What are the Best Anti-Aging Skincare Ingredients?

As we age, our skin becomes thinner, takes longer to heal, or can look dry or loose. It’s affected by exposure to environmental factors like sun exposure, pollution, or tobacco smoke and internal changes caused by genetics and hormones.¹ You may notice more sagging, wrinkles, and skin discoloration.

Many experts suggest using anti-aging products to protect your skin starting as early as in your 20s. But even if you are well past that decade, you can benefit from adding anti-aging ingredients to your skincare routine right now.

Retinoids

Retinoids are a type of vitamin A that can’t be produced by your body, but are crucial for skin health.² They contain antioxidants that protect your skin from free radical cells that can damage skin. Retinoids increase collagen production, reducing fine lines and wrinkles, smoothing out skin texture, and helping fade dark spots. 

You can get all these benefits, including more even skin tone and texture, from Foundation Skincare’s Night Renewal Cream, which contains 2 percent granactive retinoid. Retinoids, while effective, can irritate your skin. That’s why Night Renewal Cream includes ingredients to also hydrate, protecting your skin from dryness and irritation. It’s perfect for skin affected by rosacea and acne because it fights inflammation. 

Use retinoids for three to 12 months to see best results and keep using to continue seeing benefits.³ If you have sensitive skin, it’s best to start out using it every other day and build up to daily use. Retinoids can make your skin more sensitive to sun, so be sure to apply at night and use sunscreen during the day.

Vitamin C

You can benefit from pairing your retinoid product with one containing vitamin C. A natural exfoliant, vitamin C is a well-researched dermatologist favorite antiaging ingredient. Another great antioxidant, vitamin C protects skin from sun damage and collagen loss.4  It also helps reduce wrinkles on your face and neck, improves skin texture and appearance, and controls oil production.⁵ 

Vitamin C Lotion 20% contains the highest possible concentration to give your skin a brighter glow while keeping it moisturized. Because it contains vitamin E, it helps reduce redness. Perfect for people with acne, rosacea, or hyperpigmentation, it helps even out skin tone and texture. Apply it in the morning and use Night Renewal Cream in the evening.

Niacinamide

Niacinamide, a type of vitamin B3, is an antiaging powerhouse. It builds keratin, a protein that helps maintain skin health, leaving you with stronger, smoother skin. It also strengthens your skin’s lipid barrier that protects it from the dirt and oil that clogs pores. It has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that reduce pore size and controls acne, rosacea, and eczema outbreaks. It’s a great choice for sensitive skin, and pairs well with glycolic acid, hyaluronic acid, retinol products, and supplements like copper, folic acid, zinc, and vitamin C. Because it helps preserve collagen, it also improves skin elasticity.^6,7,8

Try adding Niacinamide Lotion 10% to your skincare routine. It’s dermatologist tested and the 10 percent concentration gives you the maximum niacinamide benefits. Choose it to help decrease redness, inflammation, dark spots and acne scars, and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It layers well and is safe to use with other Foundation Skincare products.

Hyaluronic Acid

Dryness is a common problem for aging skin but fortunately a good moisturizer can help prevent and treat dry skin. Choose one with hyaluronic acid, a key molecule produced naturally by your skin to hold in moisture. However, as your skin absorbs it more deeply, the top layer of your skin becomes dryer. A moisturizer with hyaluronic acid rehydrates skin, replenishes your skin barrier, and brings more blood to your skin, reducing inflammation.⁹

Hyaluronic Acid Lotion is a great choice to keep your skin healthy. It’s fast-absorbing, plumping skin and restoring elasticity, and gentle enough to be used with all skin types. It helps reduce blemishes and dryness, improving skin tone and texture. While it rejuvenates your skin, it helps it absorb other anti-aging ingredients, like vitamin C, niacinamide, and retinoids.

Neck Cream

It’s common for people to worry about how their faces age while ignoring their necks. But your neck can also age your appearance. As you age, the skin on your neck thins and becomes dry, wrinkled, and crepey. A good moisturizer can go a long way to improving your neck’s appearance. In one study, 94 percent of subjects using a neck cream saw significant improvement in hydration, texture, and appearance.¹⁰ 

While most creams are effective in showing some improvement to your neck and decolletage, Foundation Skincare’s Firming Neck Cream goes a step further. It contains peptides, the building blocks of proteins like elastin and collagen, which help keep skin firmer and younger looking by penetrating deeper to help repair damage. It helps moisturize while protecting skin against environmental exposure. Results are similar to retinoids, but without the irritation so it's safe for even sensitive skin.

How To Build an Effective Anti-Aging Skincare Routine

The information about anti-aging ingredients is overwhelming. It can be difficult to know where to start. Keep in mind the foundation of any skincare routine: cleanse, moisturize, and protect.

Start With a Gentle Cleanser

No matter what skin type you have, it’s important to begin your skin care with the right cleanser. Choose one that won’t irritate or dry out your skin. Avoid fragrances, sulfates, and alcohols that can cause harsh allergic reactions. Look for cleansers that have soothing, hydrating ingredients like ceramides and natural oils that will protect your skin barrier.¹¹

Layer Proven Anti-Aging Ingredients Strategically

A great rule of thumb when applying skincare products is to start with the thinnest product and end with the thickest. This helps your skin absorb all the benefits of each product. Generally, you will start with a serum or toner and then use your lotions and creams. Make sure you pay attention to which ingredients are best used in the mornings, like vitamin C, and which are best used in the evening, like retinoids.¹²

Moisturize and Protect the Skin Barrier

Your skin becomes drier and loses some of its protective barrier as you age. Your skin barrier is critical for protecting against environmental damage that causes wrinkles, discoloration, and inflammation. It also locks in your skin’s moisture. Using a moisturizer is the best way to protect your skin barrier. Look for products that contain ceramides or hyaluronic acid, which are proven defenders of your skin barrier.

Don’t Skip Daily SPF

Using sunscreen every day is the most important anti-aging step you can take. Exposure to the sun ages your skin more than anything else. Choose a sunscreen that is SPF 30 or higher for the most reliable protection. 

Protecting your skin as you age isn’t just about looking better. It also reduces your risk of skin cancer and the effects of skin conditions like acne, rosacea, and eczema. Looking younger can also boost your confidence and make you feel better. No matter your age, you can benefit by integrating some of these ingredients into your skincare routine.

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Refrences:

1. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2699641/

2. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2699641/

3. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/do-retinoids-really-reduce-wrinkles

4. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10885991/

5. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/why-is-topical-vitamin-c-important-for-skin-health-202111102635

6. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/niacinamide

7. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11047333/

8. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11047333/

9. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10078143/

10. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26355619/ 

11. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/skin-care-for-aging-skin-minimizing-age-spots-wrinkles-and-undereye-bags 

12. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/proper-skin-care-product-order