Imagine looking in the mirror and noticing that the wrinkles around your eyes are a little less pronounced, that your skin retains water better and that, under the surface, the dermis is thickening. This is what a clinical trial on women aged 40 to 60, published in 2025 in the Journal of cosmetic dermatology(study in Journal of cosmetic dermatology 2025), observed when an enzyme-treated royal jelly cream was applied to the skin for 12 weeks.
Simply put, the study shows that when the skin is well nourished from the outside, “crow’s feet” wrinkles can become shallower, the outermost layer of the skin retains water better and the dermis, which is the inner scaffold, becomes slightly thicker. The researchers also saw that an epidermal stem cell marker was activated, a kind of signal that the skin is better able to maintain its ability to renew itself. For everyday life this is a powerful insight: wrinkles are not just a matter of age, but also of how we take care of the skin’s structure and hydration.
Wrinkles, water and internal scaffolding – what the study revealed
The trial was conducted on 70 Japanese women who were already showing signs of facial ageing, such as wrinkles and loss of firmness. For 12 weeks they applied a protease-treated royal jelly cream to half their face and a placebo cream to the other half. Neither the participants nor the team knew which side had which, known as a double-blind study.
After that time, the area treated with the active cream showed a significant reduction in the maximum depth of the most pronounced wrinkle, an improvement in the average depth of that wrinkle and an increase in the hydration of the stratum corneum, which is the outermost layer of the skin. An increase in the thickness of the dermis was also measured, which is like reinforcing the internal cushion that supports the surface. In parallel, a human skin model was shown to increase the expression of COL17A1, a type of collagen associated with epidermal stem cell function.
These results suggest a simple idea: when the skin receives the right stimuli, it can better organise its water, strengthen its structure and keep the cells that regenerate it more active. Not a radical change, but a real improvement in parameters that relate to how our skin looks and feels.
Skin as a living tissue, not just a surface
To understand why this study matters, it helps to imagine the skin as a three-layered house. At the top is the stratum corneum, which functions as the roof, keeping water from escaping and external aggressions from entering. Below is the epidermis, where cells are constantly renewed. Below that is the dermis, which is the beam-and-column structure made up of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid.
Over time, the roof dries out, the beams lose density and the building cells work more slowly. The study with treated royal jelly shows that you can touch several of these levels at once, improve the hydration of the outer layer, increase the thickness of the dermis and stimulate stem cell markers. It is as if the skin receives a reminder to keep repairing and organising its internal architecture.
The most interesting part is that the effect is not limited to superficial “plumping”, changes in the structure and biology of the skin are observed. This fits with a modern vision of skin care, not just putting something on top, but supporting the processes that keep the skin supple, hydrated and able to regenerate.
How to care for skin from the inside and out on a daily basis
If we think of it in everyday terms, the royal jelly cream in the study would be like good maintenance from the outside. But skin also depends on what’s happening on the inside, on the nutrients coming in through the blood, on the quality of the connective tissue and on the body’s ability to make its own collagen.
Some habits help to follow the same logic as the study, albeit from a different angle. Drinking water regularly throughout the day, not just when you feel thirsty, protects skin hydration. Choosing a diet rich in fruit and vegetables provides vitamin C and antioxidants involved in collagen synthesis. Taking care of sleep and stress favours nocturnal repair processes. And protecting the skin from the sun with daily photoprotection prevents collagen from degrading faster than the body can rebuild it.
In this context, nutricosmetics that act from within can be interesting allies. They do not replace a cream or a good sunscreen, but they can support the underlying structure, the quality of the internal “scaffolding” that supports the skin.
Oral collagen effect in the same direction as the study
The study with treated royal jelly talks about improving wrinkles, hydration and thickness of the dermis from the outside. The natural question is what can be done from the inside to accompany this process. This is where hydrolysed collagen and other nutrients that are part of the connective tissue come into play.
When we ingest hydrolysed collagen, it is broken down into small fragments of amino acids that the body uses as signals and as raw material to make its own collagen. Vitamin C acts as a cofactor, helping to stabilise the collagen fibres being formed. Hyaluronic acid binds water in the extracellular matrix, resulting in more hydrated and flexible tissues. Minerals such as magnesium, zinc and silicon are involved in the synthesis of structural proteins and the stability of the matrix that supports the skin and joints.
