Important Anti-Aging Skin Care Ingredients

Peptides

Peptides are short segments of amino acids formed when collagen breaks down. Human skin is comprised mostly of collagen, a protein that supports your skin and provides the foundation that gives it thickness. Younger people have ample amounts of collagen, which results in smooth, taut skin.  In contrast, older people have less collagen and their skin tends to become thinner and shows more wrinkles.

Collagen is destroyed by age and a number of environmental factors including sun damage, but is not completely replaced. As a result, smooth, young skin gradually becomes thin and increasingly wrinkled with time.

Peptides applied directly to your skin will make it think it has recently lost collagen and has to manufacture more of this substance.  The result is smoother, younger looking skin.

Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is a major component of the skin and occurs naturally in the body. Sufficient quantities are necessary for tissue hydration and lubrication and proper functioning of skin cells.

Skin care products containing HA are often used with squalane to allow better penetration into the skin. Hyaluronic Acid is often touted for its ability to reverse or retard the aging process.  HA is sometimes referred to as the “fountain of youth” substance because it occurs naturally and most abundantly in younger humans and animals.  It is also found in high concentration in younger skin and in the fluid surrounding joints.

As we age, environmental factors such as toxins and sunlight diminish your body's level of HA. Because decreasing levels of Hyaluronic Acid associated with the aging process correlate with wrinkled skin, effective anti-aging attempts to maintain a more youthful appearance by protecting and rejuvenating damaged skin tissue should include this important molecule.

Retinol

Retinol is Vitamin A in its most active and purest form. It is able to penetrate into deeper skin layers to work from underneath to reduce wrinkles and fine lines.  It also stimulates the production of collagen.

Retinol accelerates cell regeneration and causes dead skin cells to slough away and be replaced by new cells.  By stimulating collagen production, it also increases skin elasticity.

Retinol cream increases the production of cells in your skin's upper layer; this helps rejuvenate your skin. Consequently, your skin gradually looks younger in appearance. Retinol also works to help reduce unwanted pigmentation areas that result from historical exposure to excessive sunlight. It is very effective against acne and acne-caused scarring.

A Routine Skin Care Regimen is Essential

The three main elements of proper anti-aging skin care are: Exfoliation, Rejuvenation, and Moisturizing. Exfoliation improves the youthful appearance of your skin by using the body’s amazing healing power. The direct application of peptides to your skin will make it think it has lost collagen and needs to produce more. This rejuvenates your skin. The third element of skin care is to moisturize with Hyaluronic Acid, which holds at least 1,000 times its weight in moisture.

You need to follow a careful regimen for younger looking, smoother and more radiant skin.

Morning: cleanse your face, apply a Peptide or Retinol wrinkle cream, then your sunblock, and finally, your makeup.

Evening: first, exfoliate your skin according to the label directions, then apply a Peptide or Retinol wrinkle cream. Fruit acids work best with Peptide creams. If using a Retinol cream, the only exfoliation product you should use is a microdermabrasion cream. Do not use a fruit acid cream or glycolic acid. When using the microdermabrasion cream, you should only exfoliate 2 or 3 times a week.

Note: If you have extra dry skin, apply a Hyaluronic serum or cream morning and night before you apply your Peptide or Retinol cream for deeper hydration.

For specific problem areas such a dark under eye circles, use a cream containing Vitamin K, Peptides and Hyaluronic Acid.