As we are all aware, one can spend massive amounts of money and time researching and purchasing anti aging skin care products that claim to be the ‘latest and greatest fountain of youth’ . The objective is to get you to believe that the newer claim is a vast improvement and worth the money you will inevitably spend on it. The quest for Natural skin care ingredients is an even greater obstacle.

The good news is effective natural skin care ingredients do exist. They can make a difference to your skin and are worth seeking out. Here are a few Natural anti aging skin care ingredients that are worth spending your money on because they live up to their promises.

1. Vitamin C – Vitamin C is one of the workhorse ingredients in skin care. It is backed up by a considerable amount of clinical research that demonstrate its benefits, which include:

• An increase in collagen synthesis, which helps to thicken the skin and may help to diminish fine lines and wrinkles
• Antioxidant activity, which reduces skin damage caused by free radicals (unstable molecules). It also helps us to withstand exposure to sunlight and boosts the effectiveness of sunscreen.
• Boosts the effectiveness of Vitamin E, which is important in protecting our cell’s membranes.
• An effective depigmenting agent at concentrations 5% or higher
• An improvement in the appearance of sun damaged skin
• Thickens the skin helping to keep it hydrated

 2. Vitamin E – Like Vitamin C, Vitamin E is a highly effective antioxidant. It works to protect the membranes of cells, lipoproteins, and many other bodily structures considered to be “oily.”  Vitamin E is effective when taken both orally or applied topically. It seems to help protect the skin, particularly from age spots and scarring and also boosts the skin’s natural moisture-retaining mechanisms. 

Vitamin E is composed of tocopherols and tocotrienols, with the tocopherol components possessing more antioxidant activity.

3. Retinoids – Retinoids are derivatives of Vitamin A. There are several currently used in skin care preparations – retinol, retinyl palmitate, tretinoin, tazarotene. While retinol and retinyl palmitate may be found in over the counter preparations, the latter two require a doctor’s prescription.

Retinol’s benefits include:

• An increase in cell turnover leading to smoother, brighter looking skin
• Repair of cellular structure damage gradually in the epidermal cells as well as in the dermal collagen and small blood vessels resulting in tighter skin; fewer wrinkles.
• Shrinkage of oil glands, which helps to reduce pore size and diminish scars.
• Stimulates production of new collagen leading to a thicker, plumper epidermis.

The important thing in a retinol preparation is to look for a concentration high enough to be effective.

5. Vitamins B-3, B-5 –  B Vitamins have been added as popular additions to skin products, mostly because they help hold moisture in. Well-hydrated skin is less likely to become irritated

• Stimulates Exfoliation of the skin
• Increases Hydration leading to less irritation and smoother pigmentation.

4. Salicylic Acid – Like AHAs, salicylic acid is an exfoliating agent for the outermost skin layer, the epidermis.  Often referred to as a beta hydroxy acid, salicylic acid is different to AHAs in that it is lipid (oil) soluble as compared to AHAs which are water soluble. This characteristic allows salicylic acid to penetrate the oil in pores, helping to unclog and cleanse them of debris. It also possesses antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. These actions make it an ideal choice for individuals with oily skin battling with blackheads and acne. 

5. Green Tea – The benefits of green tea may be attributed to their constituent polyphenols, a subclass of flavonoids, found in many plants. Green tea possesses powerful antioxidant activity, reduces inflammation, and can reduce the harmful effects of sun exposure.

Given their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, it’s likely that topically applied green tea polyphenols will have some effect on wrinkles or skin sag.  

6. Peptides – Peptides are protein fragments that have been shown to have some beneficial effect on skin. Though a number of peptides have been shown to have skin beneficial effects, two in particular deserve further attention – copper peptides and palmitoyl pentapeptide 3 (also called Matrixyl).

Copper peptides were discovered to help heal tissue when applied to lesions and wounds. In addition, they’ve been shown to reduce the formation of scar tissue while also stimulating the production of more normal skin. 

Studies have shown that peptides can be used to regulate the exchange and growth rates of skin layer cells, limit potentially harmful oxidation, and even create an anti-inflammatory environment that ensures optimal healing conditions.