Japanese collagen is a beauty supplement that’s been around for a long time. It belongs to its own niche because of its supposed better efficacy in skin repair and overall improved appearance. But what exactly sets it apart from other beauty supplements and what are its best benefits? We dissect the magic of Japanese collagen below.
What is collagen and what are its major benefits?
Here’s a little 411: collagen is naturally found in our bodies and makes up most of our body’s protein content. It has a lot of roles to keep our skin, body, bones, etc. to function in top shape and can even be described as the “glue that holds [our body] together”.
Collagen is responsible for keeping our skin looking smooth, supple, and glowing. It also helps keep hair healthy hair and make sure it's less prone to damage. Collagen also prevents heart risks, bone loss, and decreased muscle mass. In short, it’s a major contributor to how we look, feel, and function inside and out.
However, when we reach 20, our body decreases collagen production by 1% each year. It’s just how things work. It’s part of ageing. It’s the reason why as we age, wrinkles and fine lines appear. Perfectly normal — but it can also be very inconvenient for many reasons.
Aside from the external effects of lesser collagen production, it also affects our bone health and how our body functions as a whole. It’s natural to get an eye wrinkle or two with a side dish of backpain as we get older, but why surrender to them completely in your 20s, 30s, 40s, or even 50s when there’s the option of aiding collagen reproduction through supplements and beauty products?
Japanese collagen versus other collagen products
Most Japanese collagen products use marine collagen a.k.a. collagen derived from fish. Other products use pork collagen or bovine/beef collagen. Through the years, there has been a lot of discourse on which kind of collagen is better for skincare and supplements but recent studies suggest that they have very little differences and both have unique strengths.
Marine collagen is better in helping increase collagen responsible for cartilages and most bones and tendons while bovine collagen helps reproduce collagen making up our skin. If there’s one major advantage marine collagen has over bovine and pork collagen, it’s
sustainability. This is because fish waste like bones, scales, etc. are great sources of collagen, so these can be further utilised to create supplements and skincare products rather than be discarded. Products using marine collagen are also a lot friendlier for those with dietary, religious, or cultural restrictions.
Japanese collagen products you need to check out
Ready to energise your beauty routine with Japanese collagen products? Here are some products to add to cart, stat.
Shiseido The Collagen Powder
This cult-favourite Japanese collagen product (~USD43.20) is a favourite among beauty lovers for good reason. It’s flavourless, odorless, and dissolves easily when combined with any choice of food and drink so it’s easy to consume and incorporate into your daily routine. Some results to expect with continued use are plumper and healthier-looking skin and improved bowel movement. Feeling clean and light in and out? Yes, please!
Meiji Amino Collagen
Another Japanese collagen favourite is this pick from Meiji (~USD25.06). Add this to your choice of hot or cold beverage before bedtime and eventually reap the benefits of collagen, vitamin C, and more for visibly glowing skin. It has a little bit of an aftertaste so we highly recommend you mix it with something strong like coffee or juice instead to mask the flavour.
DHC Collagen Supplement
If you want something you don’t have to mix with anything, this supplement from DHC (~USD20.22) is the one to pick up. Aside from fish collagen, this product contains vitamin B1 and B2 that helps improve skin appearance, as well as brighten and balance your skin tone. The recommended intake is two capsules a day before meals.
Taking care of your skin should go beyond surface level and Japanese collagen is definitely one way to make sure you’re doing the best you can inside and out.
