Nicholas Tan asked:
One of the most interesting topics on skin care is ‘anti aging skin care’. As one gets older, the natural defence of our skin (and in fact of the whole body) weakens. ‘Anti aging skin care’ is about protecting your skin from the negative effects of aging process. ‘Anti aging skin care’ helps in maintaining a young and fresh look for a longer period of time. However, ‘anti aging skin care’ doesn’t end just here. Besides maintaining your looks (good looks), ‘anti aging skin care’ is also about retaining the resistance to disease. Though the awareness about anti aging has increased over a period of time, still a lot of people are unable to recognize the aging symptoms (and hence are unable to determine if they are in need of additional anti aging skin care measures).
Here is a list of visible anti aging symptoms that will help you in the planning and execution of your strategy for anti aging skin care: baldness, forgetfulness, graying hair, wrinkle formation, loss of eyesight or hearing loss and menopause. The occurrence of one or more such symptoms is an indicator for upping the ante on anti aging skin care. Note that we are talking about introduction of additional measures for anti aging skin care, we are not talking about starting ‘anti aging skin care’ altogether. ‘Anti aging skin care’ actually starts much before the symptoms of anti aging appear. Serious anti aging skin care is building and following a proper skin care routine much earlier in life (say in your teens). Anti aging skin care doesn’t mean adoption of any special skin care procedure but just following a normal procedure in the right earnest. Eating a lot of fruits, avoiding stress, drinking a lot of water and using natural therapies can delay the aging process.
Once the signs of aging start showing up, you should start using some additional measures in the form of anti aging skin care products. The market is full of anti aging skin care products. In fact there are so many anti aging skin care products that they will probably find you even before you find them. Also, with age, the skin undergoes significant change. So you will need to analyse your current skin care procedure to check if it still holds good i.e. if it is still suitable for your skin.
You should remember that aging is a natural process and there is nothing that can stop it from happening. All these anti aging skin measures can just help in delaying the aging process.
Therese Higgins asked:
I have a confession to make. For many years I used an anti aging skin care treatment recommended by a very famous movie star (I won’t mention her name) in an article in Life magazine. This skin care treatment went something like this: don’t towel off after a shower or bath, but combine the water on your body with petroleum jelly and rub in until completely absorbed.
Following an anti aging skin care guide by a movie star, who has professional make up people and studio lights to make her look beautiful, should have been my first hint that her advice probably wasn’t a good thing. But I’ll talk more about this a little later.
Anti aging skin care treatment continues to be in high demand by women who want to keep a youthful appearance. And like with anything else in life, using a little common sense and some simple, but important information can help create an effective anti aging skin care guide – a guide that anyone can use and one which works with the skin’s own natural ability to sustain its youthful longevity.
1. Moderate your exposure to the sun. Sunlight, in small doses, is good for you. It’s a wonderful source of Vitamin D which is important for maintaining your calcium balance and boosting your immunity. But in large doses, sunlight has the potential to do great damage to the skin by decreasing the skin’s natural ability to produce the tissue-repairing substance, hyaluronan. We also know that excessive exposure to sunlight can cause skin cancer.
So to protect your skin’s hyaluronan, avoid going out during peak sunlight exposure hours (10 am – 2 pm). If you have to be outdoors during this time, wear a hat to keep the sun off your face.
Why am I not recommending sunscreen? I believe that hats are preferable to sunscreen simply because the synthetic chemicals present in these products can be potentially harmful.
2. Maintain a healthy intake of water. Any effective anti aging skin care treatment includes a health intake of water. Because your body is made up of 70% water, it’s essentially a machine powered by water. All bodily systems, including your skin, need to be kept well hydrated in order to function the way nature intended.
You can increase the benefits of drinking water by making sure its pure, filtered water. 8 glasses of purified water, drunk throughout the day, is a wonderful way to enhance over-all anti aging skin care.
3. Include plenty of green, leafy vegetables in your diet. I know you’ve heard this advice before. But the reason its a part of this anti aging skin care guide is because these foods play a major role in keeping your skin looking young and healthy.
The antioxidant properties of vegetables like spinach and broccoli fight the production of highly destructive free radicals. Aging of the skin is the result of the damage that these tiny molecules are capable of inflicting. Keeping the production of free radicals at a minimum by eating dark green leafy vegetables is a simple AND delicious anti aging skin care treatment.
4. Use only high quality, nature-based, skin care products. There is an over-abundant supply of anti aging skin care creams on the market. Many of them are able to produce a temporary positive appearance with their synthetic, wrinkle and line-filling ingredients. Unfortunately, there is no long term, healthy improvement of the skin.
Which brings me back to the reason that the movie star’s advice to use petroleum jelly was so bad… it’s because this substance comes from petroleum…the same substance that is used to manufacture gasoline. While my skin may have felt soft, I was clogging my pores and causing long-term damage to my skin cells.
