Why Collagen Is a Must-Have in Your 40s (Not Just for Skin!)

If you’ve hit your 40s and started noticing dry skin, joint niggles, hair thinning, or your nails breaking just from thinking about housework, you’re not alone. These subtle but frustrating changes are often blamed on age, stress, or hormones (and yes, those all play a role). But one of the biggest underlying reasons? A sharp drop in collagen production.

Collagen isn’t just a buzzword. It’s the most abundant protein in your body, making up 75% of your skin, 90% of your connective tissue, and about 30% of your total protein. And after age 30, your body’s natural collagen production begins to decline. By your 40s, you’re losing collagen at an accelerated rate, up to 1% per year, and even more during perimenopause and menopause when estrogen plummets.

While most people associate collagen with plump skin and wrinkle reduction (and yes, it helps with that), it plays a far bigger role in your midlife health. From bones and joints to gut repair, metabolism, and muscle maintenance, collagen is a foundational building block for feeling, and functioning, your best.

Here’s why collagen is a non-negotiable for women in their 40s and 50s and why adding a high-quality collagen supplement could be one of the smartest midlife health moves you make.

1. Collagen Supports Joint Comfort and Mobility

That morning stiffness in your knees or the ache you feel after a long walk? It’s not just wear and tear, it’s collagen loss. Your joints are cushioned and supported by collagen-rich connective tissue like cartilage, ligaments, and tendons. As collagen declines, these structures become weaker and more prone to inflammation, pain, and injury.

Several clinical studies have shown that daily collagen supplementation can improve joint comfort, reduce stiffness, and support flexibility, especially in women over 40. A 2021 double-blind placebo-controlled trial published in Nutrients found that women taking 10g of hydrolysed collagen daily for 12 weeks experienced significantly less joint pain compared to placebo, even with moderate exercise.

2. Collagen Helps Prevent Midlife Bone Loss

Did you know that your bones are made up of nearly 30% collagen? While calcium and vitamin D get all the attention, collagen provides the structural matrix that holds bones together and keeps them strong and flexible. Without enough collagen, bones become brittle and more prone to fractures, especially during and after menopause, when estrogen drops sharply and accelerates bone loss.

Research has shown that supplementing with collagen peptides can help stimulate bone-building cells, increase bone mineral density, and support long-term skeletal health. In fact, a 2018 study in postmenopausal women found that those who took collagen peptides daily for 12 months had significant increases in bone mineral density in the spine and hips.

If you’re looking to prevent osteopenia or osteoporosis, collagen belongs in your toolkit, alongside strength training, vitamin D3/K2, magnesium, and calcium.

3. Collagen Improves Skin Elasticity, Hydration and Firmness

Yes, this one’s still worth mentioning, because the science is incredibly strong. As collagen breaks down, skin becomes thinner, drier, and less elastic. Fine lines and wrinkles appear, and skin starts to sag or look “deflated.” Add in the estrogen drop of perimenopause, and collagen degradation speeds up even more, by as much as 30% in the first 5 years post-menopause.

Clinical trials have consistently shown that collagen peptides (especially type I and III from grass-fed bovine sources) improve skin hydration, elasticity, smoothness, and overall appearance. A 2023 systematic review in Dermato-Endocrinology found significant improvements in wrinkle depth, skin hydration, and elasticity in women aged 40–60 who took 5–10g of hydrolysed collagen peptides daily for 8–12 weeks.

And here’s the best part: results don’t just show up in the mirror, they’re measurable in skin biopsy tests, too.

4. Collagen Can Help Strengthen Hair and Nails

If your hair feels thinner or your nails split more easily than they used to, declining collagen may be to blame. Collagen provides amino acids like proline and glycine that are essential for building keratin, the protein that makes up your hair and nails.

Anecdotally, many women report stronger nails and thicker, healthier hair after just 6–8 weeks of consistent collagen use. While more large-scale studies are needed in this area, smaller trials have shown positive results, particularly in postmenopausal women.

If you’ve noticed hair shedding, breakage, or dullness during midlife, collagen can support the structural integrity of your follicles and give your body the amino acids it needs to repair from within.

5. Collagen Supports Gut Health and Bloating Relief

One of collagen’s lesser-known superpowers? It’s rich in glycine and glutamine, two amino acids that support the gut lining and reduce inflammation. This is especially helpful for midlife women dealing with bloating, food sensitivity, or IBS-like symptoms.

Perimenopause can trigger changes in gut motility, stomach acid production, and microbiome diversity, all of which can lead to digestive discomfort. By supporting the mucosal lining and connective tissue of the gut wall, collagen may help improve leaky gut symptoms and promote more regular digestion.

Many Pure Goddess customers notice less bloating, better bowel movements, and improved tolerance to certain foods after just a few weeks of taking our Luminance Collagen Peptides.

6. Collagen Supports Lean Muscle and Metabolism

In your 40s, muscle loss starts to accelerate, especially if you’re not strength training regularly. Less muscle means a slower metabolism, reduced insulin sensitivity, and a greater tendency to gain weight (especially around the middle).

Collagen is a rich source of amino acids that help preserve lean muscle mass and promote repair and recovery after exercise. It’s not a complete protein (like whey), but when paired with resistance training and a protein-rich diet, it can enhance muscle retention and improve body composition.

A bonus? Collagen is easy to digest, low in allergens, and gentler on the stomach than many other protein powders, making it ideal for women who struggle with bloating or dairy intolerance.

How to Choose the Right Collagen Supplement

Not all collagen is created equal. For best results, choose a hydrolysed bovine collagen peptide that includes:

• Type I and III collagen (for skin, bones, joints and gut)

• Sourced from grass-fed, pasture-raised cows

• No added sugars, flavours, or fillers

• Third-party tested for purity and potency

You should also look for a clinical dose, 10g per day is ideal for most women. This is the dose used in the majority of human trials showing benefits for skin, joints, and bone density.

At Pure Goddess, our Luminance Collagen Peptides are formulated specifically for women in midlife. They’re unflavoured, easy to mix into coffee, smoothies or soups, and contain a full 10g of premium hydrolysed collagen per serve, no nasties, no gimmicks. How Long Does It Take to See Results?

Most studies show improvements within 4–12 weeks of daily use. Skin hydration and elasticity often improve first, followed by changes in nails, joints, and body composition. But like all supplements, collagen works best when paired with a nourishing diet, hormone support, and lifestyle factors like hydration and strength training.

The key is consistency. Collagen isn’t a quick fix, but it is a powerful foundational support tool for women navigating perimenopause, menopause, and beyond.

Final Thoughts: Collagen Is a Core Supplement for Midlife Women

If you’re in your 40s or 50s and want to feel strong, flexible, glowing, and supported from the inside out, collagen deserves a place in your daily routine. It’s not just about aesthetics. It’s about preserving function, structure, and resilience as you move through one of the most transformative stages of life.

And let’s be honest: midlife isn’t the end of youth, it’s the start of your power era. You deserve to move pain-free, sleep deeply, and look in the mirror and see vitality staring back.

Pure Goddess is here to help you do just that.

Want to try it for yourself? Shop our best-selling Luminance Collagen Peptides here and discover why thousands of midlife women across Australia swear by it.