Anti-Aging

October 3, 2018
|In Skin Care
|By ksand-support

THE BEST SKIN CARE INGREDIENTS FOR ANTI-AGING

How to Maintain your Skin’s Youthful Appearance

There are ways in which you can protect your skin from future wrinkles starting at a young age.  

  • Minimize the time you spend in the sun and use sunscreen on exposed skin.  Sun exposure is the number one reason for aging skin as exposure to UV light accelerates the natural aging process.
  • Use skin care products that contain sunscreen.  Choose products that block both UVA and UVB rays and have an SPF of at least 15.  
  • Use moisturizers so that your skin does not get dry which causes fine lines and wrinkles.
  • Avoid smoking.  Smoking causes narrowing of the blood vessels in the outer layers of your skin.  It also damages and collagen and elastin, therefore, your skin begins to sag and wrinkle prematurely.  

If you weren’t diligent about protecting your skin all along, there are plenty of anti-aging products you can use to slow the signs of aging.   

Common Anti-Aging Ingredients in Skin Care Products

  • Antioxidants are good for your skin and your health.  Antioxidants are found in food and cosmetic products.  Most plants have antioxidants which can counter “free radicals”, compounds that harm DNA inside of cells.  Skin cells with free radicals can speed up aging which leads to wrinkles, dry skin, dark circles under the eyes, to name a few.  Products with the most antioxidants have been shown to repair damage and slow the aging process.  
    • Alpha-Lipoic Acid is an antioxidant that your body manufactures naturally.  It attacks free radicals thoroughout the body. In skin care products, this substance can erase fine lines, wrinkles, reduce pores, and provide skin with a healthy glow.
    • Caffeine is an antioxidant but there’s no proof that it can reverse skin aging.  It is added to lotions and creams based on research that it can help prevent the growth of skin cancer and may makes wrinkles less defined.  
    • Coenzyme Q-10 (CoQ-10) destroys free radicals in cells as an antioxidant that your body produces naturally but as you age your body produces less.  It is added in toners, gels, and creams along with a moisturizer to reduce “crow’s feet”, the wrinkles around the eyes.  
    • Green Tea Extract is rich in nutrients called polyphenols which have been shown to fight free radicals and may also slow signs of aging and reduce sagging skin and wrinkles when added to creams and lotions.  More importantly, the ingredients found in tea can diminish sun damage and may protect you from skin cancer when put on the skin.
    • Retinol is made from vitamin A.  It is added to creams and increases the amount of collagen your body makes, reducing fine lines and wrinkles.  It has also been attributed to improving skin tone and color and reducing blotchy patches.
    • Vitamin C is an antioxidant that may boost the amount of collagen and minimize fine lines, wrinkles and scars.  As you age, your body produces less collagen and elastin which keep skin strong, flexible, and resilient.  
  • There are other ingredients that are added to makeup and skin care products that are touted for anti-aging properties.
    • Alpha-hydroxy Acids (AHAs) which include glycolic, lactic, citric, and tartaric acids and are ingredients in many skin care products.  AHAs exfoliate the skin which reduce fine lines, age spits, acne scars, and uneven skin color. Estheticians or dermatologists can use peels with high concentrations of AHAs but lower concentrations of 5% to 10% in creams and lotions can be used on a daily basis.  
    • Hyaluronic Acid is a substance that your body makes naturally to keep tissues cushioned and lubricated.   It is found in skin, joint fluid, and connective tissues. Due to age, smoking, and an unhealthy diet, your body may make less of it over time.  Cosmetics that have hyaluronic acid may help smooth skin and work especially well combined with vitamin C.
    • Salicylic Acid is an exfoliant ingredient found in many OTC and prescription products that treat acne. It yields less irritation than AHAs and is effective at reducing the signs of aging.