How young is too young to start an anti-aging regimen?
A solid preventative routine established in your 20s can go a long way toward protecting and maintaining healthy skin cells through your 30s.
“When you’re buying a product, absolutely read the label and know what you’re looking for,” she says. “You want to optimize and give your skin the building blocks we had in our youth.”
Anti-aging ingredients every woman should know about by age 30—and beyond. “It’s never too late, and the changes to your skin will be measurable and enjoyable!
Broad Spectrum Sunscreen with SPF 30 or Higher
“This should be the core of your regimen, and it’s imperative you pick a broad-spectrum formula with SPF 40 or higher. You want a physical component that reflects light—micronized zinc has teeny microscopic particles that do that—as opposed to a purely chemical sunscreen that absorbs it.”
You want a physical component that reflects light—micronized zinc has teeny microscopic particles that do that—as opposed to a purely chemical sunscreen that absorbs it.
Alpha Hydroxy Acids
“A lot of the time in your 20s, you’re still contending with acne. Glycolic acid, lactic acid, and other alpha hydroxy acids gently exfoliate the skin to give it a smoother, brighter appearance and stimulate new collagen. You might start with a light glycolic toner or wash in your 20s and switch to a serum with antioxidants and glycolic acid in your 30s.”
Antioxidants
“Antioxidants are crucial for anti-aging, to protect our skin, our collagen, and our elastin from free radicals that cause damage to the DNA in our cells. Not all antioxidants are created equal—you get what you pay for with certain things, and antioxidants are a splurge-worthy product. You want a serum specifically formulated with about 15 to 20 percent vitamin C to be absorbed properly. Resveratrol, which we find in certain red wines, is a great antioxidant, as well.”
Niacinamide
“Niacinamide is a vitamin B3. It’s a great brightener, but also a very good moisturizer. It helps with pigmentary conditions, evens the skin tone, and brightens the skin. You want to look for products where these are the top five ingredients, that’s where you want to get your value.”
Lipids and Oils
“Our skin can get dry and dull, and we want re-infuse it with lipids to get that plumpness back—they’re essentially the mortar between your skin cells that help maintain your skin barrier as you age. Lipids are often listed as ceramides and fatty acids. Ceramides are essentially the skin barrier molecules deficient in dry skin. Fatty acids help drive the production of cholesterol and ceramides, and might be listed as sunflower or other oils.”
Lots of Minerals
These are called phytonutrients or phytochemicals.”Phyto” refers to the Greek word for plant. These chemicals help protect plants from germs, fungi, bugs, and other threats. Fruits and vegetables contain phytonutrients. Other plant-based foods also contain phytonutrients, such as Whole grains.