Anti Aging Cosmetic Product
Best Ingredients, Products and Advice
Which anti aging cosmetic product is working and which one is a waste of money?
For a start your skin care product should be suitable for your skin type. Cosmetic Products contain active ingredients that have different actions on your skin. It is best to choose a product that contains the ingredients that target your skin concerns. For example, if you have dehydrated skin you should use a product that binds water to the upper layers of the skin. If you have oily skin however and don't show signs of dehydration this ingredient would not be suitable for your skin type.
Erase Wrinkles with an Anti Aging Cosmetic Product?
To be realistic, an anti aging cosmetic product alone will not make wrinkles go away completely. You will need more drastic measures like a surgical procedure or a Skin Treatment.
Anti Aging Cosmetic Products can visibly improve the appearance of aging.
Ingredients like AHAs smooth the skins surface and Retinol repairs cell damage for example.
Anti Aging Nutritional Supplements will help to protect the body from premature aging from the inside and help towards a healthy radiant skin. Vitamin E and Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids are helping to normalise the skin for a healthy appearance. I always recommend supplements to my clients in combination with a good skin care regime.
Best Anti Aging Cosmetic Product Ingredients
Scientific cosmetic research find new anti aging ingredients all the time. Some of them are naturally derived, some of them chemically. There is a lot of controversy about the safety of chemically derived products.
Here is a list of naturally safe and effective Anti Aging Cosmetic Product ingredients:
Alpha Hydroxy Acids, Beta Hydroxy Acids and Poly Hydroxy Acids
The most effective AHAs are derived from plant source or milk. They come in the form of glycolic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid and lactic acid. Be aware, many anti aging cosmetic products use synthetic forms of AHA's. Natural is better!
AHAs break down the intercellular glue holding dead skin cells together, helping to increase skin cell turnover rate and revealing a brighter softer, smoother looking complextion. AHAs may also stimulate increased glycosaminoglycans (substances in the skin important for the maintenance of collagen and elastin) in the collagen matrix, boosting the amount of moisture in the skin and minimisung fine wrinkles.
Products with more than 4% AHAs are most effective, although, some sensitive skin may not tolerate high amounts of AHAs. BHAs are gentler on the skin.
The use of AHAs in an anti aging cosmetic product increases the risk of sunburn, so extra care should be taken when going outside. Make sure you apply a generous amount of a SPF 15 or SPF 30 and reapply regularly.
Glucosamine
If your skin cant tolerate AHAs try Glucosamine as alternative. A marine source derived ingredient that also encourages cell-turnover but at the same time has got a calming effect on the skin.
Vitamin A (Retinyl Palmitate)
Retinyl Palmitate is a nourishing, non-irritating version of vitamin A that is shown to increase skin elasticity, thicken the epidermins and normalise dry, parched skin.
Vitamin A helps in the production of collagen. Collagen along with soft keratin is responsible for skin strength and elasticity and its degradation leads to wrinkles that accompany aging. It strengthens blood vessels and plays a role in tissue development.
Vitamin A is successfully used for treating acne and similar skin conditions and sun-damaged skin as well treating wrinkles and age-spots!
Other retinoid forms of Vitamin A, Retinol, Retinoic Acid, isotretinoin, tretinoin are also used in cosmetic and can cause irritation and redness when used for long periods.
For severe acne conditons, medical prescribed Retinol products are more effective than the over the counter products due to their higher concentration.
Essential Oils
In an anti aging cosmetic product, essential oils are cleansing, healing, balancing, antiseptic and anti-fungal. They help speed up the removal of old skin cells and promote the growth of new ones. They improve muscle tone and blood circulation and help elininate waste, reduce inflammation, regulate oil production and alleviate emotional stress.
The stimulationg properties of essential oils oxygenate the blood, energise cells and promote regeneration. The nutrients and proteins in essential oils help maintain collagen and elastin.
The small molecules of essential oils are easily dissolved by the sebaceous fat and can penetrate the skin to affect the deeper tissue and organs.
Frankincense is one of the best anti aging essential oil for strenghening collagen and elastic fibres. Together with Tangerine and Lavender they make an excellent oil for mature skin.
See Aromatherapy for more information on Essential Oils.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C used in skin care come in the form of L-ascorbic acid.
Like taken as supplement, Vitamin C helps with the production of collagen in the skin. It also helps to protect the skin from harmful UV rays. The result is a plumper skin.
Vitamin C is one of the best ingredients you can get your hands on and it has probably the most anti aging benefits. Vitamin C can clear the skin, refine pores, lighten age spots, smooth out wrinkles and act as powerful antioxidant.
The problem with Vitamin C is that it is unstable and tends to break down fast. It becomes useless when it's exposed to the air. It's manufacturing for cosmetic products is difficult due to it's delicate nature.
Vitamin C products should come in airtight pump bottles or single use capsules to be effective. It's use in combination with other ingredients in cream pots is useless. The products should be light in colour. If it turns orange it has become oxidised and should be discharged.
Peptides
Not as well known as Retinol, and Vitamin C but even better.
Peptides are tiny little molecules and the building blocks of protein.
Peptides can restore Collagen like Retinol and Vitamin C. The skin needs also to rebuild the elastin in the skin. Copper Peptides can do both, rebuilt collagen and elastin the skins important support structures without causing irritation.
Copper Peptides are used for skin recovery after treatments like skin peels or microdermabration.
Its ability to repair and rebuilt the skin makes it one of the best ingredient in an anti aging cosmetic product.
Some anti aging cosmetic products are containing synthetic derived peptides, which are not doing much good for the health of the skin.
Sunscreen
Your most important anti aging cosmetic product is your Sunscreen.
