The best ingredients to fight wrinkles while you sleep

Studies have shown a strong link between sleep quality and skin health. Lack of rest or unsatisfactory sleep can accelerate the skin aging process, increasing the risk of fine lines and wrinkles. During sleep, processes that support skin health occur.

On the one hand, when we sleep, skin regeneration and repair takes place. During skin regeneration, damaged tissues are replaced with new ones. Skin repair is the continuous healing process of existing tissue.

Also during sleep, blood flow to the skin increases. Due to improved blood circulation, oxygen and nutrients reach skin cells faster, contributing to their repair and regeneration. At the same time, toxins, which can clog pores and accelerate the aging process, are eliminated from the skin.

Another important process that occurs during sleep is related to the production of collagen, the main structural protein of the skin, which provides its strength and firmness. When we sleep, the body produces more collagen, which helps to diminish fine lines and wrinkles.

Last but not least, transepidermal water loss is reduced during sleep, allowing the skin to retain moisture and stay hydrated.

Therefore, sleep is essential for healthy, youthful, and radiant skin. In addition, applying skincare products before bed allows them to work more effectively. During sleep, skin permeability is increased, improving the absorption of active ingredients from skincare products. This maximizes the benefits of dermocosmetic products, such as moisturizers, serums, and masks.

There are some ingredients that, when used in your evening skincare routine, help to diminish and prevent the signs of aging.

Table of Contents

Retinoids

Retinoids are vitamin A derivatives applied topically and available in various skincare products. The molecular structure of retinoids allows them to penetrate deep into the skin and treat the layers beneath the epidermis. Thus, they stimulate collagen production and accelerate cell regeneration.

When discussing retinoids, the most common term is retinol, an ingredient known for its ability to combat the signs of aging. Because retinol accelerates cellular turnover, it can also increase skin sensitivity. Therefore, due to its irritating nature for the skin, it may take some time for the skin to adapt to this ingredient. Since it reacts to ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure, retinol is one of the ingredients that can only be used in the evening routine.

Granactive Retinoid, an ester of retinoic acid, is also highly effective against aging and is much better tolerated by the skin. Granactive Retinoid improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by stimulating cell regeneration and increasing collagen production.

Supplementing your skincare routine with a retinol or Granactive Retinoid serum helps improve skin texture and tone, diminish fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation, and maintain a youthful appearance long-term.

Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid is essential for maintaining skin health for several reasons. First, it helps synthesize collagen and retain a large amount of water. Second, hyaluronic acid is beneficial for all skin types, does not irritate, and does not trigger inflammatory conditions.

More than half of the body's hyaluronic acid production is found in the skin. It forms bonds with water, resulting in keeping the skin hydrated. Hyaluronic acid can retain a thousand times its weight in water, which means the skin is deeply hydrated and maintains its elasticity and radiance for longer.

When applied at night, hyaluronic acid can reduce the appearance of fine lines, leaving the complexion smoother. Therefore, for good nighttime hydration, a serum or cream with hyaluronic acid should be part of the evening routine.

ivaRG Regenerating Night Cream – formulated with low molecular weight hyaluronic acid, Granactive Retinoid 2%, Shea butter, Lactobacillus Ferment, and Herculane thermal water. Applied before bed, the Night Cream from the ivaRG anti-aging range acts on the signs of aging, evens skin tone, and corrects age spots.

Niacinamide

Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 with numerous benefits for the skin. On the one hand, niacinamide helps regulate sebum production, making it ideal for people with oily and acne-prone skin. It also helps improve skin tone, reducing the appearance of hyperpigmentation.

Last but not least, research has shown that products with a 5% niacinamide concentration are effective in reducing fine lines and wrinkles.

Niacinamide prevents transepidermal water loss and contributes to the synthesis of ceramides and other lipids that help form the skin's natural barrier and maintain structural and functional integrity. When the skin is hydrated and protected, the risk of fine lines and wrinkles is reduced.

Ivawhite Depigmenting Cream – formulated with niacinamide, vitamin C, and Herculane thermal water. Applied to the face in the evening routine, it increases radiance and smooths sensitive skin with hyperpigmentation and dark spots. It has a pleasant texture, specially formulated for sensitive skin with pigmentation.

Alpha-Hydroxy Acids

Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) help remove dead cells from the upper layer of the skin. Used regularly, alpha-hydroxy acids can contribute to improving skin tone by fading hyperpigmentation, reducing fine lines and wrinkles, and diminishing the appearance of enlarged pores.

Alpha-hydroxy acids support collagen production, making them commonly found in anti-aging products. Since they can cause sun sensitivity, it is recommended to use them in the evening routine.

AHAs work as chemical exfoliants, weakening the bonds between dead skin cells. They are effective and safe to use for all skin types. The most commonly used in skincare routines are lactic acid and glycolic acid.

Glycolic Acid 3% Cleansing Gel – removes dead cells, eliminates impurities, and restores skin radiance without drying it out. Integrated into the daily skincare routine, the Glycolic Acid 3% Cleansing Gel provides gentle exfoliation that evens skin tone and acts on fine lines.

Ivapur Gentle Purifying Exfoliant – exfoliates dead cell layers without causing irritation or sensitizing the skin, prepares the skin for efficient application of skincare cream, prevents inflammation, and gives the complexion a radiant and even appearance.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant with numerous benefits for the skin. First, it protects the skin against free radicals generated by ultraviolet radiation, pollutants, and other harmful environmental factors. These free radicals can cause oxidative stress and contribute to premature skin aging. By neutralizing free radicals, vitamin C helps minimize damage caused by these external factors.

Regular use of vitamin C in the evening skincare routine helps diminish hyperpigmentation and brighten the complexion, resulting in an even and brighter tone.

Last but not least, vitamin C stimulates collagen production, playing an essential role in the synthesis of this protein. By stimulating collagen production, vitamin C helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Skin aging is a natural process, but its effects can be delayed through a healthy lifestyle and an effective skincare routine. As we age, collagen production decreases, the cellular regeneration process changes and slows down, and the hydrolipidic barrier (responsible for locking in moisture and keeping the skin hydrated and healthy) deteriorates. As a result, the risk of fine lines and wrinkles increases. However, there are ingredients, such as those presented in this article, that can help prevent and diminish the signs of aging.