3 ingredients skin doctors can’t live without

It starts innocently enough: an eye cream here, a serum there. Before you know it, your cupboards are heaving with products promising to turn back the clock. But what if we told you just three ingredients could future-proof your face and body? “The myth that you have to layer a myriad of lotions and potions in the pursuit of youth is exactly that – a myth,” explains dermatologist Dr Stephen Shumack. “ In my experience, clinically proven ingredients and simple formulas produce the best results.” Get ready to clean out that cabinet! We reveal the time tested anti-agers guaranteed to change your skin for the better.

Shea Butter: The Body Perfector

Fact: 60% don’t moisturise their limbs daily, according to a recent Unilever study. But applying body lotion is paramount when you’re 40+, according to Dr Shumack, since shaving, hot water and detergents can strip hydration from the skin. New formulas containing proteins like collagen can help, but Shumack recommends something even simpler.

“Cream or lotions with shea butter are popular – it’s an antioxidant rich natural moisturising factor that mimics the skin’s lipid content,” he says.

Lather something like L’Occitane Organic Certified Pure Shea Butter onto damp skin post shower to lock in moisture and help boost absorption.

Retinol: The Complexion Corrector

Retinol (a vitamin A derivative) is your anti-ageing one-stop shop – proven to do everything from smoothing fine lines and fading dark spots to shrinking pores.

“Years ago, studies were done on a vitamin A product which improved visible and microscopic age-related changes in the skin,” adds Dr Shumack. Once applied, it increases cell turnover to reduce wrinkles, and produces fresh collagen and elastin.

One good choice: REN Bio Retinoid Anti-Ageing Concentrate contains a cocktail of vitamin E, omega 6 and essential oils to to smooth fine lines, banish dryness and even out tone. One caveat: retinol can be irritating, so use a gentle facial moisturiser to maintain hydration levels.

Hyaluronic Acid: The Youth-Boosting Base

Face-firming foundations packed with anti-ageing actives are flying off shelves, but Dr Shumack warns against blending these bases.

“You’re wearing it for hours on end, so you want a product that’s calming – anything that contains alpha hydroxyl acids or retinol is likely to irritate,” he explains. Formulas boasting hyaluronic acid can be of use – this natural moisturising factor is present in skin and has the ability to retain 1000 times its weight in water. “It’s a molecule that plumps skin and helps with the look of foundation,” says Shumack.

Find it in Estee Lauder Perfectionist Youth Infusing Makeup SPF 25, which also has anti-ageing peptides plus an amino acid and protein complex to assist the skin’s ability to rebuild.