Over the past few years, collagen supplements and bone broth have surged in popularity thanks to their potential health and appearance benefits. So, which is the better option for enhancing your natural beauty? As it turns out, both collagen and bone broth can provide essential support for your skin, nails, and hair—but there are differences that may make one a better choice than the other for you.

Here, we look at collagen supplements and bone broth in more detail so you decide which one is the most beneficial option to support your unique beauty needs.

What is collagen?

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body and is a crucial component of skin, bone, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments—providing strength and structure to keep them healthy and supple. Collagen contains four powerhouse amino acids: glycine, proline, hydroxyproline, and arginine, which are fundamental to your skin’s health and appearance as they support elasticity and avert wrinkling. 

These amino acids also help increase bone strength & density and reduce inflammation to improve joint health. Additionally, collagen promotes gut health by improving digestion and relieving associated symptoms, such as bloating. 

Collagen vs. bone broth

As we age, our body naturally produces less collagen. Taking collagen supplements or consuming bone broth with high collagen content may be helpful in replenishing lost collagen levels, potentially leading to improved skin elasticity, fewer wrinkles, and a bit more confidence when we look in the mirror.

There are key differences between a collagen supplement and bone broth, and depending on your goals, you may prefer one option over the other to bolster your beauty routine. 

How collagen powder is made

Collagen powder is made from animal bones, skin, and connective tissue; most manufactured collagen is bovine in origin. The process begins with breaking down the animal parts—through boiling or other methods such as acid hydrolysis or enzymatic hydrolysis. The resulting mixture is then filtered and purified before being dried and ground into a fine powder, which can then be used as-is or further processed to create different types of collagen supplements.

How bone broth is made

Bone broth is made by simmering bones—as well as optional aromatics including vegetables, herbs, and spices—in water for an extended period of time. This process naturally extracts the bones’ vitamins, minerals, and amino acids into the liquid. The end result is a flavorful broth that can be used as a base for soups and sauces, or enjoyed on its own.

Taking collagen supplements or consuming bone broth with high collagen content may be helpful in replenishing lost collagen levels.

Bone broth: benefits and drawbacks

Bone broth has been used for centuries as a healing remedy, and its benefits are recognized by modern science. 

Bone broth benefits

The benefits of bone broth are more comprehensive than a simple collagen supplement;

• Bone broth contains a range of minerals including calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, silicon, sulfur, and trace minerals that can help support overall health. 
• Bone broth is naturally high in unprocessed collagen, which helps to promote healthy joints and improve skin health and elasticity. 
• Bone broth is a satisfying food to consume and can support healthy weight loss
• Bone broth can aid in recovery from surgery or injury due to its ability to reduce inflammation and promote the healing of soft tissues. 
• Bone broth may be more cost-effective and can be made at home using simple ingredients like bones and vegetables. 
• Bone broth is relatively versatile in the kitchen.

Bone broth drawbacks

On the downside;

• Bone broth may be difficult to digest for some people, especially if fat content has not been removed in a second step after cooking. 
• Bone broth can be time-consuming to make at home.
• Pre-made bone broth products save time but can be pricey. 

Collagen supplements: benefits and drawbacks

Collagen has become increasingly popular as an added ingredient in skincare products due to its ability to help keep skin, hair, nails, and other connective tissues healthy. 

Collagen supplement benefits

There are various benefits to taking a collagen supplement; 

• Collagen supplements deliver a concentrated dose of protein and are highly versatile—they can be consumed internally in tablets, capsules, or in liquid or powdered forms. 
• Collagen powder is tasteless and won’t alter the flavor of your food. It can be easily added to yogurt, smoothies, coffee—nearly any dish or beverage. 
• Collagen supplements may be more accessible for some people, whether taken orally or added to food.
• You can easily consume a precise, doctor-recommended dose of collagen each day to support healthy body functions, skin elasticity, etc. 

Collagen supplement drawbacks

On the downside, collagen supplements are heavily processed, using enzymes to isolate the collagen molecules from the original animal parts; isolated nutritional components do not typically offer the same range of benefits as less-processed or whole foods. Also, supplements are not regulated by the FDA, meaning consumers must trust the manufacturer to test for the safety and efficacy of their product. 

We have a winner! Well, sort of…

In sum, bone broth has additional nutrients not provided by isolated collagen supplements and thus may be a superior choice for improving your overall health and wellness—that said, convenience is also important, and your personal preferences will have the final say in which one is the better beauty booster for you! 

The fine print

Unless you actually make or purchase bone broth frequently enough to regularly incorporate it into your diet, you will likely get more dependable beauty benefits from taking a daily collagen supplement. That’s because consistency is key to improving your skin, whether you are using professional-grade skincare products or increasing your collagen intake. Some people may find that taking a collagen supplement is simply more convenient and allows for more consistent use than drinking or cooking with bone broth. Ultimately, the right choice is the product you will use the most consistently!

Want to boost your skin today? Let us help! 

