No matter how young you feel, there’s no getting around the fact that we all get older, and the years can take their toll on your skin. Fortunately, there are best anti-aging creams available to give you younger-looking skin without requiring invasive surgery or other costly procedures. To help you find the best anti-aging cream, we’ve compiled this list of our top 8 picks below.
1) Retinol
An anti-aging cream or lotion that contains retinol—also known as vitamin A—can keep wrinkles at bay. Retinol works by speeding up cell turnover to reveal newer skin cells. You can find them in your basic over-the-counter anti-aging creams, but there are other forms of retinol you can use, too. Talk to your dermatologist about which method might be best for you.
2) Alpha Hydroxy Acids
In an anti-aging clinic, you’ll likely find at least one type of AHA in a moisturizer. AHAs have a smoothing effect on skin by gently removing dead skin cells, but they also stimulate collagen production. If you’re looking to improve texture and color over time, AHAs are key to youthful skin.
Glycolic acid and lactic acid are the two most frequent AHAs. Look for formulas with concentrations between 2% and 10%. The lower end is best for sensitive skin types. But even if your skin can handle it, avoid formulations with higher concentrations as they tend to be too harsh on sensitive areas like around the eyes.
3) Vitamin C
For younger, brighter skin that fights to age, you need vitamin C. This powerful antioxidant helps reduce wrinkles and fine lines as well as improve skin tone. Vitamin C serums are a must-have in every anti-aging cream since they boost your natural collagen production and repair sun damage on your face.
Furthermore, Vitamin C is a necessity if you want to effectively fight signs of aging with moisturizers; it’s hard to get a full day’s worth of hydration from just your lotion, so throw in serum with vitamin C at night. You can also use it during the day under SPF to boost your protection against harmful UVA/UVB rays—it’ll never clog pores or cause irritation!
4) Peptides One of the Best Anti-Aging Creams
Collagen is one of your skin’s most important proteins, and as you age, it starts to break down. Collagen with peptides, a combination of collagen and amino acids, help repair and replace collagen from within your body, preventing wrinkles caused by collagen loss in aging.
A study published in Experimental Dermatology found that products containing peptides are better at improving skin elasticity than those without. Long story short: Hitting 30 means embracing collagen with peptides—and anti-aging creams that contain them—to help prevent future lines and keep your skin looking young.
5) Essential Oils
Essential oils have been used for thousands of years and are extracted from plants. The variety of oil you use depends on what skin concerns you’re targeting. For example, tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic that’s useful for clearing up acne, while lavender oil reduces redness.
Other common oils include chamomile and calendula, which can reduce irritation. If you suffer from dry skin, coconut oil and vitamin E can help restore it to its former state. Sunflower seed oil is also great at moisturizing damaged skin cells so they can recover more quickly.
However, these vitamins aren’t found in most topical products because they’re water soluble; instead, opt for an anti-aging serum with vitamin C to keep your skin plump with antioxidants!
6) Moisturizers
Keeping your skin hydrated is key to anti-aging. Experts recommend using a moisturizer on all exposed skin, but your hands, lips, and elbows will benefit greatly from additional attention—seriously, it’s like Miracle-Grow for older skin.
While there are tons of great creams on the market that offer moisture and anti-aging benefits (like a repairing formula with collagen), many over-the-counter products can be hit or miss.
If you don’t want to gamble, consult with an anti-aging clinic about finding a cream tailored to your specific needs. In addition to giving you a lotion that actually works, going pro will ensure you get adequate UV protection (one of those known unknowns we mentioned earlier).
7) Eye Creams and Treatments
Makeup is not an anti-aging cream, but there are some types of makeup that can help improve how you look. Eye creams and anti-aging clinics will give you clearer skin around your eyes. The best anti-aging creams can be used on your entire face if you have enough money to purchase them.
With fewer wrinkles and dark spots on your face, you will look younger than others who do not take care of their appearance in that way. Ask a dermatologist or cosmetologist about products they recommend and which brands are best to buy.
8) Sunscreen
The first rule of anti-aging creams is to wear sunscreen! The sun can damage your skin, making you look older than you are. And wrinkles are not signs of beauty.
In fact, a study conducted by Stanford University showed that people found lines in photographs of faces more repulsive when those lines were on visible parts of their bodies like hands or foreheads instead of covered parts like ears or necks. Use an SPF 30 sunscreen every day under your makeup and reapply it often to keep your skin looking young and healthy.
Plus, consider using a facial moisturizer with SPF, too. It’ll help keep both harmful UVA and UVB rays from penetrating deeply into your skin and causing long-term damage.
Conclusion
One of anti-aging biggest myths is that you need to go out and buy expensive creams or treatments. The fact is, you probably already have what you need on hand at home. If you want younger-looking skin, it’s just a matter of keeping your skin hydrated, exfoliated, and moisturized regularly.
And if wrinkles do become an issue—and they will at some point in your life—consider getting a second opinion from an anti-aging clinic; these clinics can help answer any questions about wrinkles or other concerns and offer medically validated procedures in a safe environment. Be sure to follow up with their suggestions about hydrating and exfoliating; otherwise, your investment in their services might not last as long as expected.
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