When to start using anti-ageing products?

If there is any question I have been asked by people numerous time, it is, when to start using anti-ageing products? My social media inboxes are choking with this question. So I decided to write a post and then send the link directly. It will make my life easier …lol. I will try to answer maximum questions according to my knowledge and hopefully will satisfy majority.

Q.1. I heard some YouTuber stating that start using anti-ageing products during your teens. Is it true?

Oh Dear God No. Not at all. During teen years you don’t need anything other than a good cleanser, moisturiser, lots of water and SPF. Don’t waste your money and time. Teen years bring other dramas. Concentrate on them. You will miss them in later life. You will not notice any result from anti-ageing products anyway and will be disappointed.

Q.2. I am 22. Is this the right age for anti-ageing products? People say, prevention is better than cure.

First of all ageing is not a decease, Okay. It is a natural process and we can't turn the clock back. We can only slow down the process. This is a huge misconception, that if we start using anti-ageing products in early 20s, we will prevent pre-mature fines lines mainly on forehead and around eyes. It is not true. Most anti-ageing products claim to increase the elasticity and improve skin cell turnover to soften the lines. However, in early and mid-20s skin cell turnover is fast enough and skin doesn’t need any help to improve the process. Skin repairs itself and collagen breakdown to maintain the elasticity. Young skin also contains hyaluronic acid in abundance to keep skin supple. So you also don’t need any extra hyaluronic acid. Our skin is not a bank where we can store all the good ingredients for later use. When it needs help, it tells by showing signs. In early and mid-20s adding a gentle exfoliator in skincare routine will help to keep skin in perfect condition, followed by a good moisturiser and SPF. Moisturiser is very important. Never skip it no matter what type of skin you have. A moisturised skin is a healthy skin.

Q.3. What is the best age to start using the anti-aging products?

In my opinion, the right age to get into the pond is once you hit 28. In late 20s, skin cells turnover is a bit sluggish and skin looks dull. Few fine lines also become visible here and there, especially when we are tired or dehydrated. This is the perfect time to start using anti-ageing products to slow the ageing process.

Q.4. Where to start?

Exfoliation is the first step, manual or chemical. I personally prefer chemical exfoliation over manual. But I will leave this discussion for future posts. It is also a vast topic.  Exfoliation removes the dead skin cells and polishes to prepare skin for further treatment.

Vitamin A and Vitamin C are the most potent ingredients and are considered the most effective. Look for products which contains any of these ingredients.

Retin A is a form of vitamin A which helps in repairing skin. Skin feels firm and lifted. Retin A is very strong, somewhat harsh ingredient. Over the counter Retin A based products are gentler but works slowly. Prescription strength Retin A gives visible results in short time but it can make skin super sensitive. So never use it without proper consultation. Over the counter products can also irritate skin if you don’t moisturise skin properly. My favourite over the counter Retin A based product is La Roche-Posay Redermic R face cream. However, in recent years more and more skincare companies are introducing facial oils with Retin A to lessen the adverse reaction.

Antioxidant property of Vitamin C helps in fighting the free radicals and prevent sun spots. With regular use it fades away old blemishes marks and lighten the pigmentation. Vitamin C improves skin hydration and even out skin tone for younger looking skin. vitamin C serums are widely available. A few drops work wonders for skin. I make my own Vitamin C serum and it is not that complicated.

In addition to Vitamin C and Retin A, hyaluronic acid can also be used for moisturised and plump skin. Many anti-ageing serums contain hyaluronic acid anyway. The Ordinary brand has introduced all these ingredients in separate bottles. You can mix them or layer them. The Ordinary products are also very budget friendly.

In the end I can’t stress enough that always wear SPF and stay away from direct sunlight. There are so many things to cover but I wanted to keep it simple for beginners. I am not a skincare expert but I love to research products and ingredients all the time. If you have anything else to add to this topic or you have any suggestion, then leave it in the comment section below. I may add them in this post to make it more comprehensive.

In the memory of my brother