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Increase Collagen Production in Your Skin With a DIY Collagen Face Mask

Collagen is perhaps the best-known skin and hair care ingredient and with good cause. 

What is collagen? It’s a type of protein that is found abundantly in the body, vital for wound healing, musculoskeletal health, and skin structure. 

It is the skin health benefits of collagen that most of us are concerned with, right?

A decline in collagen levels is responsible for the main signs of aging skin – wrinkles and sagging. Although collagen levels decline as you age, there are steps you can take to boost collagen production and to slow the decline. 

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Use these 7 tips to maintain healthy collagen levels for youthful skin.

7 Tips to Maintain Healthy Collagen Levels

1. Vitamin C 

Yes, vitamin C is great for your immune system, but it’s also good for your skin. Some studies suggest that it can increase skin protection and boost collagen production in the body. Vitamin C intake can be increased with supplementation and the use of natural skincare products. Of course, the best way to raise vitamin C levels is through a higher dietary intake of citric fruits and foods like broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts, and red peppers. Vitamin C is also needed for the synthesis of hyaluronic acid, which aids collagen production.

2. Hydration 

The recommendation to drink more water is something that you will come across in any skin care guide. That’s not surprising, as hydration is important for the production of collagen in your body. 

Collagen is not able to repair itself effectively when your skin is dry and dehydrated. 

Dehydration can also lead to a drop in levels of vitamin C since it is a water-soluble nutrient. As we have already established, vitamin C is vital for collagen production and dehydration can adversely impact this process.  

3. Vitamin A in Food & Skin Care Products

Vitamin A or retinol is another nutrient that is vital for skin health and collagen production. Boosting dietary intake with foods like carrots, spinach, broccoli, sweet red peppers, and beef liver among others, gives you both retinoids and carotenoids. 

Carotenoids like beta-carotene are known to provide antioxidant protection and can limit cellular damage and premature skin aging. As the skin is retinoid-responsive and can absorb vitamin A, topical application can also be beneficial. This is supported by research, which found that treatment with 0.1 percent retinol can increase procollagen levels and reduce wrinkle formation within 3 months. 

Related To: The Best Clay for Skin Types

Related To: How to Use a Konjac Sponge

4. Peptides and Growth Factors

Peptides and growth factors can provide a significant boost to collagen levels and may be ingested or applied in topical treatments. Fish and seafood are the best sources of collagen peptides that are easily absorbed in the body, but the regions of fish that have the highest content are parts we usually don’t eat – the head, eyeballs, and scales. 

However, studies show that fish derived-collagen peptide and ornithine (CPO) can provide a significant boost to skin health. Supplementation works by raising levels of plasma growth hormone or insulin-like growth factor. Similarly, the topical application of cosmetics containing growth factors and peptides has been found to stimulate fibroblasts and stem cells, encouraging cellular regeneration and collagen production.

5. Aloe Vera Gel

Aloe is one of the most popular natural ingredients in skincare products. Nutritionally complex, with vitamins A and C, a variety of enzymes and antioxidants, aloe is most notable for its powerful anti-inflammatory effects. The topical application of aloe gel is known to reduce skin inflammation, promote healing, and treat sunburn, but research suggests that it can do a lot more. 

According to a study in the journal Clinical, Cosmetic, and Investigational Dermatology oral supplementation with aloe sterols may double hyaluronic acid and collagen production, promoting skin cell growth and reducing wrinkles. Aloe vera is one of the ingredients in the collagen face mask recipe below! 

6. Ginseng

Ginseng has long been popular with herbalists, touted as a remedy for a wide variety of conditions, including chronic pain disorders like osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia. While not every claim is substantiated by evidence, there is reason to believe that it could help improve your skin health. Although more research is needed, some studies show that ginseng can raise levels of collagen in the bloodstream. 

Whether or not ginseng is effective at boosting collagen production, it could help promote skin health because of its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties.

7. Sun Protection

Sun protection shouldn’t just be a part of your summer skin care routine. Although you may not suffer from sunburn, exposure to UV radiation during peak sunlight hours can cause significant damage to your skin. UV radiation causes both skin proteins – collagen and elastin to degrade at a much higher rate than they would with normal aging. 

In fact, most research findings point to UV exposure as the primary cause of skin aging. To protect your skin and keep collagen levels healthy, make it a point to use sunscreen whenever you’re venturing out for an extended period of time, especially during peak daylight hours. 

