Collagen is a protein that keeps your skin elastic, strong and smooth. When you are young, you have an abundance of collagen, giving your skin a youthful look. However, as you age, the collagen in your skin breaks down and depletes. When this happens, your skin loses the ability to retain its elasticity and begins to wrinkle. Though anti-aging creams claim to help retain a youthful look, many are made with harsh chemicals. You can, instead, attempt to restore the collagen in your skin naturally.
Add green, leafy vegetables like spinach and kale to your everyday diet. Green vegetables contain copious amounts of Vitamin C and lutein, both of which help increase collagen production.
Add flaxseed oil and other sources of unsaturated fatty acids to your diet, as they promote the production of collagen. Other significant sources of high-quality unsaturated fatty acids include salmon, tuna, cashews and other nuts.
Eat soy products. Soy contains genistein, an isoflavon that helps remove enzymes which break down existing collagen fibers. Removing these enzymes will help promote the production of more collagen.
Drink herbal green tea. Green tea contains flavanoids, an antioxidant which help in the fight against free radicals which can break down collagen fibers.
Use natural face masks which contain avocado oil. Avocado oil stimulates the production of collagen, hydrates your skin and aids in reducing blemishes caused by previous damage or age.