As Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer at Avea, you’d think I’d be a pro at staying consistent with our products. But, like many of you, life sometimes gets in the way.
Even though I formulated the Collagen Activator, I’ve often struggled to take it consistently. I’m a capsule person, so sipping the same drink every day, despite its great taste, can feel monotonous (by the way, we’ve just launched a new natural lemon flavour – so if you’re looking for a change, give it a try!). link to lemon collagen
Even though I know consistency is the key to lasting results, I’ve sometimes skipped a week. So, this time I set myself a goal: take the Collagen Activator for 30 days straight, no cheating, and measure the results.
The baseline
Although I’ve never been consistent with taking it, I still made sure to take a full break from the Collagen Activator for at least a month to ensure the results would be accurate.
Then, I headed to Hautwerk, a reputable dermatology clinic in Zurich, where I underwent a Visia scan and Corneometer analysis to assess my skin’s baseline condition.
- Visia Scan: This technology measures various skin parameters like wrinkles, texture, spots, and UV damage. It compares your results to people of the same age, gender, and skin type. The higher the percentage, the better your skin ranks in that category.
- Corneometer Analysis: This measures the level of hydration in the skin, providing an accurate view of how well-moisturised (or not) your skin is.
My baseline results
Visia scan analysis:
- Spots: 51%
- Wrinkles: 50%
- Texture: 70%
- Brown Spots: 61%
Visia scans of my skin, free from makeup or any skincare products for at least 12 hours prior to analysis. Whilst I’ve generally been content with my skin, these results showed room for improvement, especially in hydration.
Also, I should mention: I’m 35 years old, and I’ve never had fillers or Botox (I’m not opposed to them, but feel like this is an important piece of information).
Corneometer analysis:
- Hydration: 27
Hydration had the most room for improvement, as I tend to have dry skin despite moisturising twice daily and drinking plenty of water.
The experiment
For the next 30 days, I took the Collagen Activator every day without exception. I like to take it in the evening because it contains 5g of Glycine, which has been shown to support restful sleep. My sleep quality tends to be great, luckily, even with a wakeful toddler at home. Learn how to build the best sleep routine here.
Throughout the 30 days, I didn’t make any major changes to my skincare routine or lifestyle. For transparency, my skincare routine typically includes a gentle cleanser, Vitamin C serum, a serum with a mix of peptides, a good moisturiser, and mineral SPF 30 every day.
I also drink about 2L of water daily, don’t drink alcohol, don’t smoke, exercise regularly, aim for 7-8 hours of sleep per night and of course take other skin supporting supplements as part of my daily routine (eg. our Essentials, NMN, Booster, and Biomind, our latest probiotic blend).
And, touching wood, I hope I have my mum’s genes to thank—she’s turning 60 this year and barely has a wrinkle!
The science behind Avea’s Collagen Activator
By the way, for those unfamiliar with the Collagen Activator, it’s a scientifically formulated vegan blend of:
- Colgevity™: This is the core of our formulation—a vegan collagen precursor developed in collaboration with scientists from ETH Zurich. Colgevity™ contains the key amino acids Glycine, Proline, and Hydroxyproline, which are the smallest building blocks of collagen. This makes them more easily absorbed by your body, allowing for more efficient collagen production. In our lab observations, Colgevity™ has shown the potential to deliver a 4x higher increase in collagen turnover compared to regular collagen in C. elegans. It also upregulates genes responsible for collagen production in human skin cells, supporting both skin firmness and elasticity. It’s fully vegan and patent pending, and these findings will be part of our upcoming research paper.
Discover the difference between collagen peptides and collagen amino acids.
- Calcium Alpha-Ketoglutarate (AKG): Known to support collagen production through its involvement in the proline-hydroxyproline reaction. AKG also helps reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, which can degrade collagen and elastin fibres.
- Astaxanthin: One of the most potent antioxidants in nature that can protect the skin from UV-induced damage and oxidative stress, both of which accelerate the breakdown of collagen and elastin. By preserving these fibres, Astaxanthin promotes skin elasticity and may help reduce wrinkles.
