These are the only 3 scientifically proven anti-aging products

This might sound a little strange, but every time I finish a product in my bathroom cabinet, I feel a certain sense of satisfaction. Maybe it’s my inner desire to be a minimalist that makes me feel uncomfortable when my bathroom cupboard is bursting at the seams with niche products I hardly use and that never end.

With the whole world talking about skin care routines with five, six or even 12 steps, it is easy to fill our cosmetic bags with an assortment of serums, gels, creams and masks. But what if I was to tell you that you don’t need a cupboard full of products in order to maintain a healthy, youthful complexion? And that you only need three amazing products? 

Talk to any dermatologist and they will agree that vitamin C, sunscreen and retinol form the magic trio of the most important products to incorporate into your skin care routine. These are the only anti-aging products scientifically proven to be effective. That is not to say that oils, serums and the like don’t have their place. Of course you can can include other complimentary products, but they won’t affect your skin in the same way as the active ingredients in these products.  

Sunscreen

I have been using sunscreen daily for a while now, but I admit that I sometimes would skip this step….not anymore! UV rays are shockingly responsible for over 90% of skin ageing. We all should be using sunscreen with a minimum SPF 30 to protect against UVA and UVB, the whole year. It can be tricky to find a sunscreen that works well with your skin without leaving a greasy film and (in my case) breakouts. I’m currently using  Ultra Light Daily UV Defense Sunscreen SPF 50 by Kiehl’s. I’ve been using this for a while and I love that fact that it is light and doesn’t clog my pores. However, sunscreen doesn’t protect the skin from all the free radicals caused by UV radiation and for this reason, a strong antioxidant, such a vitamin C should be applied before your sunscreen. Vitamin C is effective in protecting the skin from the free radicals caused by sun and pollution. 

Vitamin C

I’ve recently added vitamin C to my skincare routine and so far so good. I’m using Vitamin C Reversal Serum by Circadia by Dr. Puglise which my mother gave me. It’s important to make sure that the vitamin C you are using is effective, as Vitamin C is unstable, meaning that it oxidises when it comes into contact with light and when this happens, it goes a brownish colour and no longer has any benefits for the skin. 

Not all vitamin C are created equal, there are four different types. The most skin efficient is  L-Ascorbic Acid which is far more potent than is normally found in vitamin C serums. 

Retinol

The evening is retinol time. I started using it, around two months ago and I am already seeing the benefits. Retinol simulates collagen production and accelerates skin cel renovation, which helps combat expression lines and fine wrinkles as well as improving skin texture and correcting pigmentation. 

I’m using Redermic R face by La Roche Posay. It’s important to mention that skin can become dry and irritated whilst it adapts to the product. So, it is important to introduce retinol gradually and not to give up too soon. The active ingredient can also make skin more sensitive to the sun, so it is extra important not to skip the sunscreen!

Cleanse your skin day and night with a gentle cleanser and use a simple non perfumed moisturiser 15 minutes after applying retinol, or straight after Vitamin C in the morning.