Wrinkles and Free Radicals: Anti-Aging Explained

The term has been on everyone's lips for years, but do you really know what anti-aging truly entails? Is it even possible to counteract the natural aging process? And if so, how does it work? Here you'll find out what to look out for in your daily life and when choosing your cosmetics, how to combat wrinkles, and which active ingredients are truly beneficial additions for mature skin!

When skin ages – reasons and signs

Aging is actually a completely natural process and simply part of life. However, you might not find every wrinkle beautiful – and you don't have to. After all, there are now many insights into how to effectively combat them. But before we delve into that, let's examine their origins.

The biological aging process

All living beings on our planet age over time. It's no wonder, then, that researchers have been studying these processes in detail for several decades. However, despite this long period, few insights have been gained. Above all, two factors are firmly established as influencing the aging process: Free radicals damage our cells over time, and our mitochondria weaken with age. Let's start with the mitochondria: In our body, they are responsible for enabling cells to produce energy. They thus maintain organs and bodily processes. As a person ages, their performance declines, and clear signs of aging appear, including in the skin's appearance. Free radicals, on the other hand, are constantly produced by the body itself. This phenomenon usually occurs more strongly with inflammation, stress, and various environmental influences (especially pollutants). They are usually bound by antioxidants, which you can supply to the body through food, for example, but also through various cosmetic products. If this does not happen, the skin begins to age more quickly.

What accelerates skin aging

Free radicals and mitochondria – that might sound too abstract and not very tangible to you at first. So let's take a closer look behind the scenes of the aging process. Because there are three tangible reasons that can actually accelerate it:

• Environmental influences: The skin surrounds our body and is thus constantly exposed to the outside world. This makes it susceptible to pollutants emitted by, for example, industry, but also cigarette smoke.
• Low moisture: You are probably aware that our skin needs moisture. But with age, this need increases steadily, as the production of hyaluronic acid decreases. As a result, our largest organ dries out more and more, and more wrinkles appear.
• Reduced collagen production: Collagen is a protein found, among other places, in the dermis and connective tissue. It ensures that our skin appears beautifully firm and youthful. Over time, however, synthesis can decrease, leading to wrinkles. Researchers have found that from the age of 30, collagen production decreases by approximately 1% per year.

But what can you do about these factors, other than perhaps moving to the countryside to at least minimize harmful environmental influences? This is where most anti-aging products come in. Because these are specifically designed to slow down the processes described above.

What should anti-aging products achieve?

Basically, the explanation is already in the name: anti-aging, or in German, something like "prevention of aging". This term covers countless strategies that are supposed to help body and soul stay young longer. This includes a conscious diet, sufficient exercise and some other tips that are supposed to keep the body fit as a whole system. However, most people associate anti-aging more with skin care products. These are specifically designed to combat wrinkles and other signs of aging (e.g., decreasing elasticity or leathery skin). For example, antioxidants such as vitamins A, C, and E are used to bind free radicals and stimulate collagen production. These and various other active ingredients and sophisticated formulations are thus intended to ensure that skin aging is slowed down, stopped, or even reversed. In the following, we will tell you which ingredients are really beneficial and what exactly they do in the body.

Anti-Aging Ingredients: What Does Each Do?

To effectively counteract your skin's aging processes, you need a selection of nourishing cosmetics. But not everything labeled anti-aging actually contains effective ingredients. So, here's a little guide on which additives you should look for, as they are good for your skin.

Firmer skin with collagen and elastin

As described above, collagen is a protein that is largely involved in skin tightening. The decreasing production with age, however, leads to the appearance of fine lines. To counteract this, a combination of collagen and elastin is used. This makes the skin appear both elastic and tear-resistant. If an anti-aging cream contains collagen and elastin, our largest organ is optimally supplied with moisture and appears plump and youthful. The goal is not just to add collagen externally – after all, this is only possible to a limited extent. Instead, high-quality formulations are designed to simultaneously stimulate the skin's own collagen production, so that the skin gains elasticity from within.

The all-rounder Retinol

Retinol is a form of Vitamin A, an active ingredient that has a doubly positive effect on mature skin. This is because the vitamin is both an antioxidant, thus able to bind free radicals, and at the same time stimulates collagen production. This smooths the skin by rebuilding its structure from within. The result? A finer complexion. This all-rounder is therefore a candidate you should definitely include in your daily skincare routine. It's best to use an anti-aging cream with retinol in the evening, by the way. This is because it has a slight peeling effect that removes the uppermost layer of skin. This leaves the skin unprotected from sun exposure and other environmental influences. Alternatively, you can, of course, combine the application with sufficient sun protection.

