11 Natural Anti-aging Ingredients For Skin
The term “natural” has been a storm in the skin care industry recently. It seems like the more developed our society gets, the more we tend to lean towards the simplest things.
Surprisingly, some of the best wrinkle fighters lie right in our kitchens. Today, we’ll discuss 11 natural anti-aging ingredients for skin that you should opt for in skin care products.
Why Should You Go For Natural Ingredients?
Although synthetic ingredients have been shown to reduce wrinkles and fine lines, there are many natural alternatives that provide the same ageing resistant benefits without exposing your skin to toxic chemicals and preservatives.
Some people believe that natural ingredients are only botanicals and extracts, but scientific advances have elevated natural ingredients to a whole new level. Some of these breakthroughs involve ingredient fermentation and other novel processes. Natural ingredients can interact with the body in a synergistic manner, enhancing their benefits and providing healthier alternatives to synthetic ones.
Natural ingredients, unlike some of their lab-based counterparts, are also easier to absorb because the body treats them as nutrients. They do not clog pores, promote cell regeneration, aid in moisture retention, and do not harm the immune system.
Things You Should Take Notice
While going natural is certainly appealing, dermatologists advise making the transition gradually. Take it one step at a time. If your skin agrees, proceed to the next step in your regimen. If you begin using all new products at once, you may be unable to determine which are effective and which may be allergenic to you.
Furthermore, while selecting natural anti-aging ingredients for skin is an important first step, it is best to work from the inside out to achieve optimal skin.
11 Natural Anti-Aging Ingredients For Skin That You Should Look For
1. Berries
Berries are high in polyphenols, such as flavonoids and tannins, which act as antioxidants and protect against oxidative stress, according to research.
These phenolic compounds have properties that aid in the reduction of the causes and effects of skin age, the treatment of skin diseases (including skin cancer), and the improvement of the appearance of scars and burns.
Flavonoids, in particular, have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, whereas tannins act as a natural astringent, shrinking and tightening skin cells.
2. Greens
Here’s yet another reason to eat your vegetables! Green leafy vegetables are high in tocopherols (vitamin E) and phytonutrients like lutein and zeaxanthin, which help to prevent the signs of the age and sun damage while also promoting overall skin health. Green vegetable consumption was shown in this study to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines as well as the risk of skin cancer.
3. Rosehip Oil
While rosehip oil is well-known for its ability to reduce scars and discoloration, a 2015 study using rosehip powder found that it also has ageing resistant properties. After eight weeks of use, the subjects reported significant improvements in crow’s feet, skin moisture, and elasticity. That’s not surprising given rosehip’s high concentration of fatty acids and antioxidants like tocopherols and carotenoids, which make it effective against inflammation and oxidative stress.
4. Fruit/Plant Stem Cells
Fruit and plant-derived stem cells are high in collagen and elastin fibers, which, as we all know, begin to decline as we age, resulting in dry, dull, and wrinkled skin. Stem cells may be the closest thing to the mythical fountain of youth.
They are essential in ageing resistant skin care due to their ability to self-renew—they replenish damaged cells and regenerate damaged tissue. Swiss apple stem cells, in particular, have been discovered to maintain and protect human stem, resulting in a reduction in early signs of aging such as fine lines and loss of firmness.
5. Carrot Seed
Carrot seed oil might not be on your radar as a top ingredient for ageing resistant, but it deserves to be on this list. “Carrot seed oil is high in the antioxidant carotenoid. “It repairs skin damage, detoxifies, and hydrates the skin,” Lee says. Carrot seed oil, extracted from the carrot plant Daucos carota or wild carrot (and not to be confused with carrot oil), contains cancer-fighting bioflavonoids as well as antimicrobial and free radical scavenging properties.
6. Lactic Acid
Lactic acid, one of the most popular skin care ingredients, is an AHA (alpha hydroxy acids) that occurs naturally in our bodies and is also commonly found in yogurt and fermented vegetables. It is known to refine wrinkles and improve skin texture and elasticity as an ingredient for antiaging, and it is frequently used as an exfoliant to encourage cell regeneration and skin lightening.
7. Green Tea
Green tea (all teas, really) needs no introduction when it comes to natural ingredients. Its numerous advantages include improved overall health and a slew of skin care wonders. “Green tea has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.” Green tea’s antiaging benefits are attributed to polyphenols, which are flavonoids found in plants,” says dermatologist Harold Lancer, M.D., F.A.A.D., founder of Lancer Skincare and creator of the renowned anti-aging protocol The Lancer Method. “Early research has shown that green tea can reduce sun damage, protect skin from cancer, and reduce collagen breakdown,” he says.
8. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is well-known for its antibacterial and antifungal properties, as well as its anti-aging and skin-healing properties. A 2010 study discovered that virgin coconut oil, in particular, contains properties that stimulate collagenic production. It’s also a powerful moisturizer, which is especially beneficial for dry or aging skin.
