Is Eating Collagen the Secret to Great Skin?

PUTTING COLLAGEN ON YOUR FACE HAS long been the talk of the beauty industry, with lotions and treatments promising smoother, brighter skin.

- Jennifer Jeanne Patterson

Now, with the rise of the food-as-medicine movement, people are buzzing about ingesting collagen via pills and powders. A record number of foods and supplements infused with the stuff—from snack bars to elixirs—have hit the market, and sales are expected to be up by 32 percent this year.

Jessica Wu, M.D., a dermatologist in Los Angeles, noticed the trend when her patients brought home collagen products from Europe, saying they made their skin look better. “That’s when I started looking into the research,” says Dr. Wu, who found early studies to be promising enough that she recommends collagen supplements to her clients.

Soon enough, A-listers got on board. “Celebrities and their makeup artists began talking about it,” says Dr. Wu. Indeed, Jennifer Aniston has said a collagen-infused smoothie “works from the inside out,” adding to her “glow.”

Collagen is the padding that gives your skin, bones, and joints the strength, structure, and cushioning they need. Smile, and collagen provides the elasticity that lets your skin plump back out. Bend your knee, and collagen-containing cartilage acts as a pillow for your bones and joints.