Anti-Ageing Ingredients

Trying to hold back the years becomes a preoccupation for many of us as we reach a certain age but we look at some anti-ageing ingredients in this article very briefly. The skin is one of those areas of the body by which others judge our age and so anything which keeps it supple and youthful is readily sought. There are many products on the market which claim to smooth out wrinkles and remove lines but which ones actually work ?

Of the variety of ingredients available for cosmetics, and with the object of removing the ‘crows feet’ are:-

Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) such as lactic, tartaric and citric acids.

Beta-hydroxy acid –claimed to improve skin texture by serving as an exfoliant.

Coenzyme Q10 acts as a topical antioxidant and replenishes Q10 as its endogenous synthesis reduces.

Kojic acid inhibits melanin synthesis and lightens blemishes and spots.

Vitamin A (Retinol) helps in both collagen and elastic synthesis by promoting keratinocytes. It is used to reduce damage to sun-damaged skin.

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) also helps in stimulating and cross-linking collagen during its synthesis but also serves as an antioxidant. Topical vitamin C application improves skin tone and smoothness and even lightens the results of hyperpigmentation.

Vitamin E (tocopherol) protects skin cell membranes and serves as an antioxidant.

Peptides of varying types are part of the signalling system between skin cells and fibroblasts. Their many functions include stimulating skin growth factors, developing matric proteins, promoting collagen synthesis by dermal fibroblasts, and encouraging wound healing. One ingredient – collagen peptides appears to have a number of benefits in reversing sarcopenia and even osteopenia.

The copper peptides encourage elastic and collagen production and also serve as an antioxidant.

Hyaluronic acid is a component of most connective tissues and is synthesised naturally.

Alpha-lipoic acid is claimed to help repair skin damage and protect it for the future.

DMAE (dimethyl aminoethanol) is part of acetylcholine synthesis and shown to reduce wrinkles.

Ceramides are cellular fats or lipids that help maintain cell membrane integrity which serves to keep moisture in.

This is a snapshot of those critical ingredients to be found in skin creams and lotions.