Most women start their anti-ageing routine in their late 30s when fine lines and wrinkles show up prominently, and by that time, it’s well “late.” That’s why dermatologists and beauty experts advice women on beginning anti-ageing routine in their 20s itself. It’s okay to age gracefully and some anti-ageing ingredients can help us maintain the suppleness and tightness of the skin. When choosing an anti-ageing ingredient, we should taken into consideration, it’s ability to produce collagen and elastin which are necessary to maintain the elasticity of skin. We live in a ridiculously polluted environment and lead extremely stressed out and hectic lifestyle, expose our skin to radiation from the computer screen and phones, and all these factors really affect the skin negatively and often leads to premature ageing. We often have the notion that we need to wait for a certain age to start using anti-ageing products. The collagen production starts to drop from late 20s and it’s a good idea to start anti-ageing cream as soon as one hits 30 to prevent fine lines and wrinkles. You can start using them as early as 18. It makes much more sense to prevent wrinkles rather than waiting for the first sign of ageing. So, in this post, we list down 15 best anti ageing ingredients for all skin types.
1. Retinol: Let’s just begin with the boss. All of us must have heard of it at least once. The skin care industry loves it and it is definitely the most effective of all ingredients when it comes to anti-ageing as well as reversing ageing. Retinol and Retin-A are basically nothing but derivatives of Vitamin A. It helps in reducing fine lines, pigmentation and gives skin a nice smooth texture. Now since this ingredient is so potent, it should really be used sparingly, especially when you are starting off with it. Lower concentrations are best to start with and it is even better if you consult your dermatologist before you start one. There are chances of irritation and dryness if one goes overboard with it. But if done right, it will work miracles in making your skin look plump and youthful. This ingredient is also extremely good for those who suffer from acne and in fact those suffering from acne would have probably used it in some form. Do not be scared of trying it out; just make sure you do some research before finding out a good product and how to use it. Also, it should be only used at night time.
2. Antioxidants: This term has been all over the place in recent times and everything we buy or put inside our bodies just seems to be revolving around this. Well it is simple, the environmental pollution, stress and dust produce free radicals in our body and cause a lot of damage to our skin cells which shows up in the form of premature wrinkles, spots and dullness. So what do anti-oxidants do? They help in combating the free-radicals and rescue the skin cells in distress. Some great anti-oxidants are Vitamin C, E and Green tea (contains EGCG). They prevent the collagen from being broken down and keep the skin looking fresh and plump. Try using serums or moisturizers with any of these and you will definitely not look back.
3. AHA/BHAs: Alpha Hydroxy Acids and Beta Hydroxy Acids are ingredients which are easily found in products these days. Salicylic acid (BHA) and glycolic acid (AHA) are good examples. Now if you are acne prone, you might already be using these ingredients and loving them, but no one is stopping the rest of you who don’t suffer from breakouts to try them out. They work as excellent exfoliants making room for new cell growth which is an essential step in your anti-ageing skin care routine. They help in improving the skin thickness, collagen production and hyper pigmentation over a time period of simply 6 months. Also anyone who does not like the feel of harsh physical exfoliants would greatly benefit from AHA/BHA based chemical exfoliants.
4. Peptides: Now apart from retinols if there is another ingredient as hyped and well-loved by the skin care industry it has to be peptides. Peptides are basically proteins composed of amino acids which are the building blocks of protein (essentially collagen). It is claimed that it can lift sagging skin, give a smooth texture and plump out our skin. It is also beneficial in getting rid of dark circles, fine lines and puffy eyes and hence it is often used in under eye creams. There are various kinds of peptides, but the best of them all are oligopeptides and polypeptides.
5. Sunscreen: Oh yes! Sunscreen is crucial to anti-ageing and it is in fact the ultimate. It will protect your skin from the harsh UV rays of the sun which can wreak havoc in the form of pigmentation, fine lines and irreversible damage to our skin cells. Make sure that apart from using a sufficiently high SPF of at least 30 your sunscreen also provides broad spectrum UVA protection because these rays are responsible for ageing your skin.
6. Good 7 to 8 Hours of Sleep: It’s important to get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night not only to lose weight, but even for glowing and wrinkle-free skin and that’s because when we sleep at night, the skin rebuilds collagen and works to reducing age spots.
7. Hyaluronic Acid: As we age, our skin loses its moisture-retaining capacity and lose its suppleness and hydration, and that’s where hyaluronic acid, which can retain moisture, help to delay signs of ageing and improve skin’s firmness with regular use.
8. Alpha Lipoic Acid: As we all know, sugar is probably the #1 enemy of our skin and a major reason why premature ageing takes place. Extra sugar in the body causes wrinkles on the skin and that’s where alpha lipoic acid comes as an anti-ageing agent, because it reduces glycation and abnormal attachment of sugar in the cells, delaying the ageing process.
9. Coenzyme Q10: This enzyme boosts collagen production and fights wrinkles and fine lines.
10. Caffeine: It helps in slowing down photoageing of the skin and with its polyphenol content, it delays ageing process.
11. Resveratrol: It’s an antioxidant found commonly in red grapes delays ageing, reduces inflammation, and boosts collagen production.
12. Vitamin K: Vitamin K keeps skin elastic and firm and has anti-inflammatory properties.
13. Vitamin E: This vitamin fights free radicals, reduces the appearance of age spots, and also has anti-inflammatory functions.
14. Vitamin C: It’s a powerful antioxidant, and that’s why a lot of anti-ageing creams and serums include vitamin C to boost collagen production, and postpones signs of ageing.
15. Green Tea: Green tea is rich in antioxidants and polyphenols which fight free radicals and prevent oxidative damage and delays signs of ageing.
Correct Routine to Use an Anti-Ageing Night Cream:
- Cleanse your face thoroughly with a gentle cleanser, suited to your skin type. Pat your face dry.
- Apply the night cream in gentle upward strokes and circular motion by using the fingertips. Avoid the area around your eyes.
- Never forget applying the cream on your neck.
- Ideally, you should apply a night cream 30 minutes before you go to bed.
- Lastly, you should be religious in applying night cream regularly.
Well, apart from maintaining a healthy skin care routine, one should also maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle and exercise regularly. Also, please sleep well, at least 7-8 hours as this really helps in replenishing our skin like nothing else. Hope you enjoyed reading the article and found it useful.
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