The quest for a youthful, healthy-looking complexion is a timeless pursuit and though the fountain of youth may not exist (maybe??), there ARE some powerful skincare ingredients that can become your allies in the fight against wrinkles, fine lines, sun damage, and dullness. Better yet, your friends here at Current State have them all! Let's explore some essential age-defying heroes and our favorite product recommendations to help you craft an intuitive routine aimed toward optimal skin longevity. 1. Mineral SPF: Your Daily Armor Against Aging Sun damage is a major contributor to premature aging. Having a solid mineral SPF in your arsenal won’t just act as your daily shield against harmful UV rays, it’s a must-have for stressed-out skin. Unlike chemical sunscreens that absorb UV rays and can potentially irritate sensitive skin types, mineral sunscreens (also known as physical sunscreens) use natural mineral filters like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to sit on the skin's surface and deflect UV rays. This provides broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays, the culprits behind wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and even skin cancer. Current State Recommends: Zinc Oxide + Blueberry Daily Sunscreen SPF 30. This lightweight, non-nano formula easily melts into skin (without the white cast!) to deliver broad-spectrum UV protection, increased antioxidant defense, and barrier-balancing hydration. 2. Retinol: The Wrinkle Warrior Retinol, a derivative of Vitamin A, is a superstar anti-aging ingredient that rewinds time by encouraging healthy cell turnover and renewal, which helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, uneven texture and hyperpigmentation. Better yet, it’s been clinically proven to boost collagen production, the all-star protein that keeps skin plump and youthful. Current State Recommends: Retinol + Marula Renewing Serum. This nourishing, nightly rejuvenator visibly plumps skin and softens the look of fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven skin tone/texture as you sleep while restoring essential moisture thanks to a combo of botanical oils and encapsulated retinol technology. 3. Exfoliating Acids: Buff Away Dullness Exfoliation is the key to smooth, supported skin success. By removing dead skin cells that can clog pores, make your skin look dull and interfere with the delivery of good-for-skin treatments, exfoliating acids, like AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), PHAs (polyhydroxy acids) and BHAs (beta hydroxy acids), gently remove buildup to reveal a brighter, smoother complexion with less visible fine lines, wrinkles and pigmentation concerns. Current State Recommends: Salicylic + Green Tea Exfoliating Cleanser. This fast-acting, clarifying cleanser helps minimize the look of enlarged pores and rough texture by clearing away excess oil and surface buildup to reveal smoother, softer, glowier skin on the daily. 4. Vitamin C: Your Daily Dose of Radiance Just like SPF defends from UV rays, Vitamin C is a powerful defender itself with potent antioxidant properties that fight free radical damage - another major contributor to sagging skin, fine lines/wrinkles, and uneven skin tone. Not only does it help prevent and correct visible signs of aging and damage, it’s a great daytime partner to your favorite retinol, helping stimulate collagen production for age-defying results from sun up to sun down. Current State Recommends: Vitamin C + Super Greens Brightening Serum. This radiance-boosting, daily brightening serum uses 2 forms of Vitamin C + antioxidant-rich botanicals to improve the look of dark spots, uneven skin tone and loss of firmness while helping boost skin’s natural defense against future damage. 5. Amino Acids: The Building Blocks of Youth Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, including collagen and elastin, which are essential for maintaining skin structure, bounce, and elasticity. As we age, our natural production of these amino acids declines so by incorporating them into a daily skincare routine you’re feeding skin what it needs to help stimulate collagen production and bring back some firmness. Current State Recommends: Bamboo + Amino Mega Moisture Cream. This ultra-rich, daily moisture-boosting cream helps restore and rejuvenate tired, lackluster skin to visibly improve firmness, soften the look of fine lines/wrinkles, and improve overall skin tone/texture for a healthy, youthful glow. Not sure what to use when? We got you! Try this simple AM-to-PM routine to kickstart your age-defying goals: Step 1: Cleanse with Exfoliating Cleanser (AM & PM) Step 2: Treat with Brightening Serum (AM) and Renewing Serum (PM) Step 3: Moisturize with Mega Moisture Cream (AM & PM) Step 4: Protect with Daily Sunscreen SPF 30 (AM) Just remember, we’re all about intuitive skincare so it’s 100% to switch up your daily routine based on what your skin is needing most in the moment. By incorporating these 5 age-defying skincare ingredients into your daily routine, achieving the glowing, youthful, healthy-looking complexion you’ve been dreaming of just got WAY easier. Are any of the products mentioned above already in your current rotation or did you see something new you’re eager to try? Let us know below or on Instagram @currenstateofbeauty
