A Quick Guide to Anti-Ageing Creams
All your questions on anti-ageing creams.
Anti-Ageing Creams: Fact Vs. Fiction
It's an anti ageing minefield out there. So, how can we be sure to choose the right product? Here are 10 facts to set you on the right path.
Anti Ageing and anti wrinkle creams are the same thing
False: Anti ageing and anti wrinkle creams tackle different problems. So what's the difference? An anti ageing treatment will combat all signs of skin ageing - age spots, fine lines, wrinkles, loss of density, dullness and dryness. Anti-wrinkle treatments, however, just deal with the wrinkle side of things.
A decent moisturiser is all it takes
False: Moisturising is essential for great skin but our faces need more than hydrating if we're to slow down the clock. Anti ageing creams are designed to target the three main signs of ageing skin: dry skin/dehydration, expression lines and hollow features. So as we get older, it's important to moisturise with an anti ageing formula.
Anti Ageing treatments aren't just for our faces
True: It's not just our faces that suffer from the passage of time! We should also religiously apply an anti ageing cream to our neck and cleavage. Not forgetting our hands, which tend to get dry and develop age spots.
I should start using an anti ageing cream when I reach 50
True and false: Although age affects us all differently, our first wrinkles will appear at around 25, when skin cell production begins to slow down. We may notice some sagging and a slight loss of tone. We need to progressively incorporate anti ageing treatments into our beauty routine. To fully hydrate your skin and deal with loss of tone, you should start with anti ageing moisturisers packed with antioxidants. You can move on to a global action anti-ageing cream further down the line. And treat yourself to anti ageing night and eye contour treatments. Leave the anti-wrinkle heavy artillery until last!
Anti ageing creams work best at night
True: Our skin regenerates overnight because cellular activity varies depending on the time of day or night. It reaches a peak between 11pm and 4am. If you have to choose between a day or night anti ageing cream, go for the latter!
Anti ageing serums are the same as creams
False: Serums are designed to be used alongside and not instead of a cream. They're great wrinkle-busters thanks to their fluid texture and active ingredients that quickly penetrate skin. However, they don't moisturise as well as creams, so they're best applied before your anti ageing moisturiser.
There are anti ageing treatments for all skin types
True: Today's anti ageing treatments are designed for different skin types. For example, if you have oily or combination skin, you can opt for an anti ageing cream that will deal with wrinkles and mattify your skin in one fell swoop. And don't worry if your skin's acne prone - these treatments may be rich in texture, but they're still suitable.
There's an art to applying an anti ageing treatment
True: Anti ageing creams work best if they're massaged on - this helps them to better penetrate and treat skin. Apply your cream to your neck using upwards movements, iron out frown lines by working out from your inner eyebrows towards your temples and plump up crow's feet by tapping on your treatment.
A healthy lifestyle keeps wrinkles at bay
True and false: A healthy lifestyle does keep our skin glowing for longer, so bin the cigarettes, eat a balanced diet and drink lots of water. But that's not all. To prevent wrinkles from appearing and/or deepening, avoid exposure to the sun and make sure you apply suitable treatments adapted to your skin.
Richer creams work better
False: Some ingredients penetrate better in an oily base, but it really depends on what your treatment contains. How well it works varies according to its concentration of active ingredients. And to set the record straight, anti ageing creams don't become ineffective over time - your skin won't become immune to its beneficial properties. An anti ageing serum, for example, works better with every application!
Anti Ageing and anti wrinkle creams are the same thing
False: Anti ageing and anti wrinkle creams tackle different problems. So what's the difference? An anti ageing treatment will combat all signs of skin ageing - age spots, fine lines, wrinkles, loss of density, dullness and dryness. Anti-wrinkle treatments, however, just deal with the wrinkle side of things.
A decent moisturiser is all it takes
False: Moisturising is essential for great skin but our faces need more than hydrating if we're to slow down the clock. Anti ageing creams are designed to target the three main signs of ageing skin: dry skin/dehydration, expression lines and hollow features. So as we get older, it's important to moisturise with an anti ageing formula.
Anti Ageing treatments aren't just for our faces
True: It's not just our faces that suffer from the passage of time! We should also religiously apply an anti ageing cream to our neck and cleavage. Not forgetting our hands, which tend to get dry and develop age spots.
I should start using an anti ageing cream when I reach 50
True and false: Although age affects us all differently, our first wrinkles will appear at around 25, when skin cell production begins to slow down. We may notice some sagging and a slight loss of tone. We need to progressively incorporate anti ageing treatments into our beauty routine. To fully hydrate your skin and deal with loss of tone, you should start with anti ageing moisturisers packed with antioxidants. You can move on to a global action anti-ageing cream further down the line. And treat yourself to anti ageing night and eye contour treatments. Leave the anti-wrinkle heavy artillery until last!
