What I’m Actually Spending Money On for Collagen Loss | Dr. Idriss

Summary

Dr. Shereene Idriss explains that her approach to collagen loss has become more selective with age. Facial aging involves more than skin: bone structure, facial fat, ligaments, and other support tissues also change. Skincare can improve skin quality, but it cannot restore lost volume or reverse every structural change. Before choosing a treatment, it helps to identify what is actually causing the concern.

Key strategies and takeaways

• Prioritize the basics at home:

  • Use sunscreen consistently to protect existing collagen.
  • Use a retinoid, which Idriss says has strong evidence for supporting collagen production and improving aging skin.
  • Choose a routine you can maintain. Her principle is that consistency matters more than intensity: a gentler retinoid used regularly may be preferable to a stronger one that irritates your skin and is used sporadically.
  • Keep your routine purposeful rather than adding products simply because they claim to “boost collagen.”

• Be skeptical of collagen-boosting claims. A product containing collagen does not necessarily restore collagen in the face. Idriss says ingredients such as peptides, growth factors, PDRN, exosomes, and NAD may be biologically interesting, but she does not consider them priorities over basic skincare.

• Treat supplements as a personal choice, not a proven must-have. Idriss took collagen supplements daily for nearly six months and noticed no change herself. She acknowledges that some research exists, but says stronger studies are needed before making broad claims. She would personally spend that money elsewhere.

• Invest in overall aging-related health. She says she would rather put money toward a personal trainer and focus on building muscle and maintaining bone strength than automatically buy another supplement.

• Match procedures to the concern. Instead of asking which device is “best,” first identify the issue and the minimum intervention that might address it. Pigmentation, texture, deeper laxity, and volume loss may require different approaches. There is no single best collagen-stimulating procedure for everyone.

• Avoid overdoing treatments. Repeatedly applying heat or creating inflammation without a clear reason may cause other problems. Idriss’s goal is balance among skin quality, facial structure, and volume—not maximum tightness or doing every treatment at once.

• Accept skincare’s limits. Skincare may help with hydration, pigmentation, fine lines, and surface texture, but it cannot replace lost facial volume or correct changes to bone structure and fat distribution.

Her personal approach at 42

Idriss takes long breaks between Botox sessions and has it no more than twice a year. She also spaces skin-tightening treatments roughly 18–24 months apart. She recently had a stem-cell-enriched fat transfer to address volume and skin quality, and is waiting before deciding whether she wants filler. These are her personal choices, not universal recommendations.

How she would allocate different budgets

• $50: Sunscreen and retinoids.
• $500: If the basic skincare routine is already established, consider saving toward a professional treatment for a specific concern rather than buying collagen serums.
• $1,000–$2,000: Choose a procedure based on the individual issue. Possibilities she mentions include microneedling, fractional laser, radiofrequency, or ultrasound.

Her overarching advice is to make gradual, considered decisions: protect what you have, choose interventions for a clearly identified concern, and adjust your approach as your needs change.

Presenter/source: Dr. Shereene Idriss.