Can You Train Your Skin To Age Backwards?

We have good and bad news on the ageing front. The latter is that we don’t have a time machine. The good news? We have more control over the way our skin ages than we ever thought possible. “Within a certain biological capacity, we are able to decide ... how gracefully we age,” said the late Dr. Paolo Sassone-Corsi, a professor at the University of California and director of the Center for Epigenetics and Metabolism. “Our DNA is not our destiny.”

This is an about-turn. For many years, genetic scientists assumed that our DNA and the way it impacted our life was locked. However, the message now is that behaviour matters.

“We believe that only around 25 per cent of ageing is predetermined by your genes, and 75 per cent or so is influenced by environmental and lifestyle factors,” said Sassone-Corsi. That means your diet, stress levels and the skincare in your bathroom cabinet all play a role in how your genes behave.

In its simplest terms, epigenetics studies our ability to switch genes on and off. When it comes to medicine, these breakthroughs are significant for autoimmune disease and some types of cancer. But there are ramifications for skin, as biologists identify the genes responsible for ageing. “The body system is highly programmable,” said Sassone-Corsi.

This matters because, as we age, our skin forgets how to act young. The “good” genes that keep skin firm stop working, and the damage-accelerating genes really get their groove on. And while there are many ways skincare ingredients help skin heal, this factor might be one of the most important.

Recently, Estée Lauder reformulated one of their cult products, Advanced Night Repair, to include ingredients which helps support a specific micro signaling molecule, identified as critical for optimal skin activities. The switch their “Chronolux” technology flicks back on increases cell renewal and boosts collagen production. In clinical studies, after three weeks of twice-daily use, 94 per cent of subjects reported their skin’s elasticity improved and 84 per cent said their lines appeared diminished. Even better, this signalling technology means the new serum works 25 per cent faster than the current formula. Bottom line: skincare that can teach our skin how to stop acting its age is worth considering.