The truth about anti-aging without the marketing bullshit

Anti-aging is probably the most overused, but also most lucrative term in beauty marketing today. It’s a virtual red canvas for women all over the world.

Now, I won’t go into a nice little speech about the beauty of aging gracefully and accepting yourself.

Aging sucks. Anyone who says otherwise is either lying or has an incredibly high level of self-confidence, which I of course envy (tips for that?)

But the fact that we would gladly like to slow down or even reverse the marks of time on our skin, does not mean we should believe all and every bullshit marketing that is thrown at us.

So, let’s debunk some myths, go into the truth about anti-aging and see how we can become smarter beauty shoppers.

There are basically three stages of anti-aging practices – Prevention, concealment, and deep treatment. A combination of these three can really help with anti-aging, but we must know which ingredients really work.

+ Lifestyle.

While aging is one part genetics, lifestyle factors do weigh in, more than you would think. Pollution, smoking, alcohol, a bad diet, lack of exercise, fresh air, and sleep will have a long-term negative effect on how we look. So taking care of yourself is a great anti-aging measure.

+ Stress.

Should be common sense – stress will age you incredibly.

+ Sun protection.

I know I’m beginning to sound like a broken record here. Also, maybe it’s not exactly engaging content to repeat the same thing over and over again, but wearing sunscreen is simply the best thing we can do for our skins. UV rays break down and reduce the dermis, where collagen and elastin is, causing the skin to sag and wrinkle. It can also discolor skin and cause hyperpigmentation. Numerous studies have shown that the sun can be responsible for a much as 80% of visible aging.

This is the grayest area of the anti-aging business. Often, the products that promise anti-aging benefits do no more than temporarily improve the texture and overall look of the skin – most often by moisturizing or exfoliating. There’s nothing wrong with this, in fact these should be staples of a good skincare routine –  as long as we are aware that the effects are temporary. Look for these ingredients for nourishing, plumping, and brightening the skin:

There are actually a few ingredients that are proven to slow down the aging process. These usually treat the deeper layers of skin – increase cell turnover, boost collagen production.

The big guns of anti-aging are

+ Retinol

The natural form of vitamin A, and the one ingredient most dermatologists agree has anti-aging effects. It reduces the appearance of wrinkles, improves texture, lightens age spots, and boosts the thickness and elasticity of the skin. There are over the counter as well as prescription retinols, it’s probably best to consult with your dermatologist before you start anything stronger.

+ Vitamin C

A powerful antioxidant that can brighten the skin, boost collagen, and help fade spots. Keep in mind that pure vitamin C and its more stable variations will break down if routinely exposed to air and light. So only buy those that are packaged in opaque tubes, air-restrictive bottles, or pump containers so the ingredients remain stable after you start using the product.

+ Niacinamide

A version of vitamin B3 (Niacin), which can brighten the complexion, erase wrinkles, improve elasticity, and fight inflammation. Research approves.

And the biggest scam of the anti-aging business?

Price.

We are led to believe that the pricier the product, the better it works. As if cost alone would be some kind of a proof. That’s what I call the marketing bullshit. Always look at the ingredients, it’s important for us to have a general idea of what exactly we are paying for.