While consuming collagen can provide nutritional support when it comes to skin health, its action is subtle and takes time. Collagen supplements also can’t erase past sun damage, wrinkles, and other skin flaws—laser treatments and other non-surgical methodologies are much more effective when it comes to quickly improving the surface appearance of your skin. The outstanding medical team at The Swan Center is here to help you with the best non-surgical cosmetic treatments, including options that are proven to boost your natural collagen production and improve your skin’s appearance, such as RF microneedling, chemical peels, laser treatments, and specialty facials. We invite you to schedule a consultation with our Atlanta medspa or call us at (770) 667-0904 to learn more! 

To ensure you get the best results, though, it’s important to know how to care for your skin post treatment! In this blog, we’ll orient you to the basics of laser skin resurfacing, then share 5 things to help you get the most out of your laser treatment.

What does laser skin resurfacing do?

Cosmetic lasers use light-based technology to improve the look of your skin in an outpatient, non-surgical procedure. They can be used to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, scars, pigmented lesions, keratoses, and uneven tone or texture. They also help to tighten the skin.

Laser treatment does carefully-controlled damage to your skin in order to take advantage of its healing mechanisms.

Laser treatments typically work by damaging skin is a highly-targeted way to stimulate the skin’s own healing and rejuvenation process. Lasers can also reach deeper layers to promote the formation of new collagen—that’s the component of your skin that gives it elasticity and keeps it plump and hydrated.

What is recovery like after laser treatment?

Laser resurfacing procedures vary widely and are finely-tuned to the individual patient’s needs, which means recovery will look different for each person.

For more mild treatments, you’ll likely experience some redness and sensitivity that will subside after only a few days. More aggressive treatments can offer dramatic results, but do require a longer recovery time, during which you may experience peeling skin as the dead outer layer is shed.

In either case, by the time two weeks have gone by you should be seeing the results in younger, healthier-looking skin.

Tips for a successful treatment

So what can you do to make sure you get the best results from your laser skin resurfacing treatment? Here are our top 5 tips.

1. Prepare for success

What you do before your treatment matters, too. One area you particularly need to watch out for is the sun. Even though it can be tempting to get outside and enjoy the weather, it’s best to avoid sun exposure for at least a week before your procedure.

You should also avoid anything that would be harsh on your skin, like chemical peels. Laser treatment makes your skin very sensitive and you don’t want to head into treatment with it already irritated.

It’s also a good idea to stay on top of hydration and healthy eating—your skin needs plenty of water and nutrients to generate more collagen and reap the full benefits of laser treatment!

Laser treatment makes your skin sensitive, and you don’t want to head into treatment with it already irritated.

2. Post treatment, focus on being gentle & clean

Laser treatment does carefully-controlled damage to your skin in order to take advantage of its healing mechanisms. You don’t want to put it under more stress as it recovers. That means treating it as gently as possible.

After your laser procedure, we will provide detailed instructions as to when you can first use cleansers and apply products. When you do, be sure to start with an extremely gentle, fragrance-free cleanser and dry your face with a newly washed towel. After cleansing, apply a mild, nourishing moisturizer that won’t irritate your skin. And definitely skip all exfoliants until your skin is fully recovered! (When you have a laser treatment here at the Swan Center, we’ll be sure to check your products and offer expert recommendations.)

When you’re ready to leave the house, you might wonder about cosmetics. We recommend starting with fresh foundation and cheek products (old products can easily harbor bacteria) and only using mineral makeup. This is also a great time to get out new brushes, or thoroughly cleanse yours, since they are often full of germs.

3. Be religious about post-treatment SPF

If it is important to avoid sun exposure before your procedure, it is even more crucial afterwards. For the initial recovery period, you’ll want to stay out of the sun entirely. If you do have to be outside, wear a broad-brimmed hat and a high-SPF sunscreen. For extra protection, we recommend you wear sunscreen inside as well, as UV rays pass through glass windows—where there is daylight, there is UV!

Even after healing is complete, you’ll want to continue to use a broad spectrum sunscreen to protect your renewed skin and help your results to last.

4. Don’t touch

After treatment, your skin’s protective layer is compromised and, as we mentioned before, it is more vulnerable to bacteria, so you’ll need to avoid touching your skin. It can be very tempting to feel your skin’s progress or disturb peeling skin, but you must resist the urge! Besides the risk of infection, scratching, rubbing, or picking can also increase irritation and inhibit healing, and even create new scars. Let your skin rest.

One other way our faces can pick up bacteria is from our smartphones, so consider giving yours regular wipe-downs with a sanitary wipe!

5. Get some sleep

What does sleep have to do with your skin? Actually, a lot. It isn’t just that sleep is important to healing in your body in general. A lack of sleep also causes stress, which leads to inflammation. Stress also raises cortisol levels in your blood, which contributes to the aging and damage of skin.

Enough sleep is also important for the production of collagen, which laser therapy is intended to stimulate.

Experts recommend 7-9 hours a night for adults; give yourself permission to get the rest you need. Your skin will thank you.

Atlanta laser skin resurfacing at the Swan Center

As with any aesthetic treatments, the practitioner makes a big difference. At The Swan Center, our highly-trained aesthetics team uses the latest technology to achieve great-looking results with minimal downtime. If you’re in the Atlanta area and are interested in exploring what laser treatments can do for you, we invite you to get in touch for a consultation.