Aging skin is a natural part of life and something everyone will experience as the years go by. While this rite of passage is inevitable, there are ways to reduce the impact of time on our skin. Embracing all stages of life is important and prioritizing skin health can make the transition less stressful and more beautiful.
What Causes Skin to Age? | How To Slow Aging Skin | Best Ingredients for Aging Skin | Vitamin C | Hyaluronic Acid | Peptides | Niacinamide | Bakuchiol | Adaptogenic Ingredients | AHAs | Sunscreen
What Causes Skin to Age?
Skin ages due to the passage of time. While that may seem obvious, it’s much more complicated than that. Skin aging is caused by a combination of factors, both intrinsic and extrinsic.
Intrinsic causes are predetermined, natural factors like genetics, the slowing of cell regeneration and fluctuating hormones. You may have inherited your mother’s youthful glow (or lack thereof). Or you could be facing hormonal changes like decreased estrogen that affect skin integrity and speed up visible aging. These causes are out of your control for the most part, but that doesn’t mean you can’t mitigate their effects on the skin.
Extrinsic factors are the external influences that have a major impact on the health and appearance of the skin as it ages. They include things like sun exposure, environmental pollution, smoking and a poor diet. It’s no secret that UV radiation from the sun is the primary environmental factor for premature aging, breaking down collagen and elastin, leading to wrinkles, sunspots and an uneven texture.
Air pollutants can contribute to skin aging by causing oxidative damage and inflammation, as can diets high in sugar or alcohol. And, as if you needed another reason to quit, smoking can generate free radicals which are highly reactive molecules that cause oxidative damage to the body’s cells, accelerating the aging process.
But wait, there’s more! Believe it or not, facial expressions can lead to skin aging. Repeated facial movements like squinting, smiling and frowning create tiny grooves under the epidermis that become permanent wrinkles as skin loses its flexibility. In other words, your poker face might keep you young. On the other hand, smile lines are the sign of a happy life and we think they’re beautiful.
How To Slow Skin Aging
Time is going to pass and we can’t do anything about that, but there are both lifestyle and skin care habits that can pump the brakes on things. External factors like sun protection, diet, hydration, regular exercise, stress management and getting enough sleep are all somewhat within our control. We may indulge in the odd cocktail or skip a day at the gym, but these are choices we make and being consistent (while still enjoying life) can go a long way toward slowing down the effects of these lifestyle choices.
Skin care is a big part of how the look and feel of skin progress through the years. There are no miracle cures for skin aging (yet) but there are definitely some skin care ingredients that have been shown to improve the look of the complexion and lessen the effects of time passing.
Best Ingredients for Aging Skin
Whether you’ve inherited your parents’ jowls, you’ve been skipping the SPF or laughing your head off, your aging skin is part of life. And while science has yet to come up with a product or treatment that can completely reverse the signs of aging, we’ve highlighted some ingredients that are known to help improve the look of skin.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant known to neutralize free radicals caused by environmental stressors like UV rays and pollution. Abundant in fresh produce like Kakadu plum, strawberries, citrus fruits and leafy greens, this potent powerhouse is known for its ability to deliver a brighter complexion, even out skin tone, support the skin’s barrier function and diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Eminence Organic Skin Care Lead Skin Care Trainer Natalie Pergar tells us: “Vitamin C is an incredibly effective nutrient for your body and an all-around savior for skin care. It’s been found to help prevent UV damage, reduce pigmentation, reduce inflammation and boost collagen production in skin.” And since our bodies cannot produce it and don’t store any excess, we can only receive the benefits by ingesting it or applying it topically.
You can find vitamin C in many Eminence Organics products, including serums and masks. Our customers love the power couple Citrus & Kale Potent C+E Serum and Citrus & Kale Potent C+E Masque. And you can amp up any moisturizer with a sprinkle of Superfood Booster-Powder.
Hyaluronic Acid
As we age, skin naturally loses moisture and elasticity. One of the best solutions to this problem is the naturally occurring water-binding molecule hyaluronic acid. Known for its capacity to retain moisture, this powerful humectant absorbs water like a sponge, helping to restore a plump, supple appearance. Nature’s water magnet is considered one of the best ingredients for crepey skin.
The Strawberry Rhubarb Hyaluronic Serum is a hydration powerhouse. It features our unique Botanical Hyaluronic Acid Complex, plus cica, succulent strawberry and rhubarb to deeply hydrate for visibly smoother, softer skin. It also contains polyphenols that help rejuvenate an aging complexion.
