Beauty and wellness trends move so fast these days it can feel overwhelming trying to keep up. We’re in the age of information, with experts and influencers dishing out endless advice on our social feeds, particularly when it comes to our diet, exercise, and skincare routines.

One day it’s skin-cycling and celery juice, the next day it’s slugging, wall pilates and ‘skinimalism’. We’re smart enough to take it all in with a raised eyebrow, but with so many contradictory opinions out there, it’s not always easy to separate the catchy TikTok names from the genuine breakthroughs.

The latest ‘health hack’ on everyone’s lips (and phone screens) right now is all about glucose. Seemingly overnight, everyone has started paying a lot more attention to their blood sugar levels. The hype, driven by celebrities and beauty editors, was largely influenced by a chic French biochemist called Jessie Inchauspé, AKA the Glucose Goddess. Sharing simple visual charts to her 4.5 million followers, Inchauspé demonstrates how certain foods can spike or stabilise our blood sugar levels. The science behind it is legit - most of us are already well aware that eating excess sugar can be bad for our health, our energy levels and hormones. But how exactly does it impact our skin?

Research shows that eating sugar can actually accelerate skin ageing through a naturally-occurring process known as ‘glycation’. Excess sugar molecules bind to collagen and elastin (the proteins that keep our skin bouncy and plump) and create harmful by-products called Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs) which damage these proteins, triggering advanced signs of ageing; lines and wrinkles, and loss of firmness and elasticity.

Thankfully, it’s not all bad news if you enjoy a brownie every now and then. This is where antioxidants come in. You’ll be familiar with some of the classics that have been in the spotlight for a while, like vitamin C, vitamin A (retinol/retinal) and vitamin B (niacinamide). But over at Elizabeth Arden, some emerging stars have entered the chat. Meet carnosine and idebenone, the unsung heroes of anti-aging skincare.

How exactly do they work? You can think of carnosine as your best fighter against glycation. A powerful antioxidant, carnosine works by preventing sugar molecule build up in the skin, which in turn improves the healthy function of our favourite duo, collagen and elastin (yay!). Of course, sugar isn’t the only thing that can wreak havoc on our skin - we need help protecting our precious cells against environmental factors, too. Idebenone, a powerful antioxidant, was originally used for medical purposes to help treat Alzheimer's disease, and later researched as a way to preserve vital organs for transplant by preventing oxidative cell damage. With our skin being the largest organ of the body, idebenone became an accidental skincare breakthrough. By fighting oxidative damage, idebenone can reverse this cause of visible skin ageing and improve skin tone and tightness, as well as lines and wrinkles.

So… how can you get this goodness on your face, now? You’ll find a concentrated dose of both carnosine and idebenone in Elizabeth Arden’s newly formulated Prevage 3-in-1 Reset Serum and Multi Restorative Soft Cream. Designed to be your first step after cleansing, the silky Prevage 3-in-1 Reset Serum is also formulated with powerful peptides and gentle exfoliants to increase cellular turnover, effectively re-plumping the skin and visibly repairing the signs of ageing.

Next, you’ll want to layer on a moisturiser to lock in all those antioxidant benefits. Our skin loses more moisture in winter due to the colder, drier climate and exposure to heaters, so it’s important to boost your skincare with the extra lipids it needs. The new Prevage Multi Restorative Soft Cream from Elizabeth Arden is lightweight yet comforting, formulated with powerful peptides, antioxidants and hydrators to smooth and restore the skin barrier. Think targeted hydration, without the heaviness of a traditional barrier cream - it will be your new favourite moisturiser.

If smoother, firmer, younger-looking skin is on your wishlist, and you want proof, not promises, of anti-ageing results, then add the new Prevage 3-in-1 Reset Serum and Multi Restorative Soft Cream to your routine.

Prevage 3-in-1 Reset Serum (RRP$199) and Multi Restorative Soft Cream (RRP$279) are available from Farmers and other Elizabeth Arden counters nationwide. ‍

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