Vitamin C: The enemy of free radicals

Besides Vitamin A, Vitamin C is also known as a radical scavenger. It is a highly effective antioxidant. It can even help to fade pigmentation and scar tissue with regular use. This makes the skin generally appear more even and radiant. By the way: You should always store Vitamin C products protected from sun and heat. Only then can it be guaranteed that the antioxidant effect will be preserved. The refrigerator is actually best suited for this.

Anti-aging classics: Hyaluronic acid & ceramides

When people hear anti-aging, hyaluronic acid often comes to mind in the same breath. And that's no wonder. Because as we described above, the skin's need for moisture steadily increases with age. This is largely due to the fact that the body's own production of hyaluronic acid decreases with increasing maturity. Therefore, it can be added additionally via a cream. In this way, it binds water and ensures that it is stored in the connective tissue. Conversely, the skin appears plumper and firmer. Ceramides, on the other hand, form lipid layers in the stratum corneum of the skin, thus creating a natural skin barrier. This protects against dehydration and can prevent the penetration of foreign substances. This also limits the formation of wrinkles.

Galactomyces: Yeast against wrinkles?

Galactomyces (fermented yeast) was discovered by chance during sake production. It was noticed that employees who were already advanced in years had remarkably soft and well-maintained skin on their hands. The rest of their body, however, appeared wrinkled as expected for their age. The Asian cosmetics industry investigated this. During fermentation, an organic substance is broken down into sugars and proteins. During this process, active ingredients such as amino acids, enzymes, vitamins, and flavonoids are created. These are beneficial to our largest organ and can slow down the aging process. In cosmetics, the active ingredients obtained from the fermentation process are now called Galactomyces. Due to the manufacturing method, they can be particularly well absorbed by the skin and penetrate deep into the different layers. Thus, they nourish sensitive skin and smooth fine lines. Wrinkles are therefore visibly minimized.

Power Combination: Snail Slime

Did you know? Snail slime contains a wealth of active ingredients that can help with anti-aging. These include hyaluronic acid, collagen, copper peptides, proteoglycans, iron, and zinc. When the filtrate is applied to the skin, it has moisturizing and collagen-promoting effects. But that's not all: The application of snail slime has been proven to make your skin appear firmer and plumper. This also smooths wrinkles, making you look younger overall. By the way: Snail filtrate is not only popular for anti-aging applications. Its ingredients also make it a remedy for acne and blemishes. This is because the copper peptides and zinc have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

What anti-aging skincare looks like

Now that you know the important active ingredients, we want to give you some tips on anti-aging skin care. Because often a single component is not enough to permanently slow down the aging process of your skin. Rather, complex formulations are used here that combine valuable ingredients. It's best to look for combination preparations against wrinkles and use them specifically. If you're wondering what exactly that means, then we've put together a small checklist here to guide you in your daily care routine:

• Morning facial cleansing – remove sebum residue, dead skin cells, and sweat that accumulated overnight.
• Moisturizing cosmetics – always apply creams to clean skin, as they can be absorbed better this way.
• Don't forget your décolletage and neck – these areas often tend to develop wrinkles and should be cared for accordingly.
• Removing makeup in the evening is an absolute must – this way you get rid of impurities, dirt, dust, and free radicals that have accumulated on your skin throughout the day.
• Restful sleep – it's important for cell renewal and thus essential against wrinkles.

Want to learn more about your comprehensive skincare routine? Then check out our guide to the 10 Steps Korean Beauty Routine. Here we go into detail about each step and explain when each product is beneficial.

The Alpha and Omega of Anti-Aging: Lifestyle and Nutrition

Even though the right skincare products play a big role in anti-aging, they are not everything by themselves. It is much more about a holistic concept that keeps your body young and fresh. Essential for this are also diet and lifestyle:

• • Plenty of sleep: An adult should sleep an average of 7-8 hours per day. The body regenerates overnight, cell renewal is initiated, and fresh new skin is created. This process should not be disturbed too often or even omitted.

• Little stress: Stress can alter hormone balance and release free radicals. These are responsible for premature skin aging.
• Healthy diet: Opt for whole-grain products, eat enough fruit and vegetables containing vitamin C, consume little sugar, and drink plenty of water.
• Do not smoke: Smoking constricts blood vessels, reducing blood flow to the skin and making it appear duller and grayer.
• Avoid the sun: Too much sun exposure leads to premature skin aging. This can also be prevented with the right sunscreen.

Sources www.gesundheit.gv.at/.../freie-radikale-hk www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Aging www.elle.de/.../anti-aging www.instyle.de/.../anti-aging