BackgroundCollagen dominates the skin's extracellular matrix (ECM). Type I collagen comprises 80%–90% of the skin's collagen, followed by type III (8%–12%) and type V (5%). Reactive oxygen species, matrix metalloproteinases, and collagen degradation all increase during photoaging, which disrupts the ECM's dynamic balance and lowers the amount of total collagen in the body. In recent years, domestic and foreign researchers have conducted multidimensional and multifaceted studies on collagen and skin photoaging. Collagen and the peptides that are derivates of it are currently being used more and more in biomedicine and medical esthetics.ObjectiveOffering new suggestions for both the avoidance and remedy of photoaging.MethodsThis article reviews collagen and its potential connection to skin photoaging, illustrates the effects of collagen and peptide supplementation derivatives on photoaged skin, and briefly describes other compounds that can also be used to fight photoaging by increasing collagen synthesis in the skin.ResultBoth internal and external aging are inevitable, and as the main component of extracellular matrix, collagen plays a variety of functions in maintaining skin structure and fighting skin aging, and its role in photoaging is undeniable. Ultraviolet radiation can induce increased fragmentation and degradation of cutaneous collagen, while conversely, supplementation with collagen can effectively counteract photodamage‐induced skin impairment.ConclusionCollagen and its derived peptides are indispensable in photoaging skin, holding promising prospects for applications in skin aging.