Collagen & Elastin: The Skin’s ‘Youth’ Proteins

We’ve all been told that collagen and elastin are essential for maintaining youthful skin, but it is important to understand exactly what these two essential components are.

Collagen connects and supports tissues in the body. It’s the main protein in connective tissue and is responsible for skin firmness and suppleness. Elastin is a protein in connective tissue that is responsible for giving structure to skin and organs, allowing skin to resume shape after stretching or contracting.

LOOKING BETTER
For building collagen and elastin, I recommend using products that contain antioxidants, such as winged-kelp, which boost anti-ageing agents, helping to maintain skin’s collagen and elastin levels, and fight oxidative stress. Also, retinol stimulates cell production and helps reveal firm, younger–looking skin.

UVA (ageing) and UVB (burning) rays weaken the skin’s support system – thereby accelerating the skin’s ageing process. Protect your skin and keep your complexion looking its best by using Broad Spectrum SPF every day!

LIVING BETTER
Food fuels your body and mind. When you eat poor quality, nutritionally empty foods, that deficit is visible on your skin. Try eating foods that are rich in collagen boosting ingredients such as eggs, beans and seeds, antioxidants such as pomegranates and goji berries, and good fats, eg. walnuts and avocado.

Daily supplements help maintain the nutrient levels you need to look and live your best. Glucosamine increases total body water content, while Amino Acids aid in the formation of collagen and elastin.

FEELING BETTER
Sleep enables the body to reverse everyday free radical damage by replenishing energy, building new cells and repairing connective tissue.

Continuous stress maxes out our tolerance and lowers our stress threshold so that when stressful events happen we hit maximum stress capacity. Take a deep breath and remember that the most important person in the world is YOU!