The Best Anti-aging Ingredients

Recently I’ve shared what happens to your skin as you age and the best skin care treatments for addressing visible sign of aging skin at any age.

This week I want to dive deeper and share information on the best ingredients available for visible signs of aging skin.

Read below to learn about the latest advancements in skin care ingredients that offer natural, non-invasive alternatives to address visible signs of aging and restore skin’s youthful appearance.

Seaweed

“The marine environment contains a source of functional materials, including polyunsaturated fatty acids, polysaccharides, essential minerals and vitamins, antioxidants, enzymes and bioactive peptides.  Seaweeds have been identified as an under-exploited plant resource and a source of cosmeceutical ingredients.

Recently, their importance as a source of novel bioactive substances to be used in the cosmetic industry is growing rapidly, and researchers have revealed that marine algal originated compounds exhibit various biological activities towards skin health.” ¹  (Source: Marine Cosmeceuticals)

Sustainably harvested seaweeds such as Laminaria Digitata and Ascophyllum Nodosum help to smooth, soften and hydrate the surface of the skin. These seaweeds are an excellent source of nutrients, including 42 trace elements and minerals, 18 amino acids, 12 vitamins, phytohormones, and natural anti-oxidant material such as phlorotannins, sulfated polysaccharides, fucosterol and fucoxanthins.

Pelvetia Canaliculata seaweed helps brighten the appearance of the skin while Spirulina and Codium Tomentosum helps skin feel soft and smooth.

Niacinamide/Vitamin B₃

This proven ingredient works to restore the skin’s appearance and visibly refine the surface of the skin without chemical procedures. Vitamin B₃ is also known to have the following skin care benefits:

• Helps improve the overall appearance of skin.
• Improves skin texture.
• Evens appearance of skin complexion.
• Reduces appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
• Reduces the appearance of dark spots and discoloration.
• Appearance of firmness and elasticity is improved ^{2, 3}  (Source: Skin anti-aging strategies)

Sodium Hyaluronate and Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate (Hyaluronic Acid)

Hyaluronic Acid is a natural moisturizing polysaccharide prevalently found in the skin that is known to hold 1000X its weight in water. In the body, Hyaluronic Acid is known to help keep skin moisturized, repair skin tissue, transport nutrients in the blood to skin cells, serve as a cushion to lubricate and protect against damage, and contribute to the resilience and suppleness of the skin. As the body ages, Hyaluronic Acid decreases, leading to loss of moisture and elasticity, and contributing to the formation of lines and wrinkles.⁴  (Source: Hyaluronic Acid: A key molecule in skin aging)

 Hyaluronic Acid as a skin care ingredient is known to have the following benefits:

• Helps to restore hydration to the skin surface
• Leaves skin looking plumped
• Helps to reduce the appearance of wrinkles

Adenosine

In the body, adenosine is known to be a source of energy for various cellular and muscular functions. In skin care, benefits include:

• Reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines around the mouth and eye area.
• Can be beneficial for all skin types.⁵  (Source: Evaluation of anti-wrinkle efficacy of adenosine-containing products using the FOITS technique)

• Helps to reduce the appearance of oiliness in the skin and minimize pore size.

Peptides

 

Peptides are created when several amino acids link together.  Amino acids are the smallest building blocks of protein.  Different numbers of links create different forms of peptides.  For example, when five amino acids link, they create a pentapeptide.

Because the choice and sequencing of the amino acids are so varied, so are the resulting proteins.  Peptide combinations include Palmitoyl- GHK Tripeptides (three amino acids), Palmitoyl Tetrapeptides (four amino acids) and Hexapeptide-2 (five amino acids).

 The following peptides can help reduce the visible signs of aging:

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1: Reduces the appearance of wrinkles.

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5: Helps skin look and feel smoother.

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7:  Helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, makes skin look and feel firmer.

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8: Has a water-binding property that helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract & Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract

Biopolymers extracted from Kappaphycus Alvarezii (Sea Moss) and the seed of the Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit create a temporary, invisible, and flexible film on the skin’s surface.

Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract & Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract are known to have the following skin care benefits:

• Help provide a lifted appearance.
• Help provide a contoured appearance
• Provide an immediate visible smoothing of facial wrinkles.

Chrysin         

Chyrsin is a natural compound isolated from honeycomb that is known to help brighten the appearance of the skin, even skin tone and add luminosity to the appearance of the skin.

Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice Root) Extract

Ingredient known for brightening the appearance of the skin.

Carrageenan

Derived from red algae known as Irish Moss (Chondrus Crispus), Carrageenan is a gel known to have excellent emollient properties.

Clays

Mineral rich clays such as Kaolin, Diatomaceous Earth and Illite are known to help deep cleanse and draw impurities from the skin.

Kaolin clay is known to help to draw out impurities such as dirt and debris from the skin, helping to deep clean and refine the complexion.  Skin appears smoother and more flawless.

Diatomaceous Earth is a naturally occurring, soft, sedimentary rock that is easily crumbled into a fine off-white powder, abundant in polysaccharides, Vitamins B₁₂ and C, proteins and essential amino acids.  This fine powder is known to help tone and refine the skin’s appearance, lessening the appearance of visible imperfections.

Illite is a clay crystalline mineral that is known to help remove excess oils from the skin as well as deep clean and exfoliate.

Alpha Arbutin

An ingredient in powder form known to help brighten the appearance of uneven skin.

Oxidized Glutathione

A molecule found naturally within the skin that is known to play an important role in preventing oxidative damage. This ingredient has been found to help lessen the appearance of uneven skin tone.

Diglucosyl Gallic Acid (DGA)

More potent than Vitamin C and Kojic Acid, this ingredient is known to help restore a perfect-looking complexion while it helps even the appearance of the skin tone.

The newest technologies and research are helping us to move beyond “anti-aging” to “proactive aging.” One of the most important ways to implement this is to combine both spa and salon treatments with at-home products to engage the client in a seamless activity of proactive skin care treatment.

With new research and technologies, there are natural alternatives to help combat visible signs of aging.

What is your skin care routine to fight the visible signs of aging? Leave a comment below!

 

Sources:

1. Kim, S. “Marine Cosmeceuticals,” Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. March 13, 2014 (1):56-67.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24641607

2. Bissett DL, Oblong JE, Berge CA. “Niacinamide: A B Vitamin That Improves Aging Facial Skin Appearance.” Dermatologic Surgery, July 31, 2005, 860-65.
3. Bissett DL, Miyamoto K, Sun P, Li J, Berge CA. “Topical niacinamide reduces yellowing, wrinkling, red blotchiness, and hyperpigmented spots in aging facial skin”. International Journal of Cosmetic Science. 2004 , 231–8.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3583892/#R52

4. Papakonstantinou E, Roth M, and Karakiulakis G. “Hyaluronic acid: A key molecule in skin aging,” Dermato-Endocrinology. July 1, 2012, 253–258.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3583886/

5. Abella M, “Evaluation of anti-wrinkle efficacy of adenosine-containing products using the FOITS technique,” International Journal of Cosmetic Science. December 28, 2006 447-51.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18489289