'I'm in my 50s and using a collagen-boosting cream that significantly reduces wrinkle depth and pore size in six months'
The right skin care routine can shave decades off your age
GETTY IMAGES
A large portion of dermal collagen is lost when a woman enters menopause, and little can be done to stop this process.
Fortunately, supplements and skin care offer help with everything from improved joint mobility to better skin, with many of these claims backed by science.
Angie, from the YouTube channel HotandFlashy, recently shared the products that have made the biggest difference to her skin in the past decade.
Having started skin care in her 50s, she prioritised products that offer evidence-based anti-ageing effects, such as prescription-strength tretinoin.
Angie researches every product she adds to her beauty routine
GETTY / HOTANDFLASH / YOUTUBE
The beauty enthusiast also uses vitamin C and red light therapy daily to improve the collagen production in her skin.
One of the latest additions to her routine is estriol cream, which can be obtained via prescription from a dermatologist.
Angie's dermatologist confirmed that research into topical oestrogen looks promising, despite being in its infancy.
"Studies into the effects of estradiol have shown improvements in elasticity, firmness and collagen production, in elastin production in pore size and in wrinkle depth," she said.
"The studies that have been done on oestrogen used topically, show that you should be seeing something within about six months," said Angie.
One study, in particular, compared the effects of estriol and estradiol, two types of oestrogen with different functions and levels of potency.
“It showed better results than the estradiol," said Angie. "Let me [tell] you the results and why I’m so excited about this.
"After treatment for six months, elasticity and firmness of the skin had markedly improved and the wrinkle depth and pore size had decreased by 61 to 100 per cent in both groups.
"Furthermore, moisture had increased and the measurement of wrinkles [...] revealed significant or even highly significant decreases in wrinkle depth in the estradiol and estriol groups respectively."
Supplements
Although several videos on Angie's channel confirm that her diet is healthy and balanced, the beauty enthusiast takes supplements to enhance her skin health.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Oestrogen cream may improve skin texture
GETTY IMAGESAmong her favourite supplements is Resveratrol, the powerful compound behind claims that red wine prolongs lifespan.
“I’ve been taking this supplement since my 40s and I swear by this supplement," said Angie. “I have noticed some changes with my joints, with my skin, with my hair, and my nails.
“So I feel anecdotally they are doing something for me, and of the supplements I take, I take some for my skin, I take some for my heart health, I take some for my joints.
“A lot of the things that I take for my skin as a supplement, I also use topically on my skin. These are things that have really good research behind them showing that they work."