What is collagen, and what does it do for skin?

Published: March 2025

Collagen is a key protein that helps your skin look firm, smooth, and elastic. It’s naturally found in your body and gives skin its strength and structure. However, as we age, our collagen levels begin to decline, which can lead to wrinkles, sagging, and a dull appearance.

In this article, you can find information about what collagen is, how it benefits your skin, and tips on boosting collagen production with an effective skincare routine and powerful ingredients. Whether you’re looking to reduce fine lines or keep your skin glowing, understanding collagen is the first step to healthier, more youthful-looking skin.

Collagen is a natural protein that makes up about 30% of the body’s total protein. It strengthens and supports the skin, hair, bones, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and other connective tissues. This protein is also found in organs, blood vessels, and the intestinal lining.

It is also essential for maintaining joint health, supporting kidney function, and maintaining cardiovascular system function.

As we age, collagen production decreases, leading to visible signs of ageing, such as loss of elasticity, wrinkles, sagging skin, and increased dryness. Collagen and elastin levels begin to decline by 1% annually in the mid-to-late 20s, with a noticeable drop by the 30s and 40s when a person reaches their 50s. As collagen levels decline, the skin loses its plumpness and resilience, resulting in more noticeable signs of ageing.

Over time, your body produces less collagen, and the existing collagen breaks down faster. During menopause, the hormonal activity slows down, and collagen levels decrease. Therefore, it’s important to maintain and restore your collagen levels for healthy, youthful-looking skin.

Collagen is a protein that gives the skin structure and elasticity. It is found in the dermis, the middle layer of the skin, and helps the skin stay firm, elastic, and hydrated, all contributing to a youthful appearance. Collagen is also vital for the skin’s natural renewal process, helping shed old skin cells and making room for new ones.

Maintaining healthy collagen in the skin levels as you age offers many benefits for your skin and can help keep your face looking youthful. Here are some key benefits of collagen for the skin:

• Reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines: As we age, natural collagen production declines, leading to wrinkles and fine lines. Boosting collagen levels can help smooth out these signs of ageing.
  
• Improves skin elasticity and firmness: Collagen helps keep the skin firm and elastic. Higher collagen levels prevent sagging and enhance the skin’s overall appearance.
• Enhances hydration and plumpness: Collagen supports moisture retention, keeping the skin well-hydrated and plump.
  
• Promotes skin repair and renewal: Collagen helps repair damaged skin and fade scars and blemishes, leading to a fresher, more even complexion.
  
• Enhances a natural, healthy glow: Collagen refines the skin’s surface and reduces roughness and unevenness, improving light reflection and giving the skin a healthy glow.

There are several types of collagen, each with a slightly different structure and function in the body. Here’s a breakdown of the most common types:

• Type I: This is the most abundant type of collagen, making up about 90% of all the collagen in your body. It’s primarily found in skin, bones, tendons, ligaments, and other connective tissues.
  
• Type II: This type is mainly found in cartilage, the flexible tissue that cushions your joints. Type II collagen helps maintain cartilage’s firmness and resilience.
• Type III: This type is found in your internal organs, skin, blood vessels, and other tissues.
  
• Type IV: This type is a key component of specific layers of your skin and helps maintain the structure and function of epithelial tissues (the tissues that line the surfaces of your body).
  
• Type V: This type contributes to the transparency and structure of specific tissues. It’s found in the cornea of the eye, as well as in some layers of skin and hair.

As you age, your skin’s natural collagen production decreases. Maintaining collagen in your skin requires a combination of an effective skincare routine, a healthy diet, and lifestyle habits.  

A proper skincare routine can help you maintain a youthful appearance by restoring your collagen levels. Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler and Hyaluron-Filler + Elasticity products feature unique formulas that deliver a variety of anti-ageing benefits, including the production of collagen, which helps plump the skin.

Here’s a simple and effective skincare routine to help maintain and enhance collagen production:

Use a gentle cleanser morning and night to remove dirt, makeup, and pollutants. Make sure you choose a cleanser suitable for your skin type (e.g., a foaming cleanser for oily skin or a creamy one for dry skin). 

Eucerin Even Pigment Perfector Exfoliating Cleansing Gel is a gentle yet effective facial cleanser designed for daily use and is particularly suited for normal to combination skin types. Infused with exfoliating ingredients, it gently lifts away impurities, makeup, and excess oil without stripping the skin of its natural moisture.

Using serums with ingredients like Vitamin C, Retinoids (Vitamin A), Peptides, Arctiin, and Hyaluronic Acid can boost collagen production, helping your face to look younger, smoother, and firmer.

The Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler Epigenetic Serum is perfect for skin that shows signs of ageing, particularly if you’re looking to stimulate collagen production, reduce wrinkles, and renew skin. The serum boosts collagen production with Glycine Saponin, stimulating skin renewal for firmer, younger-looking skin. Hyaluronic Acid deeply hydrates and plumps wrinkles. Active ingredient Epicelline® rejuvenates the skin and reactivates youth genes, visibly reversing signs of ageing. This powerful combination enhances elasticity, smooths fine lines, and restores radiance. Clinical studies show visible results after four weeks of use.* 

*Clinical study over two and four weeks with 43 volunteers, respectively. Product-in-use test over four weeks, involving over 160 volunteers.

Formulated with 10% pure Vitamin C and low-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid, Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler Vitamin C Booster serum is an alternative solution to stimulate collagen production. This addresses the first signs of ageing: it strengthens skin, plumps up wrinkles, and gives it a smoother, fresher, and more radiant appearance.

Moisturise your face with ingredients like Arctiin, Creatine, or Hyaluronic Acid to support the skin barrier, keep the skin hydrated and plump, and promote collagen production.

Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler + Elasticity Day SPF 15 is an anti-ageing cream combining the patented Thiamidol to reduce the appearance of age spots and Collagen-Elastin Complex to increase the skin’s elasticity. The new Collagen-Elastin Complex, a powerful combination of Arctiin and Creatine, accelerates the renewal process of collagen in skin cells and improves skin elasticity. The low-molecular Hyaluronic Acid, 40 times smaller than high-molecular Hyaluronic Acid, penetrates deeper into the skin to stimulate natural Hyaluronic Acid production, replenishing moisture where wrinkles form. SPF 15 protects against UV-induced ageing.

Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler + Elasticity Night Cream is specifically formulated to address signs of ageing in mature skin, such as reduced collagen production and the appearance of wrinkles. Its unique blend of active ingredients works synergistically to enhance skin elasticity, stimulate collagen renewal, and reduce the depth of wrinkles. Rich in skin-caring lipids, Argan Oil nourishes mature skin and supports overnight regeneration.

UV damage also breaks down collagen, so applying sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) is necessary to prevent mature ageing. Eucerin Sun Fluid Photoageing Control offers high UV protection and contains antioxidants to help prevent photo-ageing, preserving collagen integrity.

Other skincare solutions, such as exfoliation and a face mask, can help support collagen production and maintain skin firmness.

Ideally, you should exfoliate your skin at least once or twice a week, depending on your skin type. Use a gentle chemical exfoliant (AHAs or BHAs) to remove dead skin cells and enhance collagen renewal. The Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler Night Peeling & Serum gently exfoliates and refines skin texture. It is designed for nighttime use and promotes skin renewal while plumping up even the deepest wrinkles.