I can tell from experience that the aging process is not easy which is why women are prepared to spend a LOT of money on anti-aging creams with the latest hi-tech ingredients. But how can we find anti-aging creams that work and what ingredients should we look out for?
Which anti-aging creams are effective
Recent studies have indicated that many creams are not very effective.
Disappointingly, most creams were not able to show improvements of more than 10% in wrinkle depth, which is quite insignificant. But no-one expects that that these kind of results will stop us from buying face creams. They still feel good and the promise of dramatically different skin will still encourage us to buy creams and companies will continue to invest money in research and development.
But have some ingredients not proven to be effective?
Yes, ingredients like peptides, Vitamins A, C and E, AHA products, and some hormones have all proven to be effective against skin aging. However, clinical trials of products containing these have been consistently disappointing.
This is partly due to the fact that wrinkles are effectively scar tissue, which once formed, are difficult to remove. The only option to remove them is through comsetic surgery.
High strength creams can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles
However, it is possible to reduce these wrinkles with more aggressive creams that contain more effective ingredients. These creams tend to be more aggressive and tend to have side effects. As main stream products will not produce products that can cause irritation they tend to bring only milder, less aggressive products on the market.
More effective are products from companies such as Dermalogica and SkinCeuticals but they tend not to be as widely available as other brands, although they are available here online. They are usually used by cosmetic clinics, with qualified therapists being able to prescribe the right cream for your skin and monitor any possible side effects.
A specialist will be able to analyse your skin texture, rough patches or any skin problems and is in a better position to know which cream would be most effective for your skin. If you take a long-term approach to treatment then results may be more achievable. It is possible that you start of with a lower strength cream and then progress later to a more full-strength cream.
Some examples of creams with effective ingredients:
FRUIT ACIDS OR ALPHA-HYDROXY ACIDS (AHAs)
Found in: SkinCeuticals C+AHA, A two-in-one antioxidant treatment for aging skin. Available from Skinstore.com.
Glycolic acid improves the smoothness and feel of the skin. These serums and creams are usaually given by physicians as a good strength cream can cause irration. However, SkinCeuticals popular products are also available online.
ANTIOXIDANTS
Found in: SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic and Crème de la Mer
Products with antioxidants contain Vitamins C and E and are effective to restore sun damage and sin restoration and rejuvenation. Whereas products with AHA “strip down” the skin, antioxidant rich creams build it up. SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic is a popular anti-aging serum with ferulic acid. Creme de la Mer is a very rich cream that is suitable for skins that need a lot of nourishment.
RETIN-A
Found in: ROC Retin Ox Intensive Anti-Wrinkle Moisturiser SPF15 30ml. Available from Skinstore.com.
This is a Vitamin A derivative that can increase cell production, shed dark pigment and increasecollagen formation.
PEPTIDES
Found in: Celazome N°45 Firming Peptide Complex. Available from Skinstore.com.
Peptides are beneficial for stimulating the healing process in skin and improving the production of collagen and elastin. Expect creams with peptides to be expensive as this is an expensive ingredient.