How to fit collagen into your routine

  1. 1Wash your face with a gentle cleanser, then gently pat dry.
  2. 2Apply skin medication or treatment directly after cleansing. If your collagen product is a treatment, put it at this stage, following its directions.
  3. 3Apply moisturizer and sunscreen as appropriate. If your collagen product is a moisturizer, use it at this step rather than treating the word collagen as a separate routine category.
  4. 4Apply makeup last, if you wear it.
1

Use the label to decide whether to apply your product in the morning, evening or both, and how much to use. Applying more than directed can cause clogged pores, blotchy skin or excessive dryness. A product name is not an application schedule, however scientific the lettering looks.2

Test it before using it on your face

Apply a small amount to your inner forearm twice daily for four to five days. If there is no redness, itching or other reaction, start using it on your face. Even products labelled hypoallergenic can cause a reaction. Introduce one new anti aging product at a time rather than several together, which can irritate skin.2

Stop using a cosmetic product that stings, burns or tingles. For a prescribed product, ask your dermatologist whether that reaction is expected before stopping it. If you have concerns about your routine or skin reactions, see a dermatologist.12

What should you expect from topical collagen?

A moisturizer traps water in skin and can make fine lines look plumper within a few days. A smoother looking surface and rebuilt skin collagen are different claims, even when the packaging would prefer them to share a sentence. Collagen is a structural protein in skin; oral collagen hydrolysates, which are smaller collagen fragments, have generally shown better results for dryness and wrinkles than topical collagen formulations.23

Protecting skin from sunlight matters for preserving collagen because ultraviolet light accelerates its breakdown. Sunscreen belongs in your daytime skincare routine, and protective clothing and a broad brimmed hat help reduce sun exposure.13

Where this answer comes from

  1. 1Should I apply my skin care products in a certain order?aad.org
  2. 2How to maximize results from anti-aging skin care productsaad.org
  3. 3Collagendermnetnz.org