“To come across as younger than they are: Women buy creams that promise to slow aging; men buy fast cars.”
— Mokokoma Mokhonoana
You’re not sure when it happened, but one morning you look in the mirror and there they are. Wrinkles. You feel sad. “I’m getting old,” you think. “I’ve got to do something about this.” But you get busy and heck it’s only a few tiny wrinkles, nothing much to worry about you think.
As time marches on, you start to notice something else. It might be a crepey look on your arms, legs or on your chest. Wearing that sundress or pair of shorts you love is out of the question. You start to feel like an old lady.
In a panic, you scour the web for the perfect anti-wrinkle cream or serum. There are a million companies selling these products. You’re confused. You don’t know which one to buy because not only are many of the products very expensive, you don’t know if they will work. Where do you even start?
First, let’s first take a hard look at what’s causing the wrinkles. That’s the easy part. Then we’ll see what we can do to make the wrinkles either disappear or at least be reduced.
What causes wrinkles?
Your skin is a living organ. As you age, your skin cells dehydrate and the production of collagen decreases. That’s the perfect menu for thinning skin and wrinkles.
Both internal and external elements are leading you down the wrinkle path. What you eat and drink and your stress level are the internal elements. There is more than one external factor. However, ultraviolet radiation from the sun is the most common.
The major internal causes of wrinkles:
- Over consumption of sugar
- Hydrogenated fats
- Smoking
- Alcohol (excessive consumption)
- Stress
- Not enough sleep
- Not enough exercise
The major external causes of wrinkles:
- Sun (the biggest)
- Air pollution
- Wind
Repairing damaged skin to eliminate or reduce wrinkles
To win the wrinkle/crepey skin war is a two-step process. If you’re serious about keeping wrinkles at bay, attack the problem on all fronts.
The best repairs:
Internal:
- Eat a healthy diet
- Drink plenty of water
- Move your body. The cells of your body produce byproducts (think of it as your cells’ bathroom habits). Lymph is your cell’s sewer system (like when you flush a toilet). Lymphatic fluid washes away the waste that your cells produce. However, the only thing that moves lymph is body motion. To help all the cells in your body, including your skin cells, stay healthy, you must move. Walking works great.
- Studies indicate gelatin can increase collagen production. It’s an old solution that works well for skin, hair, and nails.
- Collagen hydrolysate increases skin elasticity and statistically significant increases in collagen. We like Great Lakes Gelatin Collagen Hydrolysate Beef. (1)
External:
- Wear sunscreen
- Use a moisturizer appropriate for your skin type
- Apply an effective anti-wrinkle cream, lotion, or serum. This is where things get sticky. So many products. So many claims. So many prices. What’s a girl to do?
According to the scientific studies I found, the list below includes the most effective products in reducing wrinkles and rejuvenating skin cells. It will usually take several weeks for you to see a significant difference. Be patient. Also, not all of these products will work well for everyone. What that means is you may well have to do a little experimenting.
- D ribose (riboxyl) – rejuvenates skin cells we like Bianca Rosa D-Ribose cream. (2)
- Retinol – Helps restore skin elasticity. Thickens elastin and collagen. (3)
- Hyaluronic acid – Sits on top of the skin and soaks up to 1000 times its weight in water. A great humectant.(4) (Please read the ** Note below for important information on Nano-hyaluronic acid.)
- Niacinamide – Powerful antioxidant that may improve skin elasticity. It helps prevent water loss. (5)
- Magnesium ascorbyl phosphate (MAP) (Vitamin C) – Helps repair sun damage. Hydrates the skin and prevents water loss. Stimulates collagen production. (6)
- Argireline – Effective anti-wrinkle peptide for around eyes. (7)(8)
- Alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) – Exfoliates and encourages the production of collagen. (Be sure and use a UV protectant when you go out. FDA sponsored studies have shown this product can double UV skin damage.) (9)
- Ceramides – Ceramides are waxy lipids and along with cholesterol and saturated fatty acids they form a protective barrier on your skin. Aging diminishes the ceramides and cholesterol making the addition of ceramides to your skin beneficial. However, it’s important to have the correct mix to be of benefit (50% ceramides, 25% cholesterol, and 15% free fatty acids). For more detail on ceramides see this great post by Randy Schueller of Beauty Brains. He suggests trying the moderately prices Sera Ve moisturizer from Amazon because it appears to have the right combination of ingredients. (10)
- Palmitoyl-pentapeptide 3 (Matrixyl) – This is a peptide that originally performed well in the lab to increase collagen in human skin cells. Repeated reports of positive results with no side effects make this a must try. The product we like best is Matrixyl 3000 + Argireline + Vitamin C. (11)
- Resveratrol – Can help cells repair after oxidative stress. We like Andalou Naturals Ultra Sheer Daily Defense Facial Lotion SPF 18. (12)(13)
**Note: In one study, you will read the following about Nano-hyaluronic acid: Because the molecules are small, they can penetrate the skin. They decrease the depth of wrinkles up to 40%, increases skin hydration up to 96%, and increase skin firmness and elasticity up to 96% after 8 weeks. Though this sounds awesome, there are compelling arguments against using this product on your skin. Click here to read more detailed information on why using Nano-hyaluronic acid is a bad idea.
My hope is that I’ve helped remove the confusion out of choosing a product that’s right for you.
Remember to be patient, wrinkles can be stubborn critters. They may even hang around no matter what you do. The important thing is to avoid stressing over your wrinkles. Stress makes wrinkles worse.
The most important thing to do is take loving care of your body from now on. If you do, you will be radiant and beautiful with or without a few wrinkles.
Now go have fun and relax.
Other recommended products:
Vitamin C Serum 4 oz with Organic Hyaluronic Acid – Lighten Sun Spots, Anti Aging, Anti Wrinkle – Light and Oxygen Stable MAP Vitamin C – ASTERWOOD NATURALS – Classic Formula Bottle
Baebody Retinol Moisturizer Cream for Face and Eye Area – With 2.5% Active Retinol, Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin E. Anti Aging Formula Reduces Wrinkles, Fine Lines. Best Day and Night Cream 1.7 Fl. OzVitamin B3 5% Niacinamide Serum by Eva Naturals (2 oz) – Niacinamide Benefits Skin with Incredible Anti-Aging and Reduces Appearance of Wrinkles, Acne and Discoloration – With Hyaluronic Acid and Aloe
References:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26362110
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3047922/
- https://health.clevelandclinic.org/2017/01/whats-causing-your-crepey-skin-and-how-can-you-fix-it/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3583886/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16029679
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3673383/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23417317
- Blanes-Mira, C; et al. (October 2002). “A synthetic hexapeptide (Argireline) with antiwrinkle activity”. Int J Cosmet Sci. 24(5): 303–10. PMID 18498523. doi:1046/j.1467-2494.2002.00153.x.
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3047947/
- http://thebeautybrains.com/2015/04/are-ceramides-good-anti-aging-ingredients-episode-77/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18492182
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18254804
- http://ajpheart.physiology.org/content/297/1/H13.full
You might also enjoy these related posts:
The 11 Steps to Beautiful Skin; Anti Aging Skin Treatment
Two Awesome Anti-Wrinkle Creams You Can Make Yourself