Most people would like to stay young for as long as possible which has lead to a large number of top skin care products that are meant to help people look younger than they really are. These products use such ingredients as antioxidants in order to try to do this. We are going to look at some of the more popular ingredients that have been showing up lately so you will have a better idea of which products are most likely to work for you. Any questions should be directed toward your dermatologist.
Manufacturers Of Top Skin Care Products
Each claim to produce the best product. Sifting through the marketing hype can be confusing and only makes it more difficult for you to decide which is the best product. The temptation is to follow the crowd but a better choice is to pay closer attention to the ingredients in the products.
As we mentioned above, antioxidants are appearing in all sorts of anti aging skin care products in order to try to get rid of or prevent the damage that can be caused by free radicals, which can damage cells and lead to various signs of aging. These antioxidants are actually certain types of vitamins and minerals. There are two main ways to get antioxidants into your system, eating foods rich in these compounds or applying creams that contain them to your skin.
One strong source is the acai berry, whose extracts are now being used in many products. This is because of the high levels of various antioxidants found in this fruit, even though studies have not proved whether or not it truly benefits the skin.
Another source of these beneficial compounds is alpha-lipoic acid, which is soluble in both water and fat so it can better penetrate the skin and cell membranes to help diminish the signs of aging.
Retinol (and other forms of vitamin A) is another commonly found antioxidant in anti-aging skin care products, both prescription and nonprescription. It really can help improve how your skin looks, but sometimes also dries out the skin so it is important to use it in conjunction with a moisturizer.
Although probably most effective when eaten as part of a healthy diet, some creams and lotions contain vitamin C, which is meant to increase collagen production and reduce signs of aging such as scars and wrinkles.
Due to a study in 2002 that showed caffeine as being effective in helping to prevent skin cancer, this has become a common skin care ingredient as well in creams and lotions.
Top Skin Care Products – Ingredients
Although CoEnzyme Q-10 (CoQ-10) is produced in your body, less is produced as you get older, so many people believe older people are more likely to get free radical damage that could be prevented if they used products containing this ingredient. At least one study has shown it to be helpful in reducing crow’s feet.
Various types of alpha-hydroxy acids (including citric, glycolic, lactic, and tartaric acids) are used in top skin care products in order to help exfoliate skin and reduce signs of aging and irregular pigmentation. This ingredient is commonly found in professionally administered peels, as well as in lower doses in over the counter products. It can irritate the skin so try it in small amounts first, and use in conjunction with sun screen and moisturizer.
For treatment of acne, many products use salicylic acid. Some people also use it to minimize the signs of aging, but those allergic to aspirin or pregnant or nursing should not use these products.
Another ingredient that is naturally produced by your body is hyaluronic acid, which helps keep the skin smooth and is contained in many natural skin care products. Top skin care products containing this ingredient work best when used in conjunction with products that also have vitamin C.