Our Take on the Collagen Craze: Silica

You’d have to live under a rock to not have caught wind of the craze that is collagen right now. From supplements to shots to powder form to lotions, you can find collagen in just about any type of product.

The most abundant protein in the body, collagen is the major component of connective tissues that are one’s tendons, ligaments, muscles and skin.

Turns out, as we age, the collagen production in our bodies becomes less efficient which can lead to wrinkles, lines, and sagging skin. As this information becomes more widespread and individuals seek a brighter, younger complexion, collagen has become one of the hottest beauty ingredients on the market.

What many people don’t realize is that most collagen supplements on the market come from the bones, skin and connective tissues of animals such as cattle, fish, horses, pigs and rabbits. Since plants don’t produce collagen, there is no such thing as a vegan version.

What’s more, there are many studies that show that ingesting collagen, or putting collagen products on your skin topically, doesn’t actually increase collagen in your body. In the first case, your body breaks down the collagen the way it would break down anything you eat or drink, into macronutrients. In the second, the collagen molecules are too big to do much more than sit on top of your skin.

Knowing that glowing, healthy skin is a priority for many, we sought out to create a Beauty Shot that would support collagen production in your body, in a way that was in line with our ethics and with our brand values of doing all things “for the love of body and planet.”. Our alternative? Silica. As it turns out, silica is an essential building block for our bodies to produce collagen. Remember, our bodies know how to do this, our cells can make collagen, they just get less efficient at it as we age. Silica is a mineral and is made of two of the earth’s most abundant materials (actually silicon dioxide SiO2). The earth’s crust is 59% silica, and it is found naturally in water, plants and animals. It is most often recognized in the form of quartz. For the purposes of our Beauty shot, the trick is using a form of silica with high bioavailability (a form that your body can easily process and put to use, to support collagen production), and of course, we made sure to source the highest quality silica for this reason.

Our Beauty Shot is packed with 10mg of Silica, shown to promote collagen production, leading to healthier hair, skin, and nails. Plus, the 1 billion CFUs of probiotic supports a strong immune and digestive system. With organic grapefruit juice paired with aronia berry, the shot has a tart, yet delicious flavor profile.

Are you ready to try a Beauty shot? Visit our store locator here.