The right skincare ingredients can help with collagen loss. Our natural collagen production may start to slow down in our mid-to-late 20s, explains Dr. Morgan Rabach, a board-certified dermatologist at Rabach Aesthetics. When you add in things like air pollution, sun exposure, inflammation, stress, poor sleep, and other external factors, that’s when collagen really weakens, and you’ll start to notice early signs of aging—like fine lines and sagging skin. If you’re not dealing with severe skin looseness that needs stronger firming treatments, topical products are your first line of defense.

“Using ingredients that support collagen improves skin quality over time,” says Dr. Rabach. “Supporting collagen helps with moisture retention, skin texture, firmness, and reducing the look of wrinkles.”

Dr. Hadley King, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, agrees. She says these ingredients help protect the collagen in our skin and create a better environment for it to work. “They can reduce collagen breakdown from free radicals or inflammation, improve hydration and skin barrier health, support the skin matrix around collagen fibers, and help optimize skin repair processes,” Dr. King explains.

So if you’re looking for a skincare routine focused on collagen, here are the eight best ingredients to look for:

Retinoids
Retinoids are among the best ingredients for supporting collagen, according to experts. Dr. Rabach explains that they boost collagen production, speed up cell turnover, and improve skin thickness over time. They also reduce the activity of enzymes that break down collagen as we age. She says you can use prescription options like tretinoin and tazarotene, but recommends looking for retinoids like retinol or adapalene.

For over-the-counter products, some retinoid options we like include Medik8’s Crystal Retinal 1 Serum or the A313 Vitamin A Pomade. Dr. King recommends something like Mother Science’s Retinol Synergist for sensitive skin. Retinoids are strong and can cause irritation, redness, and increased sun sensitivity, so experts advise caution when adding them to your routine. Dr. King suggests using gentler products with hydrating ingredients to reduce harsh reactions, or trying ingredients like bakuchiol, which offers retinol-like collagen support with less irritation.

Vitamin C
Dr. King says antioxidants are important for protecting collagen from the sun’s UV rays, pollution, and other environmental stressors. One of the best antioxidants is vitamin C.

Kevin Lamont Bachar, RN, lead injector and founder of B. Beauty Medical Aesthetics, explains that vitamin C supports collagen production. “Without it, the body can’t form functional collagen properly,” says Bachar. “It acts as a helper for the enzymes that stabilize and link collagen fibers, working to rebuild collagen while also protecting it.” He recommends something like SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic Serum or the Dermalogica BioLumin-C Serum.

Peptides
As you may know, peptides are great for overall skin health, and they’re especially important if you want to support and stimulate collagen. Dr. King says copper peptides, in particular, also help with wound healing. We like products like Medicube’s PDRN Pink Peptide Serum or SkinMedica’s TNS Advanced+ Serum.

Niacinamide
Dr. King says niacinamide helps reduce inflammation-inducedIt helps prevent collagen breakdown and supports the skin barrier. Bachar agrees, adding that it stimulates dermal fibroblasts to boost collagen production and offers many other benefits for keeping skin healthy. “It’s one of my favorite ingredients because it’s versatile and generally well tolerated across different skin types and tones,” he says. “It strengthens the skin barrier, reduces inflammation, improves hydration, and brightens the skin, helping to reduce hyperpigmentation.”

Try something like The Ordinary’s Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum or Topicals Faded Brightening and Clearing Serum.

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The Ordinary
Niacinamide + Zinc Smoothing Serum
$6 AMAZON
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Topicals
Faded Brightening and Clearing Serum
$18 AMAZON

Growth factors
Dr. King recommends adding growth factors to your skincare routine to support collagen. These are natural proteins in our bodies that signal collagen production and encourage renewal. We love products like Epi.Logic Master Plan Collagen Renew Growth Factor Serum or Bioeffect EGF Serum to firm the skin.

