Does Collagen Actually Work? I'm In My Twenties, and This Is Why I'm Taking It Seriously
Beyond the Instagram hype: Gia takes a deep dive into the science of collagen, aging well PLUS watch an exclusive podcast video clip with nutritionist Amanda Ryder.
This Christmas, the topics of conversation were unexpectedly consistent in my household. Robot hoovers. Anti-ageing. And, yes, collagen supplements.
Between kitchen tables, family lunches, and post-dinner debates, collagen has quietly made its way into the cultural mainstream. No longer confined to beauty editors or wellness obsessives, it’s now discussed with genuine curiosity by mothers, aunts, cousins, and friends alike. Everyone seems to be asking the same questions: When should I start? Does it actually work? And why now?
Armed with a head full of fresh knowledge from a recent Absolute Collagen panel, which was supported by a team of specialists who brought clarity without fearmongering, one of the clearest takeaways I learnt was this:
From around the age of 25, collagen production declines by approximately 1% per year, and dietary sources alone are insufficient to compensate.
As registered nutritionist, Jenna Hope explained:
“Consuming a healthy, balanced diet is essential for supporting collagen production and general skin wellbeing. However, dietary sources of collagen specifically are limited and therefore, relying solely on the diet to protect and replace collagen loss is challenging.”
Hair Health, Hormones, and Shedding
Hair emerged as one of the most discussed topics of the morning. According to trichologist Eva Proudman, up to 50% of women experience noticeable hair thinning or shedding during menopause, largely due to declining oestrogen levels disrupting the hair growth cycle.
In an Absolute Collagen hair study, 100% of participants reported smoother, more manageable hair within two weeks. The role of protein was repeatedly emphasised: hair is a protein structure, and inadequate intake often presents as shedding before visible thinning occurs.
The panel also addressed nutritional depletion more broadly, noting increased hair shedding linked to restrictive diets and the growing use of weight-loss injections.
🎥 Watch: Does Supplementing Collagen Actually Work?
The nutritionists opinion: In a clip, from this episode of Donna’s Smiling Gives You Wrinkles podcast, nutritionist and author, Amanda Ryder explains what collagen is, and the journey it takes from the stomach to the bloodstream. Also watch to find out why your body might prioritize your gut lining or your joints before it reaches your skin and hair.
The Checklist: How to Spot a Quality Supplement
In a market saturated with celebrity-backed supplements and loosely substantiated claims, if you are going to invest in a supplement, the panel taught me to ignore the celebrity faces and look at the back of the box for these three markers of clinical credibility:
Type I Marine Collagen: This mirrors the collagen most abundant in human skin and hair.
The 8,000mg Threshold: Research suggests this is a meaningful dose for seeing results in skin density.
Vitamin C Inclusion: Collagen cannot be “rebuilt” in your body without Vitamin C. It is the essential co-factor for synthesis.
Why are collagen supplements beneficial?
Hydrolysed collagen supplements are formulated so the collagen has already been broken down into peptides, allowing the body to absorb and utilise it far more efficiently than collagen obtained through diet alone.
Nutritionist Jenna Hope further explains that while a healthy, balanced diet is essential for supporting overall skin health, natural dietary sources of collagen are limited.
“Collagen found in food has not yet been broken down into easily absorbable peptides, making it more difficult for the body to access and use effectively.” (Jenna Hope)
As a result, relying solely on diet to replace collagen loss becomes increasingly challenging, particularly as natural collagen production declines with age.
What is Marine Collagen? The Science of Absorption
Absolute Collagen uses Type I marine collagen, sourced from the skin of tilapia fish. This mirrors the most abundant collagen type in the human body and, once hydrolysed, is broken down into smaller peptide forms that the body can absorb and utilise more efficiently.
The Collagen Depletion Timeline:
Age 25: Production drops by 1% per year.
Age 50: Most women have lost half of their total collagen protein.
Post-Menopause: In the five years following the final period, women lose an additional third of their remaining collagen.
When Should You Start Taking Collagen?
On timing, Jenna Hope offered clear guidance:
“Introducing a collagen supplement around the age of 25 can help protect the skin from the visible effects of collagen loss…. including reduced elasticity and the formation of fine lines.”
This was framed not as urgency, but as informed prevention.
Final Thoughts
I left the panel with pages of notes, but more importantly, with a sense of cohesion. Absolute Collagen is not attempting to reinvent women or promise transformation. Instead, it offers support: scientifically grounded, emotionally attentive, and quietly confident.
In a category driven by aspiration, that restraint feels almost radical. Sometimes, the most powerful beauty innovation is not becoming more, but returning to who you already are.
-Gia
Not subscribing today? You can still buy the team a coffee. We run on kindness, realness, and a frankly dangerous level of caffeine. Your support (big or small) keeps our beauty stories blooming🌟🐞
