The buzz about collagen grows louder by the week. But if you’re like us, you’re thinking, “How can I possibly squeeze one more thing into my daily self-care routine?”
We hear ya, and that’s why our solution isn’t about shoehorning another serum into your already-elaborate, 10-step skincare routine. We’re focusing, instead, on oral collagen – an easy way to support your skin, hair and nails, according to a review of oral collagen supplementation in the Journal Of Drugs in Dermatology.[1]
The 411
Collagen is the most plentiful protein in our bodies by weight, literally supporting us head to toe. It’s in our bones, tendons, muscles and, of course, our skin. It is collagen that’s to thank for giving our skin structure and elasticity – a.k.a. the things that keeps us looking fresh-faced. But, here’s the kicker: As we age, collagen production declines. Ugh.
Supplement Savvy
This is where taking an oral collagen supplement like NeoCell comes into play. NeoCell offers several ways to add collagen into your day – pill or powder – with each formulation containing key ingredients to nourish you. Some of these key ingredients include collagen (specifically, types 1 and 3, a powerful combo for healthy skin), and vitamin C. Check out these options.
• NeoCell Marine Collagen: Encased in a capsule, this formulation is bovine-, swine- and fowl-free, and it helps to maintain healthy bones, hair, nail and/or skin. Bonus: It contains magnesium and zinc.
• NeoCell Collagen Protein Peptides: A powder blend, this formula contains 20 g of clinically studied collagen and helps immune function, as well as muscle formation and the developments of bones, cartilage, teeth and gums.
• NeoCell Derma Matrix Collagen Skin Complex: A powder format, this complex helps with the appearance of smooth skin, while also helping in connective tissue formation.
Tips + Tricks For Success
So, it’s one thing to want to tweak your health routine, and a total other thing to make it happen, #everydamnday. We get it. So we’re sharing expert-approved tips and tricks for ensuring success. Pick the one that works for you and you’ll be well on your way to healthy skin, hair and nails!
Temptation Bundling
OK, this concept may sound like a romance novel set in a post office, but the concept works: Temptation bundling “bundles” the thing you’re not so keen on with something you love doing. The concept was coined by Wharton professor Katherine Milkman, who was having trouble getting herself to the gym, and was binging the Hunger Games books. She decided to only read the books at the gym and noticed her attendance rose dramatically. The beauty is that you can use this technique with anything. Think: Only allowing yourself to have that delicious morning coffee when you add your collagen to it or sipping on your collagen drink when you get your daily fix of that reality show you can’t stop watching. Temptation bundling ups the likelihood that you’ll do that thing you need to by hacking your brain’s reward system, and makes it easier to adopt positive habits.
Hacks For Healthy Routines
Supplements only work when you take them. Never forget to take a supplement again with this simple and memorable hack: Put your powdered supplement near something that’s already a *daily-do* – like with the ingredients for your morning smoothie or post-sweat-sesh blended juice.
Taking a capsule instead? Then rely on these tips for jogging your memory:
- Location: Keep them in the same place, like beside your laptop.
- Visibility: Make sure it’s a spot you go to every day. Your underwear drawer!
- Pill caddy: Invest in a cute case you can drop in your purse.
Make It Stick
The thing about habits is that they don’t form overnight. According to research from University College London, it takes about 66 days for a new habit to truly stick. If that feels like forever (right?!), check out these tried and true ways to get to that two-month mark, one day at a time.
- Set a reminder on your phone. Like Pavlov’s bell, a daily ping is good stimuli.
- Ask a friend to join you on your journey. Being accountable to someone else is a great motivator.
- Be kind to yourself. You’re human, it’s OK if you forget a day or two. The same London study proved that missing a few days didn’t impact success at all. So pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start again. You’ve got this!