04.08.2025

Understanding collagen—the skin's architect 

Collagen is a vital structural protein found throughout the body—and it plays an especially important role in the skin. Often spotlighted in skincare and supplements, it’s central to maintaining firmness, elasticity, and overall skin integrity. But what exactly is collagen, and why does it matter for healthy, radiant skin? 

Understanding collagen—the skin's architect 

Understanding collagen—the skin's architect 

What is collagen?  

Collagen is a pivotal protein in the skin that holds a crucial role in its structure, function, and in other connective tissues throughout the body. As the most abundant protein, constituting 30% of the body's total protein, collagen serves as

the primary building block for the skin, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other various connective tissues. Among the 28 known types of collagen, Type I is the most abundant, comprising 90% of the collagen in your body*.

“Collagen is your skin’s inner scaffolding—the foundation of firmness and resilience. When it is supported through consistent care, skin appears smoother and stronger.”

Why is collagen important in the skin?   

Collagen operates as the scaffolding for our skin. It contributes to its firmness, plumpness, and moisture retention capabilities and essentially, it provides the necessary support structure for maintaining healthy and resilient skin.

The significance of collagen becomes particularly evident as we age. Starting around the age of 25, there is a natural decline in collagen production, decreasing at an approximate rate of 1% per year**. This decline can be increased by certain lifestyle factors such as smoking and sun exposure, but can also become more pronounced post-menopause.

The repercussions of this diminished collagen production include a reduction in skin elasticity and the formation of fine lines and wrinkles. However, the importance of collagen in the skin extends beyond aesthetics. Collagen also plays a crucial role in promoting skin healing and regeneration by supporting the skin's ability to recover from wounds, scars, and environmental damage.   

How to protect and boost your collagen production  

Being diligent with sunscreen is one of the best ways to protect your skin from collagen degradation. UV radiation without protection can cause collagen to break down at a higher rate than normal. The formation of Advanced Glycation Products (AGEs) can be triggered by exposure to UV radiation and can accumulate in the skin over time. This accumulation of AGEs in the skin is a natural hallmark of aging as it alters the structure and function of collagen and elastin fibres. When these proteins become glycated and cross-linked, they can become stiff and brittle, leading to a loss of elasticity and firmness in the skin. Another way to provide an extra layer of defence is through incorporating antioxidants into your skincare routine. Antioxidants, found in ingredients like vitamin C and E, help neutralise free radicals that can damage collagen.  

In addition to protection, there are also ways to actively stimulate collagen production. Across the Emma Lewisham range, we harness a plant-derived Human Tripeptide-1 to mimic the body’s own natural repair signals. Rather than causing damage to initiate repair, this intelligent peptide activates the skin’s innate regenerative processes, including the production of repair proteins like collagen. 

By effectively bio-hacking the skin’s reparative pathways, Human Tripeptide-1 helps strengthen the skin’s structural integrity, resulting in visibly firmer, smoother, and more resilient skin over time. 

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