What Does Collagen Do? (Plus, 7 Collagen-Boosting Products Your Skin Will Love)

These days, you can’t navigate the beauty aisle. Without seeing the word “collagen” brandished in just about every product imaginable. From serums to sheet masks. Each product claims to either preserve, boost or restore its production. But before you dismiss this collagen craze as just another beauty fad, let’s take a look at what it is exactly and why we need so much of it in the first place.

What Is Collagen—and Where Does It Come from?

Collagens are a protein peptide that comprises 30 percent of our body’s total protein mass—making them the most abundant protein in mammals. “It’s the structural protein of the body and the stress-resistant material of the skin,” says Dr. Maral K. Skelsey, MD, director of the Dermatologic Surgery Center and clinical associate professor of Dermatology at Georgetown University. “Found in the skin as well as tendons, cartilage, ligaments and linings of bones and blood vessels, it allows the body and the skin to retain its shape and resist tearing and deformation,” she explains.

The Different Types of Collagen

Because of its fibrous nature, he is often referred to as the body’s “scaffolding,” supporting and connecting tissues and internal organs. Think of it as the glue that holds everything together. There are 28 types of collagen, with Type I, II and III being the most common (constituting 80 to 90 percent of our body’s collagen supply).

• Type I is the most common form of body. It forms the structure of your skin, bones, organs and tendons. (Because of its role in supporting skin, this is often the type of collagen you’ll want to look for in beauty products.)
• Type II collagen is a building block of cartilage, the flexible connective tissue found in joints. Research suggests that type II collagen may be useful in reducing joint pain.
• Type III collagen is found in a variety of organs (such as the lungs) as well as the skin. It’s usually found alongside type I collagen and helps it do its job of supporting skin, bones and more.

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