Over 40? Here are 4 Skincare Ingredients You Should Be Using Now!
If you're in your 40s or 50s, you are probably experiencing skin that is dryer, duller and not quite as firm as it use to be. Well, you can kiss aging looking skin "bye-bye". Here, I’ve listed four skincare ingredients that guarantee a healthier, more youthful appearance.
Retinol – Not only does this miracle ingredient fight adult acne and smooth rough skin but it softens fine lines and wrinkles while increasing collagen production and fading age spots.
Although the beauty industry sings Retinols praises (and with good reason), this product takes 3 - 6 months of regular use before improvements are apparent — and up to 6 - 12 months to see its best result. Not only that, during this process, you may experience temporary dryness and irritation. However, after going through all this, your skin will look amazing, but you will have to decide if it is worth it.
This ingredient also increases the skin's sensitivity to sunlight so it would be wise to use this ingredient at night while using a sunscreen during the day. Like many skincare products, Retinol must be used continuously to maintain its benefits.
Hyaluronic Acid – As we age our skin loses moisture and may leave our skin dry and lackluster. But this problem can be halted with my favorite skincare ingredient… HA or Hyaluronic Acid. Hyaluronic Acid's claim to fame is its ability to improve the skin's hydration levels. HA is a humectant, which means it not only has the capacity to draw in water but hold onto it.
Topical Hyaluronic Acid may not reverse superficial signs of aging, but the injectable forms can. Did you know that HA can be injected directly into the skin to help fill deep lines and wrinkles? It also is used to re-contour the face, adding a youthful fullness back to the cheeks. And if that isn’t enuf, another benefit of injecting hyaluronic acid is that it stimulates the skin to produce more collagen on its own, so it will give you long-lasting anti-aging benefits.
Vitamin C – Want radiant skin and a more even complexion? Then Vitamin C is for you! This ingredient also aids in your skin's natural regeneration process, which helps your body repair damaged skin cells. Vitamin C is an antioxidant so it reduces premature aging by protecting the skin from the untimely wrinkles that sun exposure can cause. This super-ingredient also reduces hyperpigmentation and fights sun damage and free radicals. And, since it triggers the production of collagen and elastin, it keeps your skin plump and firm.
Peptides – First off, what are Peptides? Well, in simple terms, Peptides are strings of amino acids that act as building blocks of proteins such as collagen, elastin and keratin. These proteins are the foundations of your skin and are responsible for its texture, strength and resilience. Without Peptides, our skin is less intact which can lead to a loss of firmness, the appearance of wrinkles, and less “snap back”. With Peptides skin is thicker, more supple and allows for a tauter appearance.
When applied topically to the skin, Peptides act as little messengers, triggering skin cells to perform specific functions such as building collagen and elastin, encouraging skin to look and act younger. Peptides have been scientifically proven to firm, soothe and hydrate the skin - and - have the unique ability to signal cells to make more collagen and repair damaged cell.
In conclusion, I recommend using skincare products with a combination of, at least, two or more of the ingredients I’ve listed here to incorporate in your daily skincare routine - so - you too can “look as good as you feel”.