Science has discovered three major triggers to aging skin. These three causes of aging not only age the skin, some cause major health risks: 

• Free Radicals, also known as Reactive Oxygen Species or ROS 
• Matrix Metalloprotienases or MMPs 
• Advanced Glycation End-products or AGEs 

Antioxidants found in aging skin care products counteract the effects of ROS
Free Radicals are atoms broken apart by UV rays or within the body due to cell waste excretions. The broken atoms try to fix themselves by joining together with atoms or parts of atoms in skin lipids. The outer membranes of biological cells, including skin cells are made of these lipids. Free radicals or ROS can cause cell membranes to become malformed or even to break down entirely. Antioxidants can break the covalent bonds that ROS form with fatty acids and membrane lipids.

Antioxidants:
• White Tea
• Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate or MAP – a source of vitamin C.
• Licorice
• Excelsior Bark Extract
• Vitamin E 

The Skin Matrix and MMPs
The skin’s matrix is the substance, largely made of collagen, between the skin cells. Just like any other living organism, skin cells excrete waste. The normal functions of MMPs in the matrix are to breakdown and absorb this waste. Thus MMPs are valuable in the right quantities. Problems occur though when MMPs overpopulate the skin, and begin to eat all the collagen in the skin. Reduced collagen causes skin to age. Too few MMPs result in acne and other inflammations as waste products in the skin cause infection. Inflammation and irritation can cause elevated MMP levels because the body reacts to skin irritation by producing more of them.

There are four ways to deal with the balance of MMPs and collagen. One could increase collagen production, or add collagen from an outside source. Another way is to control the production of MMPs by avoiding irritation from UV rays, pool chlorine, and other irritating outside elements. The third is to use botanicals to inhibit MMP enzymes. 
Collagen Production Stimulators
• Retinol 
• Vitamin C

Collagen Sources 
• Topical or Injected Collagen

MMP Inhibitors Including: 
• White Tea
• Green Tea

Products in skin care (anti aging) products that Prevent Irritation, or Reduce Inflammation Such As:
• Oatmeal
• Oat Kernel Extract (Avena Sativa)
• Sunscreens and Sun Blocks

AGEs 
Are formed when sugar elements from the human diet bond with proteins, either from our diet, especially food cooked by browning or from elevated blood sugar levels and the protein naturally present in the body. AGEs are formed by a process known as glycation. Glycation is a process in which a protein molecule becomes attached to a sugar molecule. These deformed glycated protein molecules are believed responsible for most diseases associated with aging, including Alzheimer’s, cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, and of course wrinkles. 

There are many ways to reduce AGEs in the body including the reduction of browned foods, and using amino acid supplements, but for anti aging skin care, sugar traps are the best defence. Soy protein for example can bind to sugar and prevent it from reacting to the skin’s collagen protein.

Sugar Traps Include:
• Soy Proteins
• Glucosamine
• Topical Peptides

By understanding the process of this type of skin, and its causes, it is easy to see which aging skin care regimen will make sense. While introducing oily substances to the skin may reduce irritation and dryness, more scientific botanical formulas are needed to truly reverse aging.