Anti-Aging
With so many products promising to erase wrinkles, tighten skin, and defy signs of aging in numerous other ways, it’s hard to know what really works. We’ve created this hub to eliminate the guesswork, with information rooted in research instead of misleading claims. Discover top tips for keeping skin looking young, plus what kinds of formulas and ingredients to seek out based on your skin type and specific concerns.
The #1 Age-Defying Tip
Protect your skin with sunscreen. Research shows UV exposure accounts for at least 80% of visible signs of aging, include discolorations, wrinkles, and sagging skin (1). That may sound like old news, but statistics show a large portion of the population still isn’t putting this essential step into daily practice (2).
Need motivation? Think of it this way: You can buy all the best anti-aging products in the world, but if you aren’t protecting your skin from the sun, you’re undoing all that hard work and wasting your money.
Make the most out of it with an anti-aging sunscreen that delivers antioxidants and other beneficial ingredients for extra environmental defense.
Select an Anti-Aging Cream for Your Skin Type
Before we get into specialized ingredients, we need to go over the basics of how to choose an anti-aging cream that will suit your skin type. Lots of anti-aging products on the market err on the side of rich, heavily emollient formulas, and while that works well for dry skin, aging skin isn’t one-size-fits-all. You can have oily or acne-prone skin in your 50s and well beyond, which will require a different kind of texture to meet your skin’s needs.
Here are a few examples of what to look for, based on skin type:
- For oily skin: An anti-aging gel-cream or lightweight serum works great without the risk of making skin feel greasy or clogging pores.
- For dry skin: Rich anti-wrinkle creams are optimal for locking in moisture and boosting hydration.
- For combination skin: Pick consistencies that fall somewhere in the middle, like a light facial lotion for aging skin.
- For “normal” or “neutral” skin: Your skin will be compatible with most any texture—choose whatever feels best!
No matter which skin type you have, the common thread is that everyone’s skin needs a well-rounded mix of antioxidants (non-fragrant plant extracts, vitamins), skin-restoring ingredients (such as retinol, peptides, niacinamide), and replenishing substances (like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, omega fatty acids, and ceramides) to tackle the signs of aging via multiple pathways (3,4). These can be delivered in many forms throughout your routine, from your toner to your serum to your eye cream. From there, you can take things to the next level by adding highly specialized treatments that address specific concerns, as we highlight in the next section.
Targeted Anti-Aging Treatments for Your Concerns
Targeted anti-aging treatments allow you to hone in on your exact skin concerns quickly and effectively. While there are many brilliant ingredients to choose from, the superstars below stand out for their specific age-defying properties, well established via independent studies. Look for the ingredients that address your top priorities.
- Peptides for skin that has become lax and needs firming support (5)
- Vitamin C to brighten dull skin and diminish uneven skin tone + spots (6)
- Hydroxy acid exfoliants to remove built-up dead skin and smooth texture (something everyone can benefit from) (7)
- Hyaluronic acid to visibly plump and hydrate skin (8)
- Concentrated antioxidants to fight off environmental stressors that weaken skin’s ability to look young (9)
- Niacinamide for enlarged, sagging pores (what some people call “orange peel” skin) (10)
- Phytoestrogen ingredients to restore density to crepey, thinning skin (11)
- Retinol for fine lines, wrinkles, and just about every other sign of aging! (12)
This is a just a snapshot of what you can do with the right skin care to keep skin looking youthful. Take a deeper dive with our expert anti-aging articles in this hub.
References for this information:
1. Molecules, May 2014, pages 6,202-6,219
2. JAMA Dermatology, May 2018, pages 561-568
3. Aging Research Reviews, January 2015, pages 8-21
4. International Journal of Molecular Medicine, July 2016, pages 16-22
5. Cosmetics, May 2017, pages 1-14
6. Clinical, Cosmetic, and Investigational Dermatology, September 2015, pages 463-470
7. Journal of Aesthetic Nursing, June 2018, pages 260-265
8. Journal of Evidence-Based, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, October 2017, pages 816-823
9. Free Radical Biology and Medicine, February 2019, pages 399-407
10. Advances in Clinical and Experimental Medicine, March 2018, pages 367-378
11. Journal of Controlled Release, 2019, pages 190-201
12. Archives of Dermatological Research, January 2017, pages 275-283
