The best anti-ageing secrets dermatologists won’t tell you for free

A wide array of over-the-counter anti-ageing skincare products aim to improve the signs of ageing, such as skin spots, fine lines, wrinkles, and boost collagen. Yet, most of these products are more hype – it’s important for consumers to understand when a product is a cosmetic, drug, or both to evaluate the validity of these claims. So, which products can actually deliver results that improve the signs of ageing?

We spoke with medical experts who told us the best anti-ageing secrets for better skin health.

Sunscreen is one of the best weapons when it comes to protecting your skin against skin cancer, and it’s also one of the best ways to keep your skin looking younger and healthier. “The sun emits ultraviolet radiation that damages skin, both the overlying epidermis and the underlying dermis,” explains dermatologist, Dr Jerome Garden. “In addition to increasing your risk of skin cancer, the sun causes brown spots, red spots, and wrinkles.”

Check out these top forget-me-not sunscreen spots.

It may be tempting to splurge on a skin-care item that promises to yield worthy results, but pricey doesn’t always equal quality. There are some great inexpensive products that can produce great results, according to dermatologist, Dr Dendy Engelman. “A higher price tag can mean better quality ingredients or a higher concentration of an ingredient, but the ingredients list is always more important than the brand selling the product,” she says.

You don’t need to spend a fortune to get a high-quality skincare product, but there is a difference between a brand name product and a generic one, according to dermatologist, Dr Joshua Zeichner.

“Many generic products are packaged to look similar to the original, and may even have the same ingredients list, however, the difference is the quality of the ingredients and how they are actually formulated,” he says.

No matter what an expensive cleanser may cost, it’s not going to work any more magic than most lower-cost competitors, according to dermatologists. “The goal of a cleanser is to remove dirt, oil, makeup and pollution from the skin without disrupting the outer skin layer – and the ingredients used to create a product that can do this are not expensive,” says Dr Zeichner. “In fact, some of the best quality cleansers are actually among the least expensive products on the market.”

Read on for the some natural face cleansers you can make yourself.

Serums, which are meant to be layered underneath your daily and nightly moisturiser, often are the first skincare products to be skipped. But, they actually play an important role in your daily routine. “Serums contain a high concentration of active ingredients and are lightweight, so they penetrate deeper into your skin to provide maximum benefits,” says dermatologist, Dr Whitney Bowe. She recommends looking for serums that contain ceramides and amino acids, which help to bolster the skin’s natural barrier, and antioxidants, which protect skin from sun damage and free radicals.

“We develop fine lines because of repeated folding of the skin from underlying muscles,” explains Dr Zeichner. “Young, healthy skin has a strong foundation that resists folding and bounces back to its original shape, but, with age, that skin foundation gets weaker.” While topical creams will certainly help keep the skin barrier strong, the only way to truly reduce wrinkles is to relax the muscles underneath the skin, according to Dr Zeichner.

Check out what dermatologists wish you knew about preventing and treating wrinkles.

It’s true that even on the cloudiest or snowiest of days, sunscreen should be a part of your daily skincare routine. “Incidental sun exposure for only 10 to 15 minutes a day adds up over time and can cause significant sun damage and accelerated photoaging,” says Dr Engelman. In order to keep skin looking its youngest and healthiest, she recommends applying sunscreen every single day of the year, as brief sun exposures throughout the year can add up to significant damage (think driving with the sunroof open or walking around outdoor shopping centres during peak sun hours).

According to dermatologist, Dr Hadley King, topical retinoids are the most effective topical anti-ageing products (after sun protection). “There is great data that supports their effectiveness and safety,” she says. “While prescription retinoids are the most effective, there are now plenty of over-the-counter products that contain retinol and work well, especially on those with sensitive skin.”

Don’t miss these bizarre-sounding anti-ageing treatments that really work.

If you’re looking for fast results without the use of creams, Dr Garden recommends laser treatments, which he specialises in. “We have lasers for brown spots, red spots, blood vessels and wrinkles,” he says. “Newer devices called fractionated lasers can produce impressive results with less downtime than before.” Although they’re on the pricier side, he says that these treatments can offer results far superior to creams. But the only caveat is that these machines are powerful and, in many states, can be operated by unqualified individuals who are not even physicians. He recommends making sure that your laser treatments are being performed by a board-certified dermatologist to avoid complications.