Archive for anti aging face cream

wellnessGetting older can be a wonderful thing. After all, you are wiser than you’ve ever been. Unfortunately, your body doesn’t always cooperate. Particularly hardest hit is your skin due to exposure to the sun and other elements. So what can you do to keep your skin looking young? Using anti aging face creams is a great way to keep you skin healthy and looking younger.

There are many anti aging skin care treatments out in the market place so how do you know which anti aging face cream is best? The easiest way to find an anti aging face cream is to educate yourself on the products that are available.

Anti aging creams or topicals as they are called by Dermatologists, come in several forms. Over-the-counter (OTC) topicals, doctor-dispensed and prescription topicals are the most common forms of anti aging skin care products. We’ll take a look at over-the-counter topicals in this post.

Anti aging creams, lotions and serums largely contain antioxidants such as vitamins C and E as well as retinol (a form of vitamin A), coenzyme Q10, alpha lipoic acid and alpha and beta hydroxy acids (glycolic, lactic, and salicylic). Some of the anti aging treatment technology focuses on pentapeptides which are small groups of long chain amino acids that work as chemical messengers throughout the body. If this sounds like a foreign language you are not alone so lets break it down a bit, shall we?

Antioxidants work by breaking down rogue molecules that destroy collagen which makes skin more prone to wrinkles. Retinol has been shown to stimulate collagen production. Hydroxy acids have been known to exfoliate the top layer of skin, which smooths out the skin’s texture. And though doctors say there is no published medical studies showing that pentapeptides (or peptides) work, experts involved in product testing agree there is ample science behind the technology.

Pentapeptides research was initially done in relation to wound healing. In the body’s attempt to heal itself, published studies showed peptides were instrumental in increasing the production of collagen. But collagen also plays an important role in how skin ages.

Collagen is the support structure that gives our skin elasticity and a firm young appearance. When collagen levels are high, our skin remains youthful looking. When the levels are low, wrinkles begin to form. Some researchers believe that by applying the peptides to the skin topically, the skin might be able to make more collagen on its own. A much better solution that wrinkle-filling injections!

There are hundreds of OTC anti aging face creams on the market. To decide which one would work best for you, check with your dermatologist first.

Here is a list of articles you might find helpful:

wrinkle creamsIf you are noticing some lines on your face you might have already begun to search for some of the best anti-wrinkle creams on the market. After all who wants to appear older than they actually are?  You can find some quality OTC face cream to use if you know what top active ingredients to look for. This list contains the name of some of the highest rated ingredients that can improve the look and feel of your delicate facial skin.

Retinol

This Vitamin A compound is the first antioxidant to earn a reputation as an ingredient that produces really effective wrinkle creams. Originally Retinol A and Tretinoin were used only in prescription skin creams. But now you can buy an OTC face cream that contains a similar form of retinol that does an admirable job of battling wrinkles.

Alpha, Poly and Beta Hydroxy acids

Hydroxy acids used as exfoliating agents are synthesized products that scientists have formulated to remove the dull, dead top layers of your skin. Alpha, Poly and Beta Hydroxy acids are specialized formulas that act in a similar manner as the acetic acids found in many fruits.

When you use an OTC face cream that contains Hydroxy acids it will brighten your complexion, remove old, dead skin cells and allow the newer skin to emerge. Using these types of skin products will even encourage the formation of new layers of skin cells that are smooth, fresh and evenly colored.

Coenzyme Q10.

An OTC face cream that contains the nutrient Coenzyme Q10 is one that is able to stimulate and regulate the energy production that occurs in skin cells. There has been some research that shows wrinkle creams with CoQ10 ingredients can reduce the spidery, fine lines that tend to appear around the eye area. Using this type of OTC face cream will also give your skin additional protection against the aging effects from the sun’s UV rays.

Copper peptides

Copper peptides are found in top quality skin and wrinkle creams. This trace element is attached to small proteins known as peptides and can be absorbed into the skin. This copper can encourage the healing of skin damage, promote antioxidant activity and stimulate collagen production.

