12 tips to prevent premature skin aging

Aging is as real as it gets; even if your grandma began showing symptoms of aging during her late 40s, it is entirely possible that you may get your first wrinkle during your 20s. In the past, people did not have to go to any lengths to protect their skin because they weren’t exposed to the same amount of environmental pollution and the depletion of natural resources as we are.

So, while genes do play a huge rule in determining the texture of your skin, good skin is not only a matter of DNA. Every skin type, no matter its natural condition, needs full-time maintenance and consistent proper care to keep it thriving.

What causes early aging?

Showing symptoms of aging before they are due is what we mean by early aging. Many factors come into play when it comes to premature aging; some we can control, others, not so much. A few of them are:

• Environmental pollution and uninterrupted exposure to it leaves a significant, damaging impact on the skin. This includes UV sun rays, air pollution, and water pollution.
• Factors such as an unbalanced diet, a high intake of sugars, smoking, dehydration, and/or a vitamin and mineral deficiency are largely responsible for the unhealthy appearance of the skin.
• Too much stress and day-to-day pressure.
• Little or no physical exercise.
• Not investing in any type of skincare.

Why are skincare routines important?

You must know how much a separate morning and night routine for facial skin is emphasised by experts. But why two separate routines?

Well, a light morning routine is important because it removes the excess oil on the skin built up during the night while a thorough bedtime routine is necessary to combat the build-up of makeup, sunscreen, dirt, debris, and other pollutants to which the skin was exposed during the day. Now important matters like these cannot be dealt with in an impromptu manner, can they?

No, your skin deserves to breathe and be pampered; therefore, religiously committing to an appropriate (even if simple) skincare routine is the only way to see definitive results.

How to do an effective skincare routine?

Before we suggest some of the effective products to incorporate in your skincare regime, let us first shed light on the basic steps you should include in your routine and why they’re effective.

1. Cleanse

Anything made to shine also needs to be cleaned deeply and thoroughly to keep it shining. That includes your skin. There is no specific time to cleanse your skin, but it is recommended to do so twice a day for the reasons mentioned in the previous section. Double cleansing, once with an oil-based cleanser and then with a water-based cleanser, is the backbone of Korean skin beauty, which is the new standard of youthful, glassy skin.

Cleansing also includes exfoliating, which should be done almost three times a week to remove dead cells from the surface of the skin.

2. Moisturise

You may be tempted to skip this step, especially if you have oily skin. However, moisturising is equally important for you too! People with dry skin usually pile on the heavy moisturisers to make up for the lack of natural oil on their face and end up suffocating their skin (which is bad!). People with oily skin cleanse, exfoliate, tone and hydrate but let all the moisture in their healthy skin cells evaporate and get washed away because they don’t moisturise to lock in hydration.

It is prudent to choose the right moisturiser for your skin type (a lighter one for oily skin and a bit heavier for dry skin) and never shy away from moisturising regularly, especially during the winter and after washing or showering.

3. Use sunscreen

Oddly enough, sunscreen application is widely understood as an important step, yet it is the least invested in. Sunscreens are not just meant to protect your complexion but rather to protect your skin. (This is especially directed at the men out there who are made fun of for using sunscreen). UV rays can cause skin burns, irritation, acne, fine lines, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and even skin cancer. Applying a generous amount of at least a SPF 100 sunscreen thirty minutes before stepping out can counter the havoc the sun causes on your face.

4. Monitor your water intake

We’re sure that you’ve heard of this secret ingredient from your elders, and it not without wisdom. No matter how religiously you follow your skincare regime, it will never be effective as long as your daily water intake is not adequate. Water regulates 60% of all bodily functions and keeps our skin fresh and youthful! Make sure you get those 8-10 recommended glasses of water per day!

Ingredients to look out for in anti-aging skin care products:

As promised let’s now take a look at some of the ingredients that are the bomb when it comes to delaying aging.

5. Peptides

Peptides are chains of amino acids and the building blocks of proteins that make up your skin, blood, hair, muscles, and nails.

