ANTI-AGEING skincare is often associated with mature women grappling with visible lines or wrinkles on their faces.
It's a fact that once these signs set in deep, it's near impossible to get rid of them unless you go under the knife.
The best approach is to start early to strengthen skin's defensive barrier so the signs of ageing can be minimised as you get older.
Skin is constantly being exposed to environmental aggressors, such as UV rays, blue light and irregular sleeping and eating habits, all of which can lead to premature ageing.
But when we have youth on our side, we tend to take skin health for granted and not pay as much attention or care to it.
However, skin ageing starts as soon as the early twenties, says Sulwhasoo Heritage and Science Centre senior researcher Sowoong Choi.
Studies by Sulwhasoo have shown that Asian women experience the inflection point of ageing at 35 years.
"It's best to take care of skin from the early twenties and strengthen your skin barrier function, but if you miss that step in your twenties, it's still never too late to start caring for your skin."
Lifestyle choices in our youth also add to the risk of premature ageing, such as smoking, over consumption of alcohol, late nights and the use of wrong or harsh beauty products.
Choi adds that it's also a misconception that Asian skin ages slower or better than Caucasian skin.
The reality is that dermatological research shows that Asian women have a weaker skin barrier function compared to Caucasians.
Choi explains that Asians have a less dense epidermis so their skin is more vulnerable.
"This means their skin is more sensitive and reactive so if they don't take care of it, it's easier to be exposed to ageing."
We need to give more concentration to the defence mechanism of our skin, he stresses.
CHANGING TIMES
When we're young, our skin has a strong ability to recover from damage. Skin resilience is at its peak but this is no longer the case as we age.
Skin's ability to repair and recover basically weakens or slows down. Choi says that as we get older, skin's "repair ratio" or "ageing balance" is broken.
"The stress and damage caused by external aggressors induces chronic low levels of inflammatory reactions, leading to destruction, which in turn leads to accelerated skin ageing."
Sulwhasoo recently launched its 5th Generation Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream EX. The improved formula aims to take one's anti-ageing routine to a new level.
Formulated with Sulwhasoo's heritage ingredient, ginsenomics, the anti-ageing cream works to break the vicious cycle of ageing skin by restoring skin's power to withstand environmental aggressors.
It also has ginseng peptide to boost skin resilience and repair skin's protective barrier.
The cream comes in two variants — Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream EX and Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream EX Classic.
The first has a texture that is quickly absorbed by skin, leaving it smooth and supple. It's more suited to those living in hot and humid climates, while the second version is more appropriate for those with dry skin who prefer a richer, more nourishing formulation.
Both versions offer similar efficacy but were developed in different textures to suit personal preferences and skin types.
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