Our bodies produce enough collagen, elastin, and antioxidants in our youth to keep the skin looking plump and radiant. However, these skin-building compounds can be reduced with age and lifestyle. Genetics, environmental pollutants, sun exposure, nutrition, and daily habits all play a role in the aging process.
Anti-aging products are designed to promote collagen and elastin production and repair skin cell damage as we age. But, when should we use them?
This article discusses the best time to start using anti-aging products, explains how to incorporate them into our daily skincare routine, and recommends quality products for aging skin.
When to Start Using Anti-Aging Products?
To maintain a youthful appearance for a long time, it’s best to start using anti-aging products in your mid to late 20’s as a preventative measure. After the age of twenty-five, collagen production starts to decline and skin starts to lose moisture and elasticity creating the first signs of aging.
Proper and timely skin care supports healthy collagen and elastin levels, hydrates and rebuilds the skin, and protects it from outside stressors. It helps slow down the formation of fine lines, dark spots, and other skin imperfections.
Note: Find out how to get rid of dark spots on face.
Use the following skincare products in your 20s to delay skin aging:
- Gentle cleanser – Use every morning and before bedtime. It can be oil or water-based, depending on your skin type and whether you use a lot of makeup. Alastin’s Gentle Cleanser is a good choice as it incorporates calming ingredients and doesn’t strip the skin of essential oils.
- Exfoliating product - These products help you peel off dead skin, increase blood circulation beneath the skin, and detox the pores, resulting in smoother, brighter skin. It’s best to choose a gentle exfoliant that supports the lipid barrier, such as mandelic acid and plant enzymes like papaya, pineapple, and pumpkin. Use once or twice a week.
- Moisturizer - It’s best to use a moisturizer with antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E that protect the skin from free radicals. Always apply it on your neck as well. SkinMedica’s Ultra Sheer Moisturizer is a lightweight formula with vitamins C and E that helps replenish lost moisture and improves skin tone and texture.
- Sunscreen - Sun is the number one cause of premature skin aging. Since UVA rays penetrate deep into the skin all year round, wear sunscreen even during the winter. Your sunscreen should have at least 15 SPF.
Note: Find out how to choose a sunscreen and discover top-rated products.
What Happens if I Use Anti-Aging Products at a Young Age?
If you’re a teenager interested in preventing premature skin aging, start using light cleansing products and oil-free moisturizers. Mandelic and salicylic acid are some of the best ingredients for acne-prone skin, so look for these ingredients if you have breakouts. The most important anti-aging product to use in your teens is sunscreen.
Should I Use Anti-Aging Products in My 30s?
Anti-aging skin care in our 20s is preventative but becomes essential in our 30s. Skin cells continue to slow down their renewal capabilities, the production of collagen and elastin further decreases, and hyaluronic acid levels also decline. The skin loses its ability to maintain adequate moisture levels, resulting in a weaker skin barrier and more apparent aging signs.
In addition to the skincare routine recommended for people in their 20s, consider using cosmetic products with antioxidants (such as vitamins A and C) and other potent active ingredients.
Anti-Aging Products for 30-Year-Olds
Skin experts recommend using the following products to enhance skin cell repair and nourishment.
- Face masks - They contain ingredients that help your skin regenerate, rehydrate, and rebuild collagen. Use face masks once a week.
- Antioxidant serum - Antioxidant serums can protect your skin from the environment and prevent fine lines and wrinkles. It’s best to use serums after cleansing and before applying a moisturizer. Serums contain potent ingredients designed to penetrate into the dermis. Applying a moisturizer on top of the serum will help lock in the serum and keep skin hydrated. iS Clinical Super Serum is formulated with antioxidants that improve cellular turnover and promote collagen synthesis.
- Products with hyaluronic acid - Our body’s reserves of hyaluronic acid decrease with age, so use anti-aging moisturizers and eye creams with this ingredient.
- Night cream with retinol - Retinol is a form of vitamin A, and it is the most effective ingredient for rebuilding collagen. Our skin experts recommend SkinMedica’s Retinol Complex 0.5 infused with powerful anti-aging ingredients, including retinol, niacinamide, vitamin E, and squalane, to decrease the appearance of wrinkles and other skin irregularities.
Note: Learn more about retinol, including who should use it and whether it's better to use a retinol serum or cream.
When Is It Too Late to Start Using Anti-Aging Products?
It’s never too late to start using anti-aging skin care products. Fine lines, wrinkles, uneven skin tones, and dehydrated skin always benefit from added moisture and nutrients. However, it may be too late to reverse more pronounced aging signs, such as deep wrinkles, sagging skin around the jawline, loose skin on the neck, and dark age spots that typically appear in our 40s. As we age, more potent skincare products are required to produce results. Advanced skincare includes thicker night creams with retinol, moisturizers with peptides and ceramides, and richer antioxidant serums.
The rejuvenating power of skin care does have its limits. If you don’t achieve the results you desire with anti-aging products, consider professional cosmetic treatments. Some of the most popular include:
- Dermal fillers - Excellent for restoring face volume and lifting the skin.
- Botox - Commonly used for preventing or removing wrinkles.
- Laser treatments - The best option for treating sun-damaged skin.
Note: Forehead lines are one of the first and most prominent signs of aging. Learn how to reduce forehead lines with non-surgical treatments.
Conclusion
Though it’s never too late to start caring for your skin, it’s easier to prevent aging signs than to reverse them. That’s why it is highly recommended to introduce a gentle anti-aging routine in your 20s and carefully choose skincare products to achieve your beauty goals.
