3 Lifestyle Habits That Will Support Your Skin's Collagen

If you're going to spend money on supplements, you want to make sure you're investing in high-quality products. Otherwise, you could end up with loads of filler ingredients and hardly any actives—this is especially true with collagen, which is arguably one of the most popular complexion-focused supplements (and for good reason).

In case you aren't aware, "Inflammation is one of the main enemies of any tissue," board-certified dermatologist Gary Goldenberg, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, previously told mbg. Those connective tissues fueled by collagen are no exception.

Inflammatory diets, which often include eating plans that are high in sugar, simple carbohydrates, and processed meats, activate the immune system and promote inflammation throughout the body, board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, M.D., once shared with mbg. "This may interfere with healing, including healing of environmentally damaged skin cells," he says. Sugar1, in particular, can be tough on collagen.

You may have heard that vitamin C and collagen are a match made in heaven, but it's important to understand why. See, your body literally needs vitamin C to effectively produce collagen2. This antioxidant can even tend to damaged collagen DNA and regulate collagen synthesis3. 

If your collagen blend doesn't contain vitamin C already, then make sure you get enough vitamin-C-rich foods or add a vitamin C supplement to your daily lineup. 

This may sound dramatic, but relaxation is your skin's best friend. Even if you're not prone to stress breakouts, anyone with a highly stressful environment can suffer the consequences of physical skin aging. 

See, the onset of stress triggers the fight-or-flight response. As more circulation is diverted to other organs, such as the heart, brain, and lungs, blood flow is taken away from your skin4. When this happens, your skin cannot produce collagen as effectively—resulting in less plump, bright-looking skin.