User post: Are you using the right anti-aging product - and is it working for you?

Carol Belanger

There are so many anti-aging products on the market today that is can be quite overwhelming trying to determine the right product for your specific skin care needs. Additionally, trial and error in selecting your anti-aging product can get expensive and frustrating.

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