Organic Skin Care
« Previous EntriesA Few Reasons a Homemade Wrinkle Cream Might be Preferable
Friday, July 23rd, 2010Why go to the trouble of making a homemade wrinkle cream when you can go to the store and buy something? There are many reasons that you might want to make your own at home. Here’s a look at some of them.
You might be concerned about the safety of the ingredients cosmetic manufacturers use. While questioning the safety of cosmetics is always a good idea. It is easy enough to avoid common allergens, irritants and toxins.
Most allergic reactions are caused by artificial preservatives and fragrance ingredients. Other irritants include petrochemicals, petrolatum, colors, excessive alcohols and mineral oil. You can tell whether or not a product contains toxins by looking for a poison control advisement.
You might be concerned about price. Some anti-aging creams cost hundreds of dollars per ounce, but there are less expensive alternatives. Independent studies have shown that price is not equivalent to effectiveness. Some of the less expensive creams are just as effective as the costly ones.
There are some effective compounds to look for if you do decide to buy a ready-made production instead of trying to make homemade wrinkle cream. Independent researchers have found that ubiquinone, keratin proteins, peptide complexes, plant extracts and some vegetable oils are effective. Those are all natural non-irritating ingredients.
You can make a mask using plants like wakame kelp or a cleanser using lemon juice. You can use soybean oil as a moisturizer. But, you can only buy ubiquinone as a dietary supplement.
It is better known as the antioxidant coenzyme Q10. The form that is taken by mouth will not penetrate the skin. So, it’s not possible to include it as an ingredient in homemade wrinkle cream.
Soybean oil does contain some coenzyme Q10, although the concentration varies from 54mg/kg to 280mg/kg. Whether or not the form present in soybean oil could penetrate the skin is unknown. In order to get the best penetration, researchers have reduced the size of the molecules.
In the reduced form, COQ10 reverses wrinkles and sun damage by about 30% after three months of use. It’s hard to say what kind of results you would see using soybean oil.
Keratin proteins are hard in nature. If you boiled some animal skin or chicken feathers, you might be able to get some keratin out of them to use in a homemade wrinkle cream. But, the cooking process would destroy the nature of the protein.
The only stable bioavailable form of keratin was created by extracting it from sheep’s wool and processing it very carefully. The exact processes are patented. So even if you raise sheep, it’s not something you could learn how to do at home.
Peptide complexes are composed of natural amino acids. They have to be combined just right to provide the results which include stimulating collagen and increased skin cell production. You can’t make peptide complexes at home.
So, my suggestion is to use soybean oil as a moisturizer instead of trying to make a homemade wrinkle cream. But, if you really want something effective, you will have to buy something ready-made.
All Natural Skincare Ingredients are Filled with Antioxidants
Monday, July 19th, 2010One of my favorite all natural skincare ingredients is grape seed oil. Let me tell you a little about it.
The oils of grape seeds contain the antioxidants vitamin E and resveratrol. Vitamin E has long been recognized as beneficial to the skin’s health. Most creams and lotions contain the ingredient, but most companies do not use the naturally occurring form. Synthetics are cheaper.
Resveratrol has been written about in scientific journals and talked about on television programs. It is one of the most potent antioxidants that have been found. Some manufacturers list resveratrol as an ingredient.
You never know where that resveratrol comes from if grape seed oil is not listed, too. Much of it comes from China. You may be aware of all of the issues that have been caused by Chinese ingredients. If the manufacturer does not reveal the source of the resveratrol, I would suggest you choose another manufacturer.
Antioxidants are important, because they prevent and reverse free radical damage, at least to some extent. Free radical damage is one of the causes of wrinkles and other visible signs of aging.
Any all natural skincare cream worth buying will contain antioxidants. Ideally, the cream will contain lots of extracts that contain them. Grape seed oil is not my only favorite. I like wakame kelp extract, too. The day cream that I use contains both of those ingredients.
