Do Anti-Aging Creams Work to Get Youthful Skin?

Whether you just spotted your first fine line or have been trying to combat those age spots that crept up without your permission, you might be tempted to spend a bundle on an array of anti-aging creams to turn back the clock—at least on your complexion.

But anti-aging creams can be a significant investment. Before you go all-in with a specific anti-aging regimen, it’s important to ask—do they actually live up to their claims and produce the results they promise?

This depends on the creams in question, their ingredients, and what they promise to achieve.

What Are Anti Aging Creams, Really?

Anti aging creams are crafted and/or marketed to diminish any or all of the signs of aging. Typically, anti aging creams are separated into two categories: products that treat wrinkles (and other telltale signs of the passage of time), and products that prevent them. These may include skin conditions such as:

• Hyperpigmentation (or dark spots)
• Uneven skin tone
• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Loss of elasticity
• Roughened texture
• Dry skin
• Dullness

Do Anti Aging Creams Genuinely Work?

The answer to this question is both a yes and a no. 

The efficacy of an anti aging cream largely depends on if the cream is right for your skin type and the ingredients it contains. Here are a few winners that may help to keep your skin healthy through the decades:

Vitamin C

From frown lines to crow’s feet, most of our skincare woes are due to decreasing levels of collagen—an abundant protein that gives our skin its structure and firmness. 

At what age do we start aging? Our body’s collagen production naturally declines as we age, most often in our mid-20’s, while certain lifestyle habits—such as excessive alcohol consumption and smoking—can cause our existing collagen to degrade. The intricate maze of connective tissue that keeps our skin supple begins to come undone, so to speak, and wrinkles may form as a result.

This is where vitamin C may come in handy. Studies on the effectiveness of topical vitamin C may be in their infancy, but what we know so far is promising. Vitamin C may have the potential to:

• Promote collagen production
• Prevent collagen breakdown
• Decrease pigmentation

Alpha-Hydroxy Acids

If you’ve been investigating anti aging creams, you’ve probably seen alpha-hydroxy acids surface during your searches. There isn’t one alpha-hydroxy acid, but several. The most commonly used AHAs in skincare are generally:

• Lactic acid
• Glycolic acid
• Citric acid

These acids may have a therapeutic impact on photodamaged skin, or skin that has received excessive sun exposure. However, only low concentrations should be used—again, to avoid irritation. 

Vitamin A Derivatives

Vitamin A derivatives—or retinoids and retinols—are frequently featured in anti aging creams for a solid reason. Retinoids and their milder, over-the-counter sibling retinol may:

• Soften the signs of photoaging
• Strengthen the epidermis
• Diminish the sight of wrinkles
• Improve hydration 
• Prevent collagen degradation

When should you start using retinol? We recommend starting at the age of 25 – however, you should see a board-certified dermatologist to monitor your retinol journey in case your skin can’t tolerate it.

 If you’re just starting out with these skincare superheroes, integrate them slowly into your routine and apply them at night. Subscribing with PROVEN ensures that you’re getting the right ingredients for your skin concerns. Each product is customized to build an optimal skincare set that will restore your inner glow. In turn, be sure to pair these products with a daily moisturizer with SPF during the daytime: retinoids and retinol can render your skin more sensitive to sunlight.

Peptides

Peptides have gone from a trending skincare ingredient to a cornerstone in products and routines. These naturally-occurring amino acids can help to curb the signs of aging by stimulating collagen synthesis. As a result, you may experience:

• Less noticeable wrinkles
• Enhanced elasticity
• Improved texture

Additional Skin-Supporting Ingredients

Anti aging creams that include the ingredients above might give you that healthy, glowing appearance you’re craving. A few others to keep an eye out for include:

• Coenzyme Q10
• Tea extracts
• Niacinamide
• Grape seed extract

All of this isn’t to say that products with these ingredients will restore your skin in the exact way you desire. Each of us has different skin needs, and what worked wonderfully for your BFF might not do anything for your skin except provoke irritation. This underscores the importance of knowing your skin type before making a purchase—and taking a few other matters into consideration.

PROVEN takes out the guesswork when it comes to the importance of knowing your skin type. With PROVEN’s Skin Genome Quiz™ , you can find out what products and ingredients will work best with you.

What Else Determines If Anti Aging Creams Work or Not?

The ingredients and anti aging cream features are one of the biggest deciding factors between this cream is doing a brilliant job and there goes $100 down the proverbial drain. 

But you should also weigh—and practice—the following:

• Consistency is key – The Mayo Clinic is just one expert from a pool of many who indicates that you will have to use an anti aging cream once or even twice a day to see results—and do so consistently over time.
• Cost may be irrelevant – A higher price tag doesn’t always translate to a higher quality. Instead, eye the concentration levels of key ingredients.
• Choose (and combine) wisely – Not all anti aging creams are created equal, and not all should be used together. Indeed, using too many may irritate your skin. 

Above all? Practice the tenets of a healthy lifestyle to halt the signs of aging. This includes hydrating often, following a nutritious diet, dodging smoking, cutting down on your alcohol intake, exercising frequently, prioritizing sleep, and shielding your skin with SPF.

Support a Youthful Glow with PROVEN Skincare

Just because a product asserts (if not shouts) that it has anti aging effects doesn’t mean they will. In fact, the more outlandish the claims, the more wary you should be.

PROVEN Skincare is the antithesis of a company that makes bogus declarations. The ingredients in our products take center stage, but which ones we include in your personalized package are determined by a host of factors. Where you live, your skin type, your age, how your skin feels after a shower—all have a hand in the tailor-made system we formulate especially for you.

Custom Solutions For Each Skin: Take our Skin Quiz today for personalized skincare products that meet your skin needs.