Yesterday afternoon, I joined a room full of Cebu influencers and content creators at Amato IT Park for the Daily Glam event. Dr. Jonnie Rose Louise Wee, our Cebuana dermatologist for the talk, broke down collagen and skin health in a way that actually made sense, not just the usual “take collagen, get glowing skin” line we always hear. I took notes through the whole thing because a lot of it reframed things I thought I already understood about my own skin.
If you’ve ever wondered whether collagen drinks are actually worth it, or just another wellness trend riding on hype, this is the post for you. Dr. Jonnie walked us through the actual science behind why collagen works, what to look for on a label, and why Daily Glam specifically checks the right boxes from a dermatologist’s perspective.
Here’s everything I picked up.
Collagen production slows down as you age
This is the starting point for basically everything else. Your body makes less collagen every year as you get older, so what you take in through diet and supplements starts to matter more than what you slather on top. Topical products can only do so much when the underlying structure is already declining.
Glutathione’s real job isn’t skin whitening
Glutathione is mainly known here for whitening, but that’s actually a side effect of what it does, not its main function. At its core, glutathione is an antioxidant, and its primary job is fighting oxidative stress in your cells. The lightening effect happens because it can inhibit an enzyme involved in melanin production, but that’s secondary to its role as one of the body’s key antioxidants.
The more you sweat, the more you need to moisturize
For those of us training regularly, this is a good reminder. Sweating affects your skin barrier, so if you’re someone who trains hard (hi, that’s me with Muay Thai) skipping moisturizer afterward isn’t doing your skin any favors.
Oily skin and moisturized skin are not the same thing
You can have oily skin on the surface and still be dehydrated underneath. I didn’t fully get this distinction before. Oil production and hydration are two separate things, so treating oily skin like it doesn’t need moisture can actually make things worse.
Vitamin A derivatives help with acne
This is why retinoids show up in so many acne-focused skincare formulas. Worth noting this is specifically about topical retinoid forms of vitamin A used in skincare, not just taking a vitamin A supplement.
Why bovine collagen works well in supplements
Bovine collagen is structurally closer to human collagen (it’s mostly Type I, same as what makes up most of our skin), which makes it easier for your body to actually use compared to some other sources.
Choose hydrolyzed collagen
This is the form you want to look for on labels. Hydrolyzed collagen is already broken down into smaller peptides, which makes it easier for your body to absorb instead of trying to break down larger collagen molecules on its own.
Sunscreen is non-negotiable
No collagen supplement makes up for skipping SPF. UV exposure actively breaks down existing collagen in your skin and speeds up premature aging, so sunscreen has to be part of the routine regardless of what you’re taking internally. This was probably the point Dr. Jonnie emphasized the most, and it’s the one that’s easiest to skip on a busy day. As she put it, no drink or supplement replaces sunscreen, it just supports what sunscreen is already protecting.
Skin health starts from the inside too
Exercise improves circulation, which helps deliver nutrients to your skin more efficiently. And a balanced diet gives your body the building blocks it actually needs to repair and rebuild, collagen supplement or not. This connects back to your liver actually where your body produces its own glutathione. So taking care of your liver, through diet, hydration, and cutting back on things that overwork it like alcohol and processed food, plays a real role in how much glutathione your body has to work with in the first place. Skincare isn’t just what you put on your face, it’s sleep, movement, what’s on your plate, and how well your liver is
Why Dr. Jonnie Points to Daily Glam
What stood out to me about the product itself is that Daily Glam isn’t just plain collagen. Each sachet has Collagen 10,000mg, Glutathione 500mg, Grape Seed Extract 30mg, Co-Enzyme Q10 20mg, Vitamin E 10mg, and Herb Powders, basically a whole skin health stack in one ready to mix sachet. It’s unflavoured and unsweetened, so it mixes easily into water or whatever you’re already drinking, no extra sugar or artificial flavoring to worry about.
This is the formulation Dr. Jonnie walked us through at the event, ingredient by ingredient, and why each one matters. From a dermatologist’s standpoint, the combination checks the boxes that actually count: hydrolyzed collagen for absorption, glutathione for antioxidant support, and vitamin E and grape seed extract rounding out the antioxidant profile.
I grabbed a box to try for myself and will share an update once I’ve been on it for a while.
(No approved therapeutic claims. This post reflects what was shared at the event and is for general information, not medical advice. Talk to your dermatologist before starting any new supplement.)
Beauty really is skin deep, so take care of it from the inside out too.
