However, introducing active ingredients too quickly can leave skin irritated, so it is important to include hydrating ingredients in your routine.
Dr Richland said: “Hydration is more important than many individuals understand when using retinoids, as retinoids cause drying of the skin during the process of exerting their effects.
“Hydrating agents such as ceramides and hyaluronic acid can aid in protecting the integrity of the skin barrier and making the inclusion of additional ingredients in a regimen more tolerable, without contributing any unique anti-ageing benefits.”
For those looking beyond topical products, professional treatments may also be an option.
Dr Richland said: “Additionally, if you wish to take advantage of another method of increasing collagen levels, various in-office collagen-stimulation procedures offer similar principles as topical routines regarding stimulation of the body’s own collagen production, albeit through a different mechanism.
“As with all aspects of maintaining healthy skin quality, meaningful improvements require consistency and patience. Improvements to skin quality may occur over several months of continued adherence to a regimen rather than immediately after initial use.”