People worried about wrinkles are not using preventative skincare products until well into middle age when lines have already begun to appear, research shows.
A survey by McCabes Pharmacy found that a third of people who use anti-ageing skincare did not start until they were 45 or older. Most anti-ageing products are preventatives and recommend use from the age of 21 to effectively reduce the signs of ageing on the skin.
Tell-tale signs such as smile lines, crow’s feet, and dullness tend to appear when people are in their 30s and 40s. However, one in eight (12.4%) people said they only started using these products between the ages of 45 and 54, while 19.4% said they did not begin their regimen until after they were 55.
Lisa Byrne, superintendent pharmacist at McCabes Pharmacy, said: “If wrinkles have already appeared, you can’t turn back the clock without undergoing cosmetic surgery. But you can soften wrinkles and rejuvenate your skin with products that contain effective ingredients and suit your skin type.”
Not everyone is leaving it until too late, almost half of those who responded said they began their anti-ageing skincare routine before the age of 35, with a quarter starting by the time they were 24.
“To boost collagen production, which is responsible for the skin’s structure and elasticity, use products containing retinol, also known as vitamin A,” Lisa added.
“This brightens the skin, smooths any current wrinkles, and prevents new lines from forming.”
Nutritionist and health & performance coach, Angela Foster, suggests that good anti-ageing products with high levels of peptides, vitamin C and vitamin E — along with vitamin A — can also help to stimulate the production of collagen and soften the appearance of wrinkles.
Angela, a founder of My DNA Edge, said: “Applying the product after micro-needling the skin with a derma roller can help to enhance product penetration and stimulate collagen production. Sun protection is also very important after micro-needling.”
According to research, 90% of skin ageing is caused by sun exposure. Despite myths that sunscreen is only needed during summer, many skincare experts recommend applying every day, even when the weather is dull. While UVB rays burn skin, UVA rays age skin and are present all year round.