Tricks of Staying Young Forever
Pat, don’t rub, on your anti-aging serums
In general, serums contain a higher concentration of active ingredients than a moisturizer. The best anti-aging ingredients to look out for are vitamin A derivatives known as (retinol, tretinoin, and tazarotene) and vitamin c (L-ascorbic acid and magnesium ascorbyl phosphate). As well as increasing collagen in your skin, they also act as antioxidants to soak up the biological and environmental oxidative stress that builds up to cause aging.
If you’re new to serums, you can try this affordable, vegan, and cruelty-free vitamin c Serum— although the formulation doesn’t allow for a serum-like texture.
THE INGREDIENTS YOU NEED
So, what are the best ingredients to look for if you want to tackle ageing and manage your oily skin at the same time?
AHAs: such as lactic and glycolic acid to help refine the skin.
BHAs: such as salicylic acid to help clean out the pores.
B3 Niacinamide: to help balance excess oil and even skin tone.
Zinc oxide: because consistent, diligent sun protection is a must.
Retinol: to help smooth the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and pores.
Hyaluronic acid: for a boost of hydration.
CAN TONERS HELP?
Toners aren’t necessary, however people with oily skin often like the fresh feel of a toner. Dr Hkeik says, “Toners are good for de-greasing the skin and removing any extra cleanser you may have applied whilst removing your makeup but are not essential.”
YOUR CLEANSER MATTERS
If you’re an oily skin type, any cleanser with a gel base is excellent. “Gentle fruit enzymes and salicylic are amazing for cleansing the skin without stripping its NMF (natural moisturising factor),” Dr Hkeik says.
“Cleansers with exfoliating agents can also be beneficial, as they smooth and refine skin texture and pore size while controlling excess oil,” Sam adds.
THE ALTERNATIVES TO HEAVY ANTI-AGEING CREAMS
“The biggest misconception with moisturisers and hydrators is that if we apply them they will stimulate our sebum production. “The most important thing to remember is if we use the appropriate hydrators, whether that’s an emulsion, serum, or cream with the appropriate ingredients – like retinol, AHAs, BHAs, or B3 – and the correct delivery system, you will avoid contributing to oiliness.”
