Scientifically Proven Ingredients That Help Slow Down The Signs of Aging

The skin care industry is inundated with the next trending ingredients. For those of us with mature skin it can be a confusing space to navigate. From Korean beauty to the Green beauty community, there is always a new product with the newest fad ingredient. Skincare doesn’t have to be overwhelming and can actually be quite simple when you stick with a few time tested and scientifically proven ingredients that never let us down in an anti-aging skincare routine. 

How to tell  if you have Mature Skin

First we should start by defining the signs of mature or aging skin. You’ll start noticing that your skin doesn’t quite bounce back the same as it used to. Maybe you’re noticing some fine lines on your forehead or some laugh lines around your mouth. These lines can be a reminder of a beautiful life, but can leave us feeling like they are just reminders of a more youthful time. Depending on your SPF habits you might also start to notice some age spots on the tops of your cheeks and forehead as well. 

Welcome to the mature skin category! However, not to fear as you’ll  see that there are ingredients in your skincare that can help combat these subtle signs of aging.

Needs of Mature Skin

The typical signs of mature skin like hyperpigmentation (age spots), loss of firmness (slower collagen production), fine lines (collagen production & hydration), and rough texture (slower cell turnover) can be addressed in a straightforward fashion when you focus on a few simple needs. In this stage the skin has a couple needs that need to be met which include; increased cell renewal, hydration/moisture, and collagen production. 

Best Ingredients for Mature Skin

The tried and true ingredients of any skincare routine for mature skin include some of the most familiar that you have probably heard; Retinol, AHA’s (Glycolic Acid), and Moisture/Hydration. 

Retinol 

At this point, most of us  have at least heard of retinol. And there is a reason for it; retinol is the queen of the anti-aging kingdom. It is a wonderful workhorse in your skincare routine as it addresses collagen production (fine lines), hyperpigmentation (age spots), and textural issues. Unlike topical exfoliators, retinol works on a deeper level by affecting gene expression in the skin. It increases collagen production, evens out skin tone and helps to smooth out any textural irregularities. With diligent and proper use retinol can be a game changer in your anti-aging skincare routine.

AHA’s (Glycolic Acid)

AHA’s like Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid and Malic Acid are great ingredients for exfoliation for mature skin. We will be looking more closely at Glycolic as it pairs beautifully in a routine for mature skin. Glycolic Acid addresses so many concerns for a routine that's focused on addressing signs of aging including fine lines, hyperpigmentation (age spots) and sagging skin. Unlike retinol, Glycolic is a chemical exfoliator and more specifically an AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid) which means that it only works on the surface of your skin. It works on increasing cellular turnover by exfoliation, increasing collagen production and fights against hyperpigmentation to fade away and age spots. When paired with retinol, glycolic becomes the catalyst to take your skin to the next level. 

Moisture/Hydration

To be quite honest, no other ingredient matters more than moisture and hydration. It doesn’t matter what routine you are on or what condition your skin is in; keeping your skin moisturized and hydrated is the basis of healthy skin. 

Moisture = Oil 

Hydration = Water

And you need both. 

Now, there are an exuberant amount of hydrators and moisturizers out there but which one is right for your skin? That all depends on your skin’s needs, which unfortunately  are constantly changing. If you stick with the principle that your skin needs a balance of healthy oils and water to maintain homeostasis then you will be just fine. To retain hydration (water) on your skin then Hyaluronic Acid is a great choice. Especially for those who live in a humid climate or during the summer months. If you currently do not experience either one of those then a moisturizer with both water and healthy oils for your skin would be sufficient.

A word of caution when using Hyaluronic Acid; if living in colder, drier climates HA can actually take hydration that is already existing in your skin and further dehydrate your skin. So be sure to make sure that your skin is fully hydrated before applying your HA in drier months or climates.

All in all, the most effective way to retain moisture and hydration in your skin is to not strip your skin of it in the first place. Using a gentle and nourishing cleanser is the greatest defense against loss of your healthy oils and hydration that your skin already has. 

Grace

Maturing gracefully doesn’t have to be a daunting journey. Let us take a pause to remind ourselves that there is beauty in aging gracefully and we do not aim to erase the wisdom that the years have brought to us. There is beauty in aging gracefully.