We all see the ads on television all of the time: wrinkle repair, intense moisture renewal, plumping, firming, tightening...the list goes on for ages.
But for those of us that feel that we don't have these problems with our skin (yet, at least), should we start using these products to prevent said things from happening all together?
Let's get glowing!
The good thing about these anti-aging products is that they usually contain many anti-oxidants that promote cell-turnover. What happens during cell turnover? It's the replacement of old cells with brand new ones. Therefore, the product you're slathering all over your face aids in the production of new and improved skin cells. These cells make you look younger, because they themselves are younger!
Some ingredients that aid in cell turnover include: vitamin C (you can take a gel capsule and break it open and put it directly on the skin. They also sell vitamin C sticks in most drug/beauty stores for relatively inexpensive prices), alpha lipoic acid, and retinoid. Retinoid is a strong ingredient found in many anti-aging products (we hear things like retinol or retin-A, etc.). The issue with retinol, is you need to limit your sun exposure while it is on your skin, or it can damage skin cells. However, it has been found to almost clear age spots, in certain cases.
Then we hear of those firming and plumping ingredients:
Emollients/Humectants: what these do is actually what a moisturizer should be doing. Moisture on the skin's surface will be drawn further into the layers of the skin, creating a plumped effect because the skin is being plumped with this moisture. Very good for your skin!
Alpha Hydroxy Acids: We hear of these acids in things like glycolic peels. They are typically used to slough away dead skin cells and make room for new ones without clogging pores. They essentially dissolve the dead ones! According to a study done at the University of Maryland that I found on the livestrong.com website, alpha hydroxy acids were found to actually promote the production of collagen and elasticity in the skin which in the long run, helps firm it.
Hyaluronic Acid: This stuff can hold up to a thousand times its weight in water! Can you imagine the plumping effect that has on the skin?! Not only that, but your cells are being saturated with moisture that they were lacking, which can end up helping them out in the long-run. These have been specifically recommended for the eye area, however it can be used everywhere.
Peptides: Many of us have heard of these in those anti-wrinkle products. That's because they aid in the production of collagen, which makes the skin appear firmer and more taut. With extended use, these can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, or just make your skin look tighter and not so "saggy" (even though no matter what, your skin is beautiful!)
So with that, should we young people use these products before we even start seeing any of these symptoms of "aging"?
(I say "aging" because no matter what, there are things that are going to happen to the skin that are unavoidable, and these things can happen at any time and at any age. I do not necessarily like the idea that the industry of anti-aging products making it seem like these products are only for "older" women, everyone has concerns!)
The good news is that if you would like to, there's no reason not to! These are more of a "cure" and not so much being pro-active rather than reactive, but the moisture content in many of these products is actually wonderful for the skin, especially around the very, very delicate eye area. The more moisture in your skin, the better! It's the largest organ you have, and if your insides need to be hydrated, why wouldn't you hydrate the external parts too, right?
Alright, beauties! I hope this was helpful for those of you that would like to "fix" those "imperfections" (because we're all fabulous no matter what age, how we look...), or just prevent them! See you next time, and thank you for reading!
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