Collagen loss has long been associated with visible aging. With a global market size valued at $11.4 billion in 2025 that’s projected to grow to $26.2 billion by 2033, researchers and brands are continuing to invest in uncovering new mechanisms of skin aging. The industry is shifting its focus beyond collagen itself to understand better not only what determines facial firmness but also how collagen is organized within the skin.
New research from Shiseido has identified ring-shaped collagen structures in facial skin. Calling it “Ring Collagen” (and trademarking the term), the company claims these structures play a key role in maintaining firmness by generating tension across the skin.
According to their research, the mechanism maintains facial shape through a contracting force within each ring. As the rings pull against one another, they generate tension that creates a supportive force around the face, helping maintain firmness.
In collaboration with researchers from the International University of Health and Welfare, Jichi Medical University, and the National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Shiseido also developed a technology they call Digital-Skin Reality. This AI-powered visualization platform maps the forces generated within the skin in three dimensions. According to Shiseido, the imaging technology tracks how skin contracts and then reconstructs those movements to observe the tension produced by Ring Collagen, providing an easier way to study the skin beyond traditional microscopic imaging.
Shifting the conversation from collagen quantity to collagen architecture, the company claims that Ring Collagen forms networks around vellus hair follicles and sebaceous glands, creating tension that helps the face maintain its shape. As the collagen naturally deteriorates with age, alongside a decline in surrounding proteoglycans, the skin loses its ability to resist gravity, contributing to facial sagging.
The research also explored ways to support Ring Collagen by applying various stimuli to cultured skin. Shiseido found that moderate multidirectional physical stimulation improved Ring Collagen structure and reduced signs of sagging skin. The company also reported that rosehip extract and safflower extract may promote the structural network of Ring Collagen.
Shiseido has invested in skin aging science for decades, with this research building on its work in advanced imaging technologies and skin biology. Part of the above research was presented at the 2022 International Federation of Societies of Cosmetic Chemists London Congress, where it was selected as a Top 10 finalist.
While these findings are still in the research stage, they may point toward a new generation of skincare innovations focused on preserving or restoring the skin's structural architecture, rather than simply increasing collagen production.