3 Proven Anti-Aging Essentials
While aging is inevitable (if we’re lucky), there are well-tested and proven ingredients that can assist in reducing visible signs of aging while maintaining prime skin health at any age. Below are my 3 essentials that everyone should incorporate for the most effective anti-aging skincare routine.
Use a Quality Vitamin C Serum Every Morning
Vitamin C is an antioxidant that fights free radical damage and prevents premature aging by assisting in collagen production. Collagen production declines with age and is the reason skin loses its plump, youthful look. Free radical damage, on the other hand, comes from UV radiation and pollution including smoke and over time creates oxidative stress in the skin, leading to more damaged, less healthy skin.
My top choice for a Vitamin C serum, Skinbetter Alto Advanced, utilizes the best form of Vitamin C on the market called Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, a more stable and less irritating option than the popular L-Ascorbic Acid. Plus, the top-notch formula is hosted in an opaque bottle with an airless pump to preserve the ingredients, something that most other Vitamin C serums aren’t doing. This means most other Vitamin C serums with already unstable ingredients are being constantly degraded by light and air, reducing (or fully eliminating) their effectiveness in a matter of days from opening. Truly a waste of money and product. The ingredient list of Alto Advanced is too star-studded for me to cover all of it here, but it also boasts 19 other antioxidants including their patented Allyl PQQ, which also neutralizes intrinsic free radical damage, meaning you’re protected against signs of aging from the inside out.
Create a Sunscreen Wardrobe
Sun damage is responsible for a whopping 80% of visible signs of aging. We know UV radiation can cause serious skin disease but the big C word aside, less sun damage also means younger-looking, more even skin. Make sunscreen a non-negotiable part of your routine by having what I call a “sunscreen wardrobe,” i.e. different sunscreens based on activity, so you never have an excuse to be without. For example, you may want a non-tinted, non-greasy option for workouts, a tinted, dewy option for the workday to replace the need for daily makeup, and also one that makes touch-ups easy, like a powder or compact to ensure you're always shielded from harmful UV rays. My picks? ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica for your matte option, Skinbetter Tone Smart for a tinted SPF that will really make you glow, and Skinbetter SPF compact for easy touch-ups.
Use a Proven Retinoid in the Evening
Retinoids come in many forms, from over-the-counter Retinol and Retinal to prescription-strength Retinoic Acid. These Vitamin A derivatives increase cell turnover, creating healthier skin cells. Renowned as the most documented and proven ingredient to slow the skin’s aging process, retinoids not only create healthier skin long-term, but also combat fine lines and wrinkles, even out skin tone, smooth skin texture, and prevent breakouts.
You may have heard of popular Retinoic Acid prescriptions such as Tretinoin and Retin-A, but let me introduce you to an entirely new and more advanced ingredient: Ethyl Lactyl Retinoate, a combination of prescription-strength Retinoic Acid (equivalent to a .025% prescription) combined with Lactic Acid for deeper penetration with less irritation and dryness. Yes, it really is as good as it sounds. Skinbetter lovingly calls this new ingredient AlphaRet, and you can find it in different formulations from serums to peel pads to eye cream. The OG and best face serum for overall anti-aging is called AlphaRet Overnight Cream and combines AlphaRet technology with 10% Glycolic Acid for your all-in-one non-irritating, non-drying, powerful retinoid and exfoliant serum. If you’re acne-prone, stick with AlphaRet Clearing Serum, which swaps the Glycolic for 2% Salicylic Acid to clear and prevent breakouts. When I tell you this product changed my skin for good, I mean it. I’ll never be without.
Creating an effective anti-aging routine is all about optimizing skin health and preventing known skin agers, whether that be sun damage or internal/external free radical damage. From SPF to Vitamin C to retinoids, each step plays a crucial role in the prevention of aging effects and overall appearance of the skin. The clinical studies and photography doesn’t lie. Add these products in your routine and thank me later.
Clinical results after 4 weeks of Ethyl Lactyl Retinoate use in the form of AlphaRet Overnight Cream
