Live Life Team
When we are looking for remedies to help improve the look and feel of aging skin, there is so much information out there that it can be difficult to know what to buy. Should we buy instant wrinkle remover or invest in an emollient, a serum, a day cream or a night cream? The list is endless.
In this article we will look at what causes wrinkles, how too look after our skin generally, and what kind of ingredients in anti-ageing moisturizers can be most effective.
The sooner we start using anti-ageing skin care the better. Fine lines and wrinkles can start appearing in our twenties and are most visible on skin which is exposed to the sun, such as the face, neck, hands and forearms. Other factors such as genetics, pollution and smoking are also contributing factors. And of course, there is age. As we get older our skin becomes less elastic and more fragile and a decrease of the production of natural oils dries it and makes it look more wrinkled. On top of this as the fat in the deeper layers of skin diminishes it causes loose, saggy skin and more obvious lines and wrinkles.
We all want to buy the best anti-aging products, so its good to know what kinds of ingredients to look for. SPF is a proven anti-ageing ingredient so anything containing that is worth noting. This and vitamin A are the only ingredients that the FDA will legally allow manufacturers to claim to be anti-ageing in the USA. Vitamin A reverses the signs of ageing as well as repairing sun damage and rebuilding collagen. Vitamins C and E work well together as the former is water based and vitamin E is oil based, so protect both parts of the cell. Niacinamide is also known as vitamin B3 and it has been shown to stimulate the dermis and thus increase the fatty content of cells as well has helping to retain water. Acids such as glycolic, lactic and salicylic acid can also benefit the skin. Applied as topical exfoliants they encourage the epidermis to resurface so allowing better product penetration.
Improving the look and feel of skin as it ages cannot be done just by buying expensive wrinkle creams as there are diet and lifestyle factors that also need to be taken into account. Importantly, protecting the skin from the sun by wearing sunscreen, wide brimmed hats and long-sleeved shirts will help as sun damage is the primary cause of prematurely ageing skin. Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more, and also skin care products with a built-in sunscreen that blocks out both UVB and UVA rays.
Smoking makes skin look tired and old eventually, but the good news is that even if someone has smoked for many years, the quality of the skin can still be improved simply by stopping. Another easy thing to do is eat a healthy diet that includes a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as plenty of water to keep the skin hydrated.
So, in answer to the question, does moisturizer for ageing skin work, the answer is that wrinkle treatments may well do, but never if they are not in conjunction with other lifestyle factors.