Kinetin

Kinetin is a growth factor that is found in many plants. The use of kinetin can improve the appearance of facial wrinkles and age spots. How kinetin helps the skin is a process that is still not clearly understood. Many scientists believe that it acts as an anti-oxidant mechanism and boosts moisture retention of the skin cells by stimulating additional collagen production.

Tea extracts

You can now find that many top OTC skin cream formulas contain ingredients derived from black, green or oolong tea. These compounds hold many antioxidants and also possess anti-inflammation properties. A quick check of ingredients listed on most wrinkle creams can confirm whether any tea extracts are used.

Choose Facial Creams and Skin Care Products Wisely

Getting help for those facial lines and wrinkles can be less costly when you use products that can be obtained without prescriptions. If you make sure that the OTC skin cream you select has two or more of the above ingredients you will increase your chances of getting the positive results that you desire.

Finding an anti aging face cream  that is best for you can be a daunting experience.  There are so many products to choose from.  And how do you know if they are going to work?  Below are seven ways you can use to find the right product for you.

Ask your doctor
The first place to start when looking for the right anti aging face cream is to ask your dermatologist. After all, your doctor is more familiar with your skin that anyone other than you.  He also has the most up to date information on what will work best for your skin.  He will be able to write you a prescription for an anti aging face cream that can be stronger than anything you would get over the counter.  If you don’t have a dermatologist, the following suggestions will be helpful to you.

Search the web
Seems simple enough, right? Just type in *anti aging face cream* and see what comes up. This can certainly be helpful bu what I suggest is that you check medical websites that have information on skin care.  Websites like the Mayo Clinic and WebMD are great places to start gatherng information.  They may or may not make specific recommendations but it’s a start.

Ask your friends
Asking your friends if they use an anti aging face cream is a simple and effective way to get a product review that you trust.  Which of your friends look the most youthful considering their age?  Maybe they have discovered a fabulous new anti aging face product that is just what you’ve been looking for.

Ask strangers
Okay, asking strangers might sound a little odd but think about it. If you see a woman who looks fantastic for her age why not strike up a conversation by remarking how beautiful her skin is and ask her if she wouldn’t mind telling you what products she uses.  Most women will be thrilled to get the compliment and you don’t have to mention anything about an anti aging face cream, just see if she brings it up.

Cosmetics departments
Cosmetic departments are another source of anti aging face cream information. Most upscale cosmetitions are educated in the latest and greatest creams and syrums.  But be careful, cosmetitians are also sales people who have an incentive to sell you products.  Most are there because they love what they do so they shouldn’t pressure you into buying something you don’t want.

Magazines
Women’s magazines can have a wealth of information about anti aging face creams.  Many magazines provide reviews from their editors who have tried the products and can offer their un-biased opinions.  Sometimes even the anti aging face cream advertisements can give you an idea from their sales copy if the product is something you think will work for you.

Research ingredients
Reasearching anti aging face cream ingredients is important in your search for the best anti aging product for you. Going back to the web, search for the best anti aging ingredients that are recommended by medical professionals and researchers.  With this knowledge you can then search for products that contain these ingredients and make the best choice for you.

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In the previous post Which Anti Aging Face Cream is Best? we talked about over-the-counter creams that can help reduce the signs of aging.  Today the topic is doctor-dispensed and prescription anti aging face creams.  The difference between over-the-counter anti aging face creams and prescription creams is of course that you need a doctor’s recommendation to purchase them.  The overall consensus is that prescription anti aging face creams are somewhat better than over-the-counter anti aging creams because they are stronger and offer faster results.

The ingredients in prescription creams is usually a higher concentration of hydroxy acids and retinoids.  Retinoids reach the skin’s middle layer where they increase the production of collagen. This in turn thickens the skin and helps smooth wrinkles.  Of course there are down sides – with increased strength of the prescription creams comes stinging, flaking peeling and redness.

Also, sun exposure must be very limited when using most prescription anti aging face creams. When visiting the dermatologist, he will take a full assessment of your skin condition and make his recommendations based on those findings.

The bottom line is in order to take full advantage of prescription anti aging face creams, you will need to be under the care of a certified dermatologist.