The Most Common Ingredients in Anti-Aging Creams

It’s no secret that there are a lot of people who are looking to find a facelift in a jar or a fountain of youth in a tube. While these products don’t really exist, there are some that will make a difference in the look and feel of your skin. Different preparations contain different ingredients, and the ingredients in a particular cream determine how they perform. By taking a look at the active ingredients that are commonly used in anti-aging creams, you can begin to get an idea of what kind of cream you’ll want to purchase to meet your own particular needs.

Many anti-aging creams contain Retinol. Retinol, a vitamin A compound, was the first antioxidant marketed in non-prescription creams. Antioxidants neutralize the molecules that break down skin cells causing wrinkles to form. Although Retinol isn’t as powerful as the vitamin A derivative used in prescription anti-aging creams, it has still proven effective in clinical testing. Since vitamin A products increase the risk of birth defects, no one should use them if they are pregnant or might become pregnant.

Hydroxy acids are exfoliants that remove the old layers of skin allowing new, fresher skin to come to the surface. One thing to be wary of if you use a cream containing hydroxy acids: they will make your skin more susceptible to sun damage, so always use sunscreen while you’re using anti-aging creams that contain hydroxy acids and for a week after discontinuing use.

Green, black, and oolong teas contain antioxidants and are used in anti-aging creams. The most common one found in these non-prescription products is green tea. Tea extracts are also effective as inflammatories. Another plant product that is often used in anti-wrinkle creams is kinetin. No one knows for sure how it works, but it’s thought to reduce wrinkles by helping the skin retain moisture and produce more collagen. It is also believed to be a very strong antioxidant.

A nutrient known as Coenzyme Q10 works to regulate the production of energy within the cells. Some minor studies have been conducted on this component of many anti-aging creams, and it has been found that they do reduce the tiny wrinkles that form around the eyes without any side effects. The substance is also believed to protect the skin again the damaging rays of the sun.

Every cell in the human body contains a trace of copper. In anti-wrinkle products, copper is combined with tiny fragments of protein called peptides. Copper peptides stimulate collagen production. Since collagen is the support system for the skin, and aging causes a decrease in collagen production, using a cream with copper peptides in it would be advantageous for stimulating the replacement of the lost collagen. Lack of collagen causes the skin to sag and wrinkles to form. In addition to collagen stimulation, copper peptides are also known help antioxidants work better.

You will be able to find plenty of different anti-aging creams that contain whichever of these ingredients that you feel will best help your complexion needs. Although none of these preparations will be an actual fountain of youth, they can help your skin look smoother, healthier, and younger.