Skin Firming
« Previous EntriesSkin Firming Cream That Really Works?
Monday, December 14th, 2009Is there a skin firming cream that really works?
According to clinical research, there are several effective ingredients. If a manufacturer includes enough of the effective ingredients in their creams, then “yes” it really will work.
In order to determine the concentration of a specific ingredient, you will need to read the label and look at the “order” of ingredients. They are listed in order from most to least. If you see an active compound far down on the list, you will know that the concentration is very low.
Most skincare products contain paraben preservatives. Ideally, you would like to find products that are free of parabens. But, those are hard to find in a drugstore. Several good ones are available online.
Assuming that you are reading a label of ingredients in a drugstore, look down the list for parabens. Manufacturers are only allowed to use a very small amount of parabens, because they are common allergens.
Anything below parabens on the list is present in such a small quantity that it could not possibly be effective. So, if you are buying a skin firming cream, because the label says “now with coenzyme Q10”, and the COQ10 or ubiquinone is listed below the parabens, then just don’t buy it. It’s not worth the money.
The primary ingredient in most body creams and lotions is mineral oil. Water will always be on the top of the list, because it is used for mixing. Mineral oil or petrolatum or both will typically follow water on the list. Of course, those ingredients will do nothing to improve your skin’s firmness.
One of the compounds that you want to look for is called Functional Keratin. The ingredient has been proven to increase the skin’s firmness and elasticity by 42% over the course of 18 days.
Another good ingredient for a skin firming cream is called RIGIN. RIGIN is a blend of protein peptides that have been shown to improve firmness by 40% and elasticity by 27%. It is particularly effective on the neckline.
Just as important as knowing which ingredients to look for is knowing which ones to avoid. Mineral oil and petrolatum were already mentioned. Not only are they ineffective, they may contribute to premature aging by interfering with the skin’s natural rejuvenation processes.
Collagen and elastin proteins are a couple of other ingredients that aren’t worth buying. Although you will often see them in skin firming cream, the effect that they have is purely cosmetic. They cannot be absorbed into the skin like Functional Keratin.
Ingredients that are simply unnecessary are artificial or added fragrances. Everyone likes to smell nice, but applying a fragrance-loaded lotion to the entire face or body is overwhelming and may cause health problems.
One final ingredient that you might want to avoid is urea. It’s a component of urine and plant wastes. It’s often found in skin firming cream, because it works temporarily, but it has a disgusting smell.
Functional Keratin and RIGIN work continuously with continued use to improve your skin’s health and appearance. There’s no reason to settle for less. To learn more about skin care products that contain Functional Keratin and RIGIN Click Here.
Anti Wrinkle Creams Have Come a Long Way
Friday, November 20th, 2009
Shopping for anti wrinkle creams can be very confusing. You see manufacturers making lots of claims. But, how can you be sure that the claims are honest?
Well, there’s been a lot of scientific research on reducing wrinkles. Not as much as there has been concerning health problems like cancer, but still a significant amount.
The better manufacturers are aware of the research. You can confirm their products’ claims by doing a little online research. The information in this article should help with that.
Research indicates that the causes of wrinkles and sagging skin are several. The primary cause is free radical damage. Combine that with decreased production of new cells and fibers, low levels of hyaluronic acid and chronic inflammation, what you will have is a recipe for an aged look. Luckily, those factors can be addressed with the right ingredients.
Several studies have shown that the antioxidant coenzyme Q10 is effective when applied topically. The most effective form of COQ10 for the skin’s health is one in which the molecules have been reduced in size.
So, when you are shopping for anti wrinkle creams read the label of ingredients and look for the nano-emulsion form of COQ10. It works best when combined with vitamin E, another antioxidant that has been used for decades to improve the skin’s health and appearance in many ways.
If you want to see the biggest improvement, it’s probably a good idea to increase your antioxidant intake as well. Dietary supplements containing coenzyme Q10, vitamin E and green tea extracts are among the many that have been studied for their “anti-aging” effects.
Antioxidants neutralize free radical molecules before they can damage the cells or the cellular DNA. We are starting to see more and more anti wrinkle creams containing antioxidants. But, now, there is also an ingredient that increases the production of antioxidants within the skin’s cells.
A bioactive form of the protein keratin, one of the skin’s important structural proteins, is now available. For many years, it was impossible to include keratin in a lotion or cream without rendering it inactive. The processes necessary to soften it were too harsh.
A New Zealand manufacturer was able to extract keratin from sheep’s wool and process it gently, without rendering it inactive. The company is called KERATEC and the ingredient is called Functional Keratin.
It was created using patented processes, but it’s still a natural product. So, supplies are limited. Only a few companies make anti wrinkle creams containing Functional Keratin.
Research showed that the bioactive protein stimulates the production of new skin cells and the production of two important antioxidants. One is called superoxide dismutase or SOD. The other is called glutathione. Increased production of those antioxidants should help fade age spots caused by overexposure to sunlight and the free radical damage caused by UV radiation.
Functional Keratin has the ability to do many other things that you might want to learn about. It should be a primary ingredient in all anti wrinkle creams.
Skin Firming Methods – Plastic Surgery or Creams?
Monday, November 16th, 2009
Skin firming can be done through plastic surgery, the use of injectable fillers or with nourishing creams and lotions, if they contain the right ingredients. There are advantages and disadvantages to each of the alternatives for firmer, younger looking skin. Here’s a look at them.
Plastic surgery is rarely used these days. In the old days, we called them face lifts. They worked by pulling the skin tight, sometimes to the point where people were unrecognizable.
Today, it is the injectable fillers that have center stage. Basically, they work by fattening up the skin’s deeper layers, which has the effect of stretching them out. Women (and men) that have the procedures done appear to have gained weight, but only on their faces. Obviously it’s not a natural look.
The fillers available include hyaluronic acid and collagen. There are also a couple of synthetic fillers that I’ll get to in a moment. First let’s look at hyaluronic acid.
Although it is a natural component of the skin’s outer layers, it is not found in the deep layers into which it is injected. Because of that, it is prone to “clump” when injected. Hard spots or bumps sometimes form at the sight of injection and do not fade over time.
Skin firming injections containing hyaluronic acid, will cost between $600 and $1000. Results are not guaranteed. If the bumps form or if your face looks too puffy, you can return to the doctor to have an enzyme (hyaluronidaise) injected that dissolves the hyaluronic acid. But, your doctor is likely to charge extra for that. So, ultimately it could be a waste of money.
A low level of hyaluronic acid on the skin’s surface is one of the reasons for lost firmness. Creams on the market contain it, but are only semi-effective.
Hyaluronic acid levels are low because of hyaluronidaise. Creams containing wakame kelp inhibit hyaluronidaise, which allows levels of hyaluronic acid to increase. That provides skin firming with no unwanted side effects.
Collagen shots cost less than hyaluronic acid. The potential side effects are the same and the results are not long lasting.
The synthetic fillers are supposed to stimulate the body’s production of collagen, the protein that makes up the skin’s elastic fibers. The production of collagen naturally decreases with age. So, anything that we can do to get production going again is a good thing. It’s just that topically applied skin firming creams are safer, cost less and may be more effective than an injectable.
Research has shown that some topically applied ingredients stimulate the production of new cells and collagen fibers. Others repair sun damage and reverse wrinkles. The prices vary, of course. A designer label product will cost two or three times more than other creams that contain exactly the same ingredients.
Ultimately, your best choice is to give the creams a try. If you are unhappy with the results, save your pennies and get a skin firming injection. Just remember that many people are unhappy with the results.