You probably pop it whenever you feel a cold coming on, but turns out vitamin C can ward off wrinkles, too. The major multi-tasker works to protect collagen a few different ways: "Not only is it a co-factor for the enzymes that directly produce new collagen, it also helps block UV-induced collagen breakdown," says MacGregor. Plus, it's a powerful antioxidant that counteracts free radical-induced inflammation, which is known to damage collagen, she adds. Get in the habit of layering a vitamin C-based serum under your sunscreen every morning.

Our current fave: Image Skincare Vital C Hydrating Anti-Aging Serum, $60. And don't just apply your vitamin C, eat it, too! Studies have shown that ingesting the vitamin also has collagen-boosting effects, so load up on fruits and veggies like kiwi, red peppers, and Brussels sprouts.

As the saying goes, the best offense is a good defense. OBVIOUSLY you should be wearing sunscreen daily (a broad-spectrum with at least SPF 30, please) to help shield skin from the damaging UV rays that speed up collagen breakdown. But even if your sunscreen application is textbook perfection, the truth is your skin is still going to be exposed to some amount of sun and pollutants, which will create free radicals. That's when antioxidants come in, acting like little Pac-Men to scavenger up these skin-damaging bad boys.

Per our point about vitamin C above, you can definitely layer an antioxidant product underneath your sunscreen, or, find one product that contains both, like La Roche-Posay Anthelios AOX Daily Antioxidant Serum with Sunscreen SPF 50, $42.50.

When thinking beyond topical products, getting zapped is one of the best in-office bets. "Lasers generate microscopic, controlled wounds in the dermal layer of the skin. The skin then responds to this trauma by making new, stronger collagen that leaves the skin thicker, firmer, and smoother," explains MacGregor. We get it, words like "wounds" and "trauma" sound scary, but keep in mind that we're talking about microscopic injury that doesn't cause any kind of lasting damage and that you can't even see. Your skin may look slightly pink for a little while after a laser treatment, but it's really more about what's happening underneath the surface of the skin where all of that new collagen is being stimulated.

Image via Getty

Injectable fillers are known for quickly plumping and filling-out fine lines, but they deliver more than just this instant fix. "New collagen synthesis occurs at the site and around where the fillers are injected," says MacGregor. "The skin actually gets thicker and the texture improves." Also nice: while it depends on which injectable is used and where it's injected, even those instant results will last up to a year, giving you something to hold you over while that new collagen production kicks in.

Image via Wisegeek

Working in a similar manner as lasers, this technique simply involves using thin needles to cause micro-trauma to the skin, rather than the light energy of a laser, explains MacGregor. You may often see these treatments paired with a heavy dose of topical products, as creating these tiny wounds in the skin temporarily improves the penetration of any active ingredients that you apply immediately after.

Image via Getty