Collagen, what is it?

Collagen comes from the Greek words kolla, meaning glue, and gen, to produce. It’s a protein that is produced naturally by our bodies. It’s not only found in the skin, but also in bones, ligaments, etc. The body makes no fewer than 28 different types of collagen. When you are young, collagen production is high, which is why you have firm, radiant skin as a child. From your late twenties, early thirties, this production decreases by 1% a year. What’s more, the quality of your collagen also decreases. It becomes thinner and weaker, resulting in drier, less elastic skin and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. So, we advise you to include collagen in your skincare regime. Almost all products by Sirène (our house skincare brand) contain a good amount of collagen. In addition to using collagen products, you should also regularly hydrate your skin, both by moisturising it and drinking plenty of water.

Another thing that helps is to massage your face regularly. This strengthens your facial muscles and boosts circulation, which in turn stimulates collagen production and oxygen supply to the skin.

Excess alcohol consumption, smoking and not wearing sunscreen are all factors that have a negative impact on your collagen production and connective tissue. In other words, they are definite no-nos if you want to keep your skin looking youthful.

Want to discover the benefits of a collagen treatment? Both Thermae Boetfort and Thermae Grimbergen offer a 50-minute facial treatment with a unique collagen mask. This sheet mask contains stem cells of the Uttwiler Spätlauber, a type of apple known for retaining its firmness for an incredibly long time.