5 Powerful Skincare Ingredients for Aging Skin and Why They Work
/Lost in the skin care aisles at your favourite beauty story? If you are done with experimenting and are seeking anti-ageing skincare ingredients that actually work, keep reading! These 5 powerful skincare ingredients will slowly but surely, change the way your skin looks and breathes.
Take a look and make note!
#1 Sunscreen
Did you know that photo-aging, a direct result of sun damage is responsible for *90 percent of visible changes to the skin? With exposure to the sun being such an important factor to how our skin ages, investing in a sunscreen seems like a no-brainer. And yet, plenty of people still wear no sunscreen when indoors, or are using products that don't provide enough broad spectrum coverage.
Sunscreen protects your skin from the harmful UV rays of the sun thereby saving you from sunburn, and damage that comes in the form of discoloration, dark spots, sagging or wrinkles and fine lines. Choose a sunscreen with broad spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB rays and with an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of 30 and above. You may think, the higher the SPF number, the more the protection, but beyond SPF 30 (filters 97% of UVB rays), the difference becomes minimal. Choose a 100% chemical-free sunscreen like SW1’s Umbrella which protects upto 240 minutes in water. Bonus points for acting like a great makeup primer base too!
Read more: 5 reasons why your facial skin needs more care than your body
#2 Retinol
Is Retinol truly the cure all, master ingredient of skincare that it’s made out to be? A Vitamin- A derivative, Retinol is known to treat wrinkles, pigmentation, dullness of skin, acne and a whole host of skin troubles. By speeding up cell turnover and removing dead cells, Retinol boosts collagen and elastin levels of the skin. It also pumps up circulation and kick starts cellular repair, making skin look healthier and as a result much younger.
Always apply your retinol product at night so it can repair and recover while you snooze. Try Super Helper, a multitasking complexion hydrator that not only balances and softens the skin, but also keeps it acne-free with its potent mix of Retinol and AHA acids. A word of caution though, Retinol will make your skin sensitive to sun, so don’t skimp on the sunscreen - but then again, you shouldn't be doing that anyway!
#3 Vitamin C
A fantastic antioxidant that helps to neutralize skin-damaging free radicals, Vitamin C offers a world of benefits for our skin. Also known for its ability to fight pigmentation and dark spots, this collagen stimulator ranks high when it comes to top ingredients for ageing. It is also easily rendered inactive - air and light will gradually turn it brown and hence you need to find a version that is stable or comes in dark, glass bottles.
Vitamin C newbies should try the effective combination of Citrine Pure Vitamin C Elixir paired with Pure Vitamin C Powder. The elixir activates an active form of hydra-stabilized Vitamin-C (L-Ascorbic Acid) to create the freshest, purest form of topical Vitamin C with unparalleled skin brightening and rejuvenating benefits.
It helps to reduce the visible sign of photo aging and leaves skin looking radiant and youthful.
Read more: Laser 101: What laser treatments do I need for my skin troubles?
#4 AHA’s
Alpha Hydroxy Acids such as Glycolic acid smoothen lines, fade discoloration, and add overall radiance to the skin. Unlike a physical exfoliant, AHA’s softly breaks up dead cells from skin to give smoother, less irritated complexions. Careful with how often you use them - even though AHA’s are safe, overdoing it will only cause your skin to rebel. Build up slowly by layering formulas and start with a low concentration version before you are ready to take on high percentages.
We love Caudalie’s Vinoperfect and the Brightening Glycolic Night Cream is another wise investment from the range. A gentle overnight peel that reveals luminous skin in the morning, this night cream is known to visibly reduce dark spots and even out skin tone. It also makes sure that your skin is not left parched and irritated by adding moisture and radiance to the mix.
#5 Hyaluronic Acid
Our skin loves moisture and Hyaluronic Acid is the gold standard in hydrating abilities. A naturally-occurring substance in skin known for its capacity to attract and hold upto 1000 times its weight in moisture, Hyaluronic acid should be a constant in every anti-ageing skincare routine. Apart from drenching skin with moisture, Hyaluronic Acid also plumps it up to give you that all natural, younger look.
The Chai Pure Gold Youth Reset Serum is a Hyaluronic Serum that comes powered with gold extracts and pure Vitamin E to soothe, nourish and regenerate aging skin. Especially formulated for city skin, it protects against environmental factors such as pollution, infrared radiation and UVA rays.
Pro tip - if you are looking at using Hyaluronic Acid, make sure you apply it when your skin is still damp or followed by a moisturizing product.
Read more: 5 celebrity skin secrets you need to steal right away!
