Wrinkles and fine lines are common signs of aging, but can occur at any stage of your youthful years; hence, often referred to as ‘premature or early signs of aging’.
Since the skin is the outermost and most visible part of our body, it is the very first to exhibit wrinkles and fine lines. And, to be true, it takes a lot of efforts to keep it supple, youthful and plump.
Though we cannot stop the natural process of aging, one can still minimize the damage due to aging and can slow down the formation of wrinkles and fine lines. There are myriads of treatments available to get rid of wrinkles and other signs of aging, and one such treatment is anti-wrinkle creams.
If you are in your late 20’s or early 30’s, chances are very high that you have already considered getting your first anti-wrinkle cream or changing the same. At this point, the question arises is how effective these creams are? Well, that majorly depends on the skin type and the underlying cause of wrinkles.
Different creams are suitable for different types of skin, and to make the right selection, you need to be sure that you know how effective they are for your skin type. Likewise, different anti-wrinkle creams target different causes of wrinkles. Hence, it is better to consult a dermatologist to learn the exact cause of wrinkles. This will eventually help you make a better choice.
Moreover, numerous active ingredients in an anti-wrinkle cream work in some or other way to help you get rid of wrinkles. So, it is important to know the constituents of your anti-wrinkle cream to extract maximum benefits.
Let’s begin by looking at some common causes of wrinkles.
Common Causes of Wrinkles
Wrinkles appear in the form of fine lines, crease or folding. Wrinkle is caused by several factors. Some of these are discussed below:
- Normal Process of Aging: Collagen production decreases with age. This leads to more sagginess and loss of skin elasticity.
- Sun Exposure: According to a study, nearly 80% of wrinkles appear due to harmful radiations of the sun. Excessive sun exposure may also lead to impaired skin elasticity, pigmentation and yellowing of the skin. The harmful UV radiation from the sun breaks down the connective tissues, due to which your skin loses its elasticity and firmness.
- Smoking: Smoking constricts the blood vessels supplying blood to different layers of the skin. This decreases the blood flow to the skin cells, which in turn, impairs your skin.
- Heredity: Wrinkles can also occur because of some inherited traits.
- Facial Expressions: Being expressive is appreciated, but being over-expressive can lead to the formation of wrinkles and fine lines. A groove forms under the skin with each facial expression. As the elasticity of the skin decreases, these grooves do not bounce back to their normal position; thereby, forming a permanent fine line.
After understanding the underlying cause of your wrinkles, it’s time to know what you should be looked at in an anti-wrinkle cream.
The best anti wrinkle creams are those that have more number of active ingredients. Though the list may be unfamiliar to you or may belong, you must go through it, so as to make the most out of your anti-wrinkle cream. Checking reviews before buying any product can also be of great help.
Key Ingredients to Look For in an Anti-Wrinkle Cream
- AHA and BHA: These are exfoliants and promote the growth of evenly pigmented, smooth skin. It also helps remove dead cells from the skin. Read more about AHA and BHA here.
- Retinol: Retinol is an antioxidant and helps create a better looking and healthier skin.
- Vitamin C: This is another very important antioxidant. It protects the sun from skin damage and catalyzes the recovery process. Studies show that Vitamin C is a well-tolerated and effective treatment of photo-damaged skin.
- Coenzyme Q10: This is most effective around the eye area. Coenzyme Q10 helps reduce fine line and wrinkles and protects the skin from the sun.
- Hyaluronic Acid: This maintains the moister level of the skin.
- Niacinamide: A wonderful antioxidant, it checks loss of moisture from the skin and improves its elasticity.
- Peptides: This particularly helps in healing stretch marks, scar marks and wrinkles.
- Grape Seed Extract: This is a great antioxidant and has anti-inflammatory properties.
How to Choose Anti-Wrinkle Cream for Your Skin Type?
It is a general recommendation that before purchasing any skin care product, you must consider your skin type. Different skin types need to be treated differently, and your product should have everything that your skin needs.
Let’s understand this with an example. For oily skin, choosing an anti-wrinkle cream is tricky as oily skin have hyperactive sebum glands. Anti-wrinkle creams usually contain emollients and oils. In case, you fall in this category, use must opt for water-based antiwrinkle creams. Another major ingredient in your cream should be salicylic acid.
Similarly, if you have a sensitive or dry skin, it becomes even more difficult to choose a product that will not harm your skin. A person with this skin type should avoid retinol as it may cause additional dryness, leading to irritation. One should look for milder replacements of retinol. An oil-based creams having thicker structure would work just fine for such a person.
How Effective are Anti-Wrinkle Creams?
Anti-wrinkle creams are effective in decreasing wrinkles and improve your skin texture. In addition to the promises made by various manufacturers, this has been scientifically proved through various studies.
A study, conducted on around 100 participants with age range, 30 to 70 years, the effectiveness of anti-wrinkle cream on periorbital lines was assessed. After 4 weeks of regular use, it was found that the skin texture of the participants has significantly improved.
Nevertheless, the efficiency of the cream depends on the number of active ingredients it contains and the way you use them. One should always keep in mind that these are not at all magical potions, and one needs to take additional measures to keep the skin healthy.
