Key Points
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Educate yourself on the ingredients in anti-aging creams, as well as the differences between a day cream and a night cream.
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Purchase and implement anti-aging creams based on your skin type.
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If you're not in the appropriate age bracket, don't use anti-aging products.
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Learn the truth about common skin care anti-aging myths.
As you age, you may notice lines and wrinkles in places where the skin was once smooth and tight. While wrinkles might be physical signs of a life full of laughter and smiles, they’re also a reminder that time doesn't discriminate. Use an anti-aging cream to turn back the wheels of time and make your skin feel healthy and vibrant.
An effective anti-aging cream works in countless ways. When you age, your skin loses elasticity and tightness which causes sagging. Anti-aging skin creams usually contain sunscreen to stop the onset of discoloration and sun damage. If your skin cream doesn't contain an SPF, use a bit of sunscreen underneath your face cream.
Brazilian-based dermatologist Dr. Daniel Cassiano notes that wearing sunscreen is a must before establishing a proper anti-aging skin care routine:
"Before worrying about a routine that contains acids and antioxidants, it's important to always remember to wear sunscreen. It is the most important anti-aging cream."
Stopping the onset of aging is much cheaper than getting laser procedures later on in life to erase these blemishes and abnormalities. Build a solid skin care routine to maintain your skin's health and youthfulness by incorporating anti-aging creams with effective ingredients.
How Do Anti-Aging Creams Work?
Anti-aging creams contain active key ingredients to bolster the appearance and health of your skin. These creams reduce wrinkles and lines. They brighten your skin's tone and erase dullness caused by age, dead skin cells, and dryness.
Learn which specific components in anti-aging creams aid your skin the most when it comes to anti-aging.
Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid works for all skin types and doesn't have adverse effects. Your skin ages when it lacks moisture. When you use hyaluronic acid, it hydrates the skin to feel supple and smooth. It pulls moisture from the skin to hydrate the skin's outer layer for nourishment.
Hyaluronic acid stretches and flexes the skin to flatten wrinkles. As well as reducing the sight of wrinkles, hyaluronic acid is an ingredient inside anti-acne products. Hyaluronic acid also minimizes acne scars.
Retinoids
Retinoids are compounds formed from Vitamin A, which assists in supporting the skin's immune system and prevents breakouts. Retinoids contain retinol, which enhances collagen production and increases skin cell production. It unclogs pores and exfoliates your skin, leaving a fresh and bright complexion.
Hydroxy Acids
Great skin creams contain hydroxy acids like salicylic, glycolic, and citric acids. These hydroxy acids remove dead skin cells from the top layer of your skin. Salicylic acid is in topical anti-acne solutions to treat acne to lessen redness and irritation. Salicylic acid releases dirt and oil from blocked pores to shrink acne. Glycolic acid exfoliates the skin and speeds up new cell regeneration.
Both salicylic and glycolic acids decrease wrinkles. Citric acid acts like an astringent and removes oil and impurities from your pores. Citric acid banishes the damage caused by external factors like sun tanning, smoking, and pollution.
Peptides
Peptides are amino acids that assist with collagen production. Peptides protect your skin's barrier from poor sleeping patterns, overly washing your face, and drinking alcohol. Copper peptides are a combination of amino acids and hyaluronic acids which work together to even skin tone and aid in collagen and elastin production.
If you're going through menopause, use skin creams with copper peptides to boost collagen in your skin.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants are in anti-aging skin cream products to fight free radicals which damage skin cells. Antioxidants fight against aging by healing and repairing your skin from the inside and out. These vitamins have antioxidants to renew your skin to look healthier and youthful.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C banishes wrinkles as an anti-sun protectant and diminishes dark spots. Vitamin C has anti-inflammatory qualities which reduce redness in your skin. It also slows down the production of sebum — the cause of oily skin and breakouts.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E decreases signs of aging and fights against cancer and heart disease. It also fights infections by widening blood cells to prevent clots from forming. Vitamin E softens and moisturizes the skin.
If you have a sunburn or wound, treat it with a vitamin E solution to speed up healing.
Niacinamide
Niacinamide builds keratin to maintain your skin's health and appearance. Niacinamide enhances the function of the lipid barrier to lock in moisture and keep irritants out of your skin. It regulates the amount of oil your skin produces so you don't get clogged pores.
Day Cream and Night Cream
Day creams and night creams have their benefits. You don't use day cream at night or night cream during the day because each one has a specific composition that works best during specific periods of the 24-hour cycle.