Peptides are often sought out as a cure for aging skin because

• They function as signalling mechanisms for the body to produce more collagen - a protein produced by the body naturally, but one that decreases with age, causing the skin to wrinkle and lose its natural brightness.
• They have regenerative properties. They build a protective barrier around the skin to shield it from environmental aggressors.
• In addition to collagen, they also signal the body to produce elastin, another component of the skin (also a protein), which is responsible for skin tightness.
• They have anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, so they reduce redness, irritation, swelling and certain type of acne.
• Serums or moisturisers that contain peptides (as long as they don’t contain other allergens) are well tolerated by all skin types and stay longer on the skin to exert their effects than do cleansers and face washes. Products usually list peptides as “palmitoyl”, so your keep an eye out for this name and use it in combination with Vitamin C, AHA (explained below) and other antioxidants. 

6. Beta glucan

Beta glucans have been raved about in all recent skin care editions, and for good reason! Beta glucans are the polysaccharides found in yeast, bacteria, fungi, seaweed, and oats, which are not naturally produced by our body such that external (oral or topical) intake is vital to reap their benefits.

Beta glucan is a humectant moisturizer by nature which means that it attracts water to the top layers of the skin. Some of the benefits include:

• Antioxidant properties: beta glucan prevents cell damage associated with aging, sun exposure and other environmental factors.
• Anti-microbial functions: beta glucan protects cracked skin barriers from microbial attacks by forming a mesh or film-like barrier around the skin.
• Helps improve the skin’s response to wounds by activating white blood cells and preventing infection.
• Anti-inflammatory properties: the polysaccharides fix redness and blotchiness.
• Deeply hydrates the skin and locks in moisture; considered as prone the strongest hydrating agents ever discovered!
• Acts as a strong anti-aging component because it reduces wrinkles and fine lines and tightens the skin by stimulating collagen production (up to 32%)!

Beta glucan is available in face masks, creams, serums, and moisturisers; and like peptides, it is safe for all skin types. You can miss out on this ingredient if you see mushrooms or algae, yeast, rice, or oats listed in ingredients labels because most of these have a percentage of beta glucan in them. So, if you don’t find beta glucan listed directly, look out for these ingredients!

7. Ceramides

Ceramides are lipids (fats) found in sweet potatoes, soy, wheat, rice, and corn that occur naturally in the skin. They make up 50% of the composition of the epidermis (the outer skin layer), but we lose most of these fatty acids with time. Thus, they need to be compensated for with synthetic products containing ceramides. Ceramides are touted as a miracle cure for dry skin and with winter approaching, all of us could use some ceramide in our lives!

Let’s see what we know about fatty acids so far:

• According to some research, people suffering from eczema have fewer ceramides in their skin, so an extra dose may help people suffering from this condition.
• Using ceramides with antioxidants protects the skin from the sun’s UV rays and other environmental oxidising agents.
• Our natural ceramide resource is depleted during days out in the extreme cold or dry heat weather as well as using hot water on our bodies. Using ceramide-based products can replenish these ceramides and improve our skin’s barrier function.
• Some dermatologists go so far as saying that ceramides are unmatched when it comes to hydration boosting and water retention.
• Anti-aging properties: ceramides are proven to hold the skin together, thus preventing wrinkles, fine lines, and signs of aging.
• Ceramide products can take about weeks to exhibit anti-aging effects although the moisturising and hydrating benefits are immediate, although they do last for long.

Note that light and air can take a dig at the effectiveness of a ceramide product so look for airtight, opaque packaging. Such products work with retinol, peptides, and antioxidants to exhibit a range of effects.

8. Hyaluronic acid

Another naturally produced substance, hyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan that makes up most of our connective tissue. The largest amounts are found in the skin and is largely responsible for keeping it stable and safe.

Hyaluronic acid is also a humectant. It draws moisture from its surroundings and hydrates the skin to make it fresh and plump. It is very, very hydrating; in fact, to add some stats here, it is proven that one gram of HA can hold up to 6 litres of water! Wow, right? To keep moisture locked in, hyaluronic acid slows down the rate at which water evaporates from the skin and retains just the right amount that won’t weaken its natural strength (from too much water).

Another interesting HA benefit which is backed by research is that hyaluronic acid helps preserve the unique microbiome of the skin. Microbiome refers to the unique microorganism ecosystem of the skin, which impacts how it looks and feels under certain conditions.

We believe you now know how HA can help increase skin elasticity and keep your skin radiant and glowing.

And the best part? It is safe for all skin types and even suitable for usage multiple times a day!

9. Ginseng

Ginseng is a familiar edible and medicine, especially in Asian culture, but it has now stepped into the world of skincare with some major benefits.

