Curious About Collagen? We Got The Inside Scoop From An Expert!
STAY YOUTHFUL
In our latest interview, we had the pleasure of chatting with Felicity Evans, the dynamic founder of IMBIBE. From humble beginnings in her own kitchen, Felicity has transformed IMBIBE into a celebrated wellness brand known for its Miracle Collagen. In our conversation, Felicity shares the science behind collagen, its myriad benefits beyond just skin, hair, and nails, and what makes IMBIBE’s formulation unique. She also opens up about her personal journey, balancing entrepreneurship with motherhood, and the inspirations that drive her. Join us as we dive into the world of wellness, resilience, and natural beauty with the passionate force behind IMBIBE.
So tell us, what’s the scoop on collagen?
Collagen is the most abundant protein in our body and is responsible for maintaining healthy skin, hair, bones, connective tissue, gut lining and so much more! The basics are simple, supporting your body with Miracle Collagen actively works to restore plumpness, firmness, and bounce to tired skin and aids in supporting overall wellness and vitality.
What benefits, beyond skin, hair, and nails, does collagen offer?Studies have shown that supplementing with collagen can improve hydration, ease joint pain, strengthen bones, reduce the appearance of cellulite and support wound healing on top of improving overall skin health. It really is incredible!
What makes IMBIBE’s collagen unique?
Our Miracle Collagen is the culmination of 10 years of research and development. Produced at that specific molecular weight of 2kDa, clinically shown to enter the bloodstream within 20 minutes. We are also proud to create products that are Australian made, and have absolutely no filler substances, no artificial flavours, no unethical ingredients, we are completely natural without compromising on efficacy.
Can you explain the science behind collagen?
The main amino acids that make up collagen are proline, glycine and hydroxyproline. These are crucial for strong, healthy connective tissue, bones and aid in wound healing, antioxidative reactions, and immune responses. Collagen naturally breaks down over time, and environmental aggressors like stress, UV exposure, lifestyle and pollution can accelerate this process. As we age, our collagen becomes fragmented, connective tissue becomes impaired, and collagen production slows and manifests as wrinkled skin, lower immunity and slower wound healing.
Can you share a success story about IMBIBE’s collagen?
For me, it is the thousands of 5-star reviews from women all over the world, to see my product change the way someone feels about themselves is incredible and is exactly why I started this business.
How does collagen affect gut health and digestion?
Supplementing with Collagen has shown to aid digestion and nutrient absorption as well as supporting and repairing a healthy gut microbiome, in turn reducing bloating and maintaining regular bowel movements.
Does collagen reduce wrinkles/signs of ageing and maintain skin health?
When taken daily, collagen powder has shown to encourage collagen synthesis by stimulating the fibroblast to generate more collagen than it otherwise would. In this way, there is more Collagen in the system and the skin to smooth wrinkles, fine lines and prevent ageing skin – in other words, restoring that dewy, youthful bounce that we all want.
What should people look for in collagen supplements?
A pure formulation that does not include fillers, that way you’re getting more concentration out of your dose. Our collagen has also undergone a process called enzymatic hydrolysis, which breaks down the nutrients into shorter chains of proteins, facilitating their digestion, absorption and distribution in the body.
Does collagen impact mental well-being?
Physical and mental health are very much intertwined, and I strongly believe that strengthening and maintaining a healthy body is key to unlocking a clear and focused mindset.
So Felicity, what inspired you to start IMBIBE?
My motivation for starting IMBIBE was honestly to just get well again. I had developed an autoimmune condition and was getting sick all the time and lacking the energy I needed to keep up with my then two little girls. My research very clearly led me to the importance of gut health in order to support overall wellness, digestion and clear, glowing skin – all of which I needed help with! I started fermenting probiotic drinks in my own kitchen with two young daughters at my feet and very quickly noticed my symptoms had dramatically improved and my energy spiked up. That’s when friends started asking me what my secret sauce was and started slipping money under my front door for my drinks, I knew I had to bring these products to more people.
What do you do in your free time? Any favourite hobbies?
Unfortunately, I don’t have much free time, so when I do, I make sure that I am being intentional with my time and nourishing my body. My incredible husband built a wellness sanctuary in our home complete with a sauna, ice bath and a pilates space, so I enjoy spending time there decompressing or resetting for the day ahead. I also love cooking with my three girls – we’ve been making lots of collagen chocolates and experimenting with raw treats as of late.
How do you balance running your business and raising three kids?
To be honest, I don’t really have balance as such, we are an all-in, family business, so I am always working in a sense, whether it be emailing in the sauna, bluetooth calls in the car etc, there is no real off switch. However, I try my best to take quality time with my family on weekends and am very grateful for my amazing support network and team. The girls are very interested in what I do and love to be involved, so I also try to include them where possible, which is always fun.
What key lessons have you learned from entrepreneurship?
I think the most important thing I have learnt is that you need to look after your own physical, mental and spiritual health to thrive in business, as they are more connected than you think. I have also learnt the importance of a healthy baseline, if the foundations of your business aren’t there before you grow, it won’t be a sustainable business model. We have had to decline really appealing offers due to not being ready, and I think that was really important for us to prioritise stable growth.
Where do you see IMBIBE heading in the future?
We have our sights set on overseas expansion and are aiming to get over to the US later this year to explore new markets and professional partners. We are also excited to be developing new products including an innovative vitamin C and two ingestible products.
Who has been your greatest mentor or inspiration?
The women in my life that have had the courage to change careers or deviate their path in order to honour their inner truth. It requires so much resilience and perseverance to take that risk and I am forever inspired by my network.
Who supports you most in your life, and how?
My husband, Nathan – he supports me in every way, whether it be sharing childcare, housework, business, he is always by my side. We also compliment each other really well, I am always bouncing around, coming up with new bold ideas for the business, and he then realises those ideas and turns them into reality.
What advice would you give your younger self?
To wear sunscreen and don’t sweat small stuff.
What legacy do you hope to leave with IMBIBE?
I want my daughters to believe that anything is possible with the right timing, mindset and dedication. From a business and product standpoint, I want people to know that you can achieve clinical-proven results using 100% natural ingredients and that you don’t have to accept a chemical burden to achieve healthy, glowing skin.