Anti ageing creams work best at night
True: Our skin regenerates overnight because cellular activity varies depending on the time of day or night. It reaches a peak between 11pm and 4am. If you have to choose between a day or night anti ageing cream, go for the latter!
Anti ageing serums are the same as creams
False: Serums are designed to be used alongside and not instead of a cream. They're great wrinkle-busters thanks to their fluid texture and active ingredients that quickly penetrate skin. However, they don't moisturise as well as creams, so they're best applied before your anti ageing moisturiser.
There are anti ageing treatments for all skin types
True: Today's anti ageing treatments are designed for different skin types. For example, if you have oily or combination skin, you can opt for an anti ageing cream that will deal with wrinkles and mattify your skin in one fell swoop. And don't worry if your skin's acne prone - these treatments may be rich in texture, but they're still suitable.
There's an art to applying an anti ageing treatment
True: Anti ageing creams work best if they're massaged on - this helps them to better penetrate and treat skin. Apply your cream to your neck using upwards movements, iron out frown lines by working out from your inner eyebrows towards your temples and plump up crow's feet by tapping on your treatment.
A healthy lifestyle keeps wrinkles at bay
True and false: A healthy lifestyle does keep our skin glowing for longer, so bin the cigarettes, eat a balanced diet and drink lots of water. But that's not all. To prevent wrinkles from appearing and/or deepening, avoid exposure to the sun and make sure you apply suitable treatments adapted to your skin.
Richer creams work better
False: Some ingredients penetrate better in an oily base, but it really depends on what your treatment contains. How well it works varies according to its concentration of active ingredients. And to set the record straight, anti ageing creams don't become ineffective over time - your skin won't become immune to its beneficial properties. An anti ageing serum, for example, works better with every application!
A Quick Guide to Anti-Ageing Creams
There comes a point in our skincare lives when we can no longer slap on any old moisturiser... Expression lines or wrinkles caused by sagging skin appear, meaning we need to up the ante and invest in age-busting creams. But how do we know which one to choose? Easy, just follow our guide!
Anti ageing treatments that slow down the clock
First and foremost, anti ageing and anti-wrinkle are two completely different issues! Anti-wrinkle creams just deal with wrinkles. Anti ageing creams combat all signs of ageing (wrinkles, saggy skin, loss of density or volume, age spots, fragile skin) and are pumped full of various active ingredients. The star players are retinol to zap wrinkles, fruit acids to boost cell renewal, hyaluronic acid to deeply hydrate, Pro-xylane to strengthen fibrous tissue, Vitamin C for an antioxidant kick, calcium to improve density and caffeine to drain puffy eyes.
An anti ageing cream to suit your needs
When wrinkles first appear: Tired features, lines, uneven tone, open pores... Opt for a light, vitamin E-based cream to wake up and smoothe your complexion.
- To zap wrinkles already in place: Vertical lines make us look worn out and grumpy. To banish frown lines, deep nasolabial folds and forehead wrinkles, go for a targeted anti-wrinkle treatment. Pro-retinol can deal with the deepest of furrows. The result? Diminished wrinkles and firmer, moisturised skin!
- To revive dull skin: Dry skin craves hydrating treatments: hyaluronic acid is a great glow-boosting skin-smoother. If you've got oily skin, apply creams rich in fruit acids or retinol to improve blood flow whilst gently exfoliating its surface.
- To revolumise your face: Creams containing hyaluronic acid will reduce wrinkles and restore volume, leaving your face plump, firm and visibly younger. Hyaluronic acid works particularly well on tear troughs!
- To bolster sagging skin: If your skin is losing elasticity and becoming less supple, pump it full of peptides. These active ingredients increase collagen and elastin production that's slowed down with age.
- To comfort thin, fragile skin: If your epidermis is wilting, go for a calcium-based cream to repair and strengthen your skin.
- To banish age spots: The idea is to even out skin tone with an anti-pigment treatment that will regulate melatonin levels. You should also religiously apply a sunscreen to prevent age spots from cropping up.
Anti ageing treatments that slow down the clock
First and foremost, anti ageing and anti-wrinkle are two completely different issues! Anti-wrinkle creams just deal with wrinkles. Anti ageing creams combat all signs of ageing (wrinkles, saggy skin, loss of density or volume, age spots, fragile skin) and are pumped full of various active ingredients. The star players are retinol to zap wrinkles, fruit acids to boost cell renewal, hyaluronic acid to deeply hydrate, Pro-xylane to strengthen fibrous tissue, Vitamin C for an antioxidant kick, calcium to improve density and caffeine to drain puffy eyes.
