There are not too many people who appreciate wrinkles. Wrinkles are a sign of aging, they make us feel old, so it comes naturally that we wish to delay or get rid of them in any way we can. Options include micro-injections with Botox, skin resurfacing procedures, face lifts or anti aging creams which can help the skin relax, thus stretching those fine wrinkles around the eyes and the mouth.
How Do Anti-Wrinkle Creams Work
The power of rejuvenating face creams is usually in their active ingredient. Billions of dollars are invested in research each year, in order to discover new substances that could help us preserve the young look of our skin for as long as possible. Here are a few of the most known active ingredients in facial cosmetic products:
Coenzyme Q10
Coenzyme Q10 is an oil-soluble substance produced by our body, which pays a role in generating the body energy. It also plays the role of an anti-oxidant, by neutralizing free radicals which are responsible for accelerating the aging process and the deterioration of living cells. By adding CoQ10 in face creams, such products would stimulate the collagen production and the regeneration of skin cells. There are not so many clinical studies to support this statement. Actually, there was only one study done in 1999, which demonstrated the long term effect of CoQ10 in reducing crows feet. Still, Coenzyme Q10-based cosmetics are very popular. There’s no wonder, as they are heavily supported by advertising.
Retinol
Retinol is another anti-oxidant that’s largely used in manufacturing anti-wrinkle creams. It has the property of stimulating cell growth, so it has a repairing effect upon the damaged skin. In its active form, which is retinoic acid, retinol is available only in creams and facial treatments that are prescribed by doctors for severe skin conditions. Over the counter creams contain only a small amount of retinol. Tea Extracts Green tea is one of the hottest trends in healthy living. Not only all nutritionists would advise people to drink green tea every day, but green tea extracts have become a common ingredient in shower gels, shampoos, body lotions or wrinkle creams. Like oolong tea, green tea has been proven to have anti inflammatory and antioxidant properties, thus being a good skin photo aging protection screen. Green tea extracts also help moisturizing the skin and making it softer.
Hyaluronic Acid
This is a natural substance which helps cells retain moisture. It is produced by the body, but as we get older, this production decreases, thus the skin becomes dehydrated and wrinkled. Adding hyaluronic acid in face creams has been proven to help softening the skin, boosting its elasticity and making it look younger.
Most wrinkle cream brands include also UV protection. This is good for the skin, because sun is our biggest enemy when it comes to wrinkles and premature skin aging. It’s obvious that people who spend very much time outside, in the sun, without protection, are prone to looking older than their real age. This is why it's important to use a sun screen each time we are going to spend a longer time outdoors, either laying on the beach or when practicing sports.
Depending on their texture and on their ingredients, wrinkle creams can be for day or for night. Day creams are softer, lighter, they get faster absorption in the deep skin tissues and offer a better UV protection factor than night creams which are rather greasy, oily and tend to stay longer at the skin surface. That could be good for repairing damaged cells, but it surely doesn’t offer a pleasant look to the user. Such wrinkle creams are supposed to be put on just before going to sleep.