The most truly effective skin care products are the ones containing high concentrations of natural ingredients that work to stimulate your body’s own production of collagen and elastins. Don’t be fooled by a skin cream that is promoted as being collagen-based. These products are useless because the collagen molecules in these creams are too large to penetrate the cells of the skin.
You can help stimulate your skin’s own collagen and elastin production by looking for products that contain ingredients such as phytessence wakame and nanobelle CoenzymeQ10.
Now that you have this simple anti aging skin care guide, I hope you will do your own exploration of the best anti aging skin care treatments. You will find, as I did, that there are high quality products available that will help you achieve the results you’re looking for.
Ellen Agius asked:
Are you wondering which are the best anti aging treatments and ways to rejuvenate your skin?
What can be done about existing lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin? Traditionally the only solutions available have been painful and expensive cosmetic surgeries, toxin injections, and harsh chemical peels. Each of which has a long list of potentially dangerous side effects.
Recent scientific breakthroughs have allowed for the development of more gentle cosmetic products that can reduce saggy skin as well as facial lines and wrinkles without the risks involved with other more traditional procedures. Probably you are confused with all the different ingredients that we can find in anti aging skin care products, and with so many choices, we don’t even know where to start.
Aging is related to accumulation of damage at the cellular level. Offenders include environment, free radicals, and chemicals. The best way to deal with aging skin is to ensure that you take a proactive approach to skin care and follow a few simple steps to help prevent the early onset of aging and keep your skin hydrated and moisturised.
STEP 1. Use A Preservative Free Paraben Free Skin Care System
The major key in reducing aging skin and restoring youthful lustre is to avoid preservatives in your skin care products. Preservatives, methylparaben in particular, have been shown to increase the damage to skin caused by UV light, thus increasing the aging of skin.
If you want to prevent aging of your skin you really need to be aware of what you are putting on your skin. While many companies claim their products are “all natural” and of the “finest quality,” a close look at the ingredients reveals they contain toxic synthetic preservatives, ‘suspected’ carcinogens, drying alcohols, and synthetic fragrances and dyes. So make an educated decision to use products that contain absolutely no preservatives. A good book to refer to is “The Truth About Cosmetics…And Some Natural Alternatives” by Haru Naito.
Until recently, most skin care products around the world have contained preservatives that promote skin aging. However, new skin care technology has developed and there are now a few unique skin care ranges on the market that have eliminated preservatives with the goal to support the skin’s state of wellness and protect the skin from premature aging. (www.revolutionaryskincare.info).
In fact a world’s first water-based skincare line has been recently released in Japan, Australia and the US which uses a revolutionary patented water filtration system where fungus and bacteria cannot grow thus eliminating the need for any preservatives. You can receive a free report and skin care brochure at www.preservativefreeskincare.info
STEP 2. Keep Your Skin Clean
Cleanse your skin with a gentle exfoliating cleanser. Make sure you do not leave on make up or allow residue to build up on your skin. This will lead to increased stress on your skin and can cause pores to clog and become infected.
The key here is not to rub, scrape, or be overly abrasive in the process. You will require a gentle cleanser that contains a fine abrasive to get into your skin pores and remove bacteria and soil.
STEP 3. Keep Your Skin Properly Hydrated.
Hydrating aging skin and helping it to retain moisture are the keys to reducing and preventing wrinkles. Water provides hydration to our skin. So you require a skin care line that can provide water to your skin cells and plump them up like a grape rather than shrivelled up and dry like a sultana. Look at the hydration rates of the skin care product you are using and the clinical proven results. Also many skin care products use carriers to take the moisturising ingredients into the cells. You need to ensure that no carrier chemicals are used which can be absorbed into your circulation and can cause serious health issues.
STEP 4. Nourish your skin with healthy ingredients
Nourishing the skin with the proper ingredients is also important.
Use skin care that delivers only healthy nutrients that can protect your skin from premature aging, stress and dryness. Many plants in the world have long been recognized for their therapeutic health benefits. Just make sure the ingredients are natural plant foods or certified organic ingredients. Today many scientific studies demonstrate the numerous benefits of using specific botanicals that provide nourishing properties that assist your body in renewing healthy moisture enhanced skin tissues. This is the foundation of a preservative free skincare product line.
STEP 5. Use A Wrinkle Cream That Is Proven To Work
Wrinkles and spots are normally too deep to be effected by skin care products, but not now with the recent advancement in skin care technology skin cells can be corrected from damage done and create new healthy skin cells.
An anti-wrinkle cream lessens the appearance of your wrinkles, depending on how often you use it, the type and amount of active ingredient in the wrinkle cream and the extent of the wrinkles you want to treat.
Do they work? Consider these points when judging the merits of using a wrinkle cream: Ensure the skin care system you use has been subjected to research and clinical trials to prove their benefit. You’ll likely need to use the wrinkle cream once or twice a day for many weeks before noticing improvements. Remembering that skin cells rejuvenate every 28 days.
STEP 6. Support your skin’s health and prevent premature aging with good quality supplements.