- Acerola Cherry Extract (rich in Vitamin C): Vitamin C is crucial for collagen synthesis and plays a vital role in stabilising collagen fibres. It also protects both collagen and elastin from damage caused by free radicals, promoting firmer, more resilient skin.
The results after 30 days
After sticking to the routine for a month, I returned to Hautwerk for my second round of tests. Here’s what changed:
Visia scan analysis:
- Spots: Improved by 51% (from 51% to 77%)
- Wrinkles: Improved by 60% (from 50% to 80%)
- Texture: Improved by 9% (from 70% to 76%)
- Brown Spots: Improved by 16% (from 61% to 71%)
Visia scans of my skin, free from makeup or any skincare products for at least 12 hours prior to analysis. The scans show significant improvements in spots, wrinkles, texture, and brown spots after 30 days of using Avea’s Collagen Activator.
Corneometer analysis:
- Hydration: Jumped from an average of 27 to 47 on my cheeks, a whopping 74% increase.
This graph shows the hydration levels of my skin, measured using a Corneometer in Arbitrary Units (A.U.). The baseline measurement was taken before starting Avea’s Collagen Activator, and the second measurement was taken after 30 days of consistent use. A significant improvement in hydration (+74%) was observed.
The results on skin moisture were impressive, as hydration is key to maintaining skin health. It helps plump your skin, supports its natural barrier function, and enhances elasticity.
Well-hydrated skin not only looks smoother, but is better equipped to combat environmental stressors and maintain its youthful appearance.
Boost your collagen levels naturally
- 100% vegan precursor: Ideal mix for vegetarians and vegans, including 5g of Glycine.
- 4x more effective: Scientifically proven amino acid blend, developed with ETH Zurich scientists.
- Backed by 1000+ studies: Bioavailable ingredients boosting and maintaining ideal collagen production.
How did the Avea Collagen Activator help?
The improvements I saw are likely due to the synergy of ingredients in the Collagen Activator. Here are my thoughts on what contributed to each change:
- Wrinkles: The Colgevity™ blend stimulates your body’s natural collagen production. Collagen is critical for skin firmness and elasticity, and as it increases, wrinkles become less noticeable. The hydration boost also plays a role in making fine lines appear less pronounced, as well-hydrated skin looks plumper.
- Spots and brown spots: The Astaxanthin and Vitamin C in Acerola Cherry Extract are powerful antioxidants that combat oxidative stress and UV-induced pigmentation. These ingredients help reduce brown spots and even out skin tone by protecting and repairing damaged skin.
- Texture: Collagen helps maintain the structure and smoothness of the skin. By increasing collagen levels, the Collagen Activator improves skin texture, making it appear more even. The hydration boost also contributed to this smoother, more refined appearance.
- Hydration: The 74% increase in hydration is likely due to collagen’s hygroscopic nature, which helps the skin retain water. As Colgevity™ promotes collagen turnover, it supports the skin’s natural moisture retention, resulting in better overall hydration.
Boost your collagen levels naturally
- 100% vegan precursor: Ideal mix for vegetarians and vegans, including 5g of Glycine.
- 4x more effective: Scientifically proven amino acid blend, developed with ETH Zurich scientists.
- Backed by 1000+ studies: Bioavailable ingredients boosting and maintaining ideal collagen production.
The next steps
This was a personal experiment, but we also conducted a larger human study with 58 participants at Hautwerk. The results? Promising. We’re working with a third party to analyse the data, and we hope to publish our findings next year.
Stay tuned for a more comprehensive breakdown of how the Collagen Activator works across a broader group.
Final thoughts on Avea’s collagen supplement
After seeing the results firsthand, I’m more dedicated to maintaining my collagen routine. With these skin benefits in just one month, I’m excited to see how things evolve with continued use.
Recent skin status after swimming, no makeup, no filter.
While I’m not obsessing about chasing the elimination of fine lines (I love how they reflect happy expressions!), I’m all about keeping my skin healthy and radiant. I’m glad to have Avea’s Collagen Activator as part of my routine to support my skin’s natural strength and hydration—whether now, or in the years to come.
Thank you for reading! If you want to experience the results for yourself, check out our Avea Collagen Activator.
With love,
Sophie
