The pressure to look picture perfect on your wedding day is–like it or not–pretty immense. What’s more is that most of that pressure is actually self-inflicted. Yes, you can point the finger at the long-term influence of Disney films and their happy endings, romantic comedies and social media, but in basic terms, unless you’re at the mercy of an alarmingly exacting family member, the desire to look and feel your very best on what is widely touted as the very best day of your life, is there from the get-go.

That’s why the moment my wedding planning began, so too did my pre-wedding beauty regimen. Thanks to a particularly fruitful dermatologist appointment a few months prior to my engagement and the products I began using because of it, my skin was already in a good state. My hormonal acne had abated and showed little sign of making a reappearance and the little patches of rosacea I’d been managing had calmed down to the merest hint of rosiness. But there’s always room for improvement, right? 

Nine months out from the big day and I was getting excited about going the extra mile. I’m naturally goal orientated and what better end target to drive me than the thought of being surrounded by my nearest and dearest, followed by a photographer and videographer all day and buttoned into the most expensive dress I’ve ever treated myself to? My beauty game had to level up, it was all part of the fun.

Enter a brand-new beauty habit. And one extolled by Jennifer Aniston, no less. I started adding collagen powder to my morning coffee. Now, I know what you’re thinking: why adulterate a perfectly good coffee with a sachet of supplement? Well, first off, I’m no coffee nerd–I can’t tell one speciality roast from another–but I couldn’t taste the difference once it was stirred in (it’s flavourless), so there’s that. Secondly, who wouldn’t be up for taking the odd beauty cue from Jen An? 

In 2020 Aniston announced her global partnership with collagen and wellness brand Vital Proteins, a product line the star has been using for years. Since then, she has been vocal about how she incorporates her favourite supplement into her daily routine. One Instagram post shows her adding a single scoop of the Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides to her espresso before stirring it through and taking a sip. Another shows her whizzing two scoops of the Vital Proteins Chocolate Collagen Peptides into a smoothie. Note down her recipe below:

Jennifer Aniston’s Favourite Smoothie

Ingredients

1 cup of chocolate flavoured almond milk

2 scoops of Vital Proteins Chocolate Collagen Peptides

A handful of cherries

Half a banana

A few drops of Stevia

Antioxidant supplement

1 cup of ice 

Optional extras include spinach, a pinch of cinnamon, matcha powder and a spoonful of almond butter.

With a cup of coffee already a firm fixture in my morning regimen, it took very little energy to add a scoop of collagen powder into the mix each time. I started off with Aniston’s favourite Vital Proteins iteration and gave Vida Glow’s Original Marine Collagen a try too. This one comes in sachets, seriously convenient if you want to take some with you to the office or if you’re travelling. 

So, let’s talk about the benefits. In recent years there have been a number of studies that show ingestible collagen can have a positive impact the appearance of skin–think a reduction in dryness, fewer visible fine lines, increased plumpness and better circulation–but it’s important to remember that no supplement you take is trained to specifically target your complexion, however much it’s marketed as doing so. Collagen acts as your body’s scaffolding. It’s integral to multiple parts of your body and by supplementing your intake you’ll end up strengthening your hair, your nails and improve the condition of your bones, joints, tendons and ligaments in the process. What’s not to love about that?

Results can take from one month to a year to show up and I’ve been at it for three months. I’ll admit I didn’t have any bugbear lines or wrinkles I could single out as the perfect marker for the efficacy of these collagen supplements, but there’s no denying I’m happy with the condition of my skin. It’s plump, it’s less inclined to dry out at the drop of a hat and there’s something to be said for the smug feeling that comes with taking a supplement daily, too. Like I said, I want to look and feel my best on my wedding day. Being smug is part of the deal.