Body Care Routine for Women Over 35
One Often-Missed Step
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If you’ve built a solid body care routine for women over 35 — a good moisturizer, a serum or two, sunscreen — that’s a genuinely strong foundation. However, there’s one addition some women explore alongside their topical routine: what you put in your body, not just what you put on it.
This post looks at why topical skincare and ingestible collagen are generally designed to work differently, how they might be considered alongside each other, and what that could mean for a more complete body care approach after 35.
What changes in skin after 35 — and why it matters for your body care routine
Collagen is a structural protein that plays a role in skin firmness, elasticity, and overall texture. As part of the natural aging process, collagen production in the body gradually decreases over time. (Read: What is collagen and why does it decline?) Some people begin paying closer attention to this in their mid-30s, as they notice gradual changes in skin texture and how their skin responds to existing products.
Topical skincare products — moisturizers, serums, creams — are primarily designed to address the skin’s surface layers. That’s useful and well-supported work. However, topical and ingestible approaches are generally intended to support different aspects of skin health — and some women choose to explore both.
For more on what collagen decline may look like day-to-day, see my post 5 Common Changes Women Notice as Collagen Naturally Declines
What topical products are generally designed to do
Topical skincare can serve several useful functions in a body care routine for women over 35:
- Surface hydration. Moisturizers help support the skin barrier and reduce water loss from the skin’s outer layers — this is well-established in dermatology.
- Active ingredient delivery to upper skin layers. Certain ingredients in topical products, such as hyaluronic acid, retinol, and vitamin C, may interact with skin biology when formulated at appropriate concentrations. (Read: Ingestible vs topical — what to know)
- Protective function. Sunscreen and antioxidant-rich products may help limit environmental damage at the surface level.
Most topical skincare products primarily act within the outer layers of the skin. While certain active ingredients can influence skin biology, intact collagen molecules are generally considered too large to penetrate deeply enough to directly replace structural collagen. (Read: Topical vs oral collagen — what’s the difference?)
Topical vs. Ingestible — How they are generally designed to differ
Topical skincare: Primarily works within the skin’s outer layers. Supports hydration, barrier function, and surface-level ingredient delivery. Effect is generally immediate and localized.
Ingestible collagen: Supplies collagen-derived peptides and amino acids that the body may use during normal collagen synthesis. Results, if any, typically require consistent daily use over several weeks.
What ingestible collagen is generally thought to do differently
When collagen is taken as a supplement — particularly in hydrolyzed peptide form — it passes through the digestive system, where it is broken down into amino acids and smaller peptide fragments. Some of those compounds are involved in the body’s normal collagen synthesis processes. (Read: How ingestible collagen is thought to work)
Some nutrition researchers and dermatologists have suggested that combining topical and ingestible approaches may be worth exploring as a more complete strategy. As noted in coverage by Prevention Magazine, supplements may have a place in a routine alongside topical products, a good diet, sun protection, and moisturizer — though this reflects professional opinion rather than a definitive clinical conclusion.
It’s worth being clear: the research on oral collagen supplementation is still developing, and studies vary in their methodology and scope. Individual results may differ significantly, and ingestible collagen is a potential addition to a topical routine — not a replacement for it.
What a more complete body care routine for women over 35 might look like
A combined approach doesn’t need to be complicated. In practice, it might look like this:
- Morning: Cleanser → vitamin C serum → moisturizer → SPF. One scoop of collagen powder in your coffee, smoothie, or water.
- Evening: Cleanser → targeted serum (retinol, peptides, or hyaluronic acid) → night moisturizer.
- Daily baseline: Adequate water intake, consistent sleep, and a diet that includes protein-rich foods — all commonly associated with general skin and connective tissue health.
Furthermore, some people choose a multi-type collagen formula because it combines several collagen sources and complementary nutrients in a single product — rather than managing multiple separate supplements.
For a broader look at morning habits that may support overall wellness, see my post 7 Morning Wellness Habits
A collagen supplement worth looking at
If you’re considering adding ingestible collagen to your body care routine, Advanced Collagen Plus is a formula worth exploring. It is a flavorless hydrolyzed collagen powder that includes Types I, II, III, V, and X collagen from multiple sources — grass-fed bovine, pasture-raised chicken, and wild-caught marine — along with complementary nutrients commonly associated with skin, hair, nail, and joint health: Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin C, Biotin, Zinc, and MSM.
In my opinion, the ingredient profile appears comprehensive for consumers looking for a multi-ingredient collagen formula that combines several collagen sources with complementary nutrients. The formula is flavorless, dairy-free, gluten-free, and soy-free, making it straightforward to add to a morning routine.
According to the manufacturer, it is produced in facilities that follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). A 90-day satisfaction guarantee is included, which may provide some reassurance for those wanting to evaluate it with a return option.
Disclosure: I may earn a commission if you purchase through the link below.
Explore Advanced Collagen Plus
For a full ingredient breakdown, read my Advanced Collagen Plus Review
Where does this ship?
Advanced Collagen Plus currently delivers to: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, and Puerto Rico.
If your country is not on this list, orders cannot be fulfilled at this time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s often missing from a body care routine after 35?
A good moisturizer, a serum and sunscreen are a genuinely strong foundation. The step some women add is ingestible collagen, because topical and ingestible approaches are generally designed to work in different places — the surface layers versus the body’s own collagen synthesis.
Do topical collagen creams work?
Topical skincare primarily acts within the skin’s outer layers, supporting hydration, barrier function and surface-level ingredient delivery, with effects that are generally immediate and localized. Intact collagen molecules are generally considered too large to penetrate deeply, which is why topicals and supplements are treated as different tools.
How is ingestible collagen different from topical skincare?
When taken as a hydrolyzed peptide supplement, collagen passes through the digestive system and is broken down into amino acids and smaller peptide fragments the body may use during normal collagen synthesis. Results, if any, typically require consistent daily use over a sustained period rather than appearing immediately.
How long do collagen supplements take to work?
Unlike topical products, results typically require consistent daily use over weeks or months rather than showing up immediately. The research on oral collagen is still developing, studies vary in methodology, and individual results may differ significantly.
Should you stop using moisturizer if you take collagen?
No. A combined approach isn’t about replacing what’s already working — it’s about recognizing that topical products and ingestible collagen are generally designed to do different things. Consistency matters more than any single product.
The bottom line on body care for women over 35
Overall, a body care routine for women over 35 that considers both topical and ingestible approaches isn’t about replacing what’s already working — it’s about recognizing that topical products and ingestible supplements are generally designed to support different aspects of skin health. Whether that combination is the right fit for you depends on your individual goals, budget, and how your body responds.
Consistency matters more than any single product. Any supplement — collagen included — is most likely to be of use as part of a sustained daily routine rather than a short-term experiment. Individual results will vary, and consulting a healthcare professional is always a reasonable first step before adding anything new.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice from your physician or other medical professionals.
The information in this post is based on publicly available research and product information and should not be interpreted as medical advice or a guarantee of results.
Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any new supplement.
Results vary by individual.