What is glycation?
Glycation occurs in all living cells. The process of glycation, also known as non-enzymatic glycosylation, is normally regulated by enzymatic activity, which is necessary to regulate the metabolic functioning of molecules.
Glycation occurs when excess glucose molecules stick to collagen and elastin fibers, forming Advanced Glycation End-products (A.G.E.), also known as "glycotoxins." Young collagen and elastin is cross-linked in a particular way that promotes firmness and flexibility. Once these collagen and elastin fibers in the skin are glycated, they lose their normal functions. The body can't break them down and replace them, so they become stiff and brittle, resulting in wrinkles and sagging, thinning skin.
Too much glycation may affect what type of collagen you can build, which is a huge factor in determining how resistant your skin will be to wrinkling. The damaging effects sugar can have on your looks are clearly evident in diabetics who have a hard time controlling their blood-sugar levels. Diabetics often show the signs of premature aging because they can go for years with undetected high blood sugar, causing them to physically age quicker.
How does Glycation (or Sugar) make you age?
Glycation is a reaction between sugars and proteins that, over time, causes your skin to become stiff and less supple. Glycation causes significant damage to your skin's structure, leading to collagen depletion and loss of skin elasticity. As a result, noticeable signs of skin ageing occur such as wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging.
In simple terms, glycation inhibits collagen production, produces free radicals and increases inflammation, causing skin-sagging and wrinkles.
Skincare products to fight glycation:
Here are our recommendations for anti-glycation skincare products, specially formulated to correct and prevent the damage to skin caused by sugar:
- • Medik8 Advanced Day Total Protect
- • Medik8 Advanced Day Eye Protect
- • HydroPeptide Soothing Serum
- • HydroPeptide Face Lift
- • Medik8 Physical Sunscreen
- • Medik8 Liquid Peptides
Further reading - ELLE Magazine - Sugar and Aging: How to Fight Glycation
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Only available for sale to customers living in the UK and Ireland
- Previously known as Hydr8 Day 360 SPF 30
- New Formula
- Tackles advanced glycation end-points
- Protects against free-radical damage
- Very rich moisturising characteristics
- Broad-spectrum sunscreen protection
- Also added Anti-Pollution Technology
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Only available for sale to customers living in the UK and Ireland
- Previously known as Hydr8 Eye 360
- New Formula
- All-in-one day eye cream
- Anti-glycation
- Anti-pollution
- Infrared protection
- Sun protection: SPF 30 -
RRP £104
A restorative serum for sensitive or post-procedure skin.
Reduces redness
Builds skin defenses
Calms and soothes
Increases hydration and elasticity
Reduces the appearance of wrinkles
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RRP £62
- Reduces appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
- Protects against cell damage
- Perfectly hydrates
- Suitable for all skin types.
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Only available for sale to customers living in the UK and Ireland
- New packaging, same formula
- A new and improved formula for Medik8 Physical Sunscreen which includes broad spectrum SPF 30 UVA and UVB protection as well as anti-pollution, anti-glycation and anti-infrared technology.
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Only available for sale to customers living in the UK and Ireland
- Multi-peptide serum with targeted copper peptide
- Targets lines and wrinkles
- MATRIXYL™ 3000 and hyaluronic acid to deeply hydrate and boost collagen