Wrinkle IQ -- Most effective Anti-Aging ingredients -- Part 2

October 5, 7:22 PMMiami Healthy Living ExaminerAmy Dirksen

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Top ingredients to combat wrinkles

Anyone seeking to look younger, needs to know what to look for in the products they purchase.  Some ingredients deliver results and some don't.

The Anti-Aging skin care industry is constantly developing. Researchers, chemists, physicians, and cosmetic companies are perpetually in pursuit of the next new ingredient that will bump the industry’s standard to the next level.

For every anti-aging ingredient that has been proven effective, there are hundreds that have not. With so many different products, formulations, and messages, it is difficult for anyone to separate the highly-effective products from the hardly-effective ones.

Provided is a list of key anti-aging ingredients that deliver results:

Kojic acid: A lightening treatment for skin pigmentation problems. It inhibits melanin production while gently bleaching unwanted spots. Often used as an alternative to hydroquinone for more sensitive skin types.

Lactic acid: Exfoliates dead skin cells gently, leaving the skin soft and smooth. This is a great option for sensitive skin types. It also has humectants properties and helps the skin retain water.

Licorice extract: Exfoliates and gently bleaches the skin. It inhibits hyper-pigmentation of the skin and sun spot formation.

Linoleic acid: A fatty acid that detoxifies the skin, locks in moisture, and helps keep dirt and bacteria out of pores.

Liposomes: A skin rejuvenating ingredient that improves skin hydration, reduces fine lines and wrinkles, and improves the texture of the skin. They aid in the delivery and absorption of nutrients. They are often added to anti-aging treatments to facilitate the delivery of the active ingredients through the layers of skin and directly to the cells.

Lycopene: Preliminary studies show that it improves the texture of the skin. It is most commonly used as an oral antioxidant.

Matrixyl 3000: Has anti-wrinkling and lifting effects. Stimulates collagen synthesis and dermal matrix repair; reducing the appearance of wrinkles. It also promotes significant improvements in the skin’s tone and elasticity.

Osilift: Strongly adheres to the skin to form a continuous lifting film. It is elastic and flexible, promotes firmer skin, and has anti-wrinkle properties. Skin is left smoother and brighter. Results are instant. Additionally, this ingredient has been shown to improve the hold of make-up.

Pal-KTTKS: Believed to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. There is little data to be found. This is the active ingredient in Strivectin and StriVectin-SD.

Palmitoyl pentapeptide: Believed to stimulate collagen production, improve elasticity, repair sun damage, and diminish wrinkles. Studies have not been completed on this ingredient. Sufficient concentrations are necessary for results.

Polyquaternium-51: Improves the moisture retention capacity of the epidermis. It holds approximately 50 times more water than hyaluronic acid. It functions as a barrier to prevent water loss and helps form a protective film on the skin. This ingredient was developed to combat dry eyes for contact lenses.

Progesterone: Not clinically proven effective as a topical skin rejuvenating cream. At a concentration of 400-500mg/oz., it is believed to diminish fine lines and wrinkles and improve the texture of the skin. This is a hormone that carries the risk of potential side effects.

(Retinoic acid –Retin A/Renova) Tretinoin: This is a form of vitamin A. All forms of Tretinoin have been clinically proven to have anti-aging effects. It is available only by prescription. It reduces fine lines and wrinkles, increases collagen production, smoothes texture, increases skin thickness, and improves elasticity. It also drastically exfoliates and is used to treat acne. Further, it improves overall skin tone, decreases hyper-pigmentation and increases skin hydration. It is the strongest form of vitamin A and can be irritating.

Retinol: Is a slightly milder form of Retin-A/Tretinoin. It has also been clinically proven to have drastic anti-aging effects when used over time. Retinol is at a concentration of vitamin A that is available without a prescription. It reduces fine lines and wrinkles, plumps the skin, stimulates collagen production, improves elasticity, and increases skin hydration. It can be irritating for hyper-sensitive skin types.

Retinyl palmitate: A derivative of Vitamin A, that is less irritating than tretinoin. Preliminary studies show similar skin rejuvenating properties to that of Retin-A. It is non-irritating, therefore considered a milder, more viable alternative to tretinoin and retinol.

Sodium hyaluronate: Aids in cellular repair and preserves moisture balance. Helps to rehydrate the skin.

Sodium PCA: Penetrates the skin and helps it retain moisture. It slows water loss from the skin back into the environment.

Spin traps: New studies suggest significant rejuvenating effects by trapping and detoxifying free radicals. It has skin protective properties and is called an "Intelligent Antioxidant" because it turns skin-damaging free radical activity into productive regenerative activity. Some believe this is the next generation of anti-aging treatments.

Trehalose: Protects the skin from dehydration by maintaining the liquid crystalline lamellar structure of the epidermal lipid permeability barrier.

Urea: Draws moisture into the cells of the stratum corneum, assisting the deeper penetration of the nutrients the body uses to keep healthy skin moisturized.

Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid): Clinically proven to increases collagen production and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. It is a powerful antioxidant that protects and heals the skin. Vitamin C ester -- ascorbyl palmitate -- is a stable and absorbable version of the vitamin. L-Ascorbic acid -- at 5%concentration -- is also widely considered to be an effective version. For maximum rejuvenating benefits, it must be at least 20% concentration. Vitamin C 20% in a gel or serum, ensures optimal effectiveness.

Vitamin E (Trocopherol): Is a clinically proven, effective antioxidant that improves moisture content. It has protection, smoothing and healing properties. For optimal effectiveness, this ingredient should state, high-potency E.

Vitamin K: Is an effective, proven treatment to minimize broken capillaries and bruising. It is used to treat spider veins and dark circles under the eyes. It is found in effective eye creams, as it lightens the discoloration, reduces puffiness and tightens. It is safe for sensitive skin types.

View Part 1

Wrinkles: Sugar creates, vitamins erase