3 Daily Skincare Proven to Reduce Wrinkles
Googling wrinkle prevention can lead you down some rabbit holes—from dermatologists praising the smooth skin on 90-year-old buttocks to Redditors suggesting weight gain for wrinkle prevention. And let’s not forget the researchers who blamed selfies and phone screens (short answer: avoid blue light). With so much noise and the long list of factors affecting aging skin—genes, smoking, the sun, diet, hydration, alcohol—it’s overwhelming. So we sifted through clinical research from credited sources and found 3 products proven to work.
SPF a day keeps the wrinkles away
It only takes a cumulative 4,440 hours of exposure to UV index 4 to damage skin elasticity by 34% [1]. UV rays penetrate your skin, reaching the dermis to damage collagen and DNA, leading to atrophy of living cells [2]. The good news? A sunscreen with SPF 30 can block 97% of those harmful rays [3]. Just make sure you apply plenty. Most people use only 20-50% of the recommended amount (nickel-sized dollop for the face and neck) [4]. When applied correctly, sunscreen can stretch 1.5 years of sun damage into over 50 years. So apply it every day—yes, even when it’s cloudy.
Patience for skin-deep ingredients
To go beyond basic moisturizers, copy-paste these ingredients to look for effective anti-aging products: retinoids (tretinoin, tazarotene, retinol) [5], hydroxy acids [6], and antioxidants (ascorbic acid, tocopherols, carotenoids) [7]. These ingredients work on the outer layers of your skin to prevent protein breakdown and increase cell turnover. Keep in mind that these toners, creams, or serums need time and repetitive use to be effective—you might not see noticeable effects for 6 to 12 months [8]. Also, be careful with frequency: start with once a week if you have sensitive skin, then adjust based on your tolerance.
Invest in devices for deeper impacts
Unlike topical products like creams, which must fight through our skin's protective barrier [9], electrical devices can reach the dermis, a deeper layer where collagen resides. These devices stimulate collagen growth and skin rejuvenation by heating the dermis up to 42°C, using specific frequencies that leave other skin layers safely undisturbed [10]. Though some of these tools fall on the expensive side, they provide immediate benefits and are non-invasive [11]. So when choosing your device, look for reputable certifications (FDA, Health Canada, or CE) and ensure that the device operates in the MHz range to be effective.
I like to think of skincare as a slow-moving river—it's the small, consistent changes that eventually reshape the course. Drink plenty of water, exercise, take good care of yourself and prioritize your happiness. These anti-wrinkle products and technologies will be the cherry on top.
Written with ♥️ by Jia
PS: this crow makes published research more accessible