Collagen, Elastin, & Snail Extract: The Three Musketeers of Good Skincare

Skincare is a serious matter, and the phrase “better safe than sorry” has never been more applicable here. That’s because there’s nothing quite like taking on the proper skincare routine at every stage in our lives, with the right creams and lotions.

We’re discussing the three musketeers of good skincare that help treat our skin to elasticity and firmness for much longer.

Collagen

Collagen is a combination of proteins, antioxidants, and vitamins that we all produce naturally and have in our skin, bones, muscles, and tendons, and it keeps your skin and tissue firm and strong. However, after we turn 25, we start to produce less collagen, and because of that, our skin starts losing its firmness, which is why it’s important to use products that help us maintain our collagen levels to reduce and prevent the appearance of wrinkles.

Besides age, there are several factors that affect the levels of collagen in our skin, including environmental conditions, exposure to the sun, genetics, and our eating habits.

Elastin

Although not as prominent in our skin as collagen is, elastin is another protein that helps maintain your skin’s structure and firmness. It keeps the skin hydrated and secures collagen fibers, keeping them in place.

Elastin is about 1,000 times more flexible than collagen, and it allows your skin to stretch easily and regain its youthful appearance. In fact, many pregnancy creams contain this ingredient to protect the mother’s tissue. However, elastin production also slows down over time, which is why it’s important to get some outside help to maintain your skin’s elasticity.

Snail Extract

Snail extract is the slimy secretion that snails produce to be able to move around.

This secretion has been a part of popular medicine for centuries, but only recently did Dr. Rafael Abad Iglesias from the Hospital Ramon y Cajal de Madrid demonstrate its surprising regenerative properties on radiation burns. Because of this, snail extract use in cosmetics and dermatology is on the rise, as it has also been proven to treat early signs of aging.

Snail extract increases the production of hyaluronic acid and of collagen and elastin fibers, which helps the skin achieve and maintain a healthy appearance. It also helps diminish the appearance of wrinkles and combats dryness, improving the skin’s flexibility and giving it a smoother and firmer texture.

Extracting this for cosmetic purposes must be done in a way that preserves its physical and chemical state, its microbiological quality, and the snails’ wellbeing.

 

The three musketeers of good skincare

As you can see, these three are highly effective skincare ingredients, especially after the age of 25, which is when the effects of time start becoming more noticeable. Because of that, it’s recommended that you incorporate products that contain these ingredients into your daily skincare routine in order to combat wrinkles and preserve your skin’s firmness.

Instituto Español brings these ingredients together in the regenerative Avena Collagen Lotion and Avena Collagen Cream, both of which provide elasticity and firmness for your skin, stimulate the production of collagen, hydrate your skin profoundly, and reduce and prevent the appearance of wrinkles.

Have you tried them?

 

 

References

Alcalde, M.T, Del Pozo A. (Octubre, 2008). Baba de caracol. Offarm, 27,9, p. 11-123.

Redacción Colombia. El colágeno y sus beneficios. El Universal.

Shaffer, C. (Feb 26, 2019). ¿Cuál es elastina? News-Medical.net.