What Is Collagen and Why Does Your Skin Need It?

Collagen is the protein that gives skin its structure and bounce. In skincare, collagen peptides mainly help skin hold moisture, so skin looks plumper and feels softer.

TL;DR

• What it is: Collagen is a structural protein your body makes, and you start making less of it in your 20s.
• What a topical does: Collagen molecules are too large to sink into skin, so creams and serums work on the surface.
• Main benefit: Collagen peptides help skin hold onto moisture, which softens the look of fine lines.
• What actually builds collagen: Ingredients like AHAs and retinol support your skin's own collagen production.
• Plant-based option: Our collagen products use soy and seaweed collagen peptides, so they are 100% vegan.

What Is Collagen?

Collagen is a protein our bodies make naturally, and it is one of the most important structural proteins in skin. We start losing it as early as our 20s.

It is also made by plants and animals, and it comes in both topical and ingestible forms.

Does Collagen Skincare Work?

Collagen molecules are generally too large to penetrate the skin's surface on their own. That is why good products use hydrolysed collagen, which is broken down into smaller peptides.

Even then, topical collagen works mainly on the surface. It helps skin hold moisture, and well-hydrated skin looks plumper and smoother.

To support your skin's own collagen production, look to ingredients like AHAs, retinol, or retinol's plant-based alternative, bakuchiol. Our guide to AHA BHA for acne-prone skin covers the exfoliating side.

What Are the Benefits of Collagen?

• Moisturising: topical collagen peptides help the skin hold onto moisture, giving it a hydration boost.
• Anti-ageing support: the added moisture from collagen-infused skincare helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, making your complexion look more youthful over time.

Who Is Collagen Skincare For?

Collagen products can suit many skin types, but a few groups tend to like them most:

• Dry or dehydrated skin: the moisture-holding effect is the main draw. Pair it with hyaluronic acid for extra hydration.
• Sensitive skin: plant-based collagen is less likely to trigger a reaction than animal-based collagen. Patch test first, and browse our sensitive skin range.
• Ageing skin: hydration softens the look of fine lines. Browse our ageing skin collection for more.

Not sure where to start? Take the skin quiz and we will point you to a routine.

How to Use Collagen

Plant-based collagen is far less likely to trigger a reaction than its animal-based counterpart. That makes it worth looking for if you have allergies to animal-based ingredients like dairy.

Skincare products with plant-based collagen peptides can typically be used twice daily. They are most commonly found in serums, creams and tonics.

Why We Use Plant-Based Collagen

At Dope Skin Co, we love collagen for the benefits it offers skin. A lot of collagen in skincare is animal-derived, and since we formulate 100% vegan skincare, that is not an option for us.

Our Calming Collagen Serum and Tonic use plant-based collagen peptides instead: soy collagen peptides and seaweed collagen peptides, alongside chenopodium quinoa seed extract. Together with supporting ingredients like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, these work with your skin rather than against it.

Shop Calming Collagen Serum | Shop Calming Collagen Tonic | See the full collagen range

Collagen Skincare FAQ

Can a collagen cream replace the collagen I have lost?
No. Topical collagen does not rebuild skin's collagen. It helps skin hold moisture, which makes skin look plumper and smoother.

Is collagen skincare good for acne?
Collagen is not an acne treatment. If breakouts are the goal, an exfoliating acid that clears the pore blockage is a better fit.

Is our collagen skincare vegan?
Yes. Our collagen products use soy and seaweed collagen peptides, not animal-derived collagen.