Collagen 101: Everything You Need to Know to Support Skin, Joints & More

You’ve probably heard that collagen is good for your skin—or maybe that it helps your joints or keeps your hair and nails strong. And while all of that is true, collagen is more than just a beauty buzzword—it’s the most abundant protein in your body, and it plays a vital role in how you move, feel, and age.

But here’s the thing: Your body’s natural collagen production starts to decline in your mid-20s. That’s why many health experts recommend getting more collagen through food or supplementation—especially if you’re looking to support healthy skin, joints, gut function, and overall vitality as you age.

What Collagen Actually Does for Your Body

Collagen acts like scaffolding for your body. It’s found in your skin, bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments, helping to keep everything strong, elastic, and resilient. Here’s how it shows up in your day-to-day life:

• Skin: Collagen provides structure and elasticity. More collagen = firmer, smoother skin.
• Joints: It helps cushion and support movement, especially as cartilage wears down with age.
• Gut: Collagen contains amino acids like glycine and glutamine that support the gut lining.
• Muscle recovery: It contributes to tissue repair, making it helpful post-workout or as you age.

Why Collagen Declines—And What You Can Do About It

Aging naturally slows down collagen production, but other factors can accelerate it: UV exposure, stress, smoking, excess sugar, and lack of sleep, to name a few.

To support your body’s collagen levels, it helps to:

• Eat collagen-boosting nutrients (like vitamin C, zinc, and copper)
• Avoid excess sugar and processed foods
• Stay hydrated and prioritize sleep
• Add a collagen-rich food or supplement—like Bare Bones Bone Broth—to your daily routine

An Easy Way to Get More Collagen: Bare Bones

If bone broth isn’t already part of your wellness lineup, it’s one of the simplest and most functional ways to boost your collagen intake. Bare Bones Instant Bone Broth delivers naturally occurring collagen, amino acids, and 10g of protein per serving—in a quick-dissolving powder you can sip like tea or stir into your meals.

Why we love it:

• Made with real, slow-simmered bones for true collagen content
• Chef-crafted for rich, savory flavor (available in Chicken, Beef, Lemon Ginger, and Ramen)
• Comes in single-serve powder sticks—just mix with hot water and sip
• Doubles as a base for quick soups, grains, or even cozy sauces
• Portable, pantry-friendly, and costs less than half of most liquid broths

It’s a low-effort, high-impact way to give your body extra support—especially if you’re looking to make collagen a consistent part of your daily routine. You can check out the full flavor lineup right here.

Bonus: Collagen, On Ice

Not into sipping broth year-round? Bare Bones also makes a collagen-infused Elevated Drink Mix that gives you 5g of collagen protein per stick. Just shake it into cold water and go. Flavored with real fruit juice and sweetened with agave, it’s available in Lemonade, Fruit Punch, and Passion Fruit.

Whether you prefer warm and savory or cool and refreshing, there’s an easy way to work collagen into your day.

The Bottom Line

Collagen supports way more than just your skin—and getting more of it doesn’t have to be complicated. With Bare Bones, adding this powerhouse protein to your day is as simple as sipping from a mug or shaking up your water bottle. However you enjoy it, it’s a small daily habit that can help support your body from the inside out.