The number of anti-aging products and ingredients available continues to grow at a rapid rate. With so many choices out there, we were interested in finding out which ones are favored by medical professionals and how many anti-aging products each recommends that patients use. We surveyed medical professionals via LinkedIn, and this is what they had to say.
Favorite Anti-Aging Ingredients
One of the questions that we asked in the survey was, “What is your favorite cosmeceutical anti-aging ingredient, and why?” These are some of the most popular answers we received.
Hyaluronic Acid
“Hyaluronic acid is my favorite cosmeceutical ingredient for anti-aging because it acts like a sponge and can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water to provide the most hydrated, supple skin,” says board-certified nurse practitioner Stephanie Costa, FNP-C of Providence, Rhode Island.
Costa says she recommends “at least four products: a day cream, night cream, serum, and an eye cream (with retinol). This is a good base to start with. I would recommended adjusting the skincare regimen based on age, current condition of skin, skin type, and medication allergies/sensitivities.”
Vitamin C
Owner and clinical provider at Revive Skinfx in Denver, Colorado Kyle Soule says vitamin C is her favorite anti-aging ingredient. “This one antioxidant is a powerhouse ingredient,” she says. “It’s amazing to find a product that can pack a punch. Clients notice the brighter skin, smoother texture, and the overall glow that this ingredient is notorious for providing.”
Soule recommends “a vitamin C, retinol, SPF, peptide, and hyaluronic acid in nearly every client’s regimen.”
Dr. Melissa Hummel, MD of Rejuvenations Medical Spa in South Carolina also loves vitamin C for anti-aging. “It is a powerful collagen booster and antioxidant that fights free radical damage caused by UV radiation and toxins in the environment,” she says. “[Vitamin C] results in firmer, more plump skin and decreased fine lines and wrinkles for a more youthful and healthy appearance.”
Dr. Hummel recommends using three to four anti-aging products in a regimen, including a sunscreen.
Topical Retinoids
“I’m very partial to topical retinoid,” says Dr. Julia Carroll, MD, FRCPC, FCDA, FAAD of Toronto, Canada. “I like starting patients on an OTC product, then moving them up to prescription-strength. I explain that [topical retinoids] exfoliate on the surface while building collagen below.”
Dr. Carroll recommends “an entire routine of four to six products to start, layering in others depending on the patient’s tolerability of the other products and the complexity of the routine.”
Defensins
Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Trent Douglas of San Diego, California recommends defensins. “The science behind the DefenAge products relies on the use of natural defensins to activate basal skin cells at the root of hair follicles to generate new skin cells.”
Dr. Douglas recommends three to five anti-aging products in a regimen, depending on the skin type. “At a minimum,” he says, “everyone needs a good sunscreen, cleanser, and retinol product.”
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38 and Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Buffalo, New York aesthetician Tanya Totten says that these two peptides are “fantastic for decreasing the look of lines and wrinkles.”
Totten suggests that patients use “a total of four or five [anti-aging products] for day and evening, including a cleanser, serum, SPF/night cream, eye cream and neck cream.”
Favorite Anti-Aging Products
We asked these same professionals about their favorite anti-aging products and what makes them stand out. These are the top products that were mentioned.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel
“Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel is my favorite anti-aging skincare product,” says Stephanie Costa. “It contains hyaluronic acid, olive extract, and glycerin. These ingredients help to keep the skin hydrated and plump, thus reducing the appearance of fine lines. This product’s ingredients also help to strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier to lock the moisture in for all-day hydration. If you are prone to dry skin, especially in the cold winter months like I am, this product is AMAZING!”
Innovative Skincare Active Serum
“IS Clinical Active Serum is a phenomenal product,” says Kyle Soule, explaining that this one product can treat a wide range of skin concerns and conditions.
Similarly, Dr. Melissa Hummel likes iS Clinical Super Serum Advance because “it combines L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C), copper tripeptide, and powerful botanical antioxidants, as well as skin brighteners that do not harm our melanocytes, which protect our skin from sun damage.”
Purgenesis Eye Cream
“The new darling of my office is the Purgenesis line, especially the eye cream,” shares Dr. Julia Carroll. “This lines contains a novel antioxidant, R-spinasome. I love the research they have done, putting it up against common luxury brands such as Prevage and La Mer. In my office, it has performed well. It is hydrating, sits nicely under makeup, and patients see immediate improvement of creepiness, as well as improvement of fine lines longer term.”
DefenAge Clinical Power Trio
“The DefenAge Clinical Power Trio is currently my favorite anti-aging skincare product,” says Dr. Trent Douglas. “This relatively new company has used defensins to activate basal skin cells around the base of hair follicles to produce new and rejuvenated skin cells. The 8-in-1 Bio Serum, 24/7 Balance Barrier Cream, and 2-Minute Reveal Masque create the perfect skincare regimen with only three products to keep track of.
“The Clinical Power Trio comes in both full-size and a TSA-compliant “fly kit”. If you are on the go and don’t like hauling around a complex skincare regimen, the DefenAge product line is the thing for you. The best testament to the DefenAge products comes from my wife. As the wife of a Plastic Surgeon, she has access to and has tried the full complement of products in the office. After giving everything a try, she says that the DefenAge Clinical Power Trio works the best!”
Bottom Line
There are many new and exciting anti-aging products on the market. It is interesting to see what everyone’s favorites are and which new ingredients are taking the spotlight.
If you would like to share your favorite anti-aging products or other skincare advice for a future article, please message me (Dr. Leslie Baumann) on LinkedIn.
©2019 Metabeauty, Inc.