet and lifestyle, including supplements, getting beauty sleep is possible. For example, when you add collagen and astaxanthin to your healthy routine, your skin will be sure to thank you as it works to repair itself while you sleep.

You could find these supplements separately and add them gradually to your routine, but now there is a way to get all three in one convenient solution.