Anti-ageing skincare – what do the ingredients do?

Read our guide for the best anti aging ingredients to use in your daily skin care routine.

The best anti aging ingredients and how to use them

As we age our skin’s demands change and what we want from our skincare products also changes. How your skin ages will depend on several factors, including your lifestyle, genetics and the environment - but anti-aging ingredients in our face and body care also play a crucial role in how we age. Anti-ageing formulas are designed to prevent the signs of ageing, defend your skin against the various strains that cause ageing, and help rebuild your skin once the ageing process sets in. Some of them even contain a few powerful ingredients that boost or resemble your body’s own anti-ageing defences – and they have some pretty amazing abilities.

Hyaluronic Acid and Creatine are two of our faves! These ingredients are found naturally in the body, but both deplete over time. You’ll be glad to hear that anti-ageing products containing each ingredient can help your skin combat the signs of ageing, keeping it soft, supple and looking fresh. Happy days!

Here’s how the conversation went…

Skin Expert Robyn Hutch sat down with Sarah, Paloma, Sophie and Catherin – who are all at different life stages – and to talk about Hyaluronic Acid and Creatine, two powerful anti-ageing ingredients.

List of common ingredients in anti-ageing skincare products

With so many anti-ageing ingredients to choose from, it can be pretty mind-boggling trying to decide what’s best for your skin. As a general rule of thumb, look for ingredients that are already found in the skin, like those two powerhouses we mentioned earlier: Hyaluronic Acid and Creatine. By choosing products that mimic your skin’s defences, you can support your body’s natural ability to fight the signs of ageing.

Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic Acid is one of our top anti-ageing ingredients. Don’t be misled by the word ‘acid’ - this is a gentle anti aging ingredient that you can layer with the best anti aging ingredients and use as often as you like. Your body naturally produces Hyaluronic Acid to help retain water and preserve the moisture levels in your tissues, mainly around your skin, eyes and connective tissue. When used in a topical cream or lotion, this potent ingredient gives your skin the ultimate moisture boost – and who doesn’t love a bit of hydration?

Hyaluronic Acid makes sure your skin has enough moisture and volume in the epidermis (the top layer), and it has an incredibly high water-binding capacity. In fact, just one gram of Hyaluronic Acid can retain up to six litres of water – that’s some seriously impressive plumping power!

How to use it: One of the beauties of hyaluronic acid is its flexibility - you’ll find it in cleansers, tonics, mists, serums, lotions, creams, sun care products, foundations.

NIVEA Cellular Filler Anti-Age Day Cream SPF15 activates the skin cells to produce their own hyaluronic acid and collagen. As a result, your skin is plumper with a lifted feeling. In addition, wrinkles are filled, the skin volume is increased and contours are refined.

Coenzyme Q10

Q10 is a naturally occurring coenzyme that’s found in every body cell. It’s a vital part of energy production and it helps your skin regenerate and repair. Your skin is usually the most exposed part of your body (especially come summer), and it’s often susceptible to all kinds of external nasties, like UV rays and pollution. Internal processes can also cause free radicals to be released, which puts more strain on your skin. Your body uses Q10 as an antioxidant to combat these stressors, nourishing your skin and supporting its ability to stay soft, smooth and beautiful.

Over time, Q10 production slows down in the body, which can make your skin more prone to signs of ageing. Including an anti-ageing product containing Q10 in your skincare routine can help bolster your skin’s natural Q10 levels. We love the sound of that!

How to use it: NIVEA’s Q10 range offers something for everyone, with products for everything!

Prevent first signs of ageing and have beautifully smooth hands with NIVEA Anti-Age Q10 3 in 1 Care Hand Cream. Visibly reduces the appearance of wrinkles along with helping to prevent UV-induced age spots.

Creatine

Creatine is also naturally found in the body, specifically in muscle cells. Creatine is an awesome all-rounder that supports cellular production and increases cell hydration, boosts skin-firming fibres, stimulates collagen production, and activates your skin’s anti-ageing defences – phew!

Combined with other genius ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid, Creatine is a fabulous tool for fighting the signs of ageing, as it reinforces your body’s own ability to repair.

How to use it: Applying creatine to the face and body helps to provide new energy to our cells, stimulate collagen production, and reduce the signs of ageing.

Get the goodness Creatine has to offer all over with NIVEA Q10 Power Replenishing Pearls.

Collagen

Collagen is an absolute essential. It’s basically a building block for your skin that creates structure and provides a basis for your dermis (the middle layer) – kind of like taut ropes. Incredibly, up to 80 percent of the dry weight in the dermis is Collagen, which is why it’s so crucial for maintaining firm skin.

Like Q10, Collagen production slows down as you age, which can cause fine lines and wrinkles. But, an anti-ageing product that boosts Collagen levels can improve the appearance of your skin and help preserve its firmness. That sounds like a pretty good ageing-buster to us!

How to use: Collagen is particularly effective in a moisturiser as the added hydration works with the collagen to tighten, tone and plump. NIVEA Cellular Elasticity Night Cream nourishes the skin overnight to improve elasticity and rebuild the skin's strength.

The richly hydrating NIVEA Cellular Hyaluron Filler + Elasticity Night Cream instantly and with regular use, the combination of cell-activating ingredients Hyaluronic Acid, Collagen Booster and Elastin Booster, provides an intense anti-wrinkle effect.

Vitamin E

Another powerful source of free-radical combating antioxidants, Vitamin E helps diminish wrinkles and fine lines caused by pollution and UV rays. One of the original anti aging ingredients, Vitamin E can reduce inflammation and soothe irritated skin, helping to maintain a healthy, youthful complexion and replenish the skin.

Vitamin E is a great all-rounder and a hard worker - a fat-soluble ingredient, it’s able to penetrate deep into your skin and acts to strengthen the skin's barrier function leaving it supple and soothing.

Your body cannot naturally produce Vitamin E, yet it is vital to optimal skin or hair care health, so skincare products are a great way of ensuring you get your Vitamin E hit.

How to use it: Using a Vitamin E enriched sunscreen is the perfect way to hydrate your skin whilst being sun safe!

NIVEA SUN Protect & Moisture Moisture Lock SPF50+ Sunscreen Lotion cares for you and the oceans with its with 5+1 protection. The moisturising formula with Vitamin E & Panthenol to help keep skin hydrated whilst the broad spectrum UVA & UVB protection works to combat against skin ageing and sunburn.

Vitamin C

A potent antioxidant, Vitamin C can counteract, delay or prevent some types of cell damage and protect the skin from environmental pollutants, including UV exposure (it can also help repair sun damage) as well as reducing fine lines and wrinkles.

Radiance boosting Vitamin C can also nudge your body's natural collagen-production up a gear, helping to smooth out an uneven skin tone, improve the skin’s texture and contribute to plumper looking skin - a great defence against wrinkles and fine lines.

As with many of the best anti aging ingredients, consistency is key with Vitamin C products - its (many) benefits demands dedication.

How to use: Combining the best anti aging ingredients is a recipe for rejuvenated skin - NIVEA Q10 Plus C Energy Day Cream SPF15 sees Vitamin C team up with fellow anti aging fighter Q10 to raise hydration levels and strengthen the skin’s barrier.

Always read the label and follow the directions of use. Sunscreens are only one part of sun protection. Avoid prolonged high-risk sun exposure. Reapply frequently.