Here’s Why You Should Add Calcium to Your Skin Care Routine

When we think of calcium, we often think of a glass of milk or how the mineral helps our bones. In fact, you may think your daily intake of calcium is meant to come out of your food and drinks — benefiting your body’s bones by keeping them strong.

While it is important to get the recommended level of calcium in your diet, you can also think about making it a major part of your skin care routine, too. Consider looking for the ingredient in the formulas of your anti-aging skin care moisturizers and creams and adding it to your skin care routine if it isn’t there already. Ahead, we break down the benefits of calcium for your skin and some of our favorite products that include the anti-aging powerhouse ingredient.

What is Calcium?

While the mineral calcium is well-known for its key role in bone and teeth health, with its anti-aging properties, it also plays an important role in your skin’s surface and cell turnover. Most calcium in your skin is found in its outermost layer. When you’re young, new skin cells are produced and replenished through the natural skin cycle. During that cycle, these skin cells travel to your skin’s surface and then die once they reach their destination (the surface of your skin). Dead skin cells collect on the skin and are typically removed with cleansing and exfoliating. As you age the surface cell renewal process, or creation of new skin cells will slow down. Calcium helps replenish those skin cells, which is what makes it a star ingredient in anti-aging.

What are the Benefits of Calcium?

Skin aging is associated with the thinning of your skin. Thinning skin is then vulnerable to visible drooping and an overall loss of skin integrity. It’s common to begin seeing visible thinning, sagging skin in your mid to late 50s, but some may experience it earlier — especially if sunscreen application was not a part of your regular skin care routine throughout your younger years.

You can regain the plumpness of a youthful-looking appearance by trying an anti-aging day or night cream formulated with calcium. This can help reinforce your skin’s natural resilience, keeping it looking more firm. Calcium may seem like an unexpected anti-aging ingredient, but it does many of the same things for your mature skin as it does for your body, keeping both skin and bones looking strong and better prepared to combat the common effects of aging.

Why Add Calcium to Your Skin Care Routine?

According to a study published in the Annals of Dermatology, calcium is essential in regulating your skin’s function (as in, it helps protect your skin from conditions like atopic dermatitis and psoriasis). This means that calcium is an important part of your skin barrier as well. Your skin barrier can be irritated by internal factors like stress and dehydration or external factors like pollution and harsh ingredients, which can result in dry, loose skin that’s prone to fine lines and wrinkles. 

But not to worry — there are plenty of products on the market that will help replenish your skin barrier, including ones with calcium.

Our Best Skin Care Products with Calcium

While you can, of course, get your calcium intake through vitamins or diet, more skin care products with calcium in them are starting to become available. So, in addition to having your leafy greens, dairy and lentils, you can add more calcium to your regimen with any of these creams.

L’Oréal Paris Wrinkle Expert 55+ Age Defense Lotion SPF

A wrinkle reducer and SPF in one, this lotion is formulated with calcium to strengthen thinning skin. You’ll find yourself with smoother, silkier skin that looks immediately more youthful and radiant. With SPF 30, your skin will stay protected from the aging effects of UV rays, too.

L’Oréal Paris Wrinkle Expert 55+ Moisturizer

This anti-wrinkle moisturizer can be used both day and night to reduce signs of aging. Featuring calcium to strengthen your skin, this moisturizer will help noticeably reduce wrinkles and firm up your face for vibrant, younger looking skin.

Next: What Does Collagen Do for Your Skin?

Written by: Catharine Malzahn, Photography: Chaunte Vaughn, Senior Art Direction: Melissa San Vicente-Landestoy, Senior Visual Designer: Hannah Packer, Associate Creative Producer: Becca Solovay, Makeup Artist: Jonet Williamson, Hair Stylist: Akihisa Yamaguchi, Wardrobe Assistant: Victoria Ochoa, Digital Tech: Kyle Thompson, Model: Roxanne Hancock