For a long time, we’ve been force-fed unrealistic ideals of beauty, one of the most prominent ones being “postponing” aging. That’s why people sometimes go to extreme lengths to reach that unattainable goal, usually at a high price. Nowadays, there’s more awareness around these topics and more discussions about best practices not to stop aging but rather to find ways to nourish our skin (and ourselves) in a way that will allow it to age graciously and beautifully.
The aging process is incredibly complex and interconnected with many factors, including genetics, overall health, external conditions, diet, etc. This brings us to the conclusion that aging gracefully isn’t a “one-size-fits-all” prescription but rather requires an individual approach and a great understanding of what works for us.
Thankfully, modern skincare is adapting and evolving based on these conclusions, and there are now many ways to diminish the signs of aging while simultaneously ensuring your skin is healthy and vibrant.
Factors That Affect the Way We Age
We mentioned that there are a number of factors that directly affect how the passage of time shows on your face. We can separate them into internal and external factors, and it’s important to know them so that you can figure out how to mitigate them if need be.
Internal Factors
Let’s start with internal factors that determine aging, aka processes within our bodies that affect how we look as we get older.
- Genetics. It is not too surprising that our genetics play a vital role in determining how our skin ages. The way your genes behave and interact with their environment is directly connected to the natural loss of elastin and collagen over time. Less of these proteins can lead to the skin gradually losing its elasticity and poorly handling oxidative stress.
- Cell Renewal. The rate at which our cells renew and repair themselves affects just about every process in our bodies, and with time, cell renewal can slow down. This slower cell turnover can result in a buildup of older, damaged skin cells on the surface of your skin, which could lead to a duller complexion.
- Hormonal Fluctuations. After cellular metabolism and genetics, hormonal changes are next in line, and they can either work in your favor or against you regarding the changes in your skin. Estrogen is an excellent example here, as its levels directly impact the skin’s ability to retain moisture and thickness. As the hormone levels lower as we age, it’s easier for the skin to become dry and thin, leading to sagging and wrinkles.
These are the three most prominent factors to keep in mind when you’re choosing your skincare products. If you’re not sure where to start, you can always turn to an experienced dermatologist for help.
External Factors
Chances are, you’re already familiar with the many external factors that can exacerbate the signs of aging on your face. Here are the most important ones to keep in mind:
- Pollution
- Sun Exposure
- Stress
- Lack of Sleep
- Poor Diet
- Repeated Facial Expressions
- Lifestyle Choices (smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, etc.)
All of these can have detrimental consequences on your skin’s complexion and its ability to battle both internal and external factors for a prolonged period of time. That’s why it’s essential to take steps to protect your skin from them the best you can. Here are some solutions that modern skincare offers.
Advanced Formulas and Ingredients in Cosmeceuticals to Slow Down Aging
The quest for youthful skin has led to significant advancements in skincare science, and there’s now an ever-growing number of ingredients and advanced formulas that are clinically proven to combat the signs of aging. There are dermatology experts nationwide, who can help you determine exactly the type of formula, serum, cream, and toner you need to make your skin look amazing.
Here’s a list of some of the effective ingredients you can incorporate into your skincare routine that will assist you on your journey to look and feel good in your own skin.
- Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid). You’re probably used to seeing vitamin C serums, cleansers, and creams in stores and cosmetics aisle, and there’s a good reason. Ascorbic acid is a powerful antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals, which means it helps repair damaged skin cells. Vitamin C brightens your skin, is vital for collagen synthesis, and is indispensable in skin regeneration.
- Retinoids. If there’s one anti-aging ingredient that is always in the spotlight, it’s retinoids aka retinol in its various forms. It’s derived from vitamin A, and it’s a great little helper in reducing the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and even age spots. Similar to vitamin C, retinoids also promote and stimulate collagen production.
- Hyaluronic Acid. This ingredient needs no introduction, as it’s one of the most popular ones in the formulas of just about any anti-aging product. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in the skin known for its ability to attract and help your skin better absorb moisture, widely used in natural moisturizing lip oil to moisturizing serums. The result is plump and hydrated skin with less visible wrinkles.
- Niacinamide (Vitamin B3). We can’t discuss the most active and useful ingredients in modern anti-aging skincare without mentioning niacinamide. Its most pronounced quality is that it reduces the size of your pores over time, making your skin look smooth and flawless. This vitamin can also improve skin elasticity and soothe redness and skin inflammation.
- Peptides. You can think of peptides as food for your skin because they’re chains of amino acids that your skin uses to produce keratin, collagen, and elastin. Each of these proteins plays an important role in making your skin firm, having better elasticity, and improving its texture.
The list of these ingredients and formulas goes on, including ceramides, salicylic, glycolic, and lactic acids, each of which can be in your skincare regimen. It all depends on your skin type, and once you determine that, you can start building your routine in a way that serves you.
Conclusion
It’s safe to say that anti-aging skincare products have been infinitely improved and diversified in the past decade alone. This is both bad news and good news. The bad news is that there are now so many products to choose from that finding the one that works for you can take time and trial and error. The good news, however, is that you can take great care of your skin, ensuring it gets everything it needs to look and feel phenomenal without breaking the bank.