Glow Notes Series: Anti-Aging

Bismillah...

Loving the outdoors simply means it's almost impossible to have a perfect skin unless it's in your genes. I struggled with blemishes as a teenager. I think my skin only got better during my undergrad when I started to consistently follow the basic skincare routine; cleansing, toning and moisturizing. But actually at that time, I used to wonder why some of my other friends always seem to have flawless, glowing skin throughout the day. It wasn't until I was in my 30s that I realized that these friends were doing a lot more than those 3 basics.

I'm putting this post together as a little cheat sheet for myself because I always mix up the active ingredients and forget what they're suppose to do. At first I wanted to use Canva to create fancier cheat sheet but then I think I probably will spend too much time obsessing over the design instead of the content. And I also want a more detailed notes so writing everything on this blog is the best option. I'm going to write in series so lets start!

Anti-aging

This is currently my biggest concern of all. I got panicked last year because I could feel my skin becoming less firm, so I started taking oral collagen (will write about this in another post). There are also some crow's feet at the corner of my eyes but they don't bother me too much since they're not very noticeable.

Retinoids

Retinoids is an umbrella term used for vitamin A. The common ones seen over-the-counter are retinol and retinal (retinaldehyde). Both are used for

• Reducing fine lines and wrinkles
• Improve skin texture and tone
• Boost collagen production 
• Speed up skin cell turn over

So how are retinol and retinal (retinaldehyde) different?

Retinol 

2 steps conversion: Retinol ➡ Retinal ➡Retinoic Acid

Therefore, it is gentler and slower

Available strength: 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.5% and 1%

Retinal (retinaldehyde) 

1 step conversion: Retinal ➡Retinoic Acid

Stronger and faster

Available strength: 0.05%, 0.1% and 0.2%

To avoid irritation, start with low % and use 2-3 nights per week first. When I first started using retinol, I didn't really do any reading and mistakenly bought the 1% strength. I was really anxious when I learned that 1% is actually the highest concentration. But I used it anyway and started slowly. I used it twice a week, made sure I moisturize well afterward and always apply sunscreen the next day. I tolerated it quite well. However, I do have friends who experienced irritation with the lowest strength. My first retinol product was from The Ordinary. The shelf life is only 3 months so I ended up not buying it anymore.

I bought this in Japan (I'll make sure to note the price next time). Texture wise, it is quite thick but it doesn't feel pasty at all and it absorbs well into the skin. It contains both retinol and retinal. It also has bakuchiol, a plant-based ingredient which is often used as a gentler alternative to retinoids for anti-aging. I use it 2 to 3 times per week. I really love how my skin looks the next morning, feels and looks more supple.

I also bought this one in Japan. This is my second purchase and I actually have another one in stock. It only contains retinol but I'm not sure about the exact percentage. The texture is gel-like and it absorbs really quickly into my skin. While it doesn't give that instant plumping feeling like the Some By Mi one, I do notice my fine lines gradually look less visible after using it. I guess it works for me and it's more budget-friendly too!

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals. Therefore it helps to reduce oxidative stress and slow down collagen breakdown. It is also important in collagen production whereby it is needed to stabilize collagen. And finally it also brightens and evens skin tone. So, basically vitamin C is best for daily protection and giving the skin a healthy glow.

Another product bought in Japan. This is my 3rd bottle because I spilled the 2nd bottle hehe. It's a concentrated 10% vitamin C serum plus Cica extract. The Cica extract is for hydration and to prevent irritation. The texture actually feels a bit oil-like. When I apply the product, I do feel a slight warm sensation but it only lasts a few seconds. Not prickly and stinging. In terms of whether it works or not, I don't really notice any visible changes immediately after use and that make sense because vitamin C is not meant for instant results. I continue using the product because I believe in the benefits of vitamin C. I don't use it during the day as I it makes my skin more oily. Instead, I alternate it with my retinol products.

Peptides

This is something I just recently tried. I bought my first peptide serum during my visit to Seoul in February for GD's fan meeting. Peptides are short chain amino acids that act like messenger that tells your skin to perform specific restorative function and different peptides work in different ways.

• Signal Peptides - Tell skin to produce more collagen and elastin
• Carrier Peptides - Deliver trace minerals that support skin repair
• Enzyme-inhibiting Peptides - Inhibit enzyme to slow down collagen natural breakdown
• Neurotransmitter Peptides - Block chemical signals that cause muscles to contract. Botox-like effect

There are 5 peptides in this product

• Signal Peptides - Palmitoyl Pentapeptide- 4 & Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
• Carrier Peptides - Copper Tripeptide-1
• Enzyme-inhibiting Peptides - Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
• Neurotransmitter Peptides - Acetyl Hexapeptide-8

It has other ingredients too; PDRN for cell regeneration, niacinamide for brightening effect, adenosine for healthier skin structure and ocimum sanctum (holy basil) leaf extract for soothing anti-inflammatory effect. 

This is currently my go-to daytime serum. I love the pink colour, the texture and the scent. It absorbs really quickly into the skin which makes it perfect for my morning routine when I'm rushing to get ready for work. Just bought another 2 bottles during my recent visit to Japan.

It's honestly hard to tell which product is making the biggest difference because I'm using several active ingredients at the same time. Plus, there could be other contributing factors too. I've cut back a lot on sugar, been staying active, make sure I'm well-hydrated throughout the day and try to get enough sleep.

So my skincare routine for aging is quite simple,

Morning: Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Brightening Glow Serum

Night: Some By Mi Retinol Intense Reactivating Serum or Unlabel Lab Retinol Essence or Keana Beaute VC-10

Since I've never been blessed with smooth poreless skin, I'm pretty happy with how my skin is looking these days. Been enjoying the reactions I get when I tell people I'm turning 40 this year! Hahaha