The quest for age-defying radiant skin may be fraught with misinformation.

From overpriced beauty products with bold claims to DIY home remedies not backed by science, the elusive fountain of youth may seem unachievable. As time passes, your skin cell renewal rate slows down and as a result it produces less collagen and loses its elasticity and firmness. In this article, we break down 6 anti-aging skincare myths to make your anti-aging journey a smooth sailing one.

Myth 1: Expensive Beauty Products Work Best

Skincare efficacy does not correlate with its price tag.

Just because a organic beauty product costs more, it does not mean that this product is more effective. What truly matters is its formulation, the ingredients used, and whether it suits your skin type. Some anti-aging skincare products may claim to have a potent time-reversing ingredient but upon closer inspection of the ingredient list, this specific compound is used very sparingly in its formulation.

To build an effective anti-aging skincare regimen, choose beauty products developed with concentrated amounts of Peptides, Niacinamide, Ceramides or Vitamin C. In addition, they should not be packed with irritating chemicals and should be made with philosophies that align with your values, such as being organic and cruelty-free.

Myth 2. Potent Ingredients Work Immediately

“Think of treating aging skin like a marathon not a sprint, and we do not have a silver bullet. I tell my patients that it takes several weeks or even months to start to see the benefits of most skincare products,” explains dermatologist Dr Joshua Zeichner

Clinically proven anti-aging skincare ingredients take time to work when applied topically onto your skin. Don’t toss out your skincare products just because you do not see visible improvements after a few days of use. Skincare ingredients typically take at least 4-8 weeks of regular use to significantly alter your skin’s appearance, and in some cases maybe even more time. To track your progress, take a bare-faced selfie under natural light once a week over a span of 2 months to review the effectiveness.

Myth 3. Stop Using Anti-Aging Skincare After Seeing Visible Improvements

You can’t abandon your anti-aging skincare regimen and expect to continue enjoying glowing results. A regenerative skincare regimen requires diligent application for the ingredients to deliver their full spectrum of efficacies. As time goes by, your skin ages and its skin cell turnover rate continues to decline. Without the aid of anti-aging skincare, you will witness a loss of volume, elasticity and even the formation of age spots.

Myth 4. Use More Products For Better Results

It may be tempting to use a bit of everything good and cook up a skincare storm but with skincare, less is more. Skincare ingredients that clash can lead to serious inflammation and painful breakouts while other conflicting ingredients cancel out the efficacies of each other. For instance, Retinol and Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) should not be used together as they are both exfoliating which can be too harsh on your skin. Retinol should not be used with Niacinamide or Vitamin C, as these compounds deactivate each other.

Myth 5. Sunscreen Is Optional When Using Restorative Anti-Aging Skincare

Intense anti-aging skincare products have incredible restorative effects on your skin. However, this does not mean that you can skip sunscreen and get away with UV ray damage. Unprotected sun exposure adds years to your skin in a process called photoaging, and you may experience painful sunburns, discoloration and signs of premature aging. Wear sunscreen with at least SPF30 protection no matter the weather.

Myth 6. You Are Not Aging If You Do Not Wrinkles 

Signs of aging are not limited to wrinkles. When you age, your skin changes and early signs of aging can include a loss of elasticity, discoloration and fine lines which can appear way before wrinkles. These are red flags that should indicate a need for an anti-aging skincare regimen.

“I find that dark spots and low facial volume is what people start to see before anything else. A lot of people in their 20s come in saying they are noticing dark circles and hollow skin under the eyes and folds around the mouth,” says dermatologist Jason Emer.

It is never too early to start an anti-aging skincare routine. Pay attention to what your skin is telling you and make sure not to fall prey to any of the above anti-aging myths so that you can sport a glowing healthy complexion even with the passage of time.