I am a believer in collagen supplements and I advocate collagen drinks: when taken in the right blend, with the appropriate vitamins and minerals, they can make a big difference to how fresh you look and how fresh you feel too.
Once we’ve passed the age of 25 – some even say 18! – our bodies start producing less collagen. We lose roughly 1.5 per cent each year. By the age of 40, total levels in our bodies could have dropped by almost a third.
As collagen gives bouncy, youthful elasticity to our skin and strength to our bones, as well as replacing dead skin cells, this can have a massive effect, with our skin becoming – yes – more lined and wrinkled. It’s appropriate that ‘collagen’ comes from the Greek word for ‘glue’.
Collagen makes up 30 per cent of our bodies’ protein structures and up to three-quarters of our skin. It also contributes to healthy hair and strong nails.
The pink drink
I have been a loyal user of Skinade for years so was very cautious when I started using the Rejuvenated Collagen Shots. In the past, there had been gaps where I hadn’t taken Skinade for a couple of weeks and I had been surprised at how quickly I noticed a difference in my skin – it didn’t look as fresh or feel as soft.
I had no doubt as to the benefits of Skinade but struggled with the expense – even though I know one bottle only costs the same as a daily Starbucks… and all that caffeine is definitely worse for you.
Enter Rejuvenated Collagen Shots – aka the pink drink, thanks to the dark açai berries that colour it.
Açai berries, from the açai palm, are one of the new superfoods on the block thanks to their rich mix of anti-oxidants, vitamin C and essential fatty and amino acids. A grape-like fruit native to the rainforests of South America, they became popular as açai bowls (pictured), a cross between a smoothie and a frozen yoghurt, in Brazil’s cities.
For a long time I’ve been looking for a product which offers all of the collagen-boosting benefits but that comes at a more reasonable price and I think the pink drink is the answer.
Vit C helps the collagen go down
Collagen Shots are the equivalent of taking 20 standard collagen pills a day, Rejuvenated says. Founder Kathryn Danzey says results can be seen in seven weeks.
As well as collagen, Collagen Shots contain hyaluronic acid, a moisturiser. Our skin produces it naturally – but ageing and environment can affect its production. It works as a magnet for our skin to retain moisture: it can hold up to 1,000 times its own weight in water and helps plump out the spacers between the cells. (And we all know how good water is for your skin.) So it’s a genius ingredient to include for the benefit of your skin.
Add in vitamin C and you have a recipe for success. Both Rejuvenated Collagen Shots and Skinade contain vitamin C – a powerful antioxidant that is vital to collagen production. As we age, we hold less vitamin C in the skin’s epidermis (the outer skin layer) and dermis (the next layer of skin down) so, for the hydrolysed collagen to work effectively, the right amount of vitamin C must be present.
I have been really impressed with the Collagen Shots. They have an impressive 10,000mg of marine collagen as opposed to Skinade’s 7,000mg. In just a few weeks, I’ve found the results on my skin to be every bit as good – and for considerably less money.
Monitoring the benefits of collagen supplements
Cynical about nutri-drinks? The best thing to do is to run your own tests.
Photos and diary: For anyone who has never taken a collagen supplement, I would recommend taking regular pictures and keeping a diary of how your skin feels.
Check your elbows: Also monitor the skin on your elbow – this is a great area to keep an eye on if you are cynical about results, because the skin of the outside of your elbow can be quite rough.