Can you prevent skin aging?
One of the most popular words in skincare is anti-aging. Every now and then we are introduced to some new “magical” ingredient that is guaranteed to erase decades of age in just a few weeks of use, and when that one doesn’t work, we move on to the next one.
To be clear, there is no way to prevent our skin from aging indefinitely because it is a natural process. However, there are ways to slow the process down.
Diet, sleep, hydration, and our lifestyle, in general, affect our skin’s health and appearance. If you keep these in check and add a few tricks into your skincare routine, you can significantly press the brakes on skin aging.
Best anti-aging ingredients in skincare
1. Sunscreen- Sun protection is essential in preventing not only skin aging but also serious skin conditions. One of the main reasons for skin aging is collagen degradation, which happens naturally, but one of the main culprits is UV rays.
UV rays activate the production of certain enzymes on the skin, which breaks down collagen. Lack of collagen leads to the formation of wrinkles and fine lines. SPF works as a first-line defense against UV rays, prevents the degradation of collagen, and protects the skin from developing serious conditions, such as skin cancer.
2. Ceramides are native skin ingredients that decline with age. They are crucial components of the epidermis and play a key role in barrier protection of the skin, allowing it to capture and bind water to stay hydrated. As ceramides decline, so does the skin’s elasticity and plumpness. Therefore it is recommended to include a product with ceramides to prevent further skin dehydration and sagginess.
3. Antioxidants directly combat oxidative stress, decrease collagen degradation, and lessen the signs of aging. Vitamin C, vitamin E, CoQ10, resveratrol, green tea, hydroxytyrosol, or retinol all include antioxidants. Choose your “weapon of choice” from this variety of potent ingredients.
4. Vitamin K works by increasing blood circulation. It reverses the calcium that is deposited in your skin’s elastin fibers, which harden and lead to wrinkles.
5. Niacinamide, also known as vitamin B3, removes signs of mature skin by inhibiting melanin accumulation on the skin surface, therefore, lightening areas of dark spots. A similar (but not so natural) ingredient is hydroquinone.
6. Hyaluronic acid is favored for its ability to hold up huge amounts of water. It is one of the main contributors to hydrated and supple skin.