Few words have been more vilified than “wrinkles.” This is abnormal because our bodies were made to age — in Japan, aging is viewed as a gift rather than something to dread. The Japanese approach to addressing aging skin, like wrinkles, is minimizing accelerated aging (aka anything outside your body’s normal rate of aging) and nurturing the health of skin, rather than aiming to look perpetually 20 years old.
A wrinkle serum can do just that, helping to support skin’s health with a handful of ingredients that target the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, but also the overall health of skin. Below we deep dive into what causes wrinkles, how serums can target skin effectively, and, of course, the best wrinkle serum.
What Causes Wrinkles?
Wrinkles are caused by a combination of factors — some you can control, others you can't, says the Mayo Clinic. Here are the most common causes of wrinkles.
Sun Damage
The undisputed number one cause of excessive aging and wrinkles is sun exposure. Sun damage breaks down collagen and elastin, causing skin to prematurely lose its strength and flexibility.
Aging
As you age, skin gradually loses its elasticity, becoming more fragile. Pair that with a decrease in natural oil production and skin naturally becomes more dry and delicate. Plus, this elastic loss goes hand-in-hand with decades of facial expressions and movements that can begin to set into wrinkles, especially in common places like the forehead, laugh lines, and the lines between your eyebrows (often referred to as “the 11s”).
Lifestyle
Smoking, stress, chronic lack of sleep, and a poor diet can all lead to wrinkles. Of course, smoking is not only detrimental to your overall health but also to your skin, breaking down collagen and accelerating skin’s age. But stress and lack of sleep can also be debilitating to the skin. Beauty sleep isn’t just a myth; the body, including skin, repairs itself while asleep. Our bodies create new collagen when sleeping, which helps to keep skin plump and youthful-looking. Chronic lack of sleep can accelerate aging, including wrinkles and sagging skin. And chronic stress, which alters the proteins in your skin and reduces elasticity, can also lead to premature signs of aging, like wrinkles, pigmentation, and undereye circles.
How to Prevent Wrinkles
Wrinkles are a perfectly normal part of being human and aging. We cannot change skin’s natural aging process — but we can look at environmental and lifestyle choices that influence premature aging. If you’d like to address wrinkles, here are a few ways to slow the effects of aging on your skin.
Sun Protection
The main culprit of premature aging is sun damage. So, let this be a reminder to use sunscreen every single day. The American Association of Dermatology recommends using sunscreen that is broad-spectrum, SPF 30 (or higher), and water-resistant. Additionally, they recommend utilizing other sun protection when possible, like sun-protective clothing, wide-brimmed hats, and seeking shade. Bottom line: “Every time you get a tan, you prematurely age your skin,” notes the AAD.
Lifestyle Change
Every year, more studies reiterate the importance of a healthy lifestyle for healthy skin. If you are what you eat, then aim for a healthy diet. A well-balanced diet, with a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, can help prevent premature aging, while a diet containing excessive sugar and refined carbs can accelerate skin aging. And don’t forget to get your beauty sleep: aim for 7-9 hours of sleep a night. Of course, habits, like smoking and excessive drinking, can greatly speed up skin aging. Stop smoking and lessen frequent alcohol consumption, which can dehydrate and damage skin. And lastly, get moving: exercise can improve circulation, which boosts the immune system and aids in skin’s overall health.
Skincare
Aggressive and irritating treatments can greatly alter and age the skin. When in doubt, go gently. Start by cleansing your skin softly — at Tatcha, we like to imagine being as delicate as the flutter of the wings of a butterfly when cleansing our faces. “Gentle washing helps to remove pollution, makeup, and other substances without irritating your skin,” agrees the AAD. And hydrate with a super-charged moisturizer that includes peptides and antioxidants! When in doubt, remove any products in your regime that burn or sting. The discomfort is your skin communicating with you, so listen. That irritation ages skin, notes the AAD.
About Serums for Wrinkles
Serums are particularly equipped to help manage healthy aging. A serum tends to have the most powerful and effective ingredients of your entire skincare ritual. Serums, designed to be applied after cleansing (and an essence, if you participate) and before moisturizing, are traditionally made up of smaller molecules that can penetrate deeply into the skin, delivering a high concentration of active ingredients. This makes them a great product to address specific concerns, like wrinkles.
Ingredients to Look For
Here are a few super-powered ingredients that make the best wrinkle serums.
Antioxidants
The best face serums for wrinkles should contain antioxidants, which protect against skin-damaging free radicals. Some of the most common antioxidants include Vitamin C and E, green tea, and niacinamide. Vitamin C is particularly wonderful at brightening for a more radiant complexion.
Peptides
Peptides are also a wonderful addition to wrinkle serums for the face. Peptides strengthen skin’s overall health (thus addressing the appearance of wrinkles) and provide the look of collagen-rich skin.
AHAs
AHAs, aka alpha hydroxy acids, include glycolic, lactic, and citric acids. AHAs are proven to address the surface of the skin — reducing hyperpigmentation and scars, removing dull dead skin cells for radiance, and improving the appearance of wrinkles.
Hydrating Ingredients
Plumping and locking in moisture with hydrating ingredients is one of the most vital aspects of a wrinkle repair serum. Look for super-hydrators like hyaluronic acid and squalane, which leave skin looking smoother, healthier, and more youthful. Hyaluronic acid is a humectant that draws hydration into the skin, retaining moisture all day long. Plant-derived squalane is also a humectant that seals in moisture for a more hydrated, plump appearance.
The Best Wrinkle Serum
Addressing the appearance of wrinkles is best done carefully. Use potent ingredients but not too potent to cause irritation. At Tatcha, we’ve perfected this balance with a serum that supports skin health while also addressing fine lines and wrinkles.
The Silk Serum
Our newest formula is one of our most inventive yet: The Silk Serum. The milky serum delivers the wrinkle-smoothing power of retinol in a potent, yet foolproof alternative. Unlike Vitamin A derivatives, which must be started slowly to build up a tolerance, The Silk Serum is made to use when you want, up to two times daily starting day one. No ramp-up time or complicated skin-cycling is necessary. The Silk Serum also includes silk, which nourishes and softens for a healthy-looking complexion, as well as our beloved Hadasei-3 proprietary complex to hydrate and support the skin barrier. Together, the serum delivers the power of retinol without compromising, making it one of the best wrinkle serums.
