Many of us wish we could turn back time and take better care of our skin for one reason or another. Because of this, the anti-aging market is now worth hundreds of billions of dollars, with creams, face masks, and serums that promise to reverse the signs of aging and make you look younger.
There are also a number of supplements and vitamins for women on the market that claim to take years off your skin.
If you’re not sure what the best anti-aging supplements are (or if they even work), read on to find out from top nutritionists and doctors.
Which are the best anti aging supplements to fight wrinkles?
To answer this question, let’s start by talking about how aging happens: Cells always age, but premature aging can be caused by things in the environment like ultraviolet (UV) rays, a bad diet, and alcohol, as well as things in the mind like stress.
Because of this, the best way to promote healthy aging is to eat a diet full of nutrients, exercise regularly, and (most importantly) use sunscreen. But it’s possible that supplements can help protect skin from the bad effects of the environment, keeping you looking younger for longer.
1. Vitamin C
Everyone talks about how vitamin C can help prevent colds and flu, but this powerful antioxidant may also make skin feel and look better. Dr. Zeichner says that vitamin C, which is sometimes called ascorbic acid, helps the body make more collagen, which can help get rid of fine lines.
“Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that protects against damage from free radicals, stops abnormal pigmentation from happening, and is an essential cofactor for making healthy collagen,” he says. “Think of vitamin C as insurance for your sunscreen to keep it from breaking down.”
2. Vitamin E
Vitamin E is important for immune function and keeping inflammation in check, just like vitamin C. It also helps your body make its own collagen.
“Think of collagen as the backbone of your skin. It gives your skin structure and support and makes fine lines and wrinkles look less noticeable,” says Dr. Zeichner.”Evening is a time for rest and repair.
This is also when your skin cells naturally turn over at a faster rate. So I tell my patients to take advantage of this by using [topical] ingredients like vitamin E that boost collagen production.”
3. Polypodium leucotomos extract
Protecting your skin from the sun is, of course, the most important thing you can do to make it look younger.
A dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City, Nava Greenfield, MD, says that ultraviolet light breaks down the extracellular matrix between your cells, which makes you age faster.
She recommends an anti-aging supplement with an extract from a Central American fern called Polypodium leucotomos.
This extract has been shown to make it take longer for the sun’s harmful rays to burn the skin.
4. Curcumin
Curcumin, which is the main active ingredient in turmeric, has strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that can help the skin fight oxidative stress. And because oxidative stress causes signs of aging, curcumin or turmeric supplements may help your skin look younger (especially since research demonstrates that curcumin activates certain proteins that help delay cellular deterioration).
5. L-theanine
L-theanine is an amino acid that is found in high amounts in some teas, like green tea. It has been shown to increase alpha brain waves, which are the same relaxing waves that happen when you meditate.
Some research shows that taking L-theanine as a supplement can help protect against oxidative stress because of this.
6. Zinc
This essential trace mineral is best known for making the immune system work better and helping wounds heal, but both Dr. Skotnicki and Dr. Greenfield say it may also protect the skin from UV damage.
7. Resveratrol
This antioxidant is what gives raspberries and grapes their deep red color, and it has also been shown to be very good for skin health. Research shows that resveratrol can help fight signs of aging skin by making the skin more resistant to UV light and free radicals.
8. Selenium
In the same way, selenium has antioxidant properties that could improve the quality of skin and fight free radicals. Selenium works with enzymes in your body to fight oxidative stress, which is caused by a buildup of free radicals that speeds up the aging process.
According to the research we have so far, it may even help to slow both mental and physical decline.
9. Coenzyme Q10
This antioxidant compound, also called CoQ10, is made by the body to help turn food into energy. There is some evidence that it may help reduce wrinkles and improve the texture of the skin, says Dr. Skotnicki.
10. Epigallocatechin gallate
This unique plant compound, which is also called EGCG, has a lot of great health benefits and is found in high amounts in green tea. Researchers have found that drinking green tea may protect against aging skin and reduce hyperpigmentation caused by UV light.
When it comes to protecting your skin, supplements can’t replace a healthy diet, daily exercise, and SPF. And while supplements like curcumin, CoQ10, and vitamin C may help your body fight the effects of aging, they won’t restore your skin or take 10 years off your face overnight.
Taking care of yourself, avoiding stress, and sticking to a good skin care routine are the best ways to live longer and look younger for longer.
How should we use supplements for cosmetic purposes as a holistic remedy to beauty?
If you have ever read through beauty recipe and formula forums, like me, you’ll know that there are is a method to the madness in this anecdotal beauty stratosphere.
When using supplements in the form of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids and extracts, it is important to either use them pre-formulated by pharmaceutical companies with the direction of cosmetologists or you have to follow the exact anecdotal formula that gave the desired results.
This could mean using the exact chemical structure of certain vitamins. For example: some C vitamins are not identical. There are left-handed and right-handed sugars for instance and they effect your body and metabolism differently.
There is, as another example, a huge difference between niacin and niacinamide. So, you have to look out for these discrepancies when searching for suitable nutritional supplements at the homeopath store or drugstore.
Most times it is best to do an (almost) exact match by mimicking the ingredients with similar brands and product ranges, for best results.
I’m currently in the process of documenting and sharing my supplement regiments, beauty routines and other beauty hacks I have discovered throughout my skincare journey since the age of 26 and up to the present day on blog posts on this site.