Benefits include:

• helps you glow from within. Ginseng tea is known for its antioxidant properties. It regenerates skin cells, improves blood circulation, hydrates the skin and detoxifies the blood, all of which contribute to healthier skin on the inside that also shines bright on the outside.
• increases skin cells’ lifespan through phytonutrients that boost skin metabolism and immunity.
• brightens skin tone; fights against photoaging and pigmentation and reduces melanin production, thus whitening the skin and making it look more youthful.
• increases collagen production, which as mentioned, tightens the skin, making it less prone to wrinkles and lines.
• has anti-inflammatory properties to help with rashes, acne, rosacea, and the like.
• alleviates common skin problems such as pigmentation and dark circles.

That’s a really long list, isn’t it! Rich in vitamins and minerals, it is extremely beneficial for your health, skin, and hair - no matter how you take it. Korean women even bathe in ginseng water before their weddings to liven the skin up before their big day! Click here to read more about the wonderful benefits of ginseng for the skin!

10. Snail mucin

Snail mucin is exactly what the name suggests: a snail’s external excretion or “snail slime” - as referred to commonly. It is made up of glycoproteins, elastin, anti-microbials, copper peptides, hyaluronic acid, proteoglycans, and glycolic acid all of which are individually and collectively beneficial for the skin.

Before you think we’ve gone absolutely loco for suggesting this, snail mucin has actually been used quite commonly for skincare, as early as 400 B.C to be precise!

We won’t bore you by repeating all the benefits of every component of snail mucin composition, so let us just list down some of the main benefits:

• It softens the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
• It reduces acne scarring and prevents breakouts.
• It combats hyperpigmentation.
• Anti-inflammatory, so it helps soothe irritation and reduce redness for those with sensitive skin.
• Zinc and allantoin are abundant in mucin which, if you ask any nutritionist, are miracle workers for preventing signs of aging.

And the best part is that mucin has no side effects! Raw mucin only requires basic pasteurisation for safe application onto the skin, and that is just about it!

P.S: For an effective snail mucin product, look for a formula that combines antioxidants or retinols along with other basic skincare staples like Vitamin C, glycolic acid, and some hydrating ingredients.

11. Chemical exfoliants

Exfoliation is a natural process that healthy skin goes through every once in a while. The body sheds dead skin cells which are then replaced by fresh skin cells. Skin layers go through this process almost constantly, but sometimes it results in an uneven skin tone or patchiness, permanently changing the natural texture of the skin.

Skincare products - especially those containing chemical exfoliants - can speed up the process and help smooth out skin texture to appear more even-toned. Chemical exfoliants are the best option for people who cannot tolerate scrubs, dermabrasions, or rough brushes. Regular exfoliation (1-3 times per week) can make a huge difference to the skin's overall tone and texture.

There are three main types of chemical exfoliants:

• Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs)
• Beta hydroxy acids (BHAs)
• Poly hydroxy acids (PHAs)

AHAs are chemical compounds most commonly derived from organic sugars like glycolic acid (sugar canes), mandelic acid (almonds), and lactic acid (from milk). All of these speed up the cell recovery process, which reveals and preserves the young, fresh, and radiant skin from beneath our dead skin cells. They also work as moisturisers for dry or combination skin types. A gentle 5-10% is an ideal concentration for use at home.

AHAs are also known to boost collagen production, which tightens skin pores, reduces fine lines and wrinkles and lets you display the ultimate anti-aged skin!

BHAs such as salicylic acid or betaine salicylate are best for acne prone, oily, and congested skin types because unlike glycolic and lactic acids that are water-soluble, BHAs are lipid (or oil) soluble. This property of BHAs help them cut down oil and the gunk settled deep into the skin pores, thus preventing acne and more specifically, blackheads.

PHAs are newer generation chemical exfoliants that were developed for people with sensitive skin types who cannot tolerate AHAs or BHAs. They are similar to AHAs, however their larger molecule size makes them harder to penetrate the skin and so they are a gentler option with reduced irritation.

12. Retinol

Retinol is the gold standard for aging skin and is one of the most extensively studied skincare ingredients available. Clinical studies have shown that long-term use of retinol results in a reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, an improvement in the skin's tone and texture and the fading of pigmentation spots. 

Since skin irritation is a common issue with retinol use, make sure to start off slow and increase the frequency of application as your skin adjusts to it.

And that’s a wrap! We hope you enjoyed reading this article as much as we enjoyed writing it for you. Which of the above ingredients are you going to hunt out first?