From the inside out

The demand for ingestible collagen and/or collagen supplements, be they in capsule, powder or liquid form, has risen over the past two years, with an increase in the number of brands on the market

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It is commonly accepted that from the age of 25, the skin begins to lose 1% of collagen each year, leading to the ageing appearance of skin, with loss of elasticity, fine lines and wrinkles. An anti-ageing skincare regime coupled with a healthy lifestyle can be combined with collagen supplements for a 360 degrees approach.

Collagen supplements present an excellent retail opportunity for salons and spas.

Defiance – Collagen Evolved™

Positioned as ‘The New Frontier’ in collagen supplementation, Defiance (from the makers of the Sprezzatura Clinical Weight Loss System and developed by pharmacologist Edwin Govender) is a fortified form of medical grade collagen.

Says Edwin Govender, “Contrary to popular understanding, hydolysed collagens do not remain in their complex original form but are broken down into amino acid building blocks once digested. To restore the collagen’s complex triple-helix form again, additional ingredients are required. Sufficient vitamin C, zinc, sulphur and manganese are needed to rebuild the collagen structure. Without additional fortification of these vitamins and minerals, the collagen being ingested cannot fulfill its promise of collagen replenishment and the claimed benefits.

“In our professional medical view, at the most basic level, when collagen peptides are consumed, they serve as building blocks for other proteins or collagen production. You cannot guide the ingested collagen as to where they should go in your body. As we ingest it, it goes into a pool of amino acids, and our bodies are intelligent enough to decide where it should go. For example, if a wound needs healing, then that healing is prioritised. If skin elasticity or joint health needs priority, then it is where it will go. This is why people experience different benefits from collagen supplementation. Our research has shown that a minimum of 10+ grams of collagen is needed for sufficient collagen supplementation and benefit.”

Govender notes that in addition to the key ingredients mentioned above, Defiance is formulated with 16 additional active ingredients: high-quality Type I & III bovineinside based collagen (certified Halaal at source); chondroitin, MSM and glucosamine to build and repair cartilage; glutathione (a powerful antioxidant and pigmentation inhibitor); vitamin K2 for skin health and bone metabolism; vitamin E and Zinc for immunity; selenium (helps maintain thyroid hormone metabolism and DNA synthesis); vitamin D3 (strengthens bones and muscles and boosts immunity); astaxanthin (linked to healthier skin and endurance); and biotin to help boost hair and nail growth, hyaluronic acid for skin’s hydration, smoothness and overall appearance.

Defiance – Collagen Evolved™ works to diminish dehydration and thinning of the skin, which causes fine lines and wrinkles. It may assist with health issues such as stiff or aching joints, sore muscles, dull or thin hair and abnormal blood pressure and is medically endorsed.

Thalgo Marine Collagène 10 000

Thalgo Marine’s innovative ‘Anti-ageing shot to drink’, Collagène 10 000 is designed to help fill and plump established wrinkles. The Collagène 10 000 nutri-cosmetic contains three pillar ingredients to assist with ageing concerns: 10 000 mg of pure marine collagen, selenium and zinc.

According to Thalgo, the 10,000 mg of patented pure marine collagen contained in the product is the highest concentration of collagen available to date, delivered daily. These marine collagen peptides boost the neosynthesis of cutaneous hyaluronic acid and collagen to help to fill in and plump up wrinkles from within. Combined with selenium, zinc also helps to protect from oxidative stress and keep skin glowing with health.

Each box of Collagène 10 000 contains 10 x melt-in-the-mouth, tangy peach-flavoured drinks that can be ingested ‘neat’ or diluted with a glass of water, depending on your taste preference. It contains calorie-free sweeteners with no impact on blood sugar whatsoever. It’s recommended to do the treatment course at least every 3-months for optimal results.