Are Anti Aging Skin Care Products Worth All the Hype?
In today’s world, everyone wants to look and feel younger for an extended period of time. This desire has produced a marketplace for anti aging skin care products that continues to grow on a daily basis. But do the ingredients contained in these products really work? In this article we will discuss a few popular ingredients found in many skin care products and reveal some things you might not have known about them.
#1 – Vitamin C
Vitamin C based products work by enabling the synthesis of collagen which is the structural protein that is found in skin. The one downside of vitamin C products is that they can actually oxidize or go bad when they come into contact with air. For this reason they have a relatively short shelf life.
#2 – Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a fat soluble anti-oxidant located in human blood that helps build resistance against infection. One benefit of vitamin E is that it has been shown to inhibit cancer. It also has moisturizing qualities and is found in many hand creams and lip balms.
#3 – Lipoic Acid
Lipoic acid is another anti-oxidant that can help combat the signs of aging. Lipoic acid is known to inhibit cross linking which is the formation of chemical bridges between proteins or other large molecules. Cross linking contributes to the aging process by causing wrinkling of the skin. For this reason lipoic acid may benefit skin cells, improve skin texture and help reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
#4 – Phytochemicals
Phytochemicals are plant derived compounds that offer protection against several chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease. With all these benefits, phytochemicals have found there place in many anti aging skin care products.
#5 – B Vitamins
B vitamins have been shown to keep the skin moist and hydrated. Well hydrated skin is less likely to become irritated. This is important because irritation can unleash a chain of events that injures tissue and speeds up skin aging. Simply put, more moisture equals less chance of irritation.
So do these ingredients actually work?
The truth is that while all these ingredients have been shown to help your body the verdict is still out on whether or not they benefit you by being applied directly to the skin in creams and lotions. Don’t forget that since the skin care industry is “self-regulated” companies are able to make many claims without actually backing them up with solid tests or evidence.
In the end, please remember that even if these anti aging skin care products do work, they are still only supplements to a healthy lifestyle. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep and maintaining healthy eating habits if you really want to delay the aging process.
