Some youthful-looking stars seem to defy gravity and nature’s aging processes. Goldie Hawn, Bette Midler and Diane Keaton all turned 50 while filming “The First Wives’ Club.”
Add to that comely list: Cher, Barbra Streisand, Raquel Welch and Jane Fonda, all over 50, and you have a batch of youthful, gorgeous middle-age women.
Personal trainers and repeated cosmetic surgeries aside, are there things that mere mortal women can do to improve their looks and stay attractive as they age? You bet.
Take skin care. Laser surgeries and chemical peels are always options, but there are plenty of topical products to try first Moisturizer and cleanser ingredients such as AHAs, tretinoin, collagen and liposomes sound like compounds only chemists understand.
Do they work? Some actually do. Others have more basis in science fiction than in science.
Here’s how to tell them apart
Alpha hydroxy acids work on the premise that exfoliating skin stimulates cell renewal, repairs sun damage and clarifies texture. AHAs do work, according to most doctors. They remove the top layer of the skin and plump up collagen, making skin appear smoother. The nub is the concentration of AHAs in your moisturizer. Those containing 5 percent to 14 percent AHAs can produce visible improvement quickly.
The problem is that many manufacturers don’t list the amount in their product In fact some less expensive moisturizers from drugstores work better than the expensive, department store varieties.
Tretinoin is a prescribed drug originally concocted to combat acne. Recently, though, it received the Federal Drug Administration’s approval for sun-damage repair and is impressive in clearing surface discolorations. Both AHAs and tretinoin can temporarily irritate sensitive skin, so it’s wise to begin with small amounts.
Topical skin care products that contain collagen don’t deliver because collagen molecules are too large to penetrate the epidermis. Collagen injections from a dermatologist may smooth wrinkles, however. Liposomes likely won’t deliver anti-aging ingredients deeply into the skin, as is often promised, since they’re easily damaged from processing heat.
The solution to sifting through skin care products? Read labels carefully. The FDA is too busy tracking down product claims that are completely false – they don’t have the time or money to regulate puffery or exaggeration.
Use common sense. If a moisturizer claims to hydrate undereye puffiness, think twice: liquid accumulation is how the puffiness began in the first place. Carefully scour labels for information that relates to your own skin.
Most importantly, use sun screen. Sun damage contributes to 80 percent of wrinkles and skin damage.
One final note of caution: Make sure products come with moneyback guarantees so yon can try them out at home and return them if they don’t deliver.
Michelles Magazine
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