Skin aging? Why most people are tackling it from the wrong end.

In your mid-20s, hardly anyone thinks about skin aging. A few years later, serums, appointments at a clinic, and injections are on the list. In between, people often miss the simplest and most affordable step.

Here, you’ll learn what happens in the skin as it ages, what treatments can do, and why most people focus on the wrong things. Most importantly, you’ll find out what really helps and what you can skip, in a way that lets you get started today. Our position is clear. We believe you should take a holistic approach to skin aging, combining strong basics with the right active ingredients instead of relying on isolated solutions.

Why you can trust us

• We’ve been developing products for skin and nutrition for years. Every day, we talk to people about their routines.
• We check every claim against studies and expert organizations; you’ll find the sources at the end.
• We’ll tell you clearly what’s worth it, and recommend only what we believe in ourselves.

Experts distinguish between two processes. Intrinsic skin aging follows your genes, hormones, and the rhythm of your cells. Extrinsic skin aging is caused by what the skin is exposed to from the outside, such as UV radiation, air pollution, smoking, alcohol, diet, and sleep (Hussein et al., 2025).

The most important external factor is the sun. According to the German Federal Office for Radiation Protection, UV-A radiation penetrates deep into the skin, where it forms free radicals and can damage the collagen in connective tissue. At the same time, new collagen production is inhibited, and the skin loses firmness (BfS, 2026). So a large part of your skin aging isn't in your genes, but in your daily routine.

Why the basics and treatments go hand in hand

Treatments work on visible results, while the basics address the cause. Many people focus on just one and neglect the other. We believe both should go hand in hand. Build things up step by step, starting with a foundation of the basics, targeted active ingredients in your skincare, and treatments that build on them.

A study from Australia shows how much the basics alone can do. 903 adults under the age of 55 were randomly divided into two groups. One used sunscreen every day, the other only when they felt like it. After four and a half years, the group that used sunscreen daily showed no measurable increase in skin aging. Overall, their skin aged 24 percent less (Hughes et al., 2013).

Anti-aging has long focused on treating the symptoms; longevity asks where they come from. We explain the difference in our article Anti-Aging or Longevity.

According to the 80/20 rule, a few things deliver most of the impact. When it comes to skin aging, these are the five.

• Protect yourself from too much sun. A classic basic.
• Get good sleep. In a small study funded by Estée Lauder, involving 60 women, good sleepers showed fewer signs of intrinsic skin aging. Their skin barrier recovered 30 percent better (Oyetakin-White et al., 2015). An indication, not proof.
• Don’t smoke, and limit alcohol. Both are among the external factors in skin aging (Hussein et al., 2025).
• Eat well. Diet is also one of the external factors. Plenty of vegetables, enough protein, and fresh juices are simple ways to make a difference every day.
• Skincare with a plan. A few good active ingredients instead of ten products, for example, a serum with vitamin C in the morning and an active ingredient that supports renewal in the evening. A strong skin barrier is the foundation; our article on the skin barrier shows five simple steps.

Our article on the routine for clear skin shows what a simple routine looks like. The article on the gut-skin axis explains why your gut has a say in your skin.

A cream does not relax muscles, so it is not a Botox alternative in the strict sense. Its strength lies elsewhere. Good active ingredients support skin renewal and structure, every day and without an appointment at the clinic.

Three topics are at the heart of our series on skin aging. The first is Retinal, a form of vitamin A used in skincare to support renewal. The second is NAD+, a molecule your cells need for energy. We explain what NAD+ means for your skin in our article on the effects of NAD+. The third is collagen, a building block. Our new Glow Mask brings all three together: Retinal, NAD+, and Collagen in one skincare product. Until it's available in our shop, you can find suitable products for your routine in our facial skincare collection.

Skin aging isn't a flaw you need to fix, but a natural process with both internal and external factors. Treatments have their place, ideally alongside good basics and the right skincare. Your skincare makes the difference in your day-to-day life, because it’s part of your routine every day. That’s exactly why we developed our new Glow Mask. It combines Retinal, NAD+ and Collagen—renewal, energy, and a building block of your skin, all in one skincare product. This is how to approach skin aging: start with the basics, then bring these three active ingredients together. We believe in this approach. Until the mask is available in our shop, you can find suitable products in our facial skincare collection. Read about the glow that comes with fasting in our article on glowing skin.