Dermatologists agree that sunscreen and moisturizer are the two most effective anti-aging products you can buy. Using them every day can make a noticeable difference. In addition to sunscreen, Darden says, retinol is the most important step in an anti-aging routine. Retinol works hard to prevent new wrinkles from forming, as well as to smooth out any fine lines you may already have.
It will also help reduce pigmentation due to cell turnover, he explains. While there is no perfect age to start investing in and using specific anti-aging products, most experts say that your 20s are an excellent time to start thinking about your skin's long-term health. Garshick and more than 36,000 Amazon reviewers are fans of CeraVe eye repair cream. Naturium Topical Azelaic Acid 10% is an excellent alternative for pregnant people who cannot tolerate a retinoid or retinol.
According to the brand's website, this serum is ultra-light, creamy and fast-absorbing. The non-greasy formula is specially designed to regenerate surface cells and deliver anti-aging ingredients 10 layers deep into the skin's surface. This cleanser contains gluconolactone, a polyhydroxy acid, a lactic acid and an alpha hydroxy acid with moisturizing properties, to gently exfoliate the skin. In addition, this NakedPoppy cleanser also contains nourishing ingredients such as baobab extract, which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and aloe, which soothes the skin and has anti-inflammatory properties.
Other key ingredients include quinoa extract, which can help brighten skin. Therefore, using sunscreen regularly will help prevent those problems. On its own, sunscreen won't reduce wrinkles or dark spots you already have, but it will help prevent them from forming more, prevent them from becoming more noticeable due to sun exposure, and protect your skin while dealing with any other problems you have, such as acne. Unlike many modern skincare ingredients, we have decades of information about the different ingredients in sunscreens and innovation in sunscreen formulas.
Gone are the days of thick, pasty and boring SPF. Today's sunscreens come in both physical and chemical varieties (often containing a combination of the two) and absorb into the skin leaving little or no white tint. If you're not sure where to start buying sunscreen for your face, check out SELF's guide to sunscreen here, or check out some of our editors' favorite moisturizers with SPF. Along with sunscreen, retinoids such as retinol are the skin care ingredients that have the best real evidence of anti-aging benefits.
All retinoids are naturally occurring forms of vitamin A. But when you eat foods that contain vitamin A (such as milk, eggs, carrots, and broccoli), your body needs to convert those vitamin A preforms and provitamins into an active form that you can actually use. Retinol is the first step in that pathway. Zampella, MD.
Perelman's dermatology department at NYU Langone Health, previously told SELF that topical retinoids (including retinol) cause the skin to speed up its normal cell renewal process, meaning it will remove skin cells more quickly. Helps address problems such as fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots and acne. Researchers also believe that retinol may help increase collagen production, which reduces signs of aging. The other important advantage of using retinol is that it's basically everywhere.
You can find over-the-counter retinol in pharmacies and luxury products, so you don't need a prescription to get it. However, because these products are regulated as cosmetics and not medicines, you can't necessarily be sure what you're getting. Although research shows that retinol is effective, there is no way to guarantee that what is used in an over-the-counter product is as potent or effective as retinol in those studies. The other drawback to using retinol (or any retinoid, actually) is that these ingredients are known to cause irritation, at least when you first start using them.
This usually includes symptoms such as dryness, itching, redness, and increased sensitivity. However, not everyone experiences these symptoms. If you experience irritation with retinol, you can try products that contain retinal (also called retinaldehyde), which is another form of retinol, or bakuchiol, a newer ingredient that is often touted as a natural alternative to retinol. Both seem to cause less irritation than retinol.
Retinol is eventually converted to retinoic acid in the body, Dr. Zampella told SELF, so it's probably not surprising that some of the most potent prescription acne medications we have, such as tretinoin (Retin-A) and isotretinoin (formerly Accutane, taken orally), are forms of retinoic acid. In addition, the way these drugs work by increasing the cell renewal process also makes them excellent anti-aging ingredients. And because they're usually only available with a prescription, you know exactly what you're getting.
However, because these drugs are more potent than over-the-counter options, they can also cause more severe side effects, such as dryness, flaking, itching, and tenderness. When using a retinoid like these, it's very important to effectively hydrate and, as always, use sunscreen. In addition to retinol, retinal and retinoic acid, there are some synthetic retinoids, such as adapalene and tazarotene, which according to some research are less irritating than tretinoin and isotretinoin. Vitamin C, one of the most common active ingredients in skin care products today, acts as an antioxidant to counteract and protect against free radical damage, Shari Lipner, M, D.
In addition, it can also be used to effectively brighten dark spots over time. But it can also be a surprisingly difficult ingredient to use properly. It's sensitive to light, for example, so it's important to buy only vitamin C products that are in opaque, airless containers that protect you from degradation. And it also comes in varying concentrations (between 5% and 20%), which means that effects and side effects, such as irritation, can vary widely between products.
This increasingly popular skincare ingredient is a form of vitamin B3 that has shown promise for fighting free radical damage, lightening dark spots, and controlling acne. And people with sensitive skin will be happy to know that some research shows that it can brighten skin with fewer side effects or irritation than other first-line treatments, such as hydroquinone. While your dermatologist cannot prescribe a niacinamide product on its own, this ingredient can be combined in many other topical recipes, Laura Ferris, MD. And there are more and more over-the-counter options for niacinamide as well.
Glycolic acid is especially useful for reducing signs of aging, such as hyperpigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles. But keep in mind that its effects vary depending on the concentration of glycolic acid in the product you're using. Milder over-the-counter products, such as tonics, for example, generally contain between 5% and 7% glycolic acid and a maximum of around 10%. Can be used several times a week.
But peels contain more than 20% glycolic acid (up to 70% for deep in-office treatments). Products with such high concentrations should not be used anywhere near the same frequency as lower strength products, and many are only available in a derm's office. As We Age, Our Preventive Skin Care Routine Should Begin to Evolve. Doft has the ultimate game plan for your mid-twenties and thirties.
Thanks to its popularity, you can find vitamin A and C in a large number of beauty products such as serums, creams and even masks. Once you reach age 40 (and beyond), Dr. Doft recommends considering “an over-the-counter retinol with a doctor's prescription. Before making the change, be sure to consult with your dermatologist.
Since the sun is one of the main culprits of premature aging, SPF is the most important step in an anti-aging skincare routine. If you're reading this, it's probably because you've noticed your first wrinkles, or maybe you've left your anti-aging skincare routine in the background for too many years. . .