What is Marine Collagen? | Benefits of Marine Collagen | Feelunique
A type of protein sourced from fish, can marine collagen supplements really lead to healthier skin?
Each month, we tap up the beauty's wisest experts for their answers to your all-important questions. This month, it's all about marine collagen.
To find out about the skin benefits of marine collagen and how it works, to how much you should take and if there's any side effects, we spoke to Dr Michele Squire - PhD scientist and former Registered Nurse. With 17 years of skincare science research behind her, as well as her role as Vida Glow's resident educator, she's our go-to expert for all our collagen queries.
What is collagen?
Before we get onto marine collagen, we first need to understand what collagen itself is. “Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body,” Dr Squire explains. It’s found in your skin, hair, nails, muscles, bones and, well, basically everywhere. Collagen plays a role in strengthening skin, and can benefit its elasticity and hydration.
“As you approach your mid-20s, the natural ageing process starts to kick in and your collagen production starts to slow,” says Dr Squire, “And that’s when people often start to see the first fine lines and wrinkles.” Eek, we know the feeling…
Ok, so what is marine collagen?
Marine collagen is a specific form of collagen sourced from fish (hence the ‘marine’ bit). It’s primarily a ‘Type 1’ collagen - the most abundant type of collagen found in your body. This is what makes it so popular as a beauty and skincare supplement.
Vida Glow’s Natural Marine Collagen is extracted as a by-product of sustainably-sourced fish and comes as a powder rather than a tablet or pill. “The raw collagen is then put through a process called hydrolysation to reduce its molecular weight, ensuring it has a higher bioavailability in the body,” Dr Squire tells us.
How does marine collagen work?
Marine collagen supplements work by increasing your body’s pool of specific amino acids (the molecules that form proteins).
“Once you’ve taken your supplement, the marine collagen is absorbed by cells in your gut lining into your bloodstream,” Dr Squire says. From here, it’s distributed through your body where needed - including to the skin - to help support natural collagen production.
“A collagen powder with a low molecular weight is key for maximum bioavailability,” Dr Squire goes on to explain, “This allows it to be easily absorbed by the body.”
Helpfully, Vida Glow’s marine collagen is already in its bioactive size and ready to do its work as soon as it enters the bloodstream - it doesn’t need to be broken down any further. Basically, it can get to work ASAP, which is music to our ears (skin?)
What are the benefits of marine collagen for skin?
There’s an increasing amount of evidence supporting marine collagen’s safety and efficacy when it comes to benefitting your skin, especially once your body’s natural collagen rate has started to decline (around age 25).
Vida Glow’s marine collagen is clinically proven to plump fine lines and wrinkles, as well as improve skin hydration and elasticity.
Taking a marine collagen supplement can help:
* Maintain firmer, smoother skin
* Improve skin elasticity
* Plump fine lines and wrinkles
* Potentially reduce signs of UV damage
That last one is especially interesting. Dr Squire told us: “There’s some promising evidence of collagen’s capacity to reduce signs of UV damage in skin.” She went on to explain: “Vida Glow’s own studies – performed at the renowned research institute the Centre of Clinical Pharmacology Applied to Dermatology (CPCAD) in France – support these findings.”
How much marine collagen should you take a day?
Because collagen production declines with age, Dr Squire advises you tailor your supplementation approach to your specific requirements and concerns.
“Between the ages of 25 and 35, we recommend one daily 3g serving,” Dr Squire explains. “From ages 36 to 45, two daily 3g servings and from the age of 46 and above, three daily servings is optimal.”
So to summarise, this is how much marine collagen you should take daily:
* Ages 25 to 34 – 3g per day
* Ages 26 to 45 – 6g per day
* Ages 46 and over – 9g per day
How long does marine collagen take to work?
“Marine collagen is like a healthy diet and good skincare,” Dr Squire says, “You need to take it consistently and for a period of time – and when you do, the results are there.”
Basically, how quickly and effectively you see results relies on consistent, daily supplementation. If you’re after specifics, though, some clinical trials have shown that favourable results can be seen in as little as four weeks.
If you’re taking more than one daily serving, Dr Squire recommends spacing out your servings rather than taking them all at once: “It's best to supplement each serve individually and throughout the day to maximise its absorption and efficacy.”
Are there any side effects of marine collagen?
“Marine collagen has an excellent safety profile in a number of scientific studies,” Dr Squire reassures us. Vida Glow’s marine collagen is ultra-purified, meaning it’s free of any heavy metals that can often contaminate collagen products on the market.
“Although it’s unlikely, stomach aches and bloating can occur when more than 10 grams of a marine collagen product is ingested” Dr Squire says. That’s why it’s important to stick to the recommended amount of whichever supplement you choose.
How can you be sure marine collagen actually reaches your skin?
Dr Squire tells us that several studies have shown the journey of collagen peptides and where they end up: “They enter the bloodstream at peak concentration within an hour or two after ingestion, then they locate themselves in the skin’s dermis.”
The dermis is the deeper levels of the skin where collagen is formed, which is exactly where you want your collagen to end up.
So there you have it: all your questions about marine collagen, answered. Want to incorporate collagen supplements into your beauty routine? Shop Vida Glow's full collection at Feelunique.