Sunscreen, containing protection from UV sun rays is your wrinkle-stopper!
UVA rays penetrate deep into the skin were there cause damage and wrinkles!
UVB rays cause the skin to burn.
Forget the tan, if you want to protect your skin from aging, use your sunblock every day, on every part of your skin that is exposed to daylight. After all, tan is out, porcelain untanned skin is in!
Your sunscreen should contain approved ingredients for UVA and UVB protection. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are natural physical blocks against UVA and UVB. Parsol (Avobenzone) is a chemical blocks which absorb the sun rays.
If you don not like the sound of chemical ingredients use a natural sunscreen containing Zinc oxide.
Soy Isoflavones
Protein extracts of soybean and soymilk contain oestrogen-like substances called isoflavones, which protect the skin against sun damage and may increase the production of hyaluronic acid (see below). They may also help lighten age spots.
Phospholipids
Soybean-derived lecithin is a well-known phospholipid, a substance with great ability to attract and hold water. Soybean phospholipids contain a high percentage of essential amino acides that play a role in the synthesis of collagen and elastin fibres. They are often used as emulsifiers in natural skin care products.
Marine Extracts
Sea plants boast the largest range of minerals of any organism and are used in skin care preparations for their cell regenerative properties and ability to attractand retain water. They are soothing, healing and anti-inflammatory. Rich in nutrients, spirolina makes an excellent skin care ingrdient when applied externally or ingested.
Plant Hormones
Plant possess their own healing hormones. When a plant is damaged, sap travels to the injured area, sealing the wound and accelerating new cell growth. Plant hormone extracts in an anti aging cosmetic product has the same healing and rejuvenating effect. Calendula, chamomile, arnica, comfrey and aloe vera are just some of the plants rich in these healing hormones.
Certain plants contain hormones that mimic oestrogen and affect collagen and tissue. They have a tautening and rejuventating effect on the skin and are found in soybeans and soymilk, wild yam, black cohosh, flaxseed, chaste berry, red clover and a variety of beans and cereal brans. The essential oils of sage, hops, fennel and eucalyptus also contain these plant hormones.
Certain vegetable oils, such as avocado and soybean, are rich in phytosterols, a type of plant hormone that increases collagen synthesis in the skin. Phytosterols improve skin healing and help minimise scarring and inflammation.
Proteolytic Enzymes
Proteolytic enzymes, which can digest dead or diseases protein material without harmin living, healthy cells, make gentle but effective skin exfoliants. A commonly used proteolytic enzyme is papain, found in papaya, especially green papaya. Regular use enhances the smoothness, clarity, moisture and firmness of the complextion.
Photosomes
Photosomes are fast acting, light-activated enzymes that revitalise and rejuvenate the skin.
Panthenol & Pantothenic Acid
Panthenol is a pro-vitamin of the B complex and is used as a humectant and calming agent. Pantothenic acid is a water-soluble form of vitamin B5. Both help eliminate patches of dry skin and help provide fullness to the skin through their water-binding properties. They can also accelerate cell reproduction in the deeper epidermal layers.
MMP Inhibitors
MMP Inhibitors reduce the activity of enzymes in the skin that break down the skin's extracellular matrix. They maintain a firm and elastic intercellular matrix to slow the signs of aging.
Glycine
This amino acid is an essential element in the producton of DNA and collagen. A strong moisturiser and skin conditioning agent, it aids synthesis of nucleic and other amino acids in the skin, a quality that helps stabilise vitamin C so it remains available to the epidermis. Also helps to control the skin's ph balance.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants like Green tea, vitamins C and E, Alpha Lipoic Acid and a wide range of plant extracts like Grape help to combat free radical damage from the environment on your skin. There should be an essential ingredient in your anti aging cosmetic product.
Your skin is bombarded with chemicals in products you come in contact in, pollution in the air, UV rays ect. On the skin antioxidants help to reduce inflammation and keep your skin calm.
Antioxidant Products:
REVALESKIN CoffeeBerry Skin Care Kit
Skin Brighteners
Ingredients like Liquorice, Soybean, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Hydroquione, Kojic Acid and Bearberry help to brighten the skin and tone down pigmentation.
Pigmentation, sometimes also called Age Spots are caused by hormone imbalances and photosensitivity to the sun.
Skin brighteners as part of your anti aging cosmetic product can rarely make age spots disappear, rather toning them down and making them less visible. A concentrated serum or essence skin brighteners are more effective than as part of your anti aging cosmetic product. It is better to prevent pigmentation in the first place by using your sunscreen at all times.
Idebenone
Idebenone is a form of Coenzyme Q10. It is a highly potent antioxidant which has the ability to protect and repair the skin from free radicals.
Q10 is widely used in skin products, however Idebenone is far better.
Idebenone can also be taken as supplement, however I would recommend to take the supplement Q10 instead.
Daniela's Tip for the Best Anti Aging Cosmetic Product
With all the new products and advertisements it can be quite hard to know which anti aging cosmetic product to choose. Its no point having the latest product if it doesn't suit your skin type. This could cause break outs and other skin problems. Skin also changes with age and hormones.
All the ingredient above can diminish the signs of aging, however
the skin reflects the bodies state of health.
As a Beauty Therapist I can easily tell from your skin the state of your overall lifestyle and your hormone health. Health is therefore a big issue which contributes to the rate we age and how well we age!
I cant stress enough the importance of advanced nutrition with anti aging nutritional supplements to keep your body in optimal health and protect it from free radical damage. A healthy and well nourished body has beautiful supple, plump and moist skin.
Nourish the skin from the inside and protect it from the outside!
See Daniela's Online Shop for the anti aging cosmetic product of my choice.
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