
If you’ve been following my entries here on our ‘Be Well’ blog over the past year, you will have noticed that I have been trying to pay more attention to the needs of my body by prioritizing self-care. Slowly, but surely slowly; I have started to emerge from the fog as I co-parent and raise 5-year old twins. Each and every precious moment in time that I am blessed with, I feel my goal has always been to take those specific moments and try to remind myself that it’s okay to turn the attention back to me.
First, it was sleep, sleep and more sleep. Then, it was finding joy in those rare moments of pure bliss – whether it be a walk by myself in the woods or finding time to actually read my book while enjoying a cup of tea. Now, I am trying to round out my self care by tweaking my supplement and skin care regime.
I found myself asking questions about whether I needed to add in collagen for my skin care and also to support the joint pain in my lyme recovery. So… I ended up doing a ton of research.
As it turns out, collagen is the most abundant protein in your body. It is the major component of connective tissues that make up several body parts, including tendons, ligaments, skin, and muscles. Taking collagen supplements may improve skin health by playing a role in strengthening your skin, as well as its elasticity and hydration.
As we age, our bodies produce less and less collagen, leading to dry skin and the formation of wrinkles.
Taking collagen supplements has been shown to reduce inflammation and stimulate collagen synthesis in the body. This may also help promote pain relief in those who suffer from joint disorders. It also has the potential to lower levels of proteins in the blood that stimulates the breakdown of our bones.
Based on that information and with my issues of sleep deprivation, recovering from lyme and aging skin/overall health – I decided it was time to add a collagen supplement to my diet. As a result, I reached out to a local company based out of Halifax called Bend Beauty. I heard so many wonderful things about their products and business practices; it made perfect sense to start with them. Needless to say, they did not disappoint!
For the past 3 months, I have tried two of their products:

1. Marine Collagen + Co-Factors – with the synergy of wild caught fish collagen, peptides, silicon and whole food vitamin C, this product helps protect against age-related decline by promoting production of
healthy collagen. When consumed orally, the collagen peptides are absorbed into the
bloodstream and reach the dermis where they stimulate the production of collagen.
Vitamin C and mineral silicon are the co-factors that improve collagen strength function and makes it more resistant to damage. Take 2.5 tsp daily in a 250 ml beverage.

2. Anti-Aging Formula – featuring six powerful active ingredients to restore a healthy skin climate. Benefits are: significant protection against UV induced sunburn as well as it helps to improve
skin hydration, elasticity and firmness.
It also helps reduce skin roughness and redness and provides antioxidants for overall skin health. Take 1tsp daily. Or you can take it as a soft gel capsule.
This past fall, I decided to really up my game when it comes to my inside-out skin care health through regular use of these two products. After three months, I’m quite happy with the results. The redness in my face has decreased and I noticed an overall improvement in my skin texture, as well. It just feels more hydrated; retains moisture better; it also feels softer, brighter and fresher in general.
I must also say that I have also noticed a change in my joint health overall and have been able to increase my strength and mobility when exercising. My joint pain seems to have diminished on a consistent basis, as well, as it only seems present when I am tired or feeling unwell.
I would highly recommend trying both of these products from Bend Beauty and I look forward to continuing to use these products as a part of my regular skin care regime!
In health and happiness,
Jen