Purestco Collagen Glow Berries Review- do Collagen supplements work?

Introduction

The idea one can achieve good skin by the simple action of taking a collagen supplement is very attractive and has led to a wide range of products ranging from drinks to hotpots that all claim to help the consumer achieve beautiful skin. Much of it is marketing, but in recent years there is increasing scientific evidence to support the claim.

Collagen and the skin

Collagen is a protein that maintains the structure of the skin, it is also found throughout the body in cartilage, tendons and organs. As part of the ageing process, the skin produces less collagen while existing collagen breaks down at a faster rate.

Collagen Supplements 101

Collagen has a large molecular size and cannot be absorbed by the gut, hence it needs to be first broken down into smaller molecules known as amino acids and peptides. Also known as hydrolysed collagen, these small molecules are absorbed by the gut and transported via the bloodstream to the skin. Upon reaching the skin, they interact with skin cells to stimulate the production of collagen and hyaluronic acid- thereby delaying and reversing the ageing process in the skin.

Do Collagen supplements actually work? The science

The short answer is…. Yes, if taken at appropriate dosages for a sufficient duration. A meta analysis of randomised, double blind controlled trials (19 studies with 1,125 participants) investigating the effects of collagen supplementation on  skin wrinkles, hydration, elasticity, and firmness found that individuals who took collagen supplementation experienced significant improvement as compared to placebo. The study concluded that ingestion of 5000mg hydrolyzed collagen for 90 days is effective in reducing skin aging, reducing wrinkles, improving skin elasticity and hydration.

In clinic treatment to boost collagen levels

Collagen banking is in vogue- by taking proactive steps to boost skin collagen levels, visible signs of ageing can be reversed and the natural ageing process can be delayed. In clinic treatments such as Oligio RF and Ultherapy can lift and tighten the skin while boosting the skin’s collagen levels without downtime or surgery. Collagen boosting skinboosters such as Juvelook provide a collagen and hydration boost with effects lasting up to 2 years. Collagen supplements support in clinic Collagen banking treatments by providing the building blocks for new collagen formation in the skin.

Choosing a collagen supplement

Collagen supplements are food products that aren’t subject to the same kind of regulations as a prescription medication. Choose a supplement that is transparent about the ingredients and is manufactured under stringent quality control. The source of collagen matters- typically collagen source comes from animals such as pigs, cow or fish. Fish collagen (“Marine Collagen”) is the most acceptable to consumers- and usually is extracted from fish skin or fish scales. The dosage is also important- the supplement should contain at least 5000mg of hydrolysed collagen, which is the key ingredient. Last but not least, the taste and convenience of the product matters, there should be no “fishy” smell.

After testing out various Collagen supplement brands, PurestCo Collagen Glow Berries was selected as it met the above criteria. 

Key ingredient of PurestCo Collagen Glow Berries

• Marine Collagen 5500mg
• Vitamin C 250mg
• Bilberry extract 100mg
• Lightly sweetened with real fruit juice