Any conversation I have about skincare manages to involve collagen in some way. Am I taking my collagen powder to support my complexion from within? Have I tried that new Korean collagen coffee yet? Should I be using the best collagen face masks for firmer, glowier skin?
These are just a few of the questions I’m posed on a daily basis. By becoming a beauty editor, I by no means expected to become a purveyor of all things collagen—but I get it. In recent years, It’s become quite clear that collagen is integral to maintaining a youthful complexion. It makes up about 30% of our body’s total proteins, and because these reserves diminish as we age, the cosmetics world has been researching how we can replenish them.
Vogue’s Favorite Collagen Face Masks
Collagen, as an ingredient, feels akin to a sort of beauty fountain of youth. The more you have, the better you can look (as it’s wildly perceived). When it comes to getting more of it, experts often recommend eating it—see the aforementioned powders and ingestibles. However, we’re seeing increased supply and demand of topical collagens, too. Searches for collagen skin-care in various forms are up upwards of 40% according to our metrics, and I have been noticing more collagen-infused products landing in the Vogue beauty closet. Biodance’s collagen mask was the first product of its kind that I tried and loved. It gave me the baby-soft skin of dreams, and I continue to use it weekly nearly a year after initially testing it.
But what stuck out to me was that the protein is not easily absorbed into skin due to its high molecular weight. “Contrary to popular belief, these masks are not actually going to stimulate collagen production,” dermatologist Dr. Mina Amin, MD explained. But why are we into topical collagen if it can’t really be absorbed by skin? Part of it is marketing, sure, but it’s also the other ingredients that come with the formulas. All of our favorites are also packed with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, peptides, squalane, and niacinamide, which per Dr. Amin “allows for topical application of hydrating ingredients for a prolonged period of time.”
