4 minute read
Shifting the needle from anti-ageing to pro-ageing
These days, most people can expect to live well into their 60s and beyond, with countries worldwide experiencing growth in both the size and proportion of an ageing population. By 2030, one in six people globally will be 60 years or older. With this in mind, Toni Carroll, founder of My Beauty Luv, outlines top pro-ageing ingredients.
The global anti-ageing market was recorded at $63.9bn in 2021 and is forecast to rise to $126.2bn by 2030, registering a CAGR of 6.9%.1 Historically, this industry has been driven by fear, with brands touting products that promise to reverse ageing but which often don’t deliver results.
Research has shown that through a pro-ageing and health-conscious attitude, which is largely linked to the self-care trend, people can indeed age well and slow down the ageing process.2 But with this, the stigma of ageing needs to be broken.
Ageing is a privilege. It is important for us to embrace it by adopting a pro-ageing approach. This doesn’t mean the rejection of beauty products, but rather making more targeted choices towards those that are designed to enhance the appearance at any age, instead of concealing and combatting signs of ageing.
Luckily, there are various products on the market that can help with this. But it’s best to start with an inside-out approach for overall health and longevity. A new trend in ingestible beauty is medicinal mushrooms and there are a few that have been proven particularly beneficial to mature skin.
Fabulous fungi for the skin
Regarded as the “beauty mushroom” in Asia, Tremella fuciformis or the tremella mushroom is packed with vitamin D in its most bioavailable form. Tremella extract has been scientifically proven to improve skin hydration, protect against collagen loss after UV exposure and to reduce inflammation.
Auricularia auricula-judae, wood or jew’s ear mushroom, is highly sought-after for its numerous health and longevity-promoting properties. Scientifically, it has been found to stimulate pro-collagen biosynthesis in skin cells and to increase hyaluronic acid synthesis, helping to hydrate skin and protect against loss of elasticity.
Sparassis crispa, the cauliflower mushroom, contains veratric acid which is renowned for its antimicrobial, anti-irritant and antioxidant properties. An extract of this mushroom has been found to protect skin cells by inhibiting UVB-induced DNA damage while promoting collagen synthesis and increasing healthy fibroblast cell activity.
Did you know?
According to nutritioninsight.com, most consumers view beauty from within as an important strategy to support healthy ageing and healthy skin.
The beauty of hyaluronic acid
When it comes to topical agents, my top solutions are medical-grade retinol and hyaluronic acid.
Retinol dramatically impacts the skin by stimulating collagen production while also working to improve its underlying structure, increasing firmness and in doing so, smoothing lines and wrinkles. It also speeds up the normal exfoliation process to provide skin clarity, smoothness and a more even-toned complexion. Plus, it stimulates hyaluronic acid within the skin, keeping it moisturised, hydrated and healthy and full-looking.
Although naturally occurring, our hyaluronic acid levels diminish as we get older, leaving the skin progressively unable to retain water, causing dehydration, sallow skin and fine lines and wrinkles.
When applied topically, hyaluronic acid-based skin care products reduce trans-epidermal moisture loss and fortify the skin barrier. These products are also super hydrating and provide skin with suppleness and a plumping effect. This is because hyaluronic acid can attract and retain more than 1 000 times its own weight in water from the surrounding atmosphere while also drawing moisture up from lower skin layers to the top levels of the epidermis.
Remember, we all need to be the best version of ourselves, no matter our age. After all, age is just a number – and I personally only really started finding my groove in my late 30s. Ageing is a privilege and as we grow older and wiser, the more we look after ourselves and our bodies – especially our gut health – the better we can age. •
Tremella fuciformis, the “beauty mushroom”
Sparassis crispa, the cauliflower mushroom
