Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body, and the main building block for bones, hair, muscles, tendons, ligaments – and skin. Think of collagen as your skin’s scaffolding. It makes tissues strong and resilient, and it’s what stops skin from sagging. Collagen levels decline as we age, but can also be affected by factors such as sun exposure, stress, smoking, alcohol consumption, excess sugar, pollution and lack of sleep. A number of skincare actives, such as Vitamin C and Retinoids, can help to boost the body’s natural collagen production. Some topical skincare products also contain additional collagen.