|
Searching for the Fountain of Youth
How Beauty Products Work
Each year people around the world spend billions of dollars (or yen or francs or pounds) in search of the fountain of youth in a tube. We will lather it up, scrub it off or soak it in...anything with the hope of removing the signs of aging from our faces. All these lotions, cleansers and serums contain various substances that are sometimes hard to pronounce but boast making you softer, younger or smoother. And with all this time, energy and money spend trying to look younger, wouldn’t it be nice to know what those products are supposed to do to reverse time?
Originally used to fight acne, Retin-A, or tretinoin, is made from vitamin A, which is known to foster the production of new skin cells, and is available only by a prescription. Aside from plastic surgery, this stuff is said to be the best at getting rid of fine lines and crow’s feet. According to Retin-A’s creator Albert Kligman, "It creates tissue and makes the dermis thicker. In short, it returns skin to a more youthful condition and prevents many wrinkles from occurring." However, many people experience burning and dryness when using this product. There is also Retinol that is also vitamin A, but is available in many over the counter beauty products.
By helping to remove the outermost layer of the skin, alpha hydroxy has been successful in diminishing the appearance of fine lines and other skin imperfections. There are many different forms of alpha hydroxy acids, which occur naturally in citric fruits, apples, sugar cane and sour milk. However, many times in products it is a synthetic form of the acids. People with sensitive skin have had redness, soreness and burning after using this product.
Because many of the vitamins and antioxidants that we put into our body have been proven to help the appearance of skin, many companies are putting these same substances in their products. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that prevents sun damage and inflammation of the skin. Another common additive to facial products is vitamin C for its help in producing collagen.
When skin is dry and tight, it tends to look older. There are two types of moisturizers: occlusives prevent water from evaporating from the skin and humectants draw water from deeper tissues to the surface of the skin. However, most moisturizers contain both types. Products that contain lipids create a natural barrier against moisture loss in the skin. There are other products that contain collagen or keratin, which temporarily stretch the skin making it look smoother. No matter what your moisturizer contains, it is just making your skin appear younger and healthier--it is not in fact repairing the damage.
The bad news is that most dermatologists agree that the only way to fight wrinkles is to avoid them in the first place. And because most wrinkles are caused by sun exposure, simply using sunscreen and wearing a hat when out in the sun is your best defense. However, by eating a balanced diet and drinking plenty of water can also benefit you from the inside out!
Check out these products:
DISTINCTION® Skin Care Collection  |
|
|
