How Astaxanthin Supports & Preserves Your Collagen Layer*

In skin care there are a few goals we hold above all else: strengthen the skin barrier function, reduce exposure to stressors (looking at you, pollution and UV rays), and preserve your natural reserves of collagen. And to achieve these goals, we enlist a trove of ingredients, both topical and supplemental.

For the barrier, for example, look for ingredients that feed the skin's moisture layer and the skin microbiome, such as biotic ingredients, botanical oils, fatty acids, and lipids. For reducing exposure to stressors, SPFs take the lead. And for preserving the collagen layer, we adore collagen-promoting actives and collagen-defending antioxidants.* 

So first up, you should ensure you're feeding your body all the nutrients it needs to support your natural supply of collagen. Collagen supplements are made with collagen peptides, which are able to support skin elasticity and dermal collagen density1.* How? Well hydrolyzed collagen peptides have been shown to help promote your body's natural production of collagen2 and other molecules that make up the skin, like elastin and fibrillin.* 

But production is all for naught if you're not taking active steps at preservation. That's where this antioxidant comes in. Astaxanthin is a carotenoid phytonutrient and potent antioxidant shown to protect skin cells and help preserve the collagen layer3, as it has stellar photoprotective and anti-inflammatory properties.* All you need to know about astaxanthin's antioxidant properties are in the numbers: It's five times more potent than beta-carotene and a whopping 6,000 times more potent than vitamin C.* 

Although, we must note a very important caveat that's often misunderstood: Even if these other antioxidants don't have as much free-radical-fighting power—they're hugely beneficial for other reasons. For example, vitamin C is directly involved in the collagen synthesis process—so it's a necessary part of any skin care routine and diet.