A POTENT ingredient that helps to maintain a youthful appearance is often underrated in skincare routines, according to a doctor. Dr. Raja revealed his secrets for getting the best results from anti-aging products.
Dr. Raja is a GP and aesthetic doctor at Derma Aesthetics London , based in Harley Street, England. Speaking to The U.
S. Sun, he shared the ingredients every beauty regimen should include to defy skin aging. Wearing SPF daily is “essential” as sun damage causes 90% of skin aging.
Sunscreen also protects against pollutants and other environmental aggressors. However, Dr. Raja said several other ingredients also keep skin healthy.
At the top of his list are antioxidants such as vitamin E which help to reduce free radical damage. “Other ingredients to help protect your complexion and maintain its youthful appearance include retinoids (vitamin A derivatives) such as retinol and tretinoin,” he said. “These improve your cell turnover, reducing fine lines and wrinkles.
“Hyaluronic acid is another great ingredient when it comes to maintaining skin moisture and plumpness. “Peptides are also fantastic, working to stimulate collagen production, improve skin texture and reduce fine lines.” He revealed antioxidants, retinoids, and peptides are best introduced to the skin in your 20s-mid 20s.
“An ingredient I personally think is massively underrated in terms of its effectiveness is ceramides,” he said. “They’re super effective in strengthening your skin’s barrier and protecting it against environmental damage, whilst retaining moisture.” He revealed ceramides and hyaluronic acid are “perfectly safe” to use from your late teens onwards.
Dr. Raja said the key to seeing a visible improvement in your skincare regime is consistency. He recommended cleansing the skin before applying any cosmetics.
“As a rule of thumb, you should apply your skincare products according to their consistency,” he said. Focus on improving your skin’s health from within rather than injecting volume or restricting movement. “From the lightest such as serums, oils, and drops, through to the thickest such as moisturizers, night creams, or SPFs last to seal all the goodness in.
” Skincare routines should be paired with adequate sleep, a healthy diet, and hydration. Dr. Raja said knowing your skin type can be useful when deciding on other treatments that may be beneficial for anti-aging.
“Microneedling is a great option for superficial lines, as are other non-invasive treatments such as chemical peels,” he said. “You could also try skin boosters such as Profhilo or Polynucleotides, which are injectable treatments. “But, focus on improving your skin’s health from within rather than injecting volume, think dermal fillers or restricting movement with Botox.
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