Linear age is a poor predictor of the visible signs of aging. As shown in a groundbreaking 2017 study, “The skin aging exposomea,” the appearance of the skin is impacted by a confluence of environmental and lifestyle exposures, in addition to the passage of time and inherent genetic predispositions.
The key takeaway: individuals can have tremendous impact on the appearance of their skin, including via the application of cosmetic products.
“Against skin aging, we suggest the use of rinse-off products to reduce particle load on skin, and of topical products that improve skin barrier function in order to reduce cutaneous pollutant penetration,” the authors wrote (see How Cosmetics Can Mitigate the Exposomal Impacts on Skin). “Daily photoprotection is of further importance as UV radiation may potentiate the deleterious effects of pollutant particles on the skin.”
The exposomal approach mirrors consumers’ growing fixation on holistic solutions to health, wellness and age, focused less on negative messaging and more on solutions that fit active lifestyles.
Want to read the rest of the article? Check out the January 2019 digital edition of Global Cosmetic Industry magazine.
Footnotes:
aJ Krutmann, et al., J Dermatol Sci. 2017 Mar;85(3):152-161
Table 1
The global anti-aging market.