According to scientists, wakame contains compounds that inhibit the activity of enzymes responsible for breaking down the skin’s hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is one of the compounds responsible for the skin’s firmness and smoothness. The amount present in an older person’s skin is less than what is found in a younger person’s. The cause is a pesky enzyme called hyaluronidaise. Wakame kelp extracts take care of the pest.
I also like an all natural skincare ingredient called avocado oil. My night cream contains it, instead of grape seed oil. There are advantages of each one.
Grape seed oil forms a film that keeps makeup from clogging your pores. I have found that nighttime makeup removal is easier when I remember to use my day cream.
Avocado oil has been shown to increase the skin’s collagen content according to scientists. That’s something that I cannot verify, but I do know that when I use my night cream on a regular basis, my skin feels smoother and firmer. I recommend it to all of my friends.
Shea butter is another good all natural skincare ingredient. It’s also in my night cream. It’s a little too heavy for daytime use.
The well known benefits of Shea butter include a reduced risk of acne and other inflammatory conditions. According to scientific evaluations, that’s because the antioxidants in Shea butter also have anti-inflammatory activity.
All of the ingredients mentioned above feel good going on. They leave no trace of greasiness, not on my face or on my pillow.
If you’re like me, you want all natural skincare ingredients because they are safer. My favorites are also the safest.
4 Important Ingredients in Natural Wrinkle Creams
Friday, July 16th, 2010
A natural wrinkle cream containing antioxidants, proteins, plant extracts and nourishing oils could be exactly what you need to improve your skin’s health and appearance. Here’s a look at the benefits of specific ingredients.
Grape Seed Oil
Grape seed oil can be used for cooking. Some chefs like it because of its unique “filming” ability. It forms a film over the pan and the vegetables being cooked. This allows them to use less oil.
When applied to the skin, the film acts to hold moisture in. The benefits of use may include reduced wrinkles, scars and stretch marks. It can help improve circulation. Because of its antioxidant activity, it protects against free radical damage (one of the causes of cellular aging) and it may reduce your risk of skin cancer.
You can purchase grape seed oil at gourmet food stores and use it “as is”. Or, you could look for a natural wrinkle cream that contains it. It may be particularly beneficial for repairing damage around the eyes.
Wakame Kelp Extracts
Wakame is one of the most nutrient-rich varieties of kelp. Kelp is simply another name for seaweed. It is sold in health food stores around the world. The extracts must be properly prepared in order to be used on the skin.
The minerals in wakame are necessary for balancing the skin’s moisture content. The extracts have antioxidant activity and contain B vitamins that help to provide protection from sun damage, another cause of wrinkles.
But, the primary benefit of wakame has to do with the skin’s hyaluronic acid content. Along with collagen and elastin, hyaluronic acid is essential for smooth, firm skin. Without wakame, the skin’s hyaluronic acid content decreases with age. Wakame keeps that from happening.
Coenzyme Q10
Any natural wrinkle cream worth its price will contain coenzyme Q10. There is more scientific evidence supporting its benefits than there is for any other single ingredient.
Coenzyme Q10 is a popular dietary supplement. It is particularly beneficial for the heart. It keeps heart rates stable and helps with some kinds of murmurs.
The concentration of coenzyme Q10 in all of the cells of the body starts to decrease with age. The skin’s COQ10 is quickly depleted during sun exposure.
Scientists have had to reduce the size of the COQ10 molecules in order to allow them to penetrate deep into the skin. A natural wrinkle cream containing this reduced form is beneficial for reducing wrinkles and reversing sun damage. It not only protects against free radical damage. It reverses it.
Vitamin E
You might not know that most of the vitamin E for sale in the US is synthetic, derived from petrochemicals. There are only a few companies that still use the naturally occurring form of the antioxidant.
The benefits of use may include a reduction in fine lines and the prevention of age spots. It can also be used to replace the irritating artificial preservatives that so many companies use.
There are other ingredients that should be included in natural wrinkle cream. You might want to learn a little more about them before you buy.