Gen Z’s Interest in Collagen Hits Three-Year High

With skincare a focal point in beauty, baby boomers and Gens X and Y constitute the age groups interested in reversing collagen loss and repairing damage. But the youthful-skinned Gen Zer is most curious in delaying and preventing the formation of wrinkles. 

 

In fact, Gen Z’s interest in collagen has hit a three-year high on TikTok, with 438 million total views in the US. Of the TikTok viewers watching collagen-focused content, 41% are between the ages of 18 and 24, also known as the Gen Z generation. 

 

Online fitness resource Total Shape analyzed TikTok Trend Discovery data to reveal significant trends regarding the hashtag collagen. In addition, the team outlined the benefits of collagen, and the best time of day to take supplements. 

Analysis of TikTok Trend Discovery data reveals that views of TikTok videos with the hashtag collagen have reached a three-year high in the US. Views of videos containing the collagen hashtag peaked at 438 million in August of this year. Of the 438 million views, a massive 41% of these viewers were in the Gen Z age range of 18-24. Thirty-five percent of the viewers were 25-34-year-olds, and 24% were over the age of 35. This data suggests that Gen Zers in the US are the most collagen-obsessed generation and more interested now than in the past three years.  

 

Trending TikTok videos that use #collagen in the US vary from using collagen hair masks, face masks, taking collagen supplements in the form of powders and capsules, and oddly enough, bone marrow eating. The dominating theme of collagen-related videos on TikTok is in a health and beauty context where content creators offer health, skin and hair-improving advice. 

Collagen is a protein found in abundance in the body. Collagen provides strength to bones and structure to skin. It also comprises the main components of the connective tissues found in muscles, skin, tendons, and ligaments. Easily absorbable collagen supplements have risen in popularity in recent years due to myraid health and beauty benefits.

 

Collagen improves skin health. As the body ages, it produces less collagen, which leads to drier skin and the formation of wrinkles. Taking collagen supplements can increase the hydration and elasticity of the skin, reduce signs of aging in the appearance of wrinkles, and potentially prevent acne. The supplements work by stimulating the body to produce collagen on its own, and other skin-improving proteins such as elastin and fibrillin. 

 

Collagen can also strengthen bones. As collagen provides structure and strength to bones, supplements can slow the deterioration of bone mass and reduce the risk of osteoporosis as we age.  

 

Another benefit of collagen is increasing muscle mass. Collagen is an essential component of muscles that tends to deteriorate with age. Collagen supplements can boost muscle mass by helping synthesize muscle proteins such as creatine.  

 

Collagen can also boost hair and nail health. Taking collagen supplements may prevent brittleness in hair and nails and is thought to help them both grow longer. 

 

Another benefit of collagen is relieving joint pain. As the amount of collagen in the body decreases with age, so does the cartilage tissue’s strength protecting joints. Taking collagen supplements may reduce joint pain by stimulating the tissues in your cartilage to make collagen that can lower inflammation.  

In most cases, taking supplements comes down to pre- and post-exercise, but with collagen supplements, there are better times to take it depending on what parts of the body consumers wish to target. 

 

Collagen supplements are best taken in the evening for muscle and joint health. The main health benefits of collagen are to help with joint health and muscle building. If consumers have experienced a particularly tough workout or day at work, the best time to take collagen is at night. The high levels of glycine within collagen can help boost the body’s creatine production to help repair the muscles while you sleep. 

 

For skin benefits, collagen is best taken in the morning. Taking collagen supplements in the morning will allow skin some extra elasticity throughout the day. It will provide skin with essential nutrients that will protect it from environmental harm. Moreover, taking collagen powders in the morning can combine beauty- and brain-boosting functions. Taking vitamin C supplements, in addition to collagen, can make a great skin cell-repairing duo. 

 

Collagen may be best absorbed on an empty stomach. The emptier the tummy, the more stomach acid is available to break down and absorb collagen protein. For those with a more sensitive gut, Total Shape recommends taking collagen before a meal. 

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