I’m a dermatologist & swear by 4 anti-aging ingredients – don’t miss an extremely powerful hydrator & a collagen booster
A DERMATOLOGIST has shared the four anti-aging ingredients she swears by.
A potent hydrator is essential to her skincare routine and helps nourish and retain moisture.
Dr. Michele Green, a board-certified NYC cosmetic dermatologist, shared her anti-aging tips and tricks with The U.S. Sun.
A must-have in anyone’s anti-aging arsenal, she explained, is retinol.
“Retinol is an incredible anti-aging ingredient that has been used to treat aging skin for decades,” she said.
“Retinol is a vitamin A derivative that works to exfoliate the skin, increasing the skin cell turnover rate to make way for new, healthy cells.”
The formidable compound also helps increase collagen and elastin production, which are key proteins that work to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles, minimize the appearance of enlarged pores, and plump the skin.
The expert also urged skincare enthusiasts to add antioxidant vitamin C to their routines.
Vitamin C, she explained, protects the skin from UV damage, oxidative stress, and free radical damage, as well as helps to correct signs of aging, brighten the skin, aid in cellular repair, and reduce inflammation.
A critical step to any anti-aging routine is to keep the skin hydrated and Green revealed that she relies on hyaluronic acid and ceramides to do the heavy lifting.
“Hyaluronic is a humectant that attracts water from the environment to the skin,” she said.
“Hyaluronic acid is extremely powerful and can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water.
The ingredient, she said, can be found in various types of products, from makeup to different cleansers, serums, moisturizers, and sunscreens.
Ceramides, she added, not only hydrate the skin but help repair a damaged skin barrier.
“Ceramides are lipids or fats found on the outer skin layer and work to create a moisture barrier on the skin to protect the skin from environmental damage,” she explained.
“Ceramides in cleansers and moisturizers are great for keeping the skin moisturized and plump and effectively reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.”
Hyaluronic acid is extremely powerful and can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water.
Dr. Michele Green
Green also emphasized the importance of daily sunscreen use to combat prematurely aging the skin.
The most effective and affordable anti-aging treatment, she explained, is to limit exposure to the sun’s UV rays.
“Sunscreen is an essential part of a daily anti-aging routine, as the sun is one of the biggest causes of premature aging and the development of wrinkles, fine lines, and sunspots,” she said.
Exposure to UV rays without sunscreen protection can speed up the aging process and break down the skin’s natural abilities.
“Sun damage can also impair collagen production and reduce skin elasticity,” she added.
The expert encouraged everyone to apply sunscreen even on days when it seems it may not be necessary.
“For maximum protection, a broad-spectrum sunscreen of
SPF 50 or higher should be applied every day, even on days when the sun is not out,” she said.
She explained that UV rays were stronger than you may think, even on rainy, cold, or cloudy days.
“UV rays can penetrate through clouds and windows and reflect off snow and rain puddles,” she added.
