Take a stroll through any department store cosmetic section and you will hear amazing claims about the latest skin care products. One product eliminates deep wrinkles overnight and another gives your skin the ability to renew itself. Representatives dressed in lab coats, scientific sounding jargon and exotic ingredients lend credibility to the sales pitches. To help you distinguish between the hype and reality, familiarize yourself with these effective ingredients used in skin care.
Retinoids
Oprah Winfrey's O Magazine website describes retinoids as derivatives of vitamin A that increase collagen, reduce blemishes and even out skin tone. Treinoin, the main ingredient in Retin-A and Renova, was the first retinoid sold as a prescription skin treatment. Originally prescribed to acne patients, dermatologists noticed treinoin not only cleared up blemishes, its exfoliating properties also made patients' skin smoother and diminished fine lines. Tazarotene and adapalene round out the class of retinoids available by prescription today. Retinoids can cause redness and irritation in individuals with sensitive skin. Many skin care products contain retinol, a weaker version of the prescription-strength treinoin. Retinol similarly penetrates the skin's surface to brighten, fade age spots and gradually diminish fine lines and wrinkles.
Humectants
According to the Anti Aging Skin Care Guide, humectants help retain the skin's moisture by drawing water from the atmosphere. Humectants, common ingredients in moisturizers, typically work in tandem with emollients to combat dryness due to aging, genetics and environmental factors. Humectants in facial creams can delay the onset of lines and wrinkles and provide all over hydration when used as an ingredient in body lotions. Types of humectants to look for on product labels include glycerin, hyaluronic acid and panthenol.
Antioxidants
Nutra Legacy's website explains that antioxidants work topically to repair environmental damage to the skin from the sun, pollution and climate. The ability to rejuvenate the skin makes antioxidants an effective ingredient in anti-aging skin care products. As antioxidants work to repair cellular damage, they help tighten the skin, gradually minimizing the look of wrinkles. Sources of vitamin E, a widely used topical antioxidant, include almond extract, wheat germ oil and soybean oil. Coenzyme Q10, an antioxidant present in the human body, graces the ingredient list of many skin care products. The antioxidant vitamin C protects the skin against UVB and UVA sun damage.
Alpha Hydroxy Acids
Pharmacymix says Alpha Hydroxy Acids, or AHAs, occur naturally in milk and fruit sugars. These acids, essential ingredients in the skin care industry, work to exfoliate the outer layer of skin cells exposing the fresh layer beneath the surface. AHAs gently slough off skin, resulting in even pigmentation and reduction of fine lines. To identify AHAs in skin care products, look for malic, mandelic, lactic or glycolic acids. Use of skin care products containing AHAs can produce irritation and sensitivity to the sun. If possible, purchase an AHA product with a built-in sunscreen.
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