An anti ageing cream to suit your needs
When wrinkles first appear: Tired features, lines, uneven tone, open pores... Opt for a light, vitamin E-based cream to wake up and smoothe your complexion.
- To zap wrinkles already in place: Vertical lines make us look worn out and grumpy. To banish frown lines, deep nasolabial folds and forehead wrinkles, go for a targeted anti-wrinkle treatment. Pro-retinol can deal with the deepest of furrows. The result? Diminished wrinkles and firmer, moisturised skin!
- To revive dull skin: Dry skin craves hydrating treatments: hyaluronic acid is a great glow-boosting skin-smoother. If you've got oily skin, apply creams rich in fruit acids or retinol to improve blood flow whilst gently exfoliating its surface.
- To revolumise your face: Creams containing hyaluronic acid will reduce wrinkles and restore volume, leaving your face plump, firm and visibly younger. Hyaluronic acid works particularly well on tear troughs!
- To bolster sagging skin: If your skin is losing elasticity and becoming less supple, pump it full of peptides. These active ingredients increase collagen and elastin production that's slowed down with age.
- To comfort thin, fragile skin: If your epidermis is wilting, go for a calcium-based cream to repair and strengthen your skin.
- To banish age spots: The idea is to even out skin tone with an anti-pigment treatment that will regulate melatonin levels. You should also religiously apply a sunscreen to prevent age spots from cropping up.
Are You Applying Your Anti-Ageing Cream Correctly?
Here are our tried and tested beauty tips on how to work in anti ageing treatments for maximum age-busting results! Massage, press, tap and tone: simple tricks to give you back your youthful glow!
Beauty tip N°1: Massage to smooth
• Forehead wrinkles: Place your thumbs on your temples and three fingers between your eyebrows. Using your fingers, massage upwards until you reach the same height as your thumbs.
• Cheeks: Massage your cheeks and lip contour starting at the middle of your face and working upwards and outwards.
• Crow's feet: Massage your crow's feet using circular movements.
• Neck: Massage your neck skin with your palms by repeatedly smoothing upwards.
• Double chin: Using one hand after the other, massage your chin using the back of your hand.
Beauty tip N°2: Pressure to smooth
To tackle forehead or frown lines and brighten your look, place your thumbs in the inside of your eyebrows. Apply a certain amount of pressure and smooth your thumbs out towards your temples. Repeat, but this time start under your eyebrows. Finish off by sticking out your tongue - this will stretch your jaw muscles, relax your features and boost blood flow.
Beauty tip N°3: Pinch to firm
Pinch your skin with your thumb and index finger, working centimetre by centimetre around both sides of your face: from your cheekbones to your temples, mouth towards your ears and under your chin towards your neck. Lightly pinch your skin, working up towards your frown lines. Finish off by smoothing your skin.
Beauty tip N°4: Tap to tone
Using the fingers of both hands, quickly tap all over your forehead and cheeks. Don't forget your crow's feet, as this will smooth and relax your skin.
Article supplied & written by Marie Claire, part of Hearst Communications, Inc.
Beauty tip N°1: Massage to smooth
• Forehead wrinkles: Place your thumbs on your temples and three fingers between your eyebrows. Using your fingers, massage upwards until you reach the same height as your thumbs.
• Cheeks: Massage your cheeks and lip contour starting at the middle of your face and working upwards and outwards.
• Crow's feet: Massage your crow's feet using circular movements.
• Neck: Massage your neck skin with your palms by repeatedly smoothing upwards.
• Double chin: Using one hand after the other, massage your chin using the back of your hand.
Beauty tip N°2: Pressure to smooth
To tackle forehead or frown lines and brighten your look, place your thumbs in the inside of your eyebrows. Apply a certain amount of pressure and smooth your thumbs out towards your temples. Repeat, but this time start under your eyebrows. Finish off by sticking out your tongue - this will stretch your jaw muscles, relax your features and boost blood flow.
Beauty tip N°3: Pinch to firm
Pinch your skin with your thumb and index finger, working centimetre by centimetre around both sides of your face: from your cheekbones to your temples, mouth towards your ears and under your chin towards your neck. Lightly pinch your skin, working up towards your frown lines. Finish off by smoothing your skin.
Beauty tip N°4: Tap to tone
Using the fingers of both hands, quickly tap all over your forehead and cheeks. Don't forget your crow's feet, as this will smooth and relax your skin.
Article supplied & written by Marie Claire, part of Hearst Communications, Inc.