Some of the most popular skin care creams on the market are anti-aging. With promises of turning back the clock by reducing fine lines and wrinkles and improving skin tone and complexion it is no wonder so many people buy them. The question is do they really work and if so how well?
Our skin is subjected to a daily torrent of pollution, sun, wind, rain and chemicals all of which contribute to the aging process. Add to that alcohol and smoking and our skin is beginning to fight a losing battle. Now prevention is of course better than cure, so establishing a good skincare regime in your late teens early twenties is much more important than most of us appreciate. Of course by the time you realise that you should be taking more care of your skin it is too late, as it will no doubt be the appearance of fine lines or perhaps a dull complexion that alerts you to the fact your skin needs help!
Most anti-aging creams will contain “active ingredients” such as retinol, Q-10 or anti-oxidants and it is not uncommon to find creams containing all of these and more. There are mixed opinions on whether these creams actually live up to their claims, and while most of them do produce some improvement in fine lines and wrinkles when used consistently over a period of time this effect is not always long lasting and can wear off when use of the skin care cream is discontinued. The only way to have a really noticeable effect on skin condition is to undergo a slightly more radical procedures such as a chemical peel which can be done using Alpha Hydroxy Acids or AHA’s for short. AHA’s can be found in many skin care creams and while they can provide a boost to your complexion when used in a cream they produce their best results in their concentrated form as a face peel as they literally take a layer of skin off leaving the new, fresh skin underneath exposed while stimulating the skins circulation and regeneration at the same time.
An important thing to look out for in all skin care creams, not just anti-aging creams is the sun protection factor. Ideally you should aim for a cream with a factor 15 or higher in order to get the full benefits of it, especially if you are using an anti-aging or anti-wrinkle cream as there is no point using a cream to help fight the effects of aging, of which the sun is a big cause, if you are not going to start taking preventative action at the same time. There is only so much a face cream can do for you, the rest is up to you to take care of. Make sure you are eating enough fresh fruit and vegetable and most importantly of all drinking lots of water – dehydration is your skins worst enemy leaving it looking dull and tired, properly hydrated skin will feel plump and healthy whereas dehydrated skin will feel thin and papery. No amount of skin care cream can make you look good if you are dehydrated as skin moisture has to start from the inside.
