Many products on the market promise anti-ageing results and a lot of these may very well work.
People who are looking to simplify their routines, however, need to prioritise only one product, according to an expert.
Global skin doctor and cosmetic formulator Dr Vanita Rattan praised the importance of a good SPF.
She told GB News: "If you're talking generally for every age group, for every skin type, the number one thing we say is wear SPF 50. This is very important because this is going to protect you from UV rays."
An expert shared skin care advice everyone can follow
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UV rays may come from the sun but are still present on cloudy days. The rays can be harmful as they damage the DNA in our skin cells.
Dr Rattan continued: "The thing about UV rays is they're invisible. When it's freezing outside and it's a cold, gloomy day, you can't feel heat on the skin. So you think the UV is not hitting the skin.
"But we get confused in our minds between heat, which is infrared energy, and UV rays, which are invisible. You can't feel them, but they penetrate into the skin.
"[UVA rays] damage the DNA and lead to premature ageing, they lead to cancer, they lead to fine lines and hyperpigmentation."
A study published in the National Institutes of Health found UV exposure could account for as much as 80 per cent of the visible signs of ageing in our skin, including wrinkling.
Aim to wear SPF50 every day. This can be applied to exposed skin and many beauty products will also have some SPF protection built in.
If you are looking to build your skin care routine further, Dr Rattan explained three anti-ageing ingredients to prioritise.
She suggested looking out for products that contain antioxidants, vitamin A and peptides.
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SPF is an essential step in a skin care routine
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The expert added: "Point number one is you want all your antioxidants on the skin. That's all your vitamin C and green tea extract.
"Number two, you want your vitamin A's on the skin. So vitamin A would be things like retinol and retinal aldehyde. The third thing I would recommend is your peptides, which behave as a humectant. But they also help with fine lines.
"So there are three categories of ingredients that I would start with to build your anti-ageing skin care routine."
