The Anti-Aging Benefits of Plant-Derived Skincare Ingredients

by Lacey Bourassa

If you’ve ever perused the skincare shelves of Sephora, Ulta, and Nordstrom, you’ve likely seen the words “anti-aging” plastered everywhere. Reversing the signs of aging is a challenge (unless you have a time machine — in which case, can I borrow it?), but preventing them is an achievable goal. 

One natural approach to our search for never-aging skin is by harnessing the anti-aging benefits of plants. Both in your diet and in your moisturizer, the anti-aging powers of plants are well understood in the cosmetics industry and may explain why plant-derived skincare products are flying off the shelves.

Sure, to maintain your youthful complexion you should also lead a healthy lifestyle. Drink more water, eat your veggies, exercise regularly, and so on. Another way to have your skin looking its best is to look into a vegan skincare routine. 

Is Anti-Aging Important?

Growing old is a privilege, but many men and women are concerned about the signs of aging: wrinkles, fine lines, dark spots, sun spots, hyperpigmentation, sagging, dark circles, loss of elasticity, etc. While not a fatal flaw, these characteristics can take a toll on our self-esteem.

Skincare products are heavily associated with women, but they’re not the only ones buying anti-aging products. In fact, one-third of U.S. fathers care about preventing the signs of aging. Similarly, more than half of U.S. women aged 35 to 44 regularly worry about the signs of aging. That’s a lot of stressing about the inevitable fact that we are all growing older each day! 

When looking for skincare products, anti-aging benefits are important to a lot of people. If that includes you, then you may be faced with the challenge of deciding which anti-aging ingredients and products to implement into your routine. One of the many benefits of vegan skincare is that the plant-derived ingredients have natural anti-aging properties. It’s a win-win.

Anti-Aging Benefits of Plants

As more and more people worry about anti-aging, they also start to worry about what’s actually in those skincare products. We’re talking about skincare ingredient safety as well as effectiveness. Are the ingredients safe? Do they actually work? We want answers, not just good advertising!

Women are especially skeptical about ingredients lists. Nearly half of U.S. women actively seek natural products that are free of toxic ingredients. It’s clear that smart shoppers don’t just want lofty claims wrapped up in pretty packages — we want real ingredients that produce real results.

We mentioned how plants have those anti-aging benefits you’re looking for. Don’t just take our word for it — scientific research has shown that plant extracts used in topical anti-aging products yield the following benefits:

• Antioxidative activities, which reduce free radical damage to skin
• Photoprotective properties that diminish sun damage
• Promote collagen synthesis
• Improve skin firmness and elasticity

Plant extracts used in cosmetics are often considered safe because they come from nature. With more people looking for less toxic products that are just as effective, plant-derived skincare products seem to check all the boxes.

Preventing the Signs of Aging

If you, like many of us, want to prevent the visible signs of aging, one way to work toward this goal is to update your skincare routine with plant-derived skincare products.

The American Academy of Dermatology also recommends the following to prevent premature skin aging:

• Apply sunscreen every day
• Discontinue use of products that irritate your skin
• Moisturize your skin daily
• Cleanse skin gently to avoid irritation
• Wash your face twice per day

Sources

1. Mintel: “Holding Back the Years: 1 in 3 U.S. Dads are Interested in Preventing the Signs of Aging”
2. New Beauty: “This is the Generation Most Worried About Aging”
3. The NPD Group: “Women are Gravitating Towards More Natural Ingredients, While Also Adding More Products, and Using Them More Frequently” 
4. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine: “Skin Ageing: Natural Weapons and Strategies”
5. American Academy of Dermatology: “11 Ways to Reduce Premature Skin Aging”