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Epi.Logic
Master Plan Collagen Renew Growth Factor Serum
$230 AMAZON
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Bioeffect
EGF Serum
$179 $160 (11% off) AMAZON

Hyaluronic acid
Hydration is key for supporting collagen, and no ingredient hydrates better than hyaluronic acid. “It hydrates and plumps the skin, creating a healthier environment for collagen function,” says Dr. King.

She recommends something like the Korres Black Pine Primus 6xHA Wrinkle Smoothing Youth Activator for what she calls “optimal plumping.” She adds that it’s rich in antioxidants to protect the skin from free radicals and peptides to smooth fine lines. We also like the Peach & Lily Glass Skin Refining Serum and the Dr. Lara Devgan Hyaluronic Serum for that hydrated, glass skin look.

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Peach & Lily
Glass Skin Refining Serum
$39 $37 (5% off) AMAZON
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Dr. Barbara Sturm
Hyaluronic Serum
$325 NORDSTROM

Ceramides
Ceramides are another skin barrier strengthener that experts love. Dr. King adds that they can help soothe chronic irritation, which speeds up collagen breakdown. We like products such as Dieux’s Instant Angel Lipid-Rich Firming Moisturizer and Aestura Atobarrier 365 Cream. These nourishing moisturizers strengthen the skin barrier and maintain your skin’s moisture level.

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Dieux
Instant Angel Moisturizer
$45 DIEUX
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ATOBARRIER
365 Cream
$32 AMAZON

SPF
Sunscreen is a must for many reasons—protection from cancer-causing UV rays is a big one—but experts say it also plays an important role in supporting our collagen. “It’s one of the best collagen-preserving tools we have,” says Bachar. “UV exposure significantly speeds up collagen breakdown and photoaging by increasing oxidative stress and activating enzymes that actively break down collagen fibers. Daily UV protection is one of the most impactful things we can do for long-term skin health and collagen preservation.”

He recommends the EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46 because it won’t leave a white cast and provides great sun protection. We also love La Roche-Posay Anthelios UV Air Daily Supercharged Serum Sunscreen SPF 50 or Tatcha Milky Sunscreen SPF 50+ PA++++ for sunscreen that’s lightweight, blends seamlessly into the skin, and still offers high SPF.

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EltaMD
UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46
$45 AMAZON
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La Roche-Posay
Anthelios UV Hydra Hydrating Face Sunscreen SPF 50
$40 AMAZON

Curious about a beauty or wellness trend? We want to know! Email Vogue’s senior beauty and wellness editor at beauty@vogue.com.

Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about the 8 best skincare ingredients that help support collagen written in a natural conversational tone

BeginnerLevel Questions

1 What is collagen and why does my skin need it
Collagen is a protein that acts like the scaffolding for your skin keeping it firm plump and smooth As we age we naturally produce less of it which leads to wrinkles and sagging

2 Which 8 ingredients are best for boosting collagen
The top eight are Vitamin C Retinoids Peptides Hyaluronic Acid Niacinamide Vitamin B5 Copper Peptides and Ceramides

3 Do these ingredients actually make my skin produce new collagen
Some work directly while others create the perfect environment for collagen to thrive They dont inject collagen but they stimulate your skin to make more of its own

4 Can I use all eight ingredients at once
Its best not to Start with one or two like a Vitamin C serum in the morning and a Retinol at night Layering too many active ingredients can irritate your skin

5 How long does it take to see results from collagensupporting ingredients
You wont see results overnight Most people notice a difference in skin texture and firmness after about 8 to 12 weeks of consistent use

AdvancedLevel Questions

6 Whats the difference between Peptides and Copper Peptides
Regular peptides are short chains of amino acids that signal your skin to build collagen Copper peptides are those same chains with a copper molecule attached which is thought to be even more effective at wound healing and collagen repair

7 Can Retinol and Vitamin C be used together in the same routine
Yes but carefully Using them together can be irritating The best method is to use Vitamin C in the morning and Retinol at night Avoid layering them at the same time

8 I have sensitive skin Which of these ingredients is the gentlest
Hyaluronic Acid and Niacinamide are generally the most gentle and welltolerated Retinol can be harsh so start with a low concentration 025 or