ANTIOXIDANTS
Oxidative stress is the principle cause of aging and premature death. By controlling free radicals, anti-oxidants influence how fast and how well we age. It is virtually impossible to get optimal amount of antioxidants from foods alone. So invest in a good quality antioxidant.
PHYTOSTEROLS
Scientists can tell how old you are physiologically based on the amount of DHEA (primary hormone of the body) in your blood. Levels peak at age 25 years and then decline. Most researchers agree to retard aging DHEA levels must be maintained. In our modern diet our daily intake of hormone modulator is severely depleted. A Phyto Hormone supplement provides your body naturally with the building blocks to maintain and enhance normal hormone production. It will support efficient fat burning, help you look younger, feel younger and potentially live longer.
GLYCONUTRIENTS
Science has now established that certain natural plant sugars are vital for maintaining good health. Glyconutrients play a vital role in disease prevention and immune system restoration. Supplementation with a blend of glyconutrients have been shown to improve the immune system and improve the antioxidant level inside cells. In addition research shows that glyconutrients help with reversing 8 of the biological signs of aging. A good reason to start supplementing your diet with these nutrients.
ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS
Make sure you get a good blend of essential fatty acids in your diet. Supplementation with essential fatty acids supports your skin to become softer and smoother. They are necessary to make cells membranes and for many of the important hormones and other chemical messengers that tell your body what to do.
So supplementation with a combination of these nutrients is required for you are wanting to reduce the signs of aging and support your skins health from inside as well as outside.
STEP 7. ADEQUATE REST
Make sure you get enough rest, so that your skin has time to repair itself.
We all know that aging skin can be problematic and sometimes even downright scary. By following the tips listed above and carefully selecting your skin care products, you’ll be one step ahead in the battle against aging skin. We all get old but we don’t have to look that way!
The bottom line is to know the science and ingredients behind the products you use, look at the clinical trials, ensure the company is ethical and practices good manufacturing practices and then stick to doing business with one that has a solid reputation for delivering results. There are countless products on the market but only a handful that are based on legitimate science. These are the ones to add to your daily skin care regiment.
So in summary your Skin Care wish list should include:
1. Preservative Free
2. Anti- Aging
3. Fragrance Free
4. Colorant Free
5. Allergy Tested
6. Suits All Skin Types
7. Non- Comedogenic (not clogging, won’t aggravate acne)
8. No Animal Testing
9. Opthamologist Tested
10. Visible Real Results
Too much in one skin care line. Do your research and you will find that there are limited skin care products that provide all these benefits.
Evelyn Louise asked:
In my anti aging skin care review of dozens of products, I’ve discovered three crucial things that separate an effective anti aging skin care system from those that don’t measure up.
It’s taken me over a decade to acquire this knowledge. Like you, I’d been noticing the unmistakable signs of my advancing age: an ever-increasing number of wrinkles, skin sagging around my neck (and other places), cellulite on my legs (yuck), bags under my eyes that seem to keep getting heavier. I could go on, but I don’t think I need to–we all deal with these things.
I drank lots of water, followed a healthy diet, and tried to exercise regularly, but while those steps helped, they didn’t seem to be enough. I didn’t want to go the cosmetic surgery route. I knew there had to be good anti aging skin care products available that would really help to rejuvenate my skin.
I finally found them. And in the process, here’s what I learned from my anti aging skin care review.
1) A good anti aging skin care system does not use fragrances.
Most fragrances are actually chemicals. If you have sensitive skin, like I do, a lot of these fragrances can irritate your skin.
I also learned that many common fragrances can even impact your central nervous system, influencing your moods–and not in a good way. Who would have thought that merely putting on a cream that smells good can actually make you irritable because of the questionable ingredients it contains?
In my anti aging skin care review research, I found a few skin care products that are 100% fragrance-free. I’ve been using them ever since.
2) An anti aging skin care system should be clinically proven to work.
Popular skin care brands usually try to convince us of the efficacy of their products by having glamorous Hollywood actresses claim Product X is responsible for their ageless beauty. But how about less hype, and more scientifically verifiable evidence?
My research led me to an anti aging product that has been clinically proven to increase skin elasticity by 42% over an 18 day period. Greater skin elasticity equals fewer wrinkles, and smoother, more youthful looking skin.
Look for skin care products backed up by facts–not Hollywood hype.
3) An anti aging skin care system should use a high concentration of active ingredients.
While conducting my anti aging skin care review, I found that many of the well-known cosmetic brands that I’d been using for years contained only scant amounts of active ingredients.
These active ingredients are important–the more included in a skin care product, the greater its potency. But a lot of skin care treatments use mostly synthetic waxes and fillers, substances that have no impact whatsoever in rejuvenating your skin.
I recommend using only products that have an active ingredients composition of at least 50%. Admittedly, that’s a high percentage, but such anti aging skin care systems do exist.
Your next step? Start using the lessons I learned during my anti aging skin care review, and visit my web site to find out more about the natural skin care methods I personally use, and highly recommend.