In addition to these natural methods that you can use to boost collagen production at home, you can also turn to a DIY collagen face mask.  

How to make a collagen face mask with collagen powder for youthful skin.

How to Make a Collagen Face Mask

It’s easy to create a collagen face mask at home! Use your favorite collagen powder and a natural clay such as the French rose clay I used in this face mask recipe. It’s amazing for all skin types! But, what I love most about rose clay is its ability to regenerate skin tissue, boosts cell renewal, and improves circulation to the skin for a healthier, youthful glow.

Blend each into the many skin benefits of aloe vera and honey to form a collagen face mask at home. You’re going to love the results!

Collagen Face Mask Ingredients: 

½ teaspoon collagen powder

1 teaspoon French rose clay

½ teaspoon honey

1 teaspoon aloe vera gel

Instructions: 

Combine ½ teaspoon collagen powder, 1 teaspoon French rose clay, ½ teaspoon of honey, and 1 teaspoon aloe vera gel into a small bowl. Using a small spoon or face mask spatula to blend the ingredients together until a creamy mask forms. 

Follow the steps below to apply a collage face mask for best results. 

Prefer a Printable Recipe?

Boost collagen production at home with a DIY collagen face mask made from collagen powder and rose clay!

Collagen Face Mask

Yield: 1 face mask
Active Time: 3 minutes
Total Time: 3 minutes
Difficulty: Easy

Collagen is perhaps the best-known skin and hair care ingredient and with good cause. Here’s how to use collagen powder in a DIY collagen face mask.

Materials

  • ½ teaspoon collagen powder
  • 1 teaspoon French rose clay
  • ½ teaspoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon aloe vera gel

Instructions

    1. Combine ½ teaspoon collagen powder, 1 teaspoon French rose clay, ½ teaspoon of honey, and 1 teaspoon aloe vera gel into a small bowl.
    2. Using a small spoon or face mask spatula to blend the ingredients together until a creamy mask forms.

Notes

Follow the steps below to apply a collage face mask for the best results.

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How to use a collagen face to boost collagen production naturally.

How to Use a Collagen Face Mask:

Get the best results from your collagen face mask by following these 5 steps:

1. Begin by cleansing your face and preferably remove any eye makeup. Try my homemade aloe vera face wash and DIY eye makeup remover pads.  

2. Next, using clean hands or a beauty spatula apply the homemade collagen face mask in a thin layer to the skin, avoiding the eye area. You can also apply it to your upper neck area and decolletage.

3. Leave the mask on for 10 to 15 minutes. During that time rehydrate the collagen mask by spritzing with a homemade hydrosol or face mist.  Even better, steam your face mask with a face steam at home. The key is to keep it working longer without it completely drying. 

4. Remove the face mask before it dries by splashing your face in warm water to soften the clay. Then gently rinse with a soft bamboo washcloth and pat dry. You always want to avoid scrubbing the mask off. For stubborn areas use a gentle face toner to remove.

5. To finish, apply a moisturizer such as a glow serum or face cream. I use this homemade face cream made with aloe vera after a face mask. 

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Boost collagen production at home with a DIY collagen face mask made from collagen powder and rose clay!

If you skipped to the recipe and are wondering, do collagen face masks work? Let me recap – high collagen levels equals soft, smooth, and firm skin. 

Collagen helps the skin cells renew and repair themselves. No matter what method you choose to maintain healthy collagen levels it’s a very important ingredient for skincare.

That’s why I use collagen powder as a supplement in my daily smoothie and in a collagen face mask. How often should you use a collagen mask? I notice a difference with just one mask a week. But you could apply one up to 3 times a week. 

How do you use collagen for skincare? P.S. Check out my highlights on Instagram to see me sporting this rose clay collagen face mask!! Tag #lifenreflection on Instagram to share yours!

4 Comments

  1. If I don’t have the rose clay, can I use something else?

    1. lifenreflection says:

      Sure you can swap it for any clay that works for your skin type. See all the types here.

  2. TC Murchison says:

    What is the shelf life after making it?
    Thanks
    TCMurch

    1. lifenreflection says:

      This recipe is designed to make enough for 1 or 2 uses. I use it immediately. You can apply it to your neck and upper chest too.

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