Written by Dr. Muskan Abedin

Medically reviewed by Dr. Israa Ismail

Updated on February 12, 2025

How to Pick the Best Anti-Ageing Skincare: 6 Things to Consider

Do you want clear and younger-looking skin?
The market and internet are flooded with a large number of anti-ageing products. These can be very overwhelming, and choosing a product can be challenging. But don’t worry!
The key aspect in choosing a skin care product is understanding your skin type, concerns, and ingredients, which will help you tackle this. This blog will help you understand 6 essential factors to consider when choosing products that give you a youthful, clear, beautiful glow.

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“I think skin is the most important. If you take care of your skin, then everything else looks good.”

-Zendaya (American actress)

Understand Your Skin Type

Everyone has a different kind of skin. Even in your family, you may have seen that the complexion and texture of everyone’s skin are different. Different skin types are classified according to the amount of sebum secreted. However, your skin type can also change according to your age, environmental factors and the stage of your monthly cycle. This implies that each skin needs products according to its type. You should first understand your skin type to formulate a proper skincare routine.

Different Skin Types:

There are 3 types of skin: Dry, oily, and sensitive. Let’s see the features of each skin.

1. Dry skin: 

Dry skin often lacks adequate moisture and hydration, which can cause tightness, roughness, itching, fine lines and flakiness. It usually looks dull and dehydrated in appearance, especially in winter, due to the cold and dry climate. Moisturise regularly to restore moisture and maintain a healthy skin barrier.

2. Oily skin:

If your skin is oily, you probably have high sebum production from your skin’s sebaceous glands. This can be triggered by stress, environmental factors, humidity, genetics, and even fluctuating hormones. Your skin appears shiny or greasy, particularly in the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin). When excessive sebum is produced, your pores can get clogged, which makes them prone to acne, blackheads, and whiteheads. However, oily skin tends to age slower and has natural protection against fine lines and wrinkles.

3. Normal skin: 

It is considered to be the most healthy among all different types of skin. It has a smooth appearance and good elasticity, with adequate hydration and moisture. If you have normal skin, you will face fewer skin issues. Your skin looks clear, with medium-sized pores and an even tone, producing a healthy amount of sebum, which keeps it moisturised without being too oily. It is usually very easy to take care of normal skin without any extra effort.

4. Combination skin: 

Combination skin means that some regions of your face are drier than others. If you have combination skin, your T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin) is usually oily, and your cheeks are dry. However, this can differ from person to person. Some people may notice shiny T zones, while others may not.

Dry areas may attain a greyish (sometimes referred to as ashy skin) or reddish colour. Combination skin types are more prone to changes during different seasons of the year or due to various factors, such as stress or hormonal changes.

5. Sensitive skin: 

Sensitive skin is very different from other skin types. It is not classified by how much oil your skin produces. Sensitive skin can be more vulnerable to external irritants and react easily to certain ingredients, environmental factors or physical irritants. If you have sensitive skin, you may notice that your skin becomes red, burns, or feels irritated after applying some ingredients. It’s difficult to rule out the exact cause of sensitive skin, but this situation can worsen if you have a damaged skin barrier.

Patch Testing:

Before introducing a new product in your routine, always do a patch test before (test it on a small area) of your skin. This ensures it won’t cause any kind of irritation or allergic reactions and is completely safe for you.

Key Ingredients to Look For 

To create an effective skincare routine, make sure you choose your ingredients correctly.

Following are the ingredients which you can add to your routine according to your needs and preferences:

1. Retinoids and Retinol: 

Retinoids and retinol are vitamin-A derivatives that stimulate collagen production and reduce fine lines and wrinkles in your skin. They improve cellular turnover, which helps clear your skin and overcome issues like ageing, textured skin and severe acne.

2. Hyaluronic Acid:

As your skin ages, it loses the ability to hold moisture and hydration. Hyaluronic acid plumps, hydrates and moisturises your skin. As this helps to moisturise and hydrate your skin adequately, it prevents fine lines and wrinkles, making it soft and supple.

3. Vitamin C: 

It is a powerful antioxidant that helps brighten your skin, even out skin tone, and stimulate collagen production. It boosts the production of collagen and is important for the maintenance of your skin health. The antioxidant activity of vitamin C makes it excellent to protect against UV irradiation.

4. Peptides:

Peptides are short chains of amino acids (protein molecules) that help repair and strengthen your skin’s barrier and get rid of skin wrinkles and fine lines, creating smoother skin.

5. Sunscreen:

Sunscreen is one of the most controversial skin care products. Much research backs up its effectiveness, but still, there is a bit of hesitancy in its usage. Sunscreen protects your skin from sun damage, which, if not done, can cause accelerated ageing. In the long run, it also helps to prevent different kinds of skin cancer.

6. Niacinamide:

Niacinamide is an all-in-one skincare ingredient. Niacinamide controls your skin’s ageing and pigmentation. It is anti-inflammatory. It removes skin blemishes and acne scars l. It controls oil production in your skin, which helps to prevent blackheads, whiteheads, and acne. It helps to improve your skin elasticity and tone.

