For the past two weeks I’ve been taking Collagen Zooki, a high strength daily liquid collagen supplement (*ad – gifted sample product provided by Zooki).
Each 15ml sachet contains 5000mg of hydrolised marine collagen (which just means the collagen is broken down to into small more easily absorbed particles).
The Collagen Zooki supplement is designed to support healthy skin, hair, nails, cartilage and bone and the benefits of taking it can usually start to be noticed from about three to four weeks, sometimes earlier. So I was a bit sceptical as to whether I would see any difference during a two week trial. However I did see a small but noticeable improvement to my skin’s appearance, which I will explain more about in a moment.
But first, what is collagen is and why is it important?
Collagen is a protein found in the body which strengthens the connective tissues that support the skin, bones, tendons and cartilage. Collagen is responsible for the skin’s elasticity and youthfulness (think of a baby’s perfect skin with that bouncy, plump texture). But from as early as our twenties collagen begins to decline by 1% a year and in our forties and fifties that speeds up! Meaning someone of my age (50) is looking at their natural collagen levels being reduced by at least a third. It’s no wonder wrinkles and skin sagging worsens, whilst joints can hurt or injuries occur more frequently!
So if a supplement can potentially increase the levels of collagen in the body, the anti aging benefits should be wide ranging, including boosting hair and nails, skin strengthening and wrinkle reduction as well as protecting joints – it could even help with osteoporosis and bone density in postmenopausal women.
Why marine collagen?
Zooki’s marine collagen is sustainably derived from fish skin and is very similar to human collagen – both are type 1 collagen, which is the most abundant form in humans. In it’s hydrolysed state, the supplement can help maintain the collagen in the skin as well as encouraging the body’s own production of collagen and hyaluronic acid, which helps retain the moisture in the outer layer of our skin. 5g daily seems to be the optimum for reducing signs of aging, improving elasticity, retaining moisture and alleviating roughness.
What does Collagen Zooki taste like?
I tried the Concord Grape flavour. It was pretty palatable to me, tasting a bit like a grape-flavoured sweet. It’s a syrupy gel like formulation and I tried it swirled into greek yoghurt and a fruit smoothie which was ok. You can suck it straight out of the sachet too, but in the end I preferred to simply mix it in a small glass of water and drink it down like a shot in the morning! There are other flavours to try – Berry, Mango Peach and Citrus Lime, too.
What did I notice – anything?
Yes! Definitely and it’s not just my imagination or wishful thinking. An improvement in skin hydration is often the first noticeable effect when taking this collagen, usually after three weeks or so, but some people do notice this improvement a bit sooner and that included me. I don’t think what I’ve witnessed is a sudden acceleration in my collagen production, rather it’s the fact my slightly dry and dehydrated menopausal skin, looking a bit dull of late, has had a boost of hydration from taking the supplement. This has resulted in slightly plumper, brighter skin that does have more of a glow.
On days 5 & 6 I noticed that my first morning glance in the mirror seemed less terrifying, showing a slightly softer look to my face. Day 7 and I was noticing that the smile lines either side of my mouth – which I’ve always had even in my twenties – and that were starting to look a bit deeper lately, now appeared just slightly more filled out.
It’s enough to make me want to continue taking marine collagen for the next month or two to see if I also start to notice an improvement to any stiffness and achey joints. I would be delighted if it starts to protect me from picking up niggles and injuries from running and exercising, which I seem to suffer more from since hitting the menopause years.
What else I did during the trial
Halfway through when I first noticed a slight change, I also started to use my Sunday Riley CEO Glow which is a Vitamin C facial oil (an effective skin brightener) more regularly – going from once every few days to every other day. I also bought a jade roller for the first time, using it morning and evening for a couple of minutes to massage my face. It feels really nice and cooling on the skin and I just roll it gently back and forth all over for a bit of a facial massage. I think these steps combined with the supplement are helping to boost my skin’s appearance.
I’m also thinking that if I had tried a bit harder to increase my water intake, my complexion may have improved even further! But alas I didn’t get that far. So the next step is for me to keep taking a daily marine collagen supplement, as well as drinking more water and less tea and coffee. It will be interesting to see how things go in the coming weeks!
Like the sound of Collagen Zooki? Have a discount
Do you take marine collagen or would you be keen to try it yourself? If so, you can take 10% off your first order of Collagen Zooki by using the code ZOOKIANTONIA10 – and you can also receive a free reusable stainless steel tumbler or water bottle with the code.
© Copyright 2022 Antonia, All rights Reserved. Written For: Tidylife
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