An important thing to know about anti-aging skincare is that skin renewal takes an average of 28 days, more if you’re 40-plus, and pigmentation can be particularly stubborn.
Ditch the quick-fix idea and allow four to six weeks for something new to work. Here are anti-wrinkle, anti-sun damage and eco-friendly options to consider.
Wrinkle Reducers
• Marcelle New-Age Anti-Wrinkle + Firming Cream stimulates collagen production and moisturizes with amino acids, shea butter, caffeine and soybean extract ($27 at Shoppers Drug Mart).
• Neutrogena Ageless Intensives Deep Wrinkle Eye Cream combats under-eye crepiness with super-hydrating hyaluronic acid and Retinol ($28 at drugstores).
• For sensitive skin, Vichy Liftactiv Retinol HA combines hyaluronic acid with Retinol and adenosine, a fast-acting molecule that has retinol-like properties of its own ($49 at drugstores).
• Olay Professional Pro-X Wrinkle Smoothing Cream offers the brand’s most intense Pro-Retinol formula for results in 28 days ($55 at drugstores; also available as part of a three-step starter kit for $83).
• Neostrata Intense Daytime Wrinkle Repair SPF 15 targets deep creases with Matrixyl (a wrinkle-reducing pentapeptide) and Retinol ($68 at drugstores).
• AmorePacific, a luxury Korean botanically-based brand, packs its Contour Lift Extreme Creme with bamboo sap to hydrate, and olive, jojoba and green-tea seed oils as well as minerals and amino acids to nourish and firm ($200 at Holt Renfrew).
Sun-Spot Reducers
• Lancôme Génifique Youth Activator Serum stimulates the production of skin proteins we have in abundance in our youth but lose as we age, and promises brighter, more even skin ($92 at Lancôme counters).
• Clinique Even Better Skin Tone Corrector boosts cell turnover with glucosamine and salicylic acid, and fades and prevents hyperpigmentation with antioxidants and mushroom-derived extracts ($39.50 at Clinique counters).
• Dermalogica ChromaWhite TRx is an anti-dark spot regimen from cleansing to night cream that employs exfoliating lactic acid, skin brightening vitamin C, and pigment inhibiting niacinamide and Oligopeptide-34 (from $50, visit dermalogica.com for salons).
SPF
• Anti-aging skincare increases sensitivity to UVA/UVB rays and related hyperpigmentation, so diligent sunscreen habits are crucial. Cliniderm Gentle Protective Lotion SPF 45 shields dry, sensitive, allergic or reactive skin with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, and has a surprisingly light, fast-absorb texture ($29 at drugstores).
• Wrinkles or pigmentation — which do you treat? Whatever bothers you most. But note: too many anti-aging products at once, such as lactic acid cleanser plus salicylic-acid serum plus retinol cream, might work at first, but could soon cause irritation, dehydration, dryness and actually spell a-g-e-d.
Eco-Friendly Options
• Burt’s Bees Naturally Ageless Intensive Repairing Serum is a 100 per cent natural formula that fights fine lines and wrinkles with botanical oils and extracts, including pomegranate ($29.99 at Shoppers Drug Mart).
• Jouviance EcoRejuvenation Eye Serum reduces dark circles and wrinkles with caffeine-rich pro-collagen peptides and is free of silicones, artificial fragrance, parabens and colourants ($40 at drugstores).
• All-natural Glisodin Skin Nutrients Advanced Daily Formula supplements soften, smooth and brighten skin with a mix of nutrient-dense antioxidant ingredients, including superoxide dismutase. (Two-month supply $95; glisodinskin.com for retailers).