Product Picks
Vitamin C+E mask for all skin types
Replenishing and hydrating serum
Peptides
Peptides are short chains of amino acids that form the structural foundation of essential skin proteins like collagen, elastin and keratin. These proteins are what give your skin firmness, elasticity and resilience. As skin ages, natural collagen production slows significantly, especially after menopause. This slower collagen production leads to thinning skin, loss of elasticity and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
When collagen breaks down, it naturally releases peptides that act as signals to your skin to encourage it to make more collagen. To hurry things up, skin care products with signaling peptides replicate this process by helping to activate your body’s natural ability to rebuild collagen and elastin. This is why peptide serums are often recommended for softening the look of fine lines and restoring structure to the skin.
Our Marine Flower Peptide Collection contains plant-based, naturally-derived botanical peptides that help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, leaving the skin looking energized. The Marine Flower Peptide Concentrate is a cream-gel that reveals smoother, more supple-looking skin. Some other favorites include the Marine Flower Peptide Serum, Marine Flower Peptide Eye Cream and the Marine Flower Peptide Lip Serum, which helps visibly plump and hydrate lips while improving the appearance of those pesky fine lines that can develop around the lips as we age.
Niacinamide
A form of vitamin B3, niacinamide is another powerhouse ingredient for aging skin. Well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and oily, it can be used once or twice daily in a serum or moisturizer. Niacinamide helps to strengthen the skin’s barrier, calm the look of irritation, even out skin tone and minimize the appearance of pores and dark spots. It also pairs well with many ingredients, including vitamin C, glycolic acid and bakuchiol.
Bakuchiol
A plant-derived, gentler alternative to retinol, bakuchiol can produce similar effects without the irritation, making it suitable for sensitive skin. As well as reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, it helps to improve the look of skin tone, texture, firmness and elasticity. The Bakuchiol + Niacinamide Moisturizer and the Radiant Protection SPF Fluid both contain bakuchiol and hydrate, minimize the look of pores and target uneven texture to maintain luminous skin.
Adaptogenic Ingredients
Incorporating adaptogenic ingredients into your routine can help reduce visible signs of aging and protect skin from environmental stressors like sun exposure, air pollution and smoking that can influence the way that genes express themselves, affecting everything from collagen production to the skin’s ability to repair.
To counteract these effects, Eminence Organics International Educator Brian Goodwin suggests incorporating adaptogenic ingredients into skin care routines. Adaptogens are natural active compounds found in some botanicals and fungi that help the body better respond to stress, support skin resilience and defend against oxidative damage. “These ingredients strengthen the skin barrier and minimize visible signs of aging by reducing inflammation and replenishing moisture,” Brian tells us.
Some of the adaptogenic ingredients found in Eminence Organics products include:
Snow Mushroom: Rich in polysaccharides, this deeply hydrating ingredient helps support the skin’s moisture barrier and reduces the visible effects of photodamage, a key factor in premature aging.
Reishi Mushroom: Packed with antioxidants and polysaccharides, reishi helps rejuvenate skin, protect against oxidative stress and soothe the look of irritation. It also supports fibroblasts, the cells responsible for maintaining structure and resilience as skin ages.
Shiitake Mushroom: Known for its adaptogenic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, shiitake helps neutralize free radicals that affect gene expression and contribute to the breakdown of collagen and elastin.
Ashwagandha: An adaptogen-rich ingredient that helps minimize transepidermal water loss while improving hydration and elasticity. It also supports the skin’s resilience against daily external stressors that contribute to visible signs of aging.
Tulsi (Holy Basil): Rich in antioxidants, tulsi helps enhance hydration, preserve collagen and reduce inflammation in skin exposed to external stressors like UV and pollution. If unaddressed, these stressors can accelerate loss of elasticity and wrinkle formation.
Product Picks
Ultra rich collagen boosting eye…
Alpha Hydroxy Acids
These acids — derived from things like sugar cane, milk and certain fruits — are effective allies in the treatment of aging skin. AHAs dissolve the bonds between dead skin cells, allowing them to shed and reveal fresher, healthier-looking skin underneath. By removing dead cells, AHAs reveal smoother, tighter skin, improving overall texture, reducing dullness and fading the look of dark spots or discoloration. Another bonus of removing dead skin cells is better product absorption. With a smoother surface, other beneficial skin care products can penetrate the skin more effectively.
Sunscreen
Perhaps the most simple and meaningful ingredient for aging skin is sunscreen. Rain or shine, applying SPF in the morning (and reapplying throughout the day as needed) is at the top of the list on non-negotiables. It protects from harmful UVA rays which cause skin damage that leads to wrinkles, sagging, age spots and more.
While sunscreen on its own is the hack for slowing down skin aging, some Eminence Organics products contain other ingredients that help improve the look of aging skin. The Radiant Protection SPF Fluid contains bakuchiol and niacinamide. And Bright Skin Mositurizer SPF 40 addresses the appearance of dark spots with bearberry extract, Swiss Alpine Plant Extracts and stone crop.
Are you interested in products that help improve the look of your aging skin? Visit your nearest Eminence Organics Spa Partner to find out which ones are right for you.
