That being said, what you add to your treatment regimen is just as important as what you skip. To come, a few skin care no-no’s for those dealing with crepey skin. Bonus: They simultaneously help ease wrinkles, too: Your best bet? Alpha-hydroxy acids, or AHAs for short. “AHAs dissolve the bonds that hold dull, dead skin cells on the surface of the skin so the skin will gently shed, revealing smoother, brighter skin underneath,” board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, M.D., once explained. Glycolic acid, a popular AHA, is one of King’s top choices for this purpose. “Studies have shown, for example, that six months of topical glycolic acid stimulated a 27% increase in epidermal thickness1,” she adds. So look for AHA body and face serums rather than opting for harsh scrubs. For this reason, it’s no wonder sun damage causes about 80% of visible signs of skin aging2. So, even though it may sound over-the-top, you should apply sunscreen on every part of your skin that sees the sun—including arms, legs, neck, etc. Once the degradation rate surpasses production, that lack of collagen may lead to sagging, crepey skin. That said, it is possible to replenish the lost collagen via nutrition. “Collagen-rich foods can significantly support skin hydration and elasticity,” board-certified family physician and functional medicine expert Alejandra Carrasco, M.D., once told mbg. And one of the best ways to internally support collagen production is through hydrolyzed collagen supplements. Research demonstrates that ingesting this form of collagen (make sure you use hydrolyzed collagen peptides) can promote your natural collagen and elastin production3. Not all collagen supplements use this form, so shop smart. Here’s a list of nine clean and effective options, recommended by a nutrition Ph.D., to make your hunt easier.
