Hoping To Look Younger? A Look At The Best Anti-Age Treatments At Home And In The Clinic

Want to look younger? Whether you're talking skincare products or more invasive, semi-surgical options, knowing what's mere hype and what's genuinely awesome can be tricky — so we're taking a look at the best anti-aging products and treatments for you.

Hyaluronic Acid Serum

First discovered back in 1935, it became clear that hyaluronic acid represented a powerful force in skin healing by the 1960s. While the term "polysaccharide" may not mean an awful lot to you, it's important to note that hyaluronic is naturally present not only in the bodies of cows (where it was first found), but also in our own — and though it plays a crucial role in joint health, about half of all the hyaluronic acid found in the body is present within the skin. Unfortunately, we lose rather a bit of it with age, something that certainly contributes to the visible loss of youth.

Now popular as a serum, as well as within various cosmetic products including, for instance, eye shadows, you have plenty of reasons to use it. Hyaluronic acid attracts moisture like crazy, and hyaluronic acid serums are absorbed rapidly. Use it for a better complexion, for plumper-looking skin, and to decrease wrinkles!

Tretinoin

Marketed as a medication for acne since the 1960s, tretinoin — available under many different brand names including Retin A and Renova as well as generically — was soon discovered to possess potent anti-aging properties as well. This vitamin A derivative is not just one of the oldest anti-age products on the market, but also one of the best. Who wouldn't want something that fights clogged pores and wrinkles all at once? Tretinoin, it almost seems, is a bit of a miracle treatment.

Some dermatologists are so enthusiastic about tretinoin that they'd prescribe it to anyone. That is because, though many new users do experience temporary side effects and anyone using it needs to be very diligent about using sunscreen, tretinoin is very effective — something backed up by decades of research. If you are in the US, you won't have trouble getting a prescription. In some other countries, however, it might be harder. In that case, you can also consider using its over the counter cousin retinol, another vitamin A derivative.

READ Retin A: The Skincare Workhorse That Fights Acne AND Wrinkles

Vitamin C Serum

Everyone knows that vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, but if you've been living under a (proverbial) rock, it's possible that you're not yet aware that you can slap that baby on your skin as well as using it orally. Vitamin C serums, you should know, offer an almost shocking range of skin benefits. Anti-aging, which we're after today of course, is "merely" one of them.

Peptides

Small proteins made up of amino acids, peptides, and copper peptides in particular, are a hot word in skincare right now. Excellent at hydrating the skin, peptides also have the power to renew collagen production, which of course slows down as we get a little older, and to promote elastin. A moisturizer with peptides can be a great addition to your skincare routine!

Beyond Skincare: Exciting Anti-Age Treatments That Work

Are creams and serums not cutting it for you? It's time, perhaps, to consider something a little bit more radical.

Botox Vs Hyaluronic Acid Fillers

It's safe to say that everyone reading this has heard of Botox, the toxin that temporarily "turns back the clock" by paralyzing your facial muscles. Results can last up to six months and can be great, however if too much is used, the consumer can wind up with a "plastic" look.

Hyaluronic acid fullers, such as Juvederm, Radiesse, and a wide variety of other brand names, are also injected subcutaneously. They work differently, however. Hyaluronic acid is naturally present in the skin in large quantities, but we lose some with age, contributing to the appearance of wrinkles and a de-plumping of the face. Hyalurinic acid fillers, rather than paralyzing muscles, essentially fills out the skin. More expensive than Botox, hyaluronic acid fillers also offer a longer-lasting result of up to two years in some cases. What's more, the results are reversible at any point in time and, many say, offer a much more natural appearance.

Chemical Peels

Chemical peels use acids to strip your skin of its old and tired outer layer, revealing more youthful and fresh skin underneath. Wrinkles can really age your face, but the sun damage many fair-skinned people develop as they age also contributes to an aged appearance. Chemical peels can help you with both these problems.

Surface peels such as salicylic acid, lactic acid and mandelic acid peels can help you achieve a refreshed look that targets sun damage and fine lines. Deeper peels, like TCA peels, have the power to attack your wrinkles more aggressively. Though such peels do come with a recovery time, they can radically improve your appearance.

Microneedling And Dermafrac

Microneedling, though not a new concept, has recently risen to popularity. It's an interesting concept to check out if you're looking to achieve a younger appearance, for several reasons. Microneedling is, pretty much, exactly what it sounds like it may be: it involves rolling tiny needles of various sizes over the skin, creating lots and lots of tiny little wounds. Sounds unpleasant, but as the skin repairs itself, you get added collagen and elastin, thereby rejuvenating your face.

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Here's where things get interesting: dermarollers can be used at home as well as at medical spas, making it a nice option for the DIY folks.

Another option is Dermafrac, a revolutionary treatment that combines microneedling with serum infusion (into those micro wounds of course, bringing the product much deeper into your skin than it normally would), and also features microdermabrasion and light therapy.

Laser Resurfacing

Fast replacing the once very popular microdermabrasion, laser resurfacing is actually an umbrella term for various types of laser treatments designed to treat a wide range of skin issues. People looking for a younger look can expect tighter skin, the removal of sun damage and age spots, plumper skin, and reduced wrinkles. Laser resurfacing is perhaps the closest anybody can get to looking like they've had a face lift without actually having one.