Pretty much everyone wants hydrated, dewy, plump skin, right? Well, having healthy skin is definitely important to me. After writing about skincare for a while and also just going through life,

I think I have a handle on what it takes to keep my skin on track. Some things include eating well, getting enough sleep, drinking enough water, keeping up with my skincare routine, and using the right products with ingredients that work for my specific skin type.

One ingredient that I've learned can be a huge help in keeping your skin moisturized and healthy? Collagen. "Collagen is the main structural protein found in the extracellular matrix of most of our body's connective tissues," explains board-certified dermatologist Naissan Wesley, MD. "It is found throughout the body in different types, in most of our tissues including bone, ligaments, tendons, teeth, connective tissue, and smooth muscle or our organs, blood vessels, and skin. It helps maintain those tissues' structural integrity, health, and elasticity (i.e., ability to stretch and snap back into place)."

In short, Kathleen S. Viscusi, MD, FAAD, FACMS, co-founder and partner at Dermatology and Surgery Specialists of North Atlanta (DESSNA), says collagen is the key component to making our skin plump. But, she also says that while our bodies naturally create collagen, our collagen production decreases with age, thus causing the skin to sag.