Whether you’re a beauty connoisseur or just getting to know the space, you’ve probably heard the buzz about collagen.
What’s collagen? It’s the most abundant protein in the body that acts as the building block of healthy hair, skin and nails. It’s naturally produced in our bodies, however the production slows down as we age - and enters: the appearance of dullness, fine lines and wrinkles (amongst many other things).
There are multiple nutritional and beauty benefits of supplementing collagen; benefits so good that it caught the eye of Anna Lahey, who turned her fascination with the ingredient into an empire with Vida Glow. In 2014, she launched the brand's first marine collagen powder (a favourite at Ultra HQ, by the way) and since has spearheaded the health and wellness space offering a range of ingestible supplements that better your hair, skin and body from the inside, and out.
We tapped Anna, the queen of collagen, to share her radiant morning routine, her favourite skincare products - and her best advice for those dealing with acne-prone skin.
What sets Vida Glow apart from other supplement brands?
We put a lot of thought, time and investment into clinical research to ensure we’re innovating first-to-market products that get results. I don’t have time for overly complicated routines and our community doesn’t either. They want products that work with their lifestyles and address their concerns in a safe, effective and easy-to-adopt way.
What’s the biggest beauty mistake you see people make?
Not being consistent! Whether it’s your skin, hair or nails, impactful results take time and diligence. Small habits done consistently are more meaningful than overly invasive routines or quick fixes that often only result in further damage.
Walk us through your AM beauty routine.
I believe in a holistic beauty and wellness regimen that includes ingestible products, topical products, eating well, exercising and indulging when I want to. I try to squeeze a workout each morning then have my daily Hairology and Collagen Liquid Advance from Vida Glow.
When it comes to my skin, ingestible beauty does a lot of the heavy lifting so I like to keep the rest of my routine simple with a cleanse, eye cream, moisturizer and always finish with an SPF - Ultraceuticals, of course.
In honour of Acne Awareness Month, tell us your best advice for someone dealing with breakouts?
I would say to give yourself a break. Having acne or even the occasional breakout, no matter what scale it’s on, can be a real knock to your confidence. It’s normal to feel frustrated or upset, but you have to remember that it’s only temporary.
My #1 tip is to not pick your spots! I feel like that’s the most common piece of advice and also the hardest to follow. Avoid harsh treatments, add in an ingestible supplement like Vida Glow’s Clear Advanced Repair and focus on using the right skincare products. Treating the root cause of breakouts is the most effective, long-term solution.
Lastly, can you share with us your go-to Ultraceuticals products?
I love to cleanse with the Ultra Brightening Foaming Cleanser. I am meticulous with SPF application so I always use the Ultra UV Protective Daily Moisturiser SPF 50 Hydrating to protect my skin against UVA and UVB rays, every day.
