There’s no shortage of anti-ageing skincare products promising to banish wrinkles and restore your skin to its former youthful glory. With such an overwhelming number of creams and serums to choose from, it can be difficult to figure out which ones are worth picking up. If you’re unsure which are most likely to give you visible results, there are certain ingredients you can look out for which are known to be particularly effective.
Retinol
Retinol is a vitamin A derivative which rejuvenates the skin by enhancing cell growth. Cell turnover declines with age, leaving the skin looking more dull and dehydrated. By boosting cell turnover, retinol plumps the skin a little, making it look a little brighter and smoother.
It’s the most effective anti-wrinkle ingredient you can buy over the counter, but retinol’s potency can cause irritation, which is something to bear in mind if you have sensitive skin. It’s important to note that it also makes your skin more sensitive to UV rays, so when using it, always apply an SPF before going outside.
Niacinamide
Dark spots caused by age or sun damage can be lightened with niacinamide, a vitamin B3 derivative. It works by reducing the amount of melanin, or pigmentation, that rises to the skin’s surface.
Niacinamide also has several other positive effects on the skin’s overall appearance. It helps to tackle wrinkles by stimulating collagen production, and has anti-inflammatory properties which make it useful for tackling conditions such as rosacea and psoriasis.
Alpha Hydroxy Acids
Alpha hydroxyl acids, or AHAS, are natural acids which gently exfoliate the skin. They remove dead skin cells by dissolving the ‘glue’ that holds them to the complexion’s surface. This process leaves the skin smoother and firmer, while encouraging cell turnover.
Glycolic acid, lactic acid, critic acid and tartaric acid are all examples of AHAs. Like retinol, these acids make the skin more sensitive to sunlight, so make sure you use SPF to avoid sun damage.
Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid is a substance which is naturally present in the human body. It’s a popular ingredient in skincare products that tackle dehydration because it’s a humectant, which means it helps the skin to retain moisture by drawing water from the air. Thanks to its potent hydrating abilities, you can find it in a lot of moisturisers and serums. Keeping your skin well-hydrated with ingredients like hyaluronic acid will combat the dull, dry look that skin can become more prone to with age.
When shopping for anti-ageing skincare products, it’s easy to be enticed by brand names and advertising, but do a little research before spending your money. Pay attention to the product’s key ingredients, and try to find out a little more about what makes them effective.
Anti-ageing Skincare: The Importance of Moisturising
At this time of year it is vital for us over 50s to pay attention to our skin. This includes using a daily moisturiser to keep the condition of our skin at its best. Step into your local high street store, and you’re likely to be faced with a bewildering array of moisturising products. Even more confusingly, each make impressive claims about how they can improve the appearance of your skin, and it’s difficult to know which one to select.
The Fundamental Purpose of a Moisturiser
Few products are as heavily advertised as moisturisers in the anti-ageing skincare market. Many of them have names that suggest results that are nothing short of miraculous. As a result, it’s easy to lose sight of the fundamental purpose of a good moisturiser, which is to return moisture to the skin.
A decent moisturiser should be able to reduce tightness and dryness, soothe redness and encourage more orderly shedding of the skin, providing a more even appearance.
What is in moisturiser?
Here’s a quick guide to some of the more common ingredients inside moisturising creams.
- These ingredients act to ‘fill in the crevices’, making the surface of the skin appear smoother. Whilst they do not get rid of wrinkles, they can help to soften their appearance.
- Humectants draw water into the skin, serving to rehydrate it and give the appearance of softness and plumpness.
- Occlusives also help to maintain hydration in the skin, by slowing down evaporation. Occlusives often give moisturiser a greasy feel, though some silicone based occlusives feel less greasy.
- Some moisturisers also use ingredients containing antioxidants to help prevent damage to the skin by free radicals, which can be found in air pollution.
When Should You Apply Moisturiser?
Dermatologists tend to recommend applying a thin coating of moisturiser after your skin has been exposed to water, such as after a bath, shower or swimming. This can help to trap moisture in the skin and keep it hydrated. After washing the skin, pat dry with a towel to maintain a level of dampness, then apply your moisturiser.
It’s recommended to use moisturiser on your skin twice a day; though in the winter months, when central heating and cold temperatures can dry out the skin, you may want to apply more frequently.
Which Moisturisers are best for your Anti-Ageing Skincare Regime?
There are many moisturisers available in the shops, and the good news is that most will offer some level of benefit for your skin. Conway Huang, an associate professor at Dermatologic Surgery and Cutaneous Laser Surgery at the University of Alabama, recommends being guided by your individual preferences, using ‘personal factors such as smell, consistency, effectiveness and price’ to make your decision.
Test moisturisers wherever possible, and assess how effective they are on your skin. For example, those with particularly dry skin may benefit more from a moisturiser with more humectants in the ingredients. Those who want to reduce the appearance of wrinkles may find moisturisers with emollients more beneficial.
If in doubt, ask for recommendations from friends and family, or even in your local high street shop. Bear in mind that, whilst some moisturisers are effective at boosting plumpness and smoothing the surface of your skin, no moisturiser can actively reverse the effects of aging, despite their claims to the contrary!
For further anti-ageing skincare tips especially geared to the over 50s, why not follow this link to our earlier article:
7 Anti-Ageing Skincare Tips for Over 50s.
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