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, salon appointments, and injections are on the list. The simplest and most affordable step is often missing in between.

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 rather than relying on individual quick fixes.

Why you can trust us

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

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

The most important external factor is the sun. According to the Federal Office for Radiation Protection, UV-A radiation penetrates deep into the skin, where it produces 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 much of your skin aging is not in your genes, but in your daily life.

Why the basics and treatments belong together

Treatments address 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, with a foundation of the basics, targeted active ingredients in your skincare, and treatments that build on that.

A study from Australia shows just how much the basics can do. 903 adults under 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 using sunscreen daily showed no measurable increase in skin aging. Overall, their skin aged 24 percent less (Hughes and colleagues, 2013).

Anti-aging has long focused on fighting 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 results. When it comes to skin aging, these are the five.

• Protect yourself from too much sun. A classic skincare essential.
• Get a good night’s sleep. In a small study funded by Estée Lauder involving 60 women, those who slept well showed fewer signs of intrinsic skin aging. Their skin barrier recovered 30 percent better (Oyetakin-White et al., 2015). A clue, not proof.
• Don’t smoke; limit alcohol. Both are 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 an easy way to make a difference every day.
• A plan for your skincare. 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 a 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 work to renew and support the skin’s 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 these 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 an internal and an external component. Treatments have their place, ideally alongside good basics and the right skincare. Your everyday skincare makes the difference when it comes to skin aging because it’s part of your life every day. That’s exactly why we developed our new Glow Mask. It brings Retinal, NAD+ and collagen together, combining renewal, energy, and a building block of your skin in one skincare product. This is how you should approach skin aging: start with the basics, then use these three active ingredients together. We’re convinced of it. Until the mask is available in our shop, you can find suitable products in our facial skincare. Read about the secret behind the glow while fasting in our article on glowing skin.