Introduction
Throughout civilization, there has always been an obsession with looking young for as long as possible. Whether it be the search for the mythical fountain of youth or the search for the chemical fountain of youth of the future, fighting the effects of aging has been a top goal for consumers and researchers alike. One of the best ways to fight off the looks of old age is to lessen or prevent the appearance of wrinkles on the skin. This has given birth to a booming industry for anti-wrinkle cream products.
Tea Extracts
Tea extracts are found in many anti-wrinkle products. Evolving from home methods of placing tea bags under the eyes, tea extracts work by reducing inflammation and fighting off the effects of oxidation on the skin cells. Green tea, oolong tea and black tea are the most commonly used tea extracts for anti-wrinkle cream products.
Copper Peptides
Another common ingredient found in anti-wrinkle creams are copper peptides. Copper peptides consist of the element copper, mixed with protein in the form of peptides. Copper is used in every cell in the body and is especially important to healing damaged skin. Copper peptides also help stimulate the growth of collagen. Collagen is a fibrous protein that helps keep skin tight and healthy.
Retinol
Retinol is by far the most popular ingredient on the market for use in anti-wrinkle creams and a host of other anti-aging products. Retinol is a form of vitamin A. According to the Mayo Clinic, vitamin A has commonly been used in prescription-strength anti-aging products in the form of tretinoin. Because retinol is less potent, it has been approved for regular use in non-prescription products but has many of the same effects of its prescription counterpart. Retinol is mostly used as an antioxidant to fight off free radicals. Free radicals are oxygen molecules that have become unstable enough to damage the skin.
Coenzyme Q10
Coenzyme Q10 is another popular ingredient in anti-wrinkle creams. This product helps control the energy production in your body's skin cells. By regulating the energy production, Coenzyme Q10 helps fight off the cell damage that can lead to wrinkles. Coenzyme Q10 also has secondary effects of protecting the skin against sun damage. According to the American Academy of Dermatologists, overexposure to the sun is a leading cause of skin wrinkles.
Kinetin
The plant extract kinetin is also growing in popularity for use in anti-wrinkle products. According to the Kinetin Resource Center Organization, kinetin is recommended by dermatologists throughout the world to fight the aging process and treat photodamage. Photodamage is damage done to the skin due to exposure to the sun.
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