Read on to know what each cream entails and how they can work best for you!
Day Cream
Don’t worry about putting on sunscreen if your day cream already contains SPF. Day creams protect your skin during the day – especially since most of them contain SPF. They're lightweight and non-greasy.
The benefits of day creams include wrinkle prevention, protection against pollution, and are a fantastic source of hydration. Don't use a day cream at night. Day creams don't have the same chemical properties as night creams. Night creams have ingredients to repair your skin while you sleep.
Oily skin frequently results from using harsh chemicals intended to strip away acne breakouts. Your body goes into overdrive to produce more sebum which results in an overproduction of oil. Though it sounds counterintuitive, you need a day cream for oily skin. Day creams deeply nourish your skin.
Neutrogena's Hydro Boost Gel-Cream is a fantastic option that hydrates oily skin. This day cream contains hyaluronic acid and glycerin to lock in your skin's moisture. Glycerin is a compound derived from oils to protect the skin's outer layer from external skin irritants.
For dry skin, purchase a day cream to increase moisture in your skin. Choose a day cream to heal and minimize flakey skin. Dr. Barbara Sturm's Face Cream is a fantastic option, as it stimulates collagen production and eliminates fine lines. This day cream contains moisturizing ingredients like glycerin, shea butter, and dimethicone. Shea butter has fatty acids and soothing vitamins. Dimethicone is a silicone-based product. It glides smoothly over your skin to fill in fine lines and wrinkles.
Finding the right skin care product is challenging when you have combination skin. You need a thicker-formulated day cream to cover the dry patches on your face or a lighter-formulated day cream for the oily areas. Find a day cream for hydrating your skin without clogging your pores.
The Cetaphil Deep Hydration Daily Glow Daily Cream is a great option for those with combination skin, as it fights irritation, roughness, and tightness. This product hydrates and nourishes your skin to feel fresh. Nourishing key ingredients include hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and vitamin E.
Night Cream
The best night creams have a thick consistency. They work their magic best while you’re tucked in bed, due to their renewal qualities. Don't wear a night cream during the day because most night creams don't contain SPF or sun damage-fighting properties. Also, makeup doesn't work well over a night cream as the cream is often heavier than a day cream.
For oily skin, look for a night cream like the Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Peptide Night Face Moisturizer which contains retinol and niacinamide to keep your skin hydrated for up to 24 hours. This cream makes your skin glow without looking greasy. Use this cream to resolve open pores, dark spots, and visible lines.
For dry skin, try out the Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Dream Face Cream which has hydrating components to refresh your skin. The night cream contains antioxidants including super lotus and peach leaf extracts. Super lotus is a double-petal lotus with vitamins A, B, and C. Vitamins A and C reduce skin discolorations caused by acne scars and dark spots. Vitamin B makes your skin look radiant and even. Peach leaf extract boosts skin hydration and keeps skin looking refreshed.
Check out the SkinCeuticals Renew Overnight Dry Gentle Exfoliating Moisturizer for combination skin. The product exfoliates and moisturizes simultaneously. The overnight cream includes ingredients such as alpha hydroxy acids like glycolic and lactic acid. Lactic acid softens rough and scaly skin. It also contains aloe vera. Aloe vera is a cactus plant local to dry climates. It's formulated as a gel to apply evenly on your skin. Aloe vera helps skin ailments including dark circles, sunburns, and acne scars.
Find the Right Anti-Aging Creams For You
Anti-aging creams combat signs of aging and keep your skin clean. Find what works for you based on your skin type. Choose the best anti-aging creams based on your specific skin care concerns.
Every part of your face needs rejuvenation to feel and look young — don't forget your ears and neck!
Dry Skin
If you have dry skin, your complexion may appear dull and flat. When your skin is dry, your wrinkles and fine lines become more pronounced. Lines and wrinkles also deepen as you age.
Choose an anti-aging facial cream with moisturizing properties to bring your skin back to its youthful state.
Use a wrinkle-reducing eye cream under your eyes and on the surrounding skin. Doing so prevents crow's feet. When you get older, the skin on your neck sags and wrinkles. Use a multi-corrective cream with antioxidants to nourish and replenish the skin on your neck. Vitamins and nutrients firm the skin to prevent sagging.
Oily Skin
It's a popular myth that oily skin doesn't wrinkle as much as dry skin. You indeed get wrinkles with oily skin, but your skin appears smoother due to excess sebum production. It comes at a price, though — acne and rosacea. Look for anti-aging skin care products with antioxidants to diminish redness and swelling due to an overproduction of sebum. Find products with vitamins A, C, and E in them. Vitamin A supports the skin's immune system and prevents breakouts. Vitamins C and E protect the skin from sun damage.
