Your skin might look plump and supple now. But here’s the thing: even if you don’t see fine lines yet doesn’t mean they won’t appear a few years down the road and by the time you discover them, it might be a little too late.
So do you really need a wrinkle cream if you’re in your 20s or 30s? Should you be adjusting your skincare routine to combat the signs of ageing like fine lines, wrinkles, pigmentation, dullness and sagging skin even though you don’t have saggy skin yet? Preemptively speaking, the answer is yes. Here’s a list of the best anti-ageing products in the market that’ll help you put that youthful glow back into your skin.
What’s an anti-ageing product?
While it comes in many forms, you’re more likely to find it as creams and serum treatments that are formulated to help reinforce the skin while diminishing, blurring and preventing more signs of ageing. However, ingredients play an important role and you’ll want to use what’s more suitable for your skin and age. Some of the most common ingredients found in anti-ageing creams and serums are retinoids (or Vitamin A), Vitamin C, AHA, ceramides, collagen, niacinamide, peptides, and tea extracts.
When to start anti-ageing skincare?
Ageing is a totally natural and unavoidable process but with our current lifestyle combined with constant sun exposure, the process can be sped up, and we definitely don’t want that. The best way to delay or prevent early signs of ageing is by incorporating anti-ageing products in your early 20s. Without it, the damage will start to form and affect your skin sooner than you think. If you’ve passed that age bracket or already developed these signs, we suggest starting as soon as you can to hold back the developments and breathe new life into your skin. Check out our top product recommendations above.
This article first appeared in Her World.
Having reviewed both the R.N.A. Power Airy Milky Lotion and R.N.A Power Radical New Age previously, we have to say that they’re two of our favourite anti-ageing creams in the market! Aside from having a light and fluffy texture, the Airy Milky Lotion is great for daytime use and targets multiple signs of ageing from fine lines to loss of elasticity with the help of Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 and Chlorella Extract for smoother and plumper-looking skin.
The latter is also included in the Radical New Age Cream but substitutes the former with shea butter to keep the skin abundantly moisturised and improve its glow, making it perfect for night time use. Both creams are also developed with the RNArchitect Complex that combines hydrolysed soy protein and yeast protein with SKI-II’s iconic PITERA™.
If you’re new to the world of SK-II, here’s a fun fact: PITERA™ was discovered when it was noticed that elderly sake brewers had youthful-looking hands but wrinkled faces thanks to the sake fermentation process. This led SK-II to develop the iconic Facial Treatment Essence that’s a well-known secret to achieving crystal clear skin till today. With over 50 micronutrients to condition and strengthen the skin while keeping it crystal clear, the legendary PITERA™ is known to transform your skin, transforming it to crystal clear.
We highly recommend pairing the Facial Treatment Essence with the R.N.A. Power Airy Milky Lotion or R.N.A.Power Radical New Age to amplify the moisturiser’s benefits and allow it to absorb better into the skin. My favourite way to do this is to pat a few drops of the essence into the skin before applying a pea-sized amount of the respective moisturisers onto your skin – depending on your time of day. Tip: If you’ve got the SK-II’s GenOptics Aura Essence, apply this before the cream for maximum
glow.
Tatcha’s The Essence is perfect for renewing and illuminating the skin. It uses 98.7 per cent Hadasei-3™ which includes concentrated Uji green tea, Okinawa Mozuku Algae and Akita Rice to detoxify the skin while doubling up its moisture levels to plump up wrinkles and fine lines. Not only that, the fermentation process that these ingredients go through produce lactic acid which helps to gently exfoliate skin and renew its texture, thus providing a smoother and radiant complexion. Use this right after cleansing to boost the efficacy of the rest of your skincare products and let them penetrate deeper into the skin. Available at Sephora.
Using RevitaKey™ Technology to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, the multi-action Revitalizing Supreme+ Global Anti-Ageing Cell Power Creme is formulated with Moringa extract from the Moringa plant. Said to be the “miracle tree”, its plant is rich in Vitamin C, calcium, amino acids, potassium and Omega-3. When combined in the formula, this cream helps to boost the production of collagen and elastin that bring back the glow and bounce to your skin. Available at Sephora.
Since its inception, Sulwhasoo has been known to centre its skincare products on ginseng as it’s an excellent ingredient with anti-ageing properties to treat wrinkles, dryness, and loss of elasticity while refining skin texture. With the Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream EX, the brand uses six times the amount of concentrated Compound K and Ginsenoside Re found in the ginseng roots and flowers to strengthen the skin and its barrier while improving the skin’s recovery and texture. Besides that, its rich texture intensely hydrates the skin and provides a radiant and luminous look. Available at Sephora.
As its name suggests, this cream is perfect if your focus is firming and tightening the skin around your face and neck and keeping it in place. Infused with goji berry extract and a firming peptide, the Black Tea Firming Corset Cream helps to strengthen loose and sagging skin, providing a tighter and firmer look with a more contoured complexion. Aside from that, the cream also infuses black tea complex which uses blackberry leaf extract, black tea extract, black tea ferment (also known as kombucha) and lychee seed extract to prevent damage from free radicals and improve skin’s elasticity. Available at Sephora.
Retinol is a great anti-ageing ingredient that aids in exfoliating, reducing the look of fine lines and wrinkles, fighting free radicals and producing collagen. However, as it’s a highly reactive molecule, it can easily lose its power when exposed to sunlight or air, which is why this retinol-concentrated anti-ageing serum uses 1.5 per cent Microencapsulated Retinol with sustained-release to maximise its potency for over eight hours with minimal side-effects. Even better, it’s combined with Vitamin C and E for antioxidant benefits. Be sure to use this only at night and remember to apply sunscreen during the day as skin is fresh and sensitive after any use of acids. Available at Sephora.
Developed in a Nobel Prize-winning Hungarian laboratory, the Miracle Facial Oil is packed with Bakuchiol, a natural alternative to retinol that helps reduce the look of wrinkles and fine lines while encouraging collagen production for younger-looking skin. Included in the formula are winged kelp extract, sea buckthorn berry, rosehip and sweet almond oils, and Omorovicza’s patented Healing Concentrate™ to not only supply antioxidants into the skin but also repair the skin’s lipid matrix and firm up the skin to keep it supple and youthful. Bonus points for oily skin: while most oils aren’t recommended, this one provides nourishment and reduces shine without leaving a greasy film. Available at Sephora.
Great for targeting a spectrum of ageing issues, this cream works with linseed extract that’s exclusively sourced in France and known for its ability to grow in harsh conditions. The ingredient itself has anti-ageing benefits to improve skin’s elasticity and firmness as well as reduce the look of wrinkles. With the Renergie Multi-lift Full Spectrum Cream, you’re also able to rehydrate your skin while evening out your complexion.
It’s important to note that while the best wrinkle creams can slow the process and improve the appearance and strength of the skin, they cannot reverse the damage that’s already done. This is why it’s always good to incorporate these products as early as you can to keep your skin looking healthier and younger for longer. If you haven’t started using an anti-ageing product yet, go ahead and take your pick from the list above. Available at Sephora.