Getting older is a fact of life, looking older isn’t. We all know someone who is older than us but looks fantastic for their age. It’s not an accident. These well-aged individuals likely have been taking good care of themselves—internally and externally—for several years.

We’re of the mind that we can look and feel great at any age, however, what we do and put into our bodies plays a pivotal role. If you’re looking to get cozy in your skin and support the natural aging process while looking beautiful and youthful along the way, we’re here to give you three helpful tips from our Clinical Herbalists so you achieve exactly that. But first, let’s learn more about why we age and what role collagen plays in graceful aging.

Why we age

As we age, our body's natural processes for maintaining our skin, organs, and other body parts disintegrate and become less efficient. While aging is a normal part of life, lifestyle factors can contribute to rapid or premature aging.

Excess UV exposure and sun damage have been considered up to 90% of why we age early¹. Not wearing sunscreen when exposed to sunlight can rapidly increase the risk of skin cancer and photoaging. In addition, how our bodies get rid of cells can play a role in why we age ungracefully. Also known as autophagy, our bodies have a natural way of recycling and getting rid of parts of our old cells that no longer serve us. When autophagy has been impaired and the body is no longer able to get rid of less than useful cells, premature aging may occur².

Similar to the role of autophagy, another theory for why we age is related to free radicals. Free radicals are atoms, molecules, or ions that are unstable and, consequently, impact aging and disease³. Removing as many free radicals as you can with antioxidant-rich foods and herbs is one way scientists and herbalists recommend slowing down premature aging.

The role of collagen in graceful aging

One of the most important aspects of aging well comes down to the structural elements that make our skin look and feel youthful—and that’s collagen. Collagen fibers are protein molecules made of amino acids that make up the structure of our connective tissues like skin, hair, nails, and bones⁴. Collagen is one of the elements that are abundant when we’re young (that’s why babies have such bouncy cheeks and skin) but diminishes when we get older (think of people over the age of 40 who begin to show signs of fine lines, wrinkles, and a loss in face volume).

Although collagen loss is a normal part of aging and life, there are some things you can do to help boost collagen synthesis—both internally and externally.

How to Boost Collagen Production—Naturally

1. Eat Collagen-Boosting Foods

How fortunate are we? Mother Nature gave us tons of natural, plant-based collagen-boosting foods and herbs that you can consume every day to help maintain your collagen levels and even boost them.

Herbalist tip: Consume amla berry and bamboo. Amla berry is an Ayurvedic berry and vitamin C-rich food that has been prized for centuries for its ability to help boost collagen synthesis and promote the integrity of connective tissues like the skin, hair, and nails. In addition, consuming an edible form of bamboo can also help naturally boost collagen production. This fast-growing plant contains up to 70% silica, a mineral known to support collagen synthesis and support skin strength and elasticity. Our herbal skin support formula, The Honest Youth™ contains ample amounts of amla and bamboo to help boost natural collagen production day after day.

2. Increase Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid is an amazing substance that your body produces naturally. It plays a role in lubricating parts of the body like your eyes, joints, and skin. Topical hyaluronic acid in the form of skincare can be a wonderful way to maintain the skin’s moisture level and support collagen. Interestingly enough, consuming foods that stimulate hyaluronic acid production can be just as effective as topical hyaluronic acid in skincare.

Herbalist tip: Consume tremella mushroom. Also known as “snow ear”, this edible, medicinal mushroom has been used in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine modalities for centuries. It’s prized for its skin-hydrating properties that lock in moisture and act as a natural alternative to hyaluronic acid. You can find tremella mushrooms featured in our herbal skin support tincture, The Honest Youth™.

3. Prioritize Vitamin C

As mentioned earlier, free radicals can prematurely age the skin and leave you vulnerable to the sun’s damaging effects. Fortunately, there is a superhero that can help fend off free radicals and keep you looking as young as you feel—that’s vitamin C. Vitamin C can be found in food like oranges and berries, or it can be used topically in skincare. We always recommend consuming natural forms of vitamin C as a way to give your body the most absorption and free radical-fighting power.

Herbalist tip: Consume acerola cherry. This cherry-like fruit is considered one of the richest natural sources of vitamin C containing up to 100 times more than an orange. It’s a wonderful food to help increase antioxidants in the body and support free radical removal. Our new herbal skin tincture, The Honest Youth™ was formulated to have rich amounts of acerola cherry that help the body fend off free radicals.

Conclusion

Aging is natural. Although genetics and lifestyle play a role in why some of us age better or worse, at least we know we have the power to harness Mother Nature’s most beloved food and herbs to help maintain the integrity and health of our skin. Our in-house Clinical Herbalists work hard to help you look as young as you feel with ingredients that grow out of the earth.

That’s why they created our version of the herbal fountain of youth. The Honest Youth™ is our premiere skin-revitalizing herbal tincture made to help boost natural collagen production, fortify the skin barrier, ease the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, all while promoting gracefully aging—naturally. It’s the perfect addition to a healthy anti-aging skincare routine. With this herbal tincture on your side, you can love the skin you’re in at every stage of your life journey.