9. Bilberry Extract
Bilberries, which are common in Northern Europe, have traditionally been used in folk medicine for their antiseptic, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Bilberry is best known in modern skin care as an anti-aging treatment. It contains anthocyanins, a phenolic substance that acts as an antioxidant, reversing UVA-induced free radical damage to epidermal cells and strengthening capillaries and skin tissue.
Furthermore, bilberry contains astringent properties that aid in skin cleansing and tightening, as well as vitamins B, C, and E that nourish and hydrate.
10. Pomegranate
Pomegranate has potent anti-aging properties, which may be one of the reasons for the intense interest in this tasty little fruit. According to recent research, chemicals in the fruit’s flesh stimulate the production of a molecule called urolithin A, which is essential for muscle cell degeneration. The authors of a study published in the scientific journal Nature Medicine believe it has enormous anti-aging potential: “The nutritional approach opens up territory that traditional pharma has never explored.” “It’s a true shift in the scientific paradigm,” says Johan Auwerx, the study’s researcher and author.
Because of its high vitamin C content and high punicic acid content, pomegranate is known as the “anti-aging queen.” This is an Omega-5 fatty acid that aids in the retention of collagen in the skin. So anticipate plumper, more youthful skin.
11. Coffee Oil
Because of its high concentration of essential fatty acids, sterols, and vitamin E, coffee oil is one of our favorite anti-aging products. This trifecta makes it a potent antioxidant capable of protecting against UV damage and the cellular degradations that accompany it. These antioxidant properties have been discussed in numerous studies – if you’re a keen student looking for more science, check out this article in the Medical Science Monitor for a step-by-step breakdown of caffeine’s antioxidant properties.
What’s the scoop on coffee’s anti-aging benefits? Photoaging is a major cause of mature-looking skin, and coffee oil can help to prevent it by supporting strong and flexible skin tissue reproduction at the cellular level. Caffeine oil is also an extremely useful treatment for one of the most vexing beauty issues: under-eye puffiness.
Best Anti-Aging Ingredients
Retinol
Retinol. You’ve all heard of it, and you’re probably aware that it has almost mythical status in the anti-aging world. It’s a Vitamin A compound that chemically exfoliates your skin by increasing cell turnover. What does this mean? It removes dead skin cells and pore buildup that cause dullness and a lifeless complexion. Retinol is an important ingredient in achieving a dewy, fresh-faced appearance because it can smooth texture and gradually fade dark spots caused by scarring or sun exposure. On the other hand, you should notice that over-using retinol can make you have a dry skin, and remember to use sun cream every day.
Peptide
Pentapeptide-48 is included to help with stem cell regeneration in the skin. It also increases elastin production. Pentapeptide-48 reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, resulting in firmer and more volume skin. Peptides are amino acids that play an important role in cellular communication, protein regulation, and cell growth. According to a recent study, “these peptides are used for collagen stimulation, wound healing, ‘Botox-like’ wrinkle smoothing, as well as antioxidative, antimicrobial, and whitening effects.”
Vitamin C
This is probably not the first time you’ve heard us gush about vitamin C.
Vitamin C is well-known as an effective anti-aging skin care ingredient. Vitamin C has the ability to brighten, hydrate, and firm the skin. It’s a potent antioxidant that fights free radicals and the damage caused by toxins accumulated in daily life. It’s especially effective against sun-damaged photos.
It can also reduce and fade discoloration from previous sun damage when applied topically. Vitamin C is essential for collagen production, making it a must-have for natural anti-aging skin care.
Niacinamide
Niacinamide is a must-have in any natural anti-aging skin care routine (which explains why Byrdie has this PM serum at the top of their beauty wish-list). It boosts the immunity of your skin by increasing the production of ceramides.
Ceramides are an important component of the skin’s lipid barrier, helping it retain moisture and protect itself from environmental pollutants. Because sun exposure can strip and damage this barrier, adding ceramide-producing topicals (specifically, natural products containing niacinamide) is an important strategy for younger-looking skin.
Niacinamide can be used to repair damaged skin, prevent moisture loss, and keep invading microbes at bay. A better lipid barrier results in less redness, blotchiness, and sensitivity.
How Can You Tell If A Product Is Natural?
Bottle labels can be deceptive. When a product makes multiple claims on its packaging, I often become too overwhelmed to understand what I’m buying. Dr. Hu advises us to simplify the process and focus solely on the ingredients. “Take some time to research the brand and the ingredients they use to see if the product is truly natural,” she advises. It’s a no-go if it contains synthetic chemicals, fragrances, dyes, parabens, sulfates, or phthalates.
Bottom Lines
When it comes to skin care, it’s a known fact that some of the most popular anti-aging products have been tried and tested in a lab. While that may be all right for some—we’re all for looking and feeling young, after all—others may not be too keen on the idea. So if the thought of smearing your face with ingredients you can barely pronounce (much less understand) is making you feel uneasy, then it’s time to shift the focus to natural anti-aging skin care.
