Does Collagen Actually Work? I'm In My Twenties, and This Is Why I'm Taking It Seriously
Beyond the Instagram hype: Gia takes a deep dive into the science of collagen, aging well PLUS watch an exclusive podcast video clip with nutritionist Amanda Ryder.
This Christmas, the topics of conversation were unexpectedly consistent in my household. Robot hoovers. Anti-ageing. And, yes, collagen supplements.
Between kitchen tables, family lunches, and post-dinner debates, collagen has quietly made its way into the cultural mainstream. No longer confined to beauty editors or wellness obsessives, it’s now discussed with genuine curiosity by mothers, aunts, cousins, and friends alike. Everyone seems to be asking the same questions: When should I start? Does it actually work? And why now?
Armed with a head full of fresh knowledge from a recent Absolute Collagen panel, which was supported by a team of specialists who brought clarity without fearmongering, one of the clearest takeaways I learnt was this:
From around the age of 25, collagen production declines by approximately 1% per year, and dietary sources alone are insufficient to compensate.
As registered nutritionist, Jenna Hope explained:
“Consuming a healthy, balanced diet is essential for supporting collagen production and general skin wellbeing. However, dietary sources of collagen specifically are limited and therefore, relying solely on the diet to protect and replace collagen loss is challenging.”
Hair Health, Hormones, and Shedding
Hair emerged as one of the most discussed topics of the morning. According to trichologist Eva Proudman, up to 50% of women experience noticeable hair thinning or shedding during menopause, largely due to declining oestrogen levels disrupting the hair growth cycle.
In an Absolute Collagen hair study, 100% of participants reported smoother, more manageable hair within two weeks. The role of protein was repeatedly emphasised: hair is a protein structure, and inadequate intake often presents as shedding before visible thinning occurs.
The panel also addressed nutritional depletion more broadly, noting increased hair shedding linked to restrictive diets and the growing use of weight-loss injections.
🎥 Watch: Does Supplementing Collagen Actually Work?
The nutritionists opinion: In a clip, from this episode of Donna’s Smiling Gives You Wrinkles podcast, nutritionist and author, Amanda Ryder explains what collagen is, and the journey it takes from the stomach to the bloodstream. Also watch to find out why your body might prioritize your gut lining or your joints before it reaches your skin and hair.
The Checklist: How to Spot a Quality Supplement
In a market saturated with celebrity-backed supplements and loosely substantiated claims, if you are going to invest in a supplement, the panel taught me to ignore the celebrity faces and look at the back of the box for these three markers of clinical credibility:
Type I Marine Collagen: This mirrors the collagen most abundant in human skin and hair.
The 8,000mg Threshold: Research suggests this is a meaningful dose for seeing results in skin density.
Vitamin C Inclusion: Collagen cannot be “rebuilt” in your body without Vitamin C. It is the essential co-factor for synthesis.
