A Derm Reveals How To ‘Age In Reverse’ With These 5 Essential Skincare Ingredients—They Keep You Looking ‘Youthful & Healthy’

Lisa Cupido
·3 min read
woman-under-eye-masks
woman-under-eye-masks

So maybe you can’t literally stop time or age in reverse — why would you want to? Aging is a gift and the lessons learned wouldn’t be traded for anything by some of us. But that doesn’t mean we still wouldn’t love to have more radiant, more glowing skin. 

Here’s the truth: you can both age and have great skin. It just takes knowing which ingredients deserve your time, attention, and money and which are probably not going to produce many results. 

Here, Dr. Amir Karam clues us in on five essential skincare ingredients that can make you look your absolute best, at any age. These are the must-have anti-aging ingredients. 

Sunscreen

 


Dr. Karam makes a point of warning us that if we aren’t using sunscreen and avoiding UV rays on the face, we might as well NOT spend money on other ingredients. Nothing ages the skin as fast and consistently as repeated UV exposure. It can cause fine lines, wrinkles, discoloration, red spots, and a thinning of the skin. The simple solution is one many of us ignore though: sunscreen should be worn on the face each day, even in the winter. And don’t be shy when it comes to SPF protection — choose an SPF 30 or higher and re-apply it every two hours if you plan on being outside.

Retinol

 


Retinol is one of the most studied skincare ingredients that has been proven effective for anti-aging purposes. Over time, those who use retinol maintain thicker skin than those who do not. Using retinol daily, at night, is your best bet. If you find retinol irritates your skin, try using it less often or finding one you can tolerate. These stimulate collagen at the cellular level and help break up brown spots, as well. Make sure you’re using SPF in the morning, especially when you use retinol at night.

Vitamin C

 


Vitamin C, when taken topically, stimulates collagen and helps decrease discoloration like brown spots. You can use vitamin C and retinol together or break them up by using Vitamin C in the morning. Alternatively, you’ll be able to find plenty of nourishing moisturizers that also contain vitamin C.

Hyaluronic Acid

 


Hyaluronic acid acts like a sponge, drawing water in and trapping it to make your skin look and feel plumper and more moisturized. Whereas retinol and vitamin C are long-term solutions and it takes time to see their results, HA gives you instant gratification. It can also help minimize the appearance of fine lines and adds much-needed moisture back to mature skin.

Niacinamide

 


This vitamin B derivative is a godsend if you have red, sensitive skin. It curbs inflammation, improves the look of pores, and boosts your hydration levels. It even helps your skin absorb active ingredients, making it a great step to add to your skincare routine prior to vitamin C or retinol serums.

 


These five ingredients are considered essentials in skincare. You can find them in a number of price points and they’ll help mature skin look supple and healthy.