Find an anti-aging moisturizer to hydrate your skin. While this sounds contradictory, your skin needs moisture. Find an anti-aging cream made from a water-based lotion, gel, or serum as these won't make your skin oilier.
Don't forget to moisturize your neck! Before applying anti-aging cream, wash your face and neck with a gentle foaming cleanser with exfoliating properties. Find a water-based foaming cleanser instead of a thick cream cleanser to prevent oiliness. Use witch hazel as a toner to reduce oily areas on your face.
Combination Skin
Combination skin is tricky. Your t-zone is oily, but the rest of your face is well-hydrated. Look for lightly formulated gel-based face creams. Use a face cream with hyaluronic acid to hydrate and smooth out your skin to lessen the appearance of wrinkles. Apply the face cream to your cheeks and neck.
For the oily parts of your skin, try an oil-free face cream with green tea extract. Green tea extract slows down the aging process by destroying free radical damage to skin cells. Since green tea is high in antioxidants, it hydrates and slows down sebum production. Choose face creams with oat extract as well. Rolled oat kernels soaked in glycerin and water create a luscious oat extract. These creams reduce redness, cool the skin, and revitalize the skin's outer barrier.
What Age Should You Start Using Anti-Aging Products?
It's never too late to begin an anti-aging skin care routine. You don't need to invest in too many anti-aging skin creams if you're still in your 20s or 30s, though. Instead practice basic skin damage prevention to achieve fresh-looking skin. Avoid smoking because nicotine causes premature aging and skin diseases like psoriasis and eczema. Smoking also causes lung, skin, and throat cancers.
Use sunscreen daily to stop aging in its tracks. You need it even on cloudy, cold days. If you wear makeup, use a dab of sunscreen underneath your moisturizer or foundation. Stay out of direct sunlight.
When Are Anti-Aging Skin Care Products Unnecessary?
Lay off anti-aging beauty products if you're in your teens or early 20s because heavily formulated products cause clogged pores. Your skin can't efficiently sweat, which leads to even further issues.
Anti-aging skincare products promise rapid skin cell turnover and boost collagen production. In your 20s, you shed dead skin cells and replace old skin cells without needing help from anti-aging products.
Using products that your skin doesn't need may cause irritation and sun sensitivity. Different ingredients in many anti-aging products may also lead to acne in younger skin. This is counterproductive!
Don't Rely on Botox Injections
Botox injections are costly and may cause bruising and swelling within the injected area. There's no evidence botox injections prevent aging. Be aware that if you get too many injections, your facial muscles decrease in size, causing you to look older than you actually are if you don't keep up with the injections (usually needed every three to six months).
Don't Spend Too Much Money
Don't get suckered into buying too many anti-aging skin care products because they're trendy, or an influencer uses them. You don't need expensive, fancy products. Find products for your specific skin type that work within your budget.
Build a regular skin care routine with a moisturizing cleanser, a toner, and an acne topical solution.
Common Myths About Aging Skin
As you age, your skin changes — that's a fact of life. However, there are basic skin care practices to keep your skin healthy and youthful.
Don't believe everything you hear, as there are many anti-aging myths out there that are simply not true. It's never too late to use an anti-aging skincare product. Contact a dermatologist to prescribe a retinoid anti-aging cream based on your skin type. Retinoids decrease the appearance of wrinkles and aid in collagen production. Don't stop using an anti-aging cream when you see improvement. Continual and consistent use is key!
Go Forth and Use Anti-Aging Skin Creams
Find the right anti-aging skin cream for you. Different ingredients in anti-aging skin creams reduce wrinkles, diminish fine lines, and eliminate sunspots. Vitamins in anti-aging skin creams work from the inside out by renewing skin cells. Use day creams during the day for their SPF. Night creams rejuvenate skin cells as you get your beauty sleep.
Buy anti-aging creams based on your skin type. Dry, oily, and combination skin types need creams for different purposes. Your dry skin needs an anti-aging cream with hydrating benefits to soak moisture into your skin. If you have oily skin, look for an anti-aging skin cream with an exfoliating solution. Choose an anti-aging skin cream with hydrating and exfoliating properties for combination skin.
Do your research and know that you don't need to spend millions on anti-aging creams to have skin that looks like a million bucks!