The idea is similar to that of the study, it is not a single isolated ingredient, but a nutritional environment that promotes tissue renewal and quality. Just as the royal jelly cream acted on the skin’s water, dermis and epidermal stem cells, a good combination of collagen, hyaluronic acid, vitamins and minerals can support the internal structure that makes for more elastic and textured skin.
Nutribiolite Collagen Complex, an extension of your skin’s physiology
NutribioliteCollagen Complex follows that same logic of working with physiology, not against it. It is a food supplement that combines hydrolysed bovine Peptan Type 1 collagen, hyaluronic acid, magnesium, vitamin C, vitamin A, zinc, selenium, biotin and natural silicon from bamboo extract.
Peptan Type 1 collagen provides key amino acids for the structure of the dermis and other connective tissues. Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation, essential for maintaining skin, bone and cartilage. Hyaluronic acid aids water retention in the extracellular matrix, which connects directly to the idea of improving skin hydration in the study.
Minerals such as magnesium and zinc are involved in protein synthesis and the normal maintenance of skin, hair and nails. Selenium and vitamin C provide antioxidant protection, which helps to protect cells against oxidative stress. Biotin contributes to the normal maintenance of skin and hair, while bamboo silicon acts as a co-factor in the production of collagen and elastin, strengthening the structure of connective tissues.
Taken together, this formula works as an internal extension of what the royal jelly study showed from the outside, supporting the structure of the dermis, promoting collagen synthesis, caring for hydration and accompanying tissue regeneration. It is not a medical treatment, it is a nutritional support that is integrated into the daily routine, just like a good cream or a habit of photoprotection.
Peptan hydrolysed collagen, hyaluronic acid and key nutrients to support the structure of the skin, joints and connective tissues from within.
How to integrate this type of care into your routine
The science of the study and the logic of a supplement like Collagen Complex point in the same direction, consistency and holistic care. For skin, profound changes don’t usually happen in days, they are built up over weeks and months of repeated small decisions.
In practice, this can be translated into three layers of care. An outer layer with gentle cleansing, moisturising and daily sun protection. A lifestyle layer with a diet rich in fruit and vegetables, good stress management and sufficient rest. And an inner layer of structural support, where a supplement with hydrolysed collagen, hyaluronic acid and specific micronutrients is taken every day, for example 3 capsules with meals, as recommended by the formula itself.
The effect thus ceases to be an isolated gesture and becomes a coherent physiological pathway, from the stem cells of the epidermis to the collagen matrix of the dermis, via hydration and antioxidant protection.
Frequently Asked Questions about Collagen, Skin and Collagen Complex
How does this study relate to an oral collagen supplement?
The study showed that a treated royal jelly cream improved wrinkles, hydration and dermal thickness from the outside. An oral collagen supplement such as Collagen Complex works from the inside, providing amino acids, vitamins and minerals that are involved in collagen synthesis and the normal maintenance of skin and connective tissues. The two approaches complement each other, one working on the surface and the other on the internal structure.
How long does Collagen Complex have to be taken to notice changes?
Connective tissues renew themselves slowly and steadily. Many people notice changes in skin hydration and a feeling of elasticity after several weeks of regular use. For hair, nails and joints, the process is usually more gradual and may require 2-3 months of consistent use. The important thing is to integrate the 3 capsules daily into your routine, preferably with meals.
Is Collagen Complex only for the skin or also for joints and bones?
The formula is designed for comprehensive connective tissue support. Type 1 collagen, vitamin C, magnesium, zinc, silicon and other nutrients contribute to normal collagen formation and the maintenance of skin, bone and cartilage. It is therefore considered useful in terms of beauty, skin, hair and nails, as well as joint and bone health as part of an active lifestyle.
Can I take Collagen Complex together with anti-ageing creams or topical treatments?
Yes, it makes sense to combine internal and external care. Collagen Complex acts from within, while the creams and topical treatments act on the surface of the skin. This combination can better align hydration, collagen structure and protection against external aggressions. If you are undergoing specific dermatological treatment, it is advisable to discuss this with your healthcare professional.
Are there any special precautions before starting to take Collagen Complex?
As with any food supplement, do not exceed the recommended daily dose and it is not a substitute for a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. It is not suitable for children under 18 years of age and it is recommended to consult a health professional in the event of pregnancy, breastfeeding, chronic medication or previous pathologies. If digestive discomfort or any unexpected reaction occurs, it is prudent to discontinue use and seek medical advice.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not replace the advice of a healthcare professional.
