Anti Ageing Skincare Ingredients and Benefits
You likely already know that sunscreen is the most important anti-ageing addition, but there’s a lot more ingredients on the menu when it comes to the best anti-ageing skincare. Whether you’re looking to target wrinkles, dark spots or other signs of ageing, there’s so much more you can be doing on a daily basis. Read on to learn from our skincare experts about all things in anti-ageing ingredients, from retinol benefits to when to use vitamin C.
Signs of Ageing
The first step to targeting the signs of anti-aging with your skincare routine is to understand them! Here are some of the main signs of ageing skin.
Dullness
As we age, a slowing in skin cell turnover can start to create an overall dullness in our complexion, meaning the skin might not look quite as radiant as it once did.
Fine Lines & Wrinkles
The natural ageing process causes decreased collagen and elastin in our skin, which can also be exacerbated by sun damage. That’s why fine lines and wrinkles tend to appear as our skin become less firm and elastic.
Dry Skin
The body’s ability to produce natural skin oilsalso declines with age, causing our skin to become drier and more prone to flaking or patchiness.
Uneven Skin
Hyperpigmentation is linked to sun damage that accumulates over time, which is why this condition is more common in older people. These age spots also contribute to a less even-looking complexion.
Visible Pores
Decreasing collagen levels can also lead to more visible pores. As the skin becomes less structured, pores are less supported and are held less tightly by the surrounding skin.
Sagging Skin
Collagen and elastin loss can combine with loss of inner layers of fat on the face to create the appearance of sagging skin.
Anti-Ageing Ingredients
The good news is there are anti-ageing ingredients that target each and every sign of visible skin ageing. Learn the benefits of each ingredient below as well as application advice.
Collagen
As a major building block of the skin, collagen plays a big role in firmness and an overall youthful look. The body’s own natural supply of collagen begins to decline as we get older, so the benefits of anti-ageing skincare are numerous.
By incorporating collagen within your skincare routine, you’ll be helping strengthen and visibly firm your skin. Collagen serum benefits also include protection against dryness, which can exacerbate wrinkles.
Get your collagen fix in a nourishing cream formula with our Confidence in a Cream Face Moisturiser & Day Cream. This cream pairs collagen with ceramides for even better hydration and protection for the skin.
Retinol
When it comes to retinol, anti-ageing benefits are what this powerful ingredient is known for. However, retinol’s benefits for skin also include proven results on acne-prone skin and redness. “There’s nothing more effective for anti-ageing”, says Dr. Dara Liotta, a plastic surgeon and IT Cosmetics advisory board member.
Retinol works deep in the skin to help increase skin cell turnover from within, minimising the look of fine lines and wrinkles and helping deter blemishes from forming. This superstar ingredient also helps boost natural collagen production for bouncier, firmer looking skin.
Retinol is found most often in serums and creams like our Hello Results Wrinkle-Reducing Daily Retinol Serum-in-Cream. Start using twice per week to allow the skin to adjust and be sure to apply sunscreen every day as retinol makes skin more sensitive to the sun.
Ceramides
If you tend to have dry skin, ceramides are the new best friend you never knew you needed. Our skin’s natural moisture barrier is made up of various ceramides, which are naturally occurring lipids produced to protect the skin from the outside world.
If you have dry skin, this might mean that your skin barrier has become weakened, allowing for too much moisture to be lost through the skin’s surface. Incorporating ceramides into your daily skincare routine is an ideal way to help reinforce the skin moisture barrier for softer, hydrated and more supple-looking skin.
Ceramides are usually found in cleansers or moisturisers, like our Confidence in a Cream Hydrating Moisturiser. If you prefer a lighter formula, our Confidence in a Gel Lotion Moisturiser is also enriched with ceramides.
Niacinamide
Also known as vitamin B3, this potent antioxidant helps protect the skin against environmental skin damage.
If you have acne-prone, dry or sensitive skin, niacinamide can have a comforting effect on the skin. This ingredient works by supporting the skin barrier and regulating melanin production, meaning it also helps reduce the look of discolouration or dark spots for a more even complexion.
Niacinamide is versatile, so it can be found in many different types of skincare products. However it’s skin strengthening properties mean it’s often found in eye creams for dark circles, such as our Bye Bye Under Eye Cream .
Hyaluronic Acid
It’s no wonder that the list of hyaluronic acid benefits for skin is so impressive, given that it has a remarkable ability to attract water molecules. This hydrating acid is naturally found within the skin but depletes with age.
When supplemented through your skincare routine, this hydrating acid is fantastic at visibly plumping fine lines and wrinkles and improving skin firmness.
Hyaluronic acid anti-ageing products are incredibly popular, from masks to serums, creams to moisturisers. Try our Confidence in your Beauty Sleep Night Cream to enjoy the benefits of hyaluronic acid while you get some rest.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C’s anti-ageing credentials are well known, but here’s a refresher. This powerful antioxidant defends against free radicals before they can damage the skin.
Free radical damage accelerates the visible skin ageing process, so protecting against this has a whole host of anti-ageing benefits. Vitamin C is also known for bringing radiance to the skin, which is why it’s often seen in skincare products formulated to brighten dull skin.
Vitamin C is most often seen in serum form. We recommend using it in the morning and avoiding use at the same time as retinol or exfoliating acids.
Glycolic Acid
Glycolic Acid is a chemical exfoliant that falls into the alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) category. This exfoliating acid can help minimise visible fine lines and wrinkles as well as acne-prone skin by softening the bonds between dead skin cells to allow these to be sloughed away.
Glycolic acid is most often found in cleansers, face serums and chemical peels. We recommend using this ingredient at night, due to increased sun sensitivity.
Now that you know what to look for in terms of anti-ageing ingredients, read How To Deal With Hyperpigmentation to learn everything you need to know about this common age related skin concern.
