June 4, 2025

Combating Aging Skin: How to Reduce Redness and Boost Collagen for a Radiant Complexion

A woman in athletic gym wear sits on outdoor concrete steps, taking a break and drinking from a protein shake bottle on a sunny day.

Everyone ages, but not everyone wants to look it. While no one can outrun aging, you can slow down the appearance of aging skin and keep a radiant complexion for longer with just a few simple tricks. Let’s dive in.

The Science Behind Skin Aging

All skin ages, but knowing the science behind skin aging can help you better treat and delay the physical changes in your skin from getting older.

Collagen’s role in maintaining skin structure and elasticity

If you are trying to keep that youthful glow, collagen will be your best friend. Collagen is an abundant structural protein integral for the structure and function of your skin, bones, joints, and ligaments. As we get older, our collagen production decreases.

When collagen levels decrease, skin elasticity and moisture decrease, which can lead to the development of fine lines, wrinkles, and dull skin.

How natural aging and external factors contribute to collagen decline

We don’t have control over aging, but we do have some control over collagen production, especially when it comes to our lifestyle.

Collagen production naturally begins to decrease with age, but there are also lifestyle factors that can cause collagen decline, including smoking, excessive alcohol intake, excessive sun exposure, and poor diet.

Causes of Redness and Collagen Loss

Woman with glowing skin and long, healthy hair blowing back in the wind, posing confidently outdoors.

If you are experiencing redness and collagen loss, it can be caused by several factors. These symptoms could be signs of damaged skin from prolonged sun exposure, smoking, certain skin conditions or diseases, and general aging.

If you aren’t sure why you are experiencing redness and collagen loss in your skin, consult a dermatologist to determine the root cause.

Strategies to Reduce Skin Redness

Woman in gym gear working out with a focused expression and glowing, clear skin.

Redness in the skin can be caused by many things but is often a result of skin irritation. This can affect the feel, appearance, and texture of the skin, leading to decreased self-confidence. If this sounds like you, you need a skincare routine focused on soothing irritated skin.

Skincare routines focused on soothing irritated skin

If you have irritated skin, it’s important to choose calming products that don’t contain any harsh ingredients or fragrances, as this could fuel the irritation.

Start with a gentle cleanser and always pat dry. Do not rub your skin with a towel, as this can increase inflammation. Follow that up with a calming moisturizer, such as one infused with aloe vera or chamomile. Lastly, always remember to include sunscreen to protect from harsh UV rays and wear a hat if going outside.

Incorporating anti-inflammatory ingredients

It can be hard to figure out what ingredients in your skincare products are pro-inflammatory and what are anti-inflammatory.

Soothing ingredients in your cleansers, moisturizers, and other skincare products include plant oils (such as olive oil, argan oil, jojoba oil, chamomile oil, and shea butter), aloe vera, green tea, niacinamide, and ceramides.

Natural Methods to Boost Collagen Production

Green smoothie in a mason jar with a black and white striped straw, topped with fresh mint and surrounded by leafy greens.

Aside from topical methods, increasing collagen production can help reduce red, irritated skin. Collagen plays an important role in tissue repair and healing, but you have to be intentional if you want to boost collagen production with your diet.

Nutritional tips: Foods rich in vitamin C, amino acids, and zinc

Three amino acids are essential for collagen production: proline, lysine, and glycine. Including more foods rich in these amino acids, such as meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, and bone broth, can help to naturally boost collagen levels.

Zinc is also an essential cofactor for collagen synthesis and can be found in rich sources in foods such as red meats, poultry, oysters, eggs, and dairy products.

Vitamin C plays a critical role as well, and including more vitamin-C-rich foods such as citrus fruits, bell peppers, strawberries, and broccoli can help increase collagen synthesis. Vitamin C also helps with wound healing and acts as an antioxidant to protect your skin from sun damage.

Choosing a balanced diet rich in these food sources and low in highly processed food products can help to support healthy collagen levels naturally.

Supplementation options: Collagen peptides and vitamin C

If you don’t like a lot of the foods mentioned above or just feel you need a little more help increasing collagen production, you can include a collagen supplement.

Research supports collagen supplements for skin health in doses as little as 2.5 grams per day, but you can find products that contain as much as 20 grams of collagen in one serving.

Because collagen products have become so popular as a beauty supplement, there are many varieties available on the market, including gummies, capsules, tablets, powders, and premade shakes.

You can also include supplemental vitamin C. However, these sources tend to be easier to obtain through diet than collagen.

Glowing Skin Smoothie

Three vibrant pink and red smoothies topped with blueberries and fresh mint, served in glass cups on a white marble countertop.

If you want glowing skin, try out this skin-loving shake packed with collagen, vitamin C, and protein to keep you satisfied for hours.

Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Smoothie for Glowing Skin

Servings: 1

Ingredients:

1 scoop Naked Nutrition Naked Shake in chocolate
1 scoop Ella Beauty Protein Powder in vanilla
1 cup frozen strawberries
¼-⅓ cup vanilla Greek yogurt (no or low added sugar)
1 cup milk (or liquid of choice)
1 frozen banana
1 tbsp honey

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a high-powered blender and blend until smooth. Add more or less liquid to achieve the desired consistency. Top with dark chocolate chips, fresh berries, or nuts.

Bottom Line

While many topical products can give your skin a youthful glow, the best way to have healthy, radiant skin is to nourish it from the inside out by prioritizing a diet rich in foods that promote collagen production. Prioritize collagen and vitamin C-rich foods and reduce your intake of highly processed foods. You can also include a collagen supplement in your beauty routine to help ensure you are giving your skin the boost it needs.