Anti-aging ingredients are important to many as people look to ways to prevent signs of aging. According to Zion Market Research, the global anti-aging market is poised to surge from US$140.3 billion in 2015 to $216.52 billion by 2021, which shows great opportunity for anti-aging products. Natural ingredients have been shown to promote skin health, a top concern for anti-aging, even protecting against oxidative stress and ultra-violet (UV) rays, known culprits to signs of aging.

Oxidative stress has been shown to affect aging as it can produce increased amounts of reactive oxygen species that lead to increased damage in the cell. This in turn creates free radicals. “Free radicals are highly reactive byproducts of biological processes that can cause damage to cells, tissues and organs if not quenched effectively," said Shaheen Majeed, marketing director, Sabinsa. “They aggravate the process of aging while triggering inflammation. A good quality, natural antioxidant from dietary sources or in the form of supplements provides both protection against degenerative diseases and helps to slow down the aging process of the skin, cells, tissues and organs."

Antioxidants offer anti-aging benefits as they help protect cells against free radicals. “While our bodies produce their own antioxidants, as we get older, the ability to produce antioxidants weakens," Majeed said. “Further, lifestyle choices can generate high levels of free radicals, but the intervention of antioxidant supplements can quench them effectively. The multifaceted benefits of antioxidant supplementation have been reported to be beneficial for people dealing with stress, people on a low-fat diet, smokers, older adults and people with a family history of heart disease or cancer."

An example of an ingredient that helps fight oxidative stress is methylsulfonylmethane  (MSM). It is an organic sulfur that has been shown to lower inflammation, and studies have found MSM’s ability to benefit anti-aging, as it increases the body’s ability to fight oxidative stress. It has been shown to improve the skin’s foundation through addressing collagen and other connective tissue proteins, according to Tim Hammond, vice president of sales and marketing, Bergstrom Nutrition. “MSM is water soluble and easily formulated into topical creams and lotions," said Rob Benjamin, director of R&D and technical services, Bergstrom Nutrition.

To benefit from anti-aging ingredients, it is best topical and ingestible products are used together to target skin from both the in- and outside. “Beauty from within is achieved by the synergistic activity of both dosage forms," Majeed said. 

For more on ingredients with anti-aging claims that continue to expand the natural product market, check out INSIDER’s Anti-Aging Digital Magazine, “Ingredients for Graceful Aging."