Before you step out on your venture for the right anti-aging product, consider these tips.
First and foremost, know your skin type. Is your skin dry, oily,
normal, combination (oily in the T-zone but dry otherwise), and/or
sensitive? If you are unsure of your skin type, read my article
"How to Determine Your Skin Type". Knowing your
skin type is a crucial step in selecting the right anti-aging
product.
Secondly, make a list of what your anti-aging cream should do for
your complexion. Are you battling dark spots and age spots, or it
is it fine lines and wrinkles. Is your complexion troubled with an
uneven skin tone? Once you have determined the skin care issues you
want to address, select your product accordingly.
For instance, if dark spots or age spots add years to your complexion, look for creams that are rich with D3PA (Dithiolane-3-Pentanoic Acid). D3PA claims to be a fast-acting anti-wrinkle treatment, loaded with antioxidants and decreases hyper pigmentation. Additionally, you could try a product with Hydroquinone which lightens the skin in two ways - It inhibits the production of melanin (the pigment responsible for the darkening of skin and actual skin color) and it breaks down the existing excess melanin on the spots that require treatment.
If fine line and wrinkles are a problem consider creams rich in
AH3 (Acetyl Hexapeptide-3). AH3 supposedly relaxes facial tension
leading to the reduction in facial lines and wrinkles with regular
use. This remotely resembles the effect of Botox, which reduces
facial tension and movement by paralyzing facial muscles.
Just to name a few, some of the best ingredients in anti-aging
products are: alpha hydroxyl acids - (read my article on which
alpha hydroxyl acid is right for your skin
type). Retinol - which is a Vitamin A based derivative -
Retinol speeds up cell turnover, which means new skin cells come to
the surface. Additionally, it has been observed to reduce the size
of wrinkles. Look for forms of retinol such as retinal palmitate in
wrinkle creams. This ingredient works to give your face an overall
youthful glow, however some people do experience sun sensitivity to
retinol and should only be used at bedtime and a sunscreen should
be applied in the a.m. Addtionaly, Vitamins C, E, and K
also prove helpful in anti-aging products.
There are many anti-aging creams available that contain artificial
ingredients, whether they are better or not
better than natural ingredients is not the scope of this
article. However, I do believe that synthetic ingredients in
anti-aging products have unknown side effects down the road.
Therefore, I am a firm believer of natural products made from
botanicals, marine plant extracts, sea salts, and homemade facials
with various common kitchen ingredients. When shopping for your
anti-aging cream, look for natural ingredients such as aloe Vera,
honey, or jojoba oil to name a few, all of these ingredients have
nourishing properties. Consider clay masks or seaweed mask for
extra nourishment or citrus masks for skin lightening.
Next time you purchase your next anti-aging product be prepared
to understand what you are buying and know the side effects of the
ingredients, if any. Better yet, check out some great homemade skin
care recipes at Complete Skin Care Therapy
Check out these anti-aging products at Skin Energizer, great products and reasonably
priced! Made from botanicals and other natural
ingredients
