When people talk about collagen, you’ll hear all the usual suspects: “I’m taking collagen powders,” “I’m using hyaluronic acid serums,” “I’ve just bought this fancy peptide cream.” And don’t get me wrong, they all have their place in helping to boost collagen production. But here’s what you won’t necessarily hear ’I’m using vitamin C to boost my collagen.’
We all know Vitamin C is the go-to vitamin for when you have a cold and helps your body absorb iron from plant-based foods. But it's also the essential key nutrient that unlocks your body's ability to make collagen. No Vitamin C, no collagen, simple as that.
So, let’s break it down as to why Vitamin C is so essential. And why is liposomal Vitamin C the smart choice for your daily routine?
The Sciencey boring bit, but hopefully not that boring
Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body. It’s the stuff that holds you together—skin, joints, bones, tendons, you name it. But here’s the catch: Your body can’t just make collagen out of thin air. It needs the right materials—amino acids like glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline, and most importantly, it needs Vitamin C to activate the whole process.
How it works:
- To turn those amino acids into strong, stable collagen fibers, your body needs to run a chemical process called hydroxylation.
- This process is done by enzymes like prolyl hydroxylase and lysyl hydroxylase.
- And guess what these enzymes absolutely can’t do without? Well, I am sure you have guessed it by now, Vitamin C!
- No Vitamin C = no hydroxylation = no collagen. End of. [1]
This applies to all the major collagen types in your body:
Type I: Skin, bones, tendons
Type II: Joints, cartilage
Type III: Blood vessels, organs
How Much Collagen is Actually in Your Body?
Collagen makes up about 30-35% of all the protein in your body, which is a big chunk of protein. It’s literally the scaffolding that keeps your body together and gives us our shape. Without it, we’d be like a jellyfish, squishy and not very strong! Here’s where you’ll find it:
- Skin: Around 70-80% of the dry weight is collagen.
- Bones: Roughly 90% of the organic (non-mineral) part is collagen.
- Tendons: About 85% collagen.
- Muscles: Collagen helps give them structure and strength too.
So, when we talk about collagen, we’re not just talking about beauty—it’s essential for your whole body. And without Vitamin C, your body can’t build or maintain it properly.
Why Your Body Prioritises Vitamin C (and Where It Goes First)
Your body’s clever and knows what’s important when you’re under stress from exercise, overworked, life’s busy schedule, a lack of sleep, or feeling under the weather. And when you’re stressed and run down, Vitamin C gets used up fast.
Here’s what your body prioritises:
- Making cortisol (your stress hormone) - stress (emotional or physical) drives Vitamin C into the adrenal glands to help produce cortisol, the stress hormone.
- Supporting the immune system - Illness and inflammation from infections or chronic disease redirect vitamin C to the immune system and antioxidant defence.
- Neutralising free radicals’ - environmental exposure, like pollution or even intensive exercise, increases free radical production, causing Vitamin C to be redirected to the immune system and antioxidant defence. [2][3]
Collagen production? That’s much lower down the list. That’s why if you’re stressed, sick, or overwhelmed, your skin and joints can start to feel the effects—you’re running low on Vitamin C, and collagen building slows right down.
The Animal Kingdom’s Secret (and Why We’re Missing Out)
You might be interested to learn most animals can make their own Vitamin C. Goats, for example, churn out the human equivalent of 13,000mg of Vitamin C a day—and they ramp it up even higher when they’re ill or stressed [4].
We humans? I am afraid not. A genetic mutation millions of years ago (loss of the GULO gene) left us entirely dependent on getting it from food or supplements. And let’s be honest, how many of us are eating enough fresh fruit and vegetables every single day to cover our optimum needs?
Why Liposomal Vitamin C is a Smarter Choice
Here’s the thing with regular vitamin C, i.e., the bog-standard ascorbic acid tablets, capsules, or powders. Your body has a limit, where the gut’s Vitamin C transporters (SVCT-1) max out at around 200mg per dose. This is why when you take a big 1000mg tablet, most of it just gets flushed away; plus, too much can cause a dodgy stomach [5].
That’s where liposomal Vitamin C comes in. It’s wrapped in tiny fat-like bubbles (called liposomes) that mimic your cell membranes. This enables it to sneak through a different route, via the lymphatic system, into your plasma and target delivers it straight into your cells, bypassing the usual absorption limits. Think of liposomes as the VIP pass to your cells, no queues, no limits, just straight in.
Over fifty or more years of extensive studies and research on liposomes prove it to be the most advanced oral delivery method there is. Achieving high levels of plasma Vitamin C compared to standard forms [6].
You get better absorption, better results, and it's more gentle on the stomach.
The Collagen-C and Supplement Connection
Collagen supplements can help you get the amino acids (glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline) your body needs to build collagen. Without Vitamin C as the activator, your body can't turn those amino acids into stable, functional collagen. It's like having a stack of bricks but no cement to build the wall.
So if you’re already taking collagen powders or capsules, don’t forget the Vitamin C, ideally liposomal; it’s the spark plug that makes it all work.
The Daily Collagen Cycle: Why Consistency is Key
Your body is constantly breaking down and rebuilding collagen. Every day, things chip away at your collagen stores:
- Sun exposure
- Stress
- Pollution
- Ageing
- Intense Exercise
Without enough Vitamin C, your body can’t keep up with the repairs, so skin starts to sag, joints get stiff, and recovery takes longer.
The Science is Solid: High Vitamin C = Better Skin
A study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that people with higher plasma Vitamin C levels had:
- Fewer wrinkles
- Better skin elasticity
- Smoother, firmer skin
Taking liposomal Vitamin C daily helps keep your body in balance, fueling collagen production, supporting recovery, and helping you feel your best.
Quick Recap: Why Vitamin C is Your First Stop for Collagen
-
Vitamin C is essential for collagen production, no Vitamin C, no collagen.
Your body uses Vitamin C for stress, immunity, and repair, so collagen building often gets left behind - Liposomal Vitamin C is better absorbed and easier on the gut.
- Collagen supplements only work if you’ve got enough Vitamin C.
- Most animals make their own Vitamin C, we can’t, so we have to top up daily.
- Collagen makes up about 30-35% of your body’s protein—so you really want to look after it!
- Daily Vitamin C is key to supporting your skin, joints, and overall health.
The Final Word
If you’re serious about supporting your skin, joints, and overall health, start with Vitamin C and make it liposomal for maximum absorption. It’s the foundation for everything else, without it, your collagen-building machinery just doesn’t run.
So, before you reach for collagen powders, hyaluronic acid serums, or the latest skincare trend, get your Vitamin C sorted first and let your body do what it does best.
References:
[1] Effect of vitamin C on collagen synthesis: PubMed
[2] Vitamin C and the immune system: Linus Pauling Institute
[3] Stress, Vitamin C, and cortisol: ScienceDirect
[4] Animal Vitamin C production: PubMed
[5] Vitamin C absorption limits: PubMed
[6] Liposomal Vitamin C absorption study: PubMed
