Anti-aging and anti-wrinkle cream:
what are the differences?

After the age of 25 or 30, the skin sometimes begins to show signs of weakness. Beginning with wrinkles, dark spots, lack of complexion’s homogeneity... To fight against aging marks and sustaining your face’s youth, two types of care exist: anti-wrinkle cream and anti-aging cream. What is the difference? How to choose? Let us explain.

Aging skin: explanations

Why does the skin age?

There is nothing more natural than aging. The older an individual gets; the more cells make way into senescence (aging of the body's tissues).

In terms of the skin, several intrinsic phenomena are involved:

• A decrease in the activity of the sebaceous and sweat glands. This leads to a decrease in the secretion of sebum and sweat. The hydrolipidic film covering the skin becomes less effective, the skin loses its suppleness and dries more easily;
• A decrease in the rate of cell renewal, which favors an accumulation of dead skin on the surface;
• A reduction in the number of melanocytes (cells responsible for pigmentation).

At the same time, other external factors can speed-up the skin aging process. This usually happens with the sun, pollution, tobacco, a poor diet or even stress.

What are the effects of aging?

On the physical level, skin aging can take up different forms:

• Wrinkles. This is the strongest and most visible effect, especially on the face. Given that the activities of sebaceous and sweat glands decrease, the skin dries up and loses its elasticity. This leads to natural skin folds, which are formed due to the movements of the skin, which ends up creating marks.
• Skin abnormalities: dilated blood vessels, brown spots, localized depigmentation
• An alteration of complexion: loss of homogeneity, pallor, dull complexion

Anti-wrinkle cream: targeted treatment

Anti-wrinkle cream: targeted treatment

An Anti-wrinkle cream aims to fight against the small ridges formed by the skin folds, which come along through age. Don’t forget that the cause of these ridges is related to a loss of elasticity and an in-depth dehydration of the skin. Wrinkles are more marked on the face, especially on the eyes, forehead and around the lips. These are known as expression lines.

The anti-wrinkle cream has the aim to nourish the skin and make it more supple. This requires a large amount of water supply and cell renewal stimulation. To achieve this, these specific treatments are based on components which are naturally present in the body such as hyaluronic acid.

The other determining element while fighting against wrinkles is collagen. This protein has the power to favor skin regeneration and preserve its elasticity. It provides a smoothing effect.

Naturally present in the epidermis, the production of these two molecules decreases over time. To make up for this lack, laboratories have developed synthetic formulas based on collagen and hyaluronic acid.

Who is the anti-wrinkle cream made for?

Each individual has a different genetic capital. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to aging and defining age so that one can begin to use an anti-wrinkle skincare, doesn't make much sense. Moreover, external factors such as tobacco, diet or the sun can speed-up aging.

However, the phases of aging and the appearance of wrinkles can be divided into two categories with a suitable cure, for each one of them.

The first fine lines and wrinkles

These concern women from the age of 25, who are mainly affected by the so-called expression wrinkles. These initial marks usually appear on the forehead (frowning lines) and around the eyes (crow's feet).

To fight against these effects, the initial wrinkle creams are mostly aimed at moisturizing. If they already contain a small amount of anti-aging active ingredients, their main action will be to preserve the skin from drying out, while favoring a smoothing effect.

Rooted wrinkles

From the age of 35-40 on an average, deeper wrinkles begin to put down roots. The ridges are deeper. This is when it’s time to switch to a cream which contains more powerful active ingredients.

Young and anti-wrinkle skin: the paradox
In order to prevent marks before they appear on your face, it seems like a tempting option to use an anti-wrinkle cream for mature skin.. This is definitely not the right thing to do. The majority of these products are made for an audience over the age of 35, because on young skin, anti-aging active ingredients can weaken the epidermis and make it more sensitive.

Anti-aging cream: prevention against the effects of aging

Why choose an anti-aging cream?

Wrinkles are not the only effects of old age. Sagging skin, dark spots, depigmentation. All these harmful effects are associated with age. To delay the signs of old age, the anti-age cream takes more extensive action compared to an anti-wrinkle treatment. Its aim is to re-plump the skin, restore its glow and boost collagen production.

This type of treatment is often made up of retinol, a product which comes from vitamin A that takes action on all the visible aging signs.

Anti-aging eye serum: how to use it?

The eyes are a very sensitive spot. This requires special treatment with dedicated care.

For great efficacity, the method of applying an anti-aging eye serum, plays a key role. Here are our tips on the daily actions to take on, in your anti-aging beauty routine:

1. On clean skin, with your fingertips, place an equivalent of a rice grain, with the cream under the eye.
2. Gently tap from the inside to the outside.
3. At the level of the crow's feet, proceed in small circles.
4. Gently wipe over the upper eyelid with the rest of the product and finish with the lashes.

To fight against the signs of aging, an anti-aging cream is a good prevention solution. For a more specific action on rooted marks, the anti-wrinkle cream turns into your best ally.

The three key points to remember about anti-aging and anti-wrinkle cream:

• The anti-aging cream takes action on a set of signs of aging such as wrinkles, dullness, sagging skin or spots. The anti-wrinkle cream, as its name may suggest, takes targeted action on the furrows which have put down roots over time.
• Collagen and hyaluronic acid are the two most extensively used components in anti-wrinkle care. Retinol is a derivative of vitamin A. It provides an anti-aging effect by taking action on all aging signs.
• The anti-wrinkle cream is available in two categories: those which aim to fight against the initial wrinkles and prevent their evolution and those which aim to reduce the marks which have already put down roots on mature skin.