What a lot of people fail to understand about anti-ageing skincare is that it is about prevention. You need to take care of your skin before it starts to show signs of ageing, not after. A lot of people think that there is no point using anti-ageing products because their skin doesn't see the difference, but that is simply not true!
The best way to use anti-ageing products, as I mentioned above, is to prevent the skin's ageing process, not to reverse it. And when you prevent, not being able to see a difference in your skin is actually a good thing :)

That being said, at what age is it appropriate to begin using anti-ageing skincare?

Some people are of the opinion that if you start too early, you risk rendering your skin immune to anti-ageing skincare products in the future.
Some others think that no time is too early to start anti-ageing skincare, and that starting early can only do your skin good.

I personally believe that the 24-25 year mark is when you should start a routine that includes anti-ageing skincare. Research shows that your skin starts to naturally age in your mid twenties. I think that once you hit your mid twenties, you should start to invest in a good anti-ageing serum and eye cream, as well as a night cream, to take care of your skin and to help it maintain its elasticity.

Some great ingredients to look out for? (Please note that this is not an exclusive list!)

Vitamin A
Retinol, an essential ingredient in anti-ageing skincare, is derived from Vitamin A, and can help increase the production of collagen and elastin in your skin, keeping it supple and firm.

Vitamins C & E
These are amazing antioxidants for the skin. When Vitamins C and E are used together, they can prevent sun damage, and even alone they can reduce wrinkles, smooth and even the skin, as well as reduce hyperpigmentation.

Peptides
When done right, peptides are absolute miracle workers, stimulating collagen production, stimulating antioxidant enzymes, enhancing wound healing and cell repair, and performing a myriad of other anti-ageing processes on the skin.

Ceramides
Ceramides are great for keeping moisture locked within your skin. Ceramides also help enforce our skin's natural defences, which keeps pathogens out, and locks moisture in. Hydrated skin is essential for a healthy cellular turnover, so this is an essential ingredient in anti-ageing skincare.

Some of my favourite anti-ageing products are listed below:


Estée Lauder Re-Nutriv Ultimate Lift Age Correcting Creme
This moisturiser is meant for more mature skins, but is something that you should definitely keep in mind for the future! It has the most amazing skin-lifting qualities, which you can read more about here.

L'Oreal Men Expert Daily Moisturiser
This is a lightweight, easy to use moisturiser for men, with L'Oreal's fabulous Vita Lift 5 technology which performs 5 anti-ageing functions. J is using this at the moment and his skin looks and feels pretty amazing.

L'Oreal Youth Code Luminosity Moisturiser
L'Oreal's Youth Code range is specifically targeted at preventative anti-ageing care for younger skins and their moisturiser and serum are my favourite products in the range. Tiny pearlescent particles are suspended within the moisturiser for an illuminating finish that looks amazing underneath makeup.


La Clinica Anti Ageing Gentle Milk Facial Cleanser
La Clinica's milk cleanser is a gentle cleanser that feels lovely on the skin, and is jam packed with anti ageing ingredients, which you can also find in the rest of the La Clinica Anti Ageing range (their rose hip oil is fabulous!). It cleans without stripping the skin of moisture, and keeps it soft and supple. My parents adore using this moisturiser when they come over. If you have oily skin, I recommend using this in a double-cleanse routine. First, clean any dirt, grime, and makeup off with a makeup remover or cleansing oil, and then follow with this cleanser.


Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair
This is my HG serum. It contains Vitamin C and a whole host of other amazing ingredients which work to help your skin repair itself as you sleep. It protects your skin from the damaging effects of free radicals, and helps to lock moisture into your skin. This is also fabulous for preventing acne scarring.

Shu Uemura Tsuya Skin Serum
Another one of my favourite serums, this is Shu Uemura's latest offering, and it does a fantastic job at helping your skin maintain its youth. Shu Uemura developed this serum to help the skin regenerate and renew itself. Only one drop of serum is needed per application, so this will last you a long time.

Have you started anti ageing skincare yet? If you did, when did you start; and if you haven't, do you plan on starting anytime soon? :)