Spa Girl answers a question on liquid vs. gel collagen

One Spa Girl asked...

I have a question for you about collagen product absorption. I was told that a gel collagen won't penetrate deeply into the skin, it has to be a liquid form.  What are your thoughts?  I would also like to know about Retinoids.

Retinoid is of course vitamin A which helps in unclogging pores, boosting collagen helping to reduce fine lines, and speeds up cell turnover.  You will also notice clearer softer and brighter skin tone.  I have a prescription from my dermatologists which I use twice a week and I really have noticed a difference.  In photos dating back several years the difference is day and night.  My skin looks younger, definitely less wrinkles and brighter.

There are three prescription-strength retinoids that I am familiar with: tretinoin (brands include Atralin, Avita, Retin-A, Retin-A Micro, Renova), tazarotene (Avage, Tazorac), and adapalene (Differin). You should however check with your dermatologist if you decide to go this route.

Liquid vs. gel collagen...

Liquid collagen has become a popular dietary supplement helping promote weight loss, nail and hair growth and strengthen ligaments & bones. It is also used for to promote younger more youthful looking skin.

Liquid collagen contains amino acids, proteins and vitamins and is used to reduce the breakdown of collagen. It's composition is glycine, proline, hydroxyproline and arginine. From my research, liquid collagen comes in both a liquid form and a gel form, and can be given as a shot. The liquid form of the collagen is absorbed into the blood stream more quickly than the gel form. The gel is rubbed into and absorbed by the skin, which reaches the deepest layers of the skin and provides higher levels of protein.

Needless to say as we age, natural collagen decreases, however the body has the ability to rebuild itself with proper nutrition and diet. Adding more vitamin C (which helps the body manufacture collagen and increases antioxidant protection) or glucosamine in a daily diet helps promote collagen formation naturally.

I also found this...

Another commonly-used cell-stimulant is a substance that combines Palmitoyl Oligopeptide and Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide, usually found under its patented name Matrixyl 3000. In addition to aiding in the repair of aging tissue, Matrixyl 3000 supports the skin’s ‘framework’, making it stronger and more elastic. However, no anti-aging product would be complete without using Hyaluronic Acid (HA), a substance that is vital in attracting and retaining moisture in the skin, effectively ‘plumping’ it out from within. HA has the ability to hold more than 1000 times its weight in water and because it is such an essential lubricant, it is often also included in joint pain products. Adding moisture to aging, dehydrated skin will have a rejuvenating effect, making the skin appear healthy and youthful.

More information can be found at: http://www.totalbeautyanswers.com/wrinklecream

And lastly, as I have written about in previous blogs, the best preventative step for skin care and fewer wrinkles is sunscreen, sunscreen, suncreen.