9 Natural Ingredients That Will Keep Wrinkles and Fine Lines at Bay

BY JANECA RACHO · APRIL 17, 2018

When it comes to skin care, it’s a known fact that some of the most popular anti-aging products have been tried and tested in a lab. While that may be all right for some—we’re all for looking and feeling young, after all—others may not be too keen on the idea. So if the thought of smearing your face with ingredients you can barely pronounce (much less understand) is making you feel uneasy, then it’s time to shift the focus to natural anti-aging skin care.

“As we age, our skin loses volume on all levels. Our cells are not as plump and round, so our dermis, epidermis, facial fat pads and even the muscles in the face lose volume and tone,” explains board-certified dermatologist and beauty expert Anna Guanche, M.D. “The elastin production in our skin peaks just before birth and declines until age 40, when it ceases production altogether. Any damage to elastin after this age is irreparable, as far as we know today,” she adds.

Hence, naturopathic physician Ari Kasprowicz, N.D., shares that an effective anti-aging skin care routine must include steps to address hydration and moisture retention, protect from oxidative stress, improve the suppleness of skin and promote collagen and cell regeneration.

Why Go for Natural Ingredients

Synthetic ingredients have been proven to fight wrinkles and fine lines, but there is also a wide variety of natural options that deliver the same anti-aging benefits without exposing your skin to toxic chemicals and preservatives. “Some think natural ingredients are just botanicals and extracts, but there are many advancements in science that have taken natural ingredients to a whole new level. Some of these breakthroughs involve fermentation of ingredients and other unique processes,” explains beauty chemist and skin care expert David Pollock. “Natural ingredients can work synergistically with the body, improving their benefits and providing healthier alternatives to synthetic ones,” he notes.

Unlike some of its lab-based counterparts, natural ingredients are also easier to absorb as the body treats them as nutrients, says registered nurse Rebecca Lee, founder of RemediesForMe.com. “They don’t clog pores, encourage cell regeneration, help to retain moisture and don’t harm the immune system,” she adds.

Before You Make the Switch

While going the natural route is definitely exciting, Dr. Guanche suggests making the big switch gradually. “Try one thing at a time. If your skin agrees with it, then add the next change in your regimen. If you start all new products at once, you may not be able to decipher which are effective and which are potentially allergenic to you,” she explains. Doctor Kasprowicz also adds that while choosing natural products is an important first step, “To achieve optimal skin, you must work from the inside out.”

Want to keep wrinkles at bay the natural way? Read on to find out more about the best natural anti-aging ingredients and what science says about them!

1. Berries

Studies have shown that berries are packed with polyphenols like flavonoids and tannins, which act as antioxidants and fight off oxidative stress. These phenolic compounds contain properties that help reduce the causes and effects of skin aging, alleviate skin diseases (including skin cancer) and improve the appearance of scars and burns. Flavonoids, in particular, are known for their antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, while tannins act as a natural astringent that help in shrinking and tightening skin cells.

Find it in: Eminence Organic Skin Care Firm Skin Acai Masque

2. Greens

Here’s another reason not to skip your vegetables! Green leafy vegetables are packed with tocopherols (vitamin E) and phytonutrients like lutein and zeaxanthin which play a significant role in preventing the signs of aging and sun damage and promoting overall skin health. In this study, dietary intake of green vegetables was shown to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines and lower the risk of skin cancer.

Find it in: Youth to the People Age Prevention Superfood Cream

3. Rosehip Oil

While rosehip oil is popular for its ability to diminish scars and discoloration, a 2015 study using rosehip powder also suggests that it contains anti-aging properties. The subjects reported significant improvement in crow’s feet, skin moisture and elasticity after eight weeks of use. That’s not surprising considering rosehip is rich in fatty acids and antioxidants like tocopherols and carotenoids, making it highly effective against inflammation and oxidative stress.

Find it in: The Organic Pharmacy Virgin Cold Pressed Rose Hip Oil

4. Fruit/Plant Stem Cells

Fruit- and plant-derived stem cells are rich in collagen and elastin fibers, and as we all know, production of these key proteins start to decline as we age, leading to dry, dull and wrinkled skin. Stem cells are perhaps the closest we’ll ever get to the mythical fountain of youth. They are crucial in anti-aging skin care because of their ability to self-renew—they replenish cells in need of repair and regenerate damaged tissue. Swiss apple stem cells, in particular, have been found to maintain and protect human stem cells that, in turn, lead to a reduction in early signs of aging like fine lines and loss of firmness.

Find it in: Juice Beauty STEM CELLULAR Anti-Wrinkle Booster Serum

5. Carrot Seed

Carrot seed oil may not be on your radar as a top anti-aging ingredient, but it definitely deserves a spot in this list. “Carrot seed oil contains high levels of the antioxidant carotenoid. It reverses skin damage, detoxes and hydrates the skin,” says Lee. Extracted from the carrot plant Daucos carota or wild carrot (and not to be confused with carrot oil), carrot seed oil contains cancer-fighting bioflavonoids that are also known for their antimicrobial and free radical scavenging activities.

Find it in: Naturopathica Carrot Seed Soothing Facial Oil

6. Lactic Acid

One of the skin care world’s most beloved ingredients, lactic acid is an AHA that occurs naturally in our body and is also commonly found in yogurt and fermented vegetables. As an anti-aging ingredient, it’s known to refine wrinkles and improve the skin’s texture and elasticity and is often used as an exfoliant to encourage cell regeneration and skin lightening.

Find it in: Sunday Riley Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment

7. Green Tea

As far as natural ingredients are concerned, green tea (all the teas, actually) needs no introduction. Its plethora of benefits involve the human body’s overall health, including a host of skin care wonders. “Green tea has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The anti-aging benefits of green tea are attributed to polyphenols, a type of flavonoids found in plants,” says dermatologist Harold Lancer, M.D., F.A.A.D., founder of Lancer Skincare and creator of the celebrated anti-aging protocol The Lancer Method. “Early studies have shown that green tea can reduce sun damage, protect skin from cancer and decrease collagen breakdown,” he explains.

Find it in: REN Evercalm Global Protection Day Cream

8. Coconut Oil

Aside from its antibacterial and antifungal properties, coconut oil is also known for its anti-aging and skin-healing abilities. In a 2010 study, virgin coconut oil, in particular, was found to contain properties that stimulate the production of collagen. It’s also a potent moisturizer, which is especially beneficial for those with parched or aging skin.

Find it in: RMS Beauty Raw Coconut Cream

9. Bilberry Extract

Commonly found in Northern Europe, bilberries are traditionally used in folk medicine for their antiseptic, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. In modern skin care, bilberry is more famously known as an anti-aging solution. It’s a natural source of anthocyanins, a phenolic substance that functions as an antioxidant, helping to reverse UVA-induced free radical damage to epidermal cells and strengthening capillaries and skin tissue. Plus, bilberry contains astringent properties that help with cleansing and tightening skin and vitamins B, C and E that nourish and hydrate.

Find it in: Tracie Martyn Firming Serum