7. Antioxidants (e.g., Green Tea Extract, Coenzyme Q10): 

Antioxidants can help prevent or delay your cell damage by counteracting free radicals and oxidative stress. It helps enhance your skin texture and radiance.

Consider Your Age and Skin Concerns

Your skin changes throughout your life, and due to these changes, its needs and issues differ during various ages.

Let’s explore what you must consider in your skincare routine in accordance with your age.

1. Early 20s to 30s:

Your skin is very young and undergoes many changes as you hit puberty. Issues like acne, blackheads, and whiteheads may be more common. Do not go overboard with a lot of products. Use lightweight moisturisers to boost hydration. You can use facewashes or serums that contain Vitamin C and salicylic acid for glowing acne-free skin. Use sunscreen with at least SPF 30 to prevent further sun and free radical damage.

2. Late 30s to 40s:

You may start noticing fine lines, wrinkles, dry skin and lack of elasticity at this stage. Add anti-ageing products like peptides and retinol. Use heavy moisturisers, preferably those that contain hyaluronic acid, if you face skin dryness. Also, serums like retinol-containing serums should be added to boost collagen production.

3. 50s and Beyond:

Along with fine lines and wrinkles, skin at this age becomes thin. Focus on using rich and heavy nourishing creams that contain ceramides and hyaluronic acid to restore moisture and maintain skin elasticity.

4. Unique Skin Concerns: 

Specific issues like hyperpigmentation or deep wrinkles need special targeted solutions such as brightening serums or intensive anti-ageing creams.

Check Product Formulation and Absorption

For maximum skin care results, it is essential to understand what is in the formulations and how your skin absorbs them.

Layering Products:

Different skincare products have different consistency. It is crucial to understand how different products can be layered.

Let’s see how you can layer your products :

  • Wash your face first and apply serum on damp skin.
  • However, if you use a toner, use it before the serum.
  • Follow this up with your moisturiser.
  • Lastly, apply your sunscreen.

Some Additional Tips

  • Firstly, apply thinner, lighter products and follow up with heavier creams.
  • Use clean hands to apply your products.
  • Wait for some time before applying the following product so that it gets absorbed.

As per Absorption Rate

Choose products that absorb quickly in your skin and don’t leave a greasy residue or white cast.

Go for Non-comedogenic and Fragrance-Free Options

If you have acne-prone or sensitive skin, choose non-comedogenic and fragrance-free formulations. Comedogenic products can clog your pores, increasing the chances of acne breakouts. Products containing fragrances can irritate sensitive skin and cause redness and itching.

Research Brand Reputation and Clinical Proof

Your skin deserves the maximum care. Wrong choices of skincare can do more harm than good.  Buy products only from trustworthy brands to prevent the chances of skin allergies and irritation and achieve maximum results.

1. Trusted Brands:

Look for reputable brands with scientific research and testing. Ensure that there are enough transparency brands so that they can be more reliable and trustworthy.

2. Clinical Studies:

Always check if the product you are choosing has been thoroughly tested for its effectiveness through various scientific methods like clinical trials and verified by a trusted dermatologist with their recommendations.

3. Reviews and Expert Recommendations:

Before adding any product to your routine, make sure to go through its user reviews. It helps to get an idea of the experiences of other clients, which can help you understand its efficacy and results.

Avoid Common Pitfalls

Some common mistakes can compromise your skin health. Let’s see how you can avoid this and not waste your time and money:

1. Too Many Active Ingredients:

Adding too many ingredients to your routine will not guarantee better results. In fact, it can many times be harmful to your skin. Using too many potent ingredients at once can irritate and damage your skin barrier.

2. Expensive Doesn’t Always Mean Better:

A high price doesn’t always indicate better quality. If you ensure your products are adequately tested, dermatologists recommend, suit your skin concerns, and are reliable, it’s enough even if they are not very expensive. Many expensive products may also not be suitable for your skin and only tend to burn a hole in your pocket.

3. Ignore Instant Results Claims:

Any trustworthy product that gives effective results does not do it instantly. If any brand claims instant results, then it is simply false advertising. Anti-ageing products like retinol typically need several weeks to show noticeable results.

4. Regular Usage and Consistency:

For effective results of anti-ageing products, consistency is very important. Use products religiously for at least 2-3 months before altering frequency and quantity. Avoid switching products frequently, as this will not give the required results.

Wrapping Up

Due to the number of products in the market nowadays, preparing and maintaining the perfect skincare routine can be challenging. However, remember that skincare is just a part of your journey towards healthy skin. Healthy skin comes from within, not only through topical applications. 

Along with this, ensure you have a healthy and nourishing diet, exercise regularly and practise mindful meditation. Stay away from stress and protect your skin from the sun. When you consider your skin type while choosing skin care products, you will achieve youthful and radiant skin. If you want to learn more about this, you can contact our Nirva team of healthcare experts.

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Dr. Muskan Abedin

Dr. Muskan Abedin is a skilled Ayurvedic practitioner with a strong background in public health. She integrates traditional Ayurvedic principles with modern health practices, focusing on preventive care and sustainable wellness. She has a dedication to holistic health and commitment to empowering patients. improvve this author's bio. As a medical professional and writer, she excels at translating complex health concepts into accessible and actionable insights, helping individuals make informed decisions about their wellness journey.