Enhance
Your Appearance - skin creams that reduce effects of aging |
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It's
great to have the knowledge andwisdom of the ages, but you
don’t want your skin to reflect it. And with a new
class of topical skin-care products, perhaps it doesn't
have to.
Called "dermaceuticals" these products enhance
the repair of sun-damaged skin, effectively making skin
look years younger. "Anything that enhances repair
and growth will slow down the aging process," explains
Sharif McCall, M.D., owner and medical director of a day
spa in Atlanta, GA. Luckily, most dermaceuticals don’t
require a prescription, and most are very easy to obtain.
This year, L’oreal launched a new line of products
containing kinetin, a naturally occurring plant enzyme that
significantly reduced the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles
and sun damage
If you're in the market for dermaceuticals, here's what
to look for:
* RETINOIDS. Derived from vitamin A, these are more commonly
known by their brand
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that will help with firming up the skin and reducing fine
lines and blemishes but you have to names--Retin-A
and Renova--and require a prescription. First used as acne
drugs, they also work to repair sun damage and reduce fine
lines.
* ANTIOXIDANTS. Topical creams containing antioxidants like
vitamin C or coenzyme Q10 rebuild collagen and stop free radicals
from interfering with the body's own natural repair process.
* EXFOLIANTS. These compounds--glycolic, alpha hydroxy acid,
salicylic acids and aluminum oxide crystal creams--slough
off aged, dead skin to make room for new, healthy skin. See
www.youthfulskinsecrets.com
* LIGHTENING AGENTS. Containing hydroquinione or kojic acid,
these agents block pigment cells from producing freckles,
age spots and melanoma. Hydroquinione requires a prescription.
* ADVANCED SUNBLOCKS. These contain aggressive blockers that
protect against both UVA and UVB rays. According to Sharif,
they are "very effective in repairing the damage to DNA
done by ultraviolet light."
So don't worry about fine lines. Instead, give your skin a
dermaceutical boost--and yourself a confident pat on the back
and a gleeful smile in the mirror.
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