The Truth About Anti-Aging Creams and Serums

When it comes to skincare, anti-aging is the name of the game. It’s the main goal that everyone seeks — to retain that youthful glow well beyond your 30s and 40s. And while the claims that these so-called fountains of youth make can feel convincing, how likely are they to actually reverse the aging process and peel the years off our face? While anti-aging products are definitely an effective alternative to a facelift, there are some important things to know about using them that the beauty companies don’t reveal.

You won’t wake up with a new face

These results take time and consistent application. If you’re diligent about it one week but forget the next, results aren’t necessarily promised. So if you see marketing on a product that promises fast results in days or weeks, be wary and carefully read the ingredient list. If it sounds like an impossible miracle, it probably is. Use your cream or serum every day for the max benefits. It takes one to two months to see the results, since skin needs to experience a full cycle to create new cells.

Moisture isn’t the only key

Hydrating is an important aspect of your skincare routine, but it’s not everything. While moisturizing will bring you plump skin, but mostly on the surface. Ingredients like hyaluronic acid will provide moisture in a balanced way, but not a highly penetrative account. It holds more water into the skin, which is the true key to hydration. Therefore, look for high amounts of hyaluronic acid in whatever you use.

The amount of active ingredients

Often, active ingredients are used in small amounts, which doesn’t justify a high price tag. When looking for your active ingredients like antioxidants and retinol, you must check that they’re available in a high enough concentration to be effective. How can you tell? Because it should be one of the first ingredients in your ingredient list. Otherwise, you’re just wasting that hard-earned money.