People often ask me what I do to keep my skin looking healthy in my 50s.
Some assume it’s expensive skincare. Others think it’s genetics or makeup.
The truth is much simpler.
My collagen journey started almost eight years ago—long before I ever became a mountain hiker or started creating content about healthy aging.
Back then, I was a competitive ballroom dancer in my mid-30s while also pursuing my passion as a nutritionist and fitness trainer.
I trained hard. I stayed active. But despite exercising regularly, I didn’t quite feel like myself.
My flexibility wasn’t where I wanted it to be. My energy wasn’t as consistent as it used to be. My skin looked tired, and my hair wasn’t nearly as healthy as I wanted it to be.
I wasn’t searching for a magic pill or the latest trend on social media. I simply wanted to support my body naturally and consistently.
That’s when I decided to give collagen a try.
Like many people, I started with bovine collagen in powder and capsule form.
I committed to taking it every day.
Six months later, I noticed a slight improvement in my energy levels, but that was about it. My skin and hair looked almost exactly the same.
Many people would have stopped there.
Instead, I became curious.
Was it the type of collagen? The formulation? The absorption?
I decided to keep learning.
In 2020, I switched to a liquid marine collagen made from Type I fish collagen peptides.
Again, I stayed consistent.
About six months later, I began noticing changes that felt impossible to ignore.
My skin looked healthier and more hydrated. My complexion became brighter. My makeup started looking smoother because my skin itself looked healthier. My hair gradually became stronger and shinier.
Nothing happened overnight.
There wasn’t one dramatic “before and after” moment.
It was simply a gradual transformation that came from giving my body consistent nutritional support over time.
Today, I’m in my 50s.
I’m an engineering executive, a nutritionist, a fitness enthusiast, and a lifestyle creator.
Since 2021, I’ve climbed mountains, trained consistently, traveled extensively, and continued challenging myself physically.
I still take my Younique Type I Marine Liquid Collagen every single day because it has become part of my wellness routine, not because I’m chasing youth, but because I want to stay active, strong, and confident for decades to come.
Healthy skin is a wonderful bonus.
Feeling energetic enough to keep hiking mountains is an even bigger one.
Collagen is the most abundant structural protein in the human body. It helps provide strength and support to our skin, joints, bones, tendons, ligaments, and connective tissues.
Beginning in our mid-20s, our natural collagen production gradually starts to decline. Many experts estimate that collagen production decreases by about 1% each year. Factors such as sun exposure, smoking, chronic stress, poor sleep, and inadequate nutrition can accelerate this process.
For women, the decline becomes even more noticeable around menopause because hormonal changes can speed up collagen loss.
As collagen decreases, you may notice:
While aging is completely natural, supporting your body through nutrition, strength training, sleep, sun protection, and healthy lifestyle habits can help you age well.
Research suggests that hydrolyzed collagen peptides may help improve skin hydration and elasticity in some people when taken consistently over several months. Some studies also suggest potential benefits for joint comfort and exercise recovery.
Collagen isn’t a miracle supplement, and it won’t erase years of aging.
But like most healthy habits, consistency matters.
Just as you don’t become fit after one workout, you shouldn’t expect one month of collagen to transform your skin or joints.
Think of it as supporting your body over the long term rather than looking for an overnight fix.
If there’s one thing these past eight years have taught me, it’s this:
Your body rewards consistency.
Whether it’s strength training, healthy nutrition, quality sleep, hydration, hiking, or collagen, small choices repeated every day create the biggest transformations.
Too many people give up after a few weeks because they don’t see immediate results.
Natural change doesn’t work that way.
Give your body the time it needs.
If you’re in your 30s, 40s, 50s or beyond and you’re looking for ways to support healthy aging, collagen may be worth exploring as part of an overall healthy lifestyle.
Choose a high-quality product, take it consistently, eat enough protein, stay active, and be patient.
Your future self will thank you.
For me, collagen isn’t about trying to look 25 again.
It’s about feeling strong enough to climb another mountain, confident enough to show my skin without filters, and healthy enough to keep living life to its fullest.
And that’s a journey I’m excited to continue.
