The top 5 natural ingredients for mature skin
No matter how oily or dry your skin is when you’re young, your skin will gradually dry out as you age. “By the time we reach 50 years of age, our bodies are producing about 50 percent less hyaluronic acid than they did in youth,” says Nicholas Perricone, MD, a clinical dermatologist . “This decline is a major contributing factor to wrinkled, sagging skin.” For those of you with naturally oily skin, this may come as a relief, and for those of you whose skin is already dry, this may be dismaying news. Luckily for all, anti-aging is a major skincare focus, and there are many all-natural skincare solutions out there for everyone. Here are our top five best all-natural skincare ingredients for aging skin.
Hyaluronic acid
As you read above, hyaluronic acid is a substance that occurs naturally in our bodies, and it’s effective because it holds a thousand times its weight in water. This not only [helps skin retain moisture, but also prevents that moisture from evaporating into the air. It’s one of the best moisturizing agents available for both oily and dry skin types to keep skin hydrated—and plump, hydrated skin looks younger.
Green Tea
The connection between drinking green tea and improved health has been suggested for years, but it may also help to use the plant on the skin. “Green tea has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The anti-aging benefits of green tea are attributed to polyphenols, a type of flavonoids found in plants,” says dermatologist Harold Lancer, M.D., F.A.A.D., founder of Lancer Skincare. “Early studies have shown that green tea used in skincare can reduce sun damage, protect skin from cancer and decrease collagen breakdown,” he explains.
Fruit and plant stem cells
Production of these key proteins starts to decline as we age, leading to dry, dull and wrinkled skin. Stem cells are are crucial in anti-aging skin care because of their ability to self-renew—they replenish cells in need of repair and regenerate damaged tissue. Swiss apple stem cells, in particular, have been found to maintain and protect human stem cells, which leads to a reduction in early signs of aging like fine lines and loss of firmness.
Carotenoids
Found in rosehip oil and carrot seed oil, carotenoids are a natural antioxidant that can help protect skin against premature aging caused by UV exposure. Carrot seed oil also contains bioflavonoids with antimicrobial and free-radical-fighting properties, while rosehip oil can help diminish scarring or lessen skin discoloration.
Lactic acid
This AHA occurs naturally in the human body. AHAs encourage the skin to slough off old, dead skin cells, revealing the healthy cells underneath. They help reduce the appearance of acne scars, age-related spots and pigmentation. Lactic acid also helps firm up sagging skin, fine lines and wrinkles by promoting collagen growth in the deeper layers of your epidermis. One of the best ways to fight signs of aging is with an AHA peel—but to determine the strength and frequency, you should consult with your dermatologist.
Remember: natural anti-aging ingredients are not really any different, or better than their synthetic counterparts. Why? “Synthetic” just means that a particular element was created in a lab, but the chemical makeup is often identical.
At PROVEN, we’re committed to the cutting-edge science of skincare, and that includes using the most effective natural ingredients—whether naturally extracted or synthetically created. It also includes creating clean products that are completely free of phthalates, parabens, SLS and formaldehyde, and never testing on animals. Click here to start your journey toward totally personalized skincare that you can feel good about—inside and out.
