The Best Ingredients to Prevent Ageing Skin

Clinical skincare specialist Douglas Periera shares his best tips on how to prevent ageing skin.

The natural ageing skin process cannot be prevented. However, youthful skin can be maintained by making the right lifestyle choices, and using the right anti-ageing products.

Douglas Periera is a clinical skincare specialist with 20 years industry experience. His personal clinic, Clinical Skin Therapy, is based in Sydney, and sells Periera’s cosmeceutical skincare range.

According to Periera, there are two types of ageing.‘Intrinsic’ or natural ageing, is determined by genetics and cannot be changed, and ‘extrinsic’ or environmental ageing, determined by lifestyle choices.

“We cannot change the natural ageing process, however we can influence our environment and lifestyle choices that cause our skin to age prematurely,” Periera said.

“By taking preventative actions, we can slow the effects of environmental ageing.”

“The key to prevention and intervention is the right products and active ingredients.”

These are four most effective anti-ageing ingredients, according to Periera. Look out for these in anti-ageing products and professional treatments.

These ingredients will help to prevent wrinkles, smooth and firm the skin, and prevent premature ageing.

The best way to incorporate these anti-ageing ingredients into a daily routine is through specifically formulated serums which contain high percentages of the key ingredient.

1. Niacinamide:

Niacinamide is a form of Vitamin B3 found naturally in foods including yeast, fish, milk, eggs and green vegetables. It is known to have many positive effects on the skin when both consumed or used topically.

This is how nicainamide helps prevent ageing:

“Niacinamide suppresses melanin from reaching the surface of the skin. This is beneficial as too much melanin can result in age spots, freckles and hyper-pigmentation. Niacinamide also protects the skin from further UV damage,” Periera says.

“A study done by Proctor and Gamble showed that using 5% Niacinamide on the face for 12 weeks resulted in the reduction of fine lines and wrinkles, hyper-pigmented spots, red blotchiness and skin sallowness (yellowing).”

2. Retinaldehyde (Vitamin A)

“Retinaldehyde is Vitamin A in its whole molecule form, which can be broken down into smaller components including Retinoic acid,” Periera said.

This is how retinaldehyde, or vitamin A, helps slow down the ageing process.

“Retinaldehyde is one of the most important vitamins for the appearance of the skin because its tiny molecules have the ability to penetrate the outer layers of the skin and work to repair the lower layers where collagen and elastin* reside.”

*Collagen is the protein responsible for the firmness, elasticity and strength of skin, and elastin is the protein responsible for allowing the skin to bounce back after being stretched, making it responsible for skin’s tautness.

“Vitamin A is believed to renew and regenerate skin cells and stimulate new collagen production. It also has antioxidant properties; and serves as a skin exfoliator, unclogging pores. These properties make vitamin A effective in treating and preventing the signs of ageing,” Periera said.

3. Epidermal Growth Factors

“Epidermal growth factors (EGF) are a family of proteins that are naturally present in the body. They are a key component of the cell growth and regeneration process,” Periera said.

“EGF prevents premature ageing by considerably increasing skin regeneration, stimulating the production of more collagen and elastin.”

“Currently, it is the most powerful known active ingredient to induce such an effect. This is why EGF treatments and products can reverse the signs of ageing and restore collagen levels to those observed in young persons.”

4. Vitamin C

Vitamin C seems to be the holy grail of skin care, combating fine lines and wrinkles, discolouration, brightening dull skin, acting as an anti-inflammatory and protecting the skin from damage.

“The regular use of concentrated Vitamin C can combat the appearance of pre-existing fine lines and wrinkles, by boosting production and filling in skin imperfections,” Periera said.

“Because Vitamin C is an antioxidant, it naturally helps to strengthen your skin and repel things that could damage it, such as the sun’s UVA and UVB rays.”

Douglas Periera’s serums and treatments all use these active ingredients to help combat the signs of ageing.

Click here to visit Periera’s Clinical Skin Therapy website for more information on his skincare range and treatment options.