Just A Big List Of (Noninvasive) Ways To Restore Collagen & Firm Skin

If you want firm, glowing, Jello-like skin (who doesn't?), you must consider collagen levels. Collagen, the structural protein we all know and love, is directly responsible for giving your face its youthful bounce.

As it declines—and it does, at a steady rate of about 1% a year1 once you hit your mid-20s—fine lines and sagging ensue. It's ultimately a natural, unavoidable process, but you can take matters into your own hands, to an extent.

First and foremost: One of the best ways to boost your natural collagen production is through supplementation. Hydrolyzed collagen peptides, you see, have been shown to help promote the body's natural production of collagen1 and other molecules that make up the skin, like elastin and fibrillin. As a result, research shows that these collagen peptides are able to support skin elasticity and dermal collagen density2. 

"There are some studies evaluating the use of red light therapy for increasing collagen and potentially elastin production as well with a demonstrable increase in collagen density," says board-certified dermatologist Erum Ilyas, M.D., MBE, FAAD, about the devices.

In fact, one study found that patients receiving red light therapy on their face twice a week for 30 total sessions experienced improved skin complexion3, skin tone, skin smoothness, and collagen density (as measured with an ultrasonographic test).

Retinol is the darling of dermatology for a reason: It's been scientifically shown4 many times over to increase collagen production in the skin5, thereby reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. 

Despite the pervasive myth that overexercising can exacerbate gravitational wrinkles (aka, runner's face), research shows that working out can, in fact, improve skin firmness. Namely, resistance training has been found to increase dermal thickness6—and this structural integrity is crucial for supple, firm skin. 

While you prioritize resistance training, you'll also want to make sure you're getting enough protein. Consuming an adequate amount of proteins is not only essential for building new muscles but also supplying the skin with dermal proteins such as collagen, elastin, and keratin. 

"[Protein] is so, so important to keeping our collagen nice and firm and youthful," says holistic plastic surgeon Anthony Youn, M.D., on the mindbodygreen podcast. 

Beauty sleep is real, people! ​​Skimping out on significant shut-eye doesn't just result in dark, swollen shadows—your skin barrier and, naturally, collagen production can actually suffer over time.

See, losing sleep increases cortisol (the infamous stress hormone), which can break down collagen over time—research has demonstrated a link between shut-eye and collagen production8, which is why many experts consider sleep a vital part of any "anti-aging" skin routine. 

Exfoliation also helps promote skin cell turnover, which again, creates space for healthy, fully functioning skin cells to better produce collagen. There are multiple kinds of exfoliators out there, but research points to chemical AHAs, which have been shown to help ease fine lines and wrinkles9. 

The main goal of microneedling is to stimulate collagen production in the skin. Think of your collagen as the logs of a log cabin, Youn notes, which start to fall apart with age. 

With microneedling, "we go over the skin, making hundreds, if not thousands, of tiny, little needle pokes into the skin," he explains. "Those needle pokes create acute trauma, [which] will then damage the collagen of your skin. As that collagen heals, it heals in a tighter fashion—like putting those logs of that log cabin back together nice and tightly." 

Ready for some science speak? Your body naturally creates waste products, called free radicals, which impair the DNA of your cells. "If given the chance, they basically attack the cells and steal electrons from them," Youn explains. Free radicals are unavoidable to an extent, although environmental factors like sun exposure, smoking, and processed foods can contribute to even more of a buildup. 

At some point, your body can develop so many free radicals that it undergoes a state of oxidative stress, which is linked to accelerated skin aging. This is where antioxidants come into play, as these serve as your body's natural defense against free radicals.