Truth About Anti Aging Skin Care

This article was written by a man. What does a man know about Anti Aging Skin Care? Well, I am surrounded by women who seem obsessed by this. My background is as an investigative journalist so I did some research. What I found surprised me and likely will surprise you too! Thus, this article.

Anti aging skin care products remind me of the line from a Frank Sinatra song "when I was 17, it was a very good year". Indeed, anti aging skin care products are very popular today; and why not, who doesn’t want to look young forever? Aside from myself, the only other exception I can think of is my cousin Jimmy. Ask him what he thinks about getting older and he will quip - "Who am I going to impress? I'm married!". He's a character.

Well, comic relief aside, here is what I found in my research.

Let me say, before I get going here, if you have an extreme problem with acne or other skin disease, you need to see a healthcare professional sooner than later. There are skin diseases than can be dangerous, even life threatening, if you try to self-medicate them away. Please do not damage your health for the sake of looking younger. Your loved ones want you healthy even if you do not look like you just graduated from high school!

O.K., I'm done pontificating. Researching anti aging skin care products, the first thing I found is Vitamin C based anti aging skin care products. These products work by enabling the synthesis of collagen.

Collagen is a structural protein that is found in skin. This category of anti aging skin care products is related to anti-oxidants which protect the skin cells. Anti aging skin care products that are based on Vitamin C can, however, get oxidized themselves as they come into contact with air during their usage. In other words, they lose their potentcy rather quickly.

Some anti aging skin care products were developed to solve that problem and were based on derivatives of Vitamin C. The derivatives are less expensive but they found that effectiveness of such anti aging skin care is not as much as it is for products that contain real Vitamin C. So, to get benefits from the real thing you have to use it often.

BesidesVitamin C, there are Vitamin E and Lipoic Acid. These are anti-oxidants too. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble anti-oxidant that is found in human blood and helps in building resistance against infection. Vitamin E is also known to inhibit cancer. Liponic acid is known to combat the signs of aging very effectively by reversing the skin damage caused by the aging process.

Phytochemicals form the other category of anti aging skin care products. Phytochemicals are special chemicals that are extracted from plants. There are a variety of phytochemicals that are in use today. Phytochemicals prevent occurrence of cancer of certain types; these include prostate cancer, breast cancer and colon cancer. They found their place in anti aging skin care products because they combat all sorts of cell damage and that includes skin cells.

Some B-vitamins like B5, B6 and B12 are also in use for anti aging skin care products. These too are aimed at slowing cell damage and, supposedly, skin aging.

The field of anti aging skin care products is vast and needs a lot of research. Just take a look at late night TV infomercials. Movie stars and models are hawking the latest and greatest anti-aging concoction. We see Botox now being advertised heavily. They know you want to look as young as possible for as long as possible.

The success rates of the currently available over-the-counter and TV products vary widely because it has to do with skin tone, color, ethnicity, diet, general health, smoking, sun exposure, and on and on. You are special. What works on a movie star may not work on you. And, keep in mind, those models you see on TV are in their teens! Not much of what you see is real because of computer enhancement.

There was a recent tabloid newspaper that showed photos of movie stars untouched. Embarrasing for them, revealing for us. Without the enhancement and hours of makeup they look just like the average person on a rough day. Illusion is the stuff they want you to buy so buyer beware.

So what is a girl (or guy) to do? How do you sift through the razzle dazzle and hype?

The best advice I found from professionals is start with the simple stuff that will not max out your credit card! Be realistic. Unless you are ready to spend thousands of dollars on cosmetic surgery make the best of where you are in this stage of life.

Anti aging skin care products should be used only as a supplement to sensible skin and body care. Know yourself and your lifestyle. Perhaps you should see a makeup consultant and get tips that will enhance your look for someone your age? My wife uses very little makeup and looks great. She hardly has any wrinkles for her age (I'm not telling!). Most of her life she has used that Oil of (you know what) every evening and she has avoided the sun by wearing a hat and using sunblock.

So, what to do? Drinking a lot of water, getting a good night sleep, exercising regularly, maintaining healthy eating habits, stop smoking, use UV blockers in the sun, and avoid stress as much as possible are essential means of delaying the aging process. No anti aging skin care product can replace good common sense and the right vitamins and minerals in your diet.

Of course you could take the attitude of my cousin Jimmy and be content at the age you are and the way you look. Just a suggestion.