How Do Anti Aging Products Work?

It’s a beautiful thing to have a gracefully aging face. But there are some changes that occur with aging that we’d like to slow down or minimise.

Even if you have amazing genetics, age-related changes in our facial appearance are unavoidable.

So how can anti-aging products help us?

The term ‘cosmeceutical skincare’ refers to a product that sits between a cosmetic-grade and a pharmaceutical-grade product. Cosmeceuticals are designed to noticeably improve your skin.

They utilise active ingredients like vitamins, antioxidants, or botanical extracts. Cosmeceutical products are often supported by scientific research. The formulations remain stable and create highly effective results.

My Top 3 Anti-Ageing Ingredients

From the age of 20, our bodies start making less collagen and fewer antioxidants. One of the key chemicals in our skin, hyaluronic acid, reduces over time, leaving our skin drier and rougher. Older skin also retains less water and so becomes drier and thinner.

How well we age is also down to extrinsic environmental factors like lifestyle, diet, sun exposure, and other personal habits.

Environmental factors that can contribute to aging skin

• Smoking and drinking in excess can deplete our bodies of necessary nutrients. Smoking deprives the entire body—including the skin—of oxygen, which results in premature aging.

• According to SunSmart, up to 80% of fine lines and wrinkles are the result of UV damage. UV exposure can also cause skin sagging, blotchiness, and roughness.

• A balanced diet that provides enough nutrients for your body is vital.

• Chronic stress is a good recipe for aging. Aside from the effects that a worried face has on facial wrinkles, stress affects everything from the way we carry ourselves to our energy level.

The key anti-aging ingredients you should look for:

• Retinol: A concentrated version of Vitamin A, Retinol has been clinically proven to improve skin cell turnover and minimise the breakdown of collagen (and therefore prevent wrinkles).

• Antioxidants: This is an umbrella term for vitamins and minerals that can protect and help rebuild your skin from free radical damage.

• Peptides: Think of these like tiny building blocks for the skin, helping to repair and enhance the skin’s appearance, and reduce fine lines and wrinkles.

• Hyaluronic Acid: This wonder ingredient binds to water molecules, helping maintain moisture and hydrate the skin.

• Vitamins: A virtual alphabet of vitamins can be found in cosmeceutical skincare, including Vitamin C (which increases brightness) and Vitamin B (which improves skin tone).

• Niacinamide: Also known as Vitamin B3, Niacinamide has powerful anti-inflammatory properties and can help reduce redness and moisture loss.

Do anti-aging products actually work?

Of course, if you invest in skincare, you want to see results! In terms of anti-aging products, there are three potential outcomes: prevention of aging, a reduction in signs of aging, or complete removal of the signs of aging. Let’s explore the different outcomes.

Prioritising the prevention of aging

It's much easier to prevent aging skin than to treat it. Basic preventative treatments include the regular use of sun protection and an antioxidant serum

Sun damage is the biggest contributor to aging that's under our control. Daily protection doesn't make a huge noticeable difference, but it does make a considerable difference in preventing pigmentation, dark spots, and wrinkles.

These are some of our picks for the best anti-aging sunscreens:

• Ultra Violette Supreme Screen SPF 50+ Hydrating Facial Sunscreen

• La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra Cream SPF 50+

Pair the above products with an antioxidant serum:

• SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Serum

• Dermalogica Overnight Repair Serum

You may never see a dramatic before-and-after when using these products, but you can gauge their effectiveness by looking at a relative who hasn't taken these same precautions. And know that in an alternate universe, there's a much older-looking you who didn't use anti-aging skincare!

Most skincare has a gradual effect

Skincare makes a big difference in the health and youthfulness of our skin. This is proven, but it often doesn't seem like a big difference because the effects build up over time.

You look in the mirror at least twice a day. In reality, it’s probably more like a dozen times a day. Every time you're confronted with a mirror, it's ever so tempting to lean in and examine skin concerns in microscopic detail. You're very unlikely to see big changes in anything you see this often. But remember: to see results, you need to use your anti-aging products consistently every day. It's the same as buying a gym membership: the more you go, the faster you'll get fit. Get started by using a daily eye cream or night cream. The results may take up to 3 months to show and will become more noticeable over time.

Looking for instant results?

If you're looking for an instant change in the appearance of your skin, then you should incorporate an exfoliating product into your routine. Exfoliating products show results within a day of use and help speed up the turnover of skin cells. This is exciting because exfoliants reveal new, healthy skin cells that are visibly more radiant. This brightening effect also works to fade areas of hyperpigmentation such as age spots.

When it comes to anti-aging skincare that effectively reverses fine lines and wrinkles, Vitamin A (Retinol) is always at the top of the list.

We recommend our favourite Retinols:

• Medik8 Retinol 3TR Advanced 0.3% Vitamin A Serum 15ml

• SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.5 (0.5%) or SkinCeuticals Retinol 1.0 (1%)

When it comes to other ingredients, skincare products containing vitamins, antioxidants, and peptides take up to 3 months to show results. These benefits will increase with time and regular use of the product.

P.S. Don’t forget to factor in your age!

Does skincare make a big difference in your apparent age? Absolutely. Skincare is the key to keeping skin healthy and youthful. If you’re looking for age-specific guides, find them below:

• How to Prevent Aging Skin in Your 20s

• 8 Best Anti-Aging Skincare for Your 30

• 9 Best Anti Aging Skincare for 40s

• The 11 Best Anti-Aging Eye Creams & Serums for 40s In 2024

• Best Anti-Aging Skin Care Products for 50s

• The 8 Best Face Serums for Women Over 50 in 2024

Brand and product inclusions are at the sole discretion of Adore Beauty’s highly trained Customer Service team. We do not seek or accept payment from brands or individuals listed in our guides.