From your thirties onward, dermal collagen production declines by about 1% a year. This gradual process results in a loss of firmness and skin density, well before visible wrinkles appear.
Among the documented levers: daily sun protection (the best-documented lever), retinoids, and photobiomodulation with red and near-infrared light, which stimulates fibroblast activity through mitochondrial ATP production.
None of these levers works alone or instantly: effects on collagen synthesis are observed over several weeks to several months of regular use.