Ever wonder why there are thousands of anti-aging skincare products in the world? In how many ways can our skin age that warrants needing so many different kinds of anti-aging products? 

Let’s talk about how our skin ages on a cellular level! 

At around the age of 30 cellular turnover begins to slow (from 28 to 40 to 90 days!); with skin becoming more dull and grayish, dead skin cells piling up and clogging our pores, skin surface becomes loose, and gradually loses its ability to retain moisture and barrier integrity, causing dullness and dehydration. 

What you need: physical exfoliators with AHA and plant-enzymes

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The number of melanocytes also decreases with age (8-20% per decade) but that is definitely not a good sign - as the remaining cells enlarge, causing the skin to become paler but with irregular pigmentation. 

What you need: anti-oxidants such as Vitamin C, Azelaic Acid, Coenzyme Q-10

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The slowing of turnover of many skin cells is caused by the decrease in our skin’s own stem cell activity in the basal layer. Stem cells are like “mother cells” that have the ability to be differentiated into many different cell types based on the skin’s needs, responsible for skin regeneration and repair. Also, the dermo-epidermal junction also becomes flatter and thinner, and nutrient transfer from bottom layer to top layer of the skin also reduces 

What you need: peptides, stem cells, antioxidants, nutrients-rich skincare

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There are immune cells called Langerhans cells that patrol our epidermis helping us look out for allergens with their dendritic structures. With age, their numbers reduce and hence our skin becomes more susceptible to sensitivity and irritation due to less detection and defense. These cells also interact with keratinocytes to maintain tight junctions in the epidermis for a strong barrier of protection. 

So far, there aren’t any well-established ingredients that specifically strengthen these Langerhans cells.