Prevention is better than cure, especially when it comes to skincare. Most people assume that they only need anti-ageing products when wrinkles form or skin sags. However, dermatologists recommend incorporating anti-ageing ingredients in your 20s as it is much easier to prevent ageing than reverse its effects.
It’s never too late to get started, so here is a list of ingredients you should include in your skincare routine to maintain that youthful glow.
1. Vitamin C
A quintessential ingredient for sustaining youthful skin is vitamin C. Rich in antioxidants, vitamin C aids in reducing inflammation and sun damage. More importantly, this active ingredient brightens skin tone and smoothes skin texture by dissolving surface dead skin cells.
If you’re looking to give your skin a fresh and rejuvenated appearance, you should look out to add Vitamin C to your skincare routine to prevent skin ageing. A product that contains vitamin C is Drunk Elephant’s Vitamin C Firma Serum ($114).
*Tip: Keep it stored in your refrigerator to maintain its effectiveness
2. Retinol
Known for being the only active ingredient that is scientifically proven to reverse skin damage, retinol is the gold standard in anti-ageing. As it is a strong vitamin A derivative, first-time users should use products with a lower concentration of retinol. Putting on too much retinol frequently can cause skin irritation and dryness. Nonetheless, it’s definitely worth a try – many who started on retinol report faded wrinkles and bouncy, youthful skin.
A simple and effective retinol product is The Inkey List’s Retinol serum. For beginners, start off using retinol only once a week to let your skin adapt to the active ingredient before increasing usage frequency (to a maximum of three times per week).
For an even gentler alternative, try bakuchiol, a new found plant-based ingredient from Korea that mimics the effects of retinol. We recommend Biossance Squalane + Phyto Retinol Serum ($106).
3. Sunscreen
Do you know that UV rays can reverse the benefits skincare products provide? That is how important using sunscreen every day is!
SPF is crucial in protecting your skin from UVA and UVB rays from the sun, which are one of the main causes of skin damage and ageing. Applying it daily protects your skin from photodamage, allowing it to reap the full benefits from skincare products. In fact, a minimum of SPF 50 is recommended.
A chemical sunscreen we recommend is the Keep Cool Soothe Bamboo Sun Essence (~$25), which contains multiple soothing and hydrating ingredients such as centella asiatica and bamboo water to soothe overheated skin. If you have sensitive skin and wish to have a mineral sunscreen instead, try the Dear Klairs Mid Day Blue UV Shield (~$30).
4. Hyaluronic Acid
Another useful yet gentle ingredient that keeps your skin hydrated is hyaluronic acid. This ingredient is a humectant, meaning it absorbs water from the atmosphere into the skin – especially useful in Singapore’s humid weather!
To get that plump skin, we suggest you try the La Roche Posay Hyalu B5 Serum (~$55).
5. Niacinamide
We also recommend integrating the popular ingredient niacinamide into your skincare routine. Niacinamide has multiple benefits for all skin types: it minimises hyperpigmentation, reduces redness and the appearance of pores, protects your skin barrier to retain moisture, and balances oil production.
A cult favourite that is also inexpensive is The Ordinary’s Niacinamide 10% + Zinc Oxide 1%.
6. Serums
Finally, protecting your skin’s moisture barrier is crucial in keeping healthy skin. Serums contain a high concentration of ingredients that help repair the skin barrier, replenishing the moisture your skin needs to look plump and refreshed.
Krave Beauty’s Great Barrier Relief Serum contains tamanu oil, an oil rich in fatty acids, which is known for its anti-inflammatory, wound healing, and skin regeneration properties. This is quickly becoming a popular product for treating acne, fighting anti-ageing, and moisturising the skin.
We know it can be tough to maintain a good skincare routine, but we hope this list inspires you with a few ingredients to start out with. With the wealth of information and products out there, it’s not impossible to look like your twenties again!
