Let us face it; the market is literally flooded with skin care products of every description. From dirt cheap to ludicrously expensive, there really is no shortage to choose from. While this may be a good thing in some ways, it can also be seriously frustrating, and especially when you are trying to find an anti-aging or anti-wrinkle cream that actually does work. Because of this, I have long since come to the conclusion that brilliant skin care ideas do not begin in a supermarket or a pharmacy.
Now, I am not saying that all store bought skin care products are worthless, but a huge percentage of them are, and that includes many of the most famous and most popular brand name products. I am not going to mention any names, but I have been bitterly disappointed with several anti-aging creams which I have tried in the past. These were some of the top brand names which so many people rely on.
Like so many other people, I was fooled by very smart and very effective marketing. I mean, how can you not be impressed when you see some of the “Before & After” photographs that are put out there for all of us to see? It is amazing just how good Photoshop is at making people look years younger than they actually are.
If you are serious about preventing or reducing lines and wrinkles, then you need to know that brilliant skin care ideas start at home, rather than on a shelf in some or other store. There is no magic bullet. A good anti-wrinkle cream or serum can definitely help, but do not expect miracles.
If you neglect your overall health, including your mental health, then I am afraid that even the very best skin care products are going to disappoint you. I am not going to give a lecture about diet and lifestyle. I think we all know how important these are, so I am going to leave it at that, and concentrate on skin care itself.
You may also like to Read: Natural Skin Care – Kanapa Luminous Day & Night Cream Review
Your Two Basic Skincare Options
I know there are an almost infinite number of options available to us when it comes to choosing our skin care products. However, all skin care products fall into one of two categories:
- Regular Skin Care Products – These are your typical creams, lotions, soaps and so on that dominate the shelves. They contain numerous chemicals, including preservatives, emulsifiers, stabilizers, colorants, artificial scents, etc.
- All Natural Skin Care Products – Yes, you have guessed it. These are skin care products which do not contain any synthetic chemicals whatsoever. Many herbal skin care products fall into this category, but not all of them.
Go into any large supermarket, and you will see plenty of herbal shampoos, herbal moisturizers, and even herbal toothpastes. Unfortunately, many skin care manufacturers use the word “herbal” as a marketing tool. A lot of people automatically assume that “herbal” products are all made from one or more herbs, and nothing else.
Sadly, most “herbal” products contain just as many chemicals as regular skin care products do. As long as there is some trace of one or more herbs in a product, manufacturers are legally entitled to use the term “herbal” on packaging, etc. Many companies that manufacture “natural skin” care products also exploit this legal loophole.
Quite often, manufacturers will add a miniscule amount of some really good natural ingredient, and then also add a load of cheap and ineffective natural ingredients. This is done to add some bulk to their products, and because they have only used natural ingredients, they can then legally market those products as “all-natural” products.
I try my best to only use chemical-free skin care and cosmetics, and I would advise everyone to do the same. However, insisting on all-natural products is not enough. You need to do some research, and look for good quality products.
3 Essential Brilliant Skin Care Tools
When it comes to a brilliant skin care brain wave, there are three types of products which are absolutely crucial. In my opinion, these form the foundation of modern-day urban skincare:
- Facial cleanser
- Moisturizer
- Anti-wrinkle serum
If you are only going to buy and use three different skin care products, these are the three which you should focus on. Let us take a brief look at each of them, and what you need to look for when shopping for these types of products.
Facial Cleansers – Brilliant skin care ideas all begins with the process of cleansing your skin. Any old soap will clean the surface of your skin, but it probably won’t clean out your pores. Many regular types of soap also contain a variety of harsh chemicals that can be harmful and damaging to your skin in the long run. The truth is you actually don’t even need to use any soap to clean your skin.
There are many soap-free alternatives which you can use to clean your skin, including things such as milk, lemon juice, honey, to name just a few. Not only will these clean your skin, but they will also help to nourish and protect your skin. Many homemade facial cleansers require a bit of preparation, but if this puts you off, then you can just use a good quality chemical-free facial cleanser instead.
Moisturizers – A high quality all-natural moisturizer goes hand in hand with your brilliant skin care ideas. If you ask me, I would say that a good quality moisturizer is absolutely crucial if you are hoping to delay or reduce the typical signs of aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles. Even if you don’t spend much time in the sun, your skin is constantly losing moisture. The more dehydrated it becomes; the more prone it is to the signs of aging.
It obviously helps if you are mindful to drink an adequate amount of water each day, but even if you do, you still need to moisturize your skin, and preferably more than once a day. As I have already mentioned, you should avoid using any type of moisturizer that has chemicals in it.
Many of the chemicals which are routinely used in skin care products can be absorbed by the skin and actually enter your body. Parabens, which are widely used as preservatives in skin care products, are just one example of chemicals which can enter your body via your skin.
Anti-Aging Serums – If you had asked me about anti-aging creams and/or anti-wrinkle serums 20 years ago, I would almost certainly have told you not to waste your money. The fact is that skin care has advanced significantly during the past two decades. There has been a tremendous amount of competition between manufacturers to produce topical skin care products that can effectively reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
I am very passionate about all-natural skin care, so I tend to pay a lot of attention to what is going on in this particular field. I can honestly say that in recent years, there have been some brilliant skin care discoveries made. Let us take a closer look at what I mean when I say “brilliant skin care discoveries.”
You may also read: Kanapa™ Paraben Free Luminous Facial Serum – Product Review
Syn®-Coll – A Potential Game Changer
Syn-Coll is a synthetic peptide which has started finding its way into skin care products that are designed specifically for wrinkle reduction. Research has shown that it increases the natural production of collagen, while at the same time reducing collagen degradation. Despite what many skin care manufacturers would like you to believe, there are very few things which are capable of actually increasing collagen synthesis.
Animal studies have shown Syn-Coll can in fact increase collagen synthesis but as much as 119%. I should just add that pure Syn-Coll is not classified as a cosmetic, a drug, or a food. However, other variants have and are being used is some skin care products. You can learn more about Syn-Coll by visiting the Peptide Sciences website.
In another study which was carried out by Pentapharm Ltd, Syn-Coll was shown to improve the appearance of lines and wrinkles by a whopping 354% when applied daily over a period of 84 days. If that is not brilliant skin care achievement, then I do not know what is.
As I have said, pure Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5 (Syn-Coll) on its own should not be used as a skin care product for treating lines and wrinkles. Instead, look for a good quality anti-wrinkle serum that has some of this in it.
Gluconolactone, a Natural Free-Radicals Scavenger
Gluconolactone, which is scientifically known as polyhydroxy acid, is a naturally occurring oxidized derivative of glucose. It is best known for its moisturizing and antioxidant activity. According to an article on the National Library of Medicine website, the antioxidant activity of Gluconolactone is thought to be responsible for its free-radicals scavenging capabilities.
Its ability to scavenge free-radicals also means that it can offer a layer of protection from some of the harmful effects that are caused by UV radiation. Not surprisingly, it is now increasingly being used in the manufacturing of cosmetics and other skin care products. It is mostly added to these products because of its antioxidant activity, but as an added bonus, it also has notable moisturizing activity.
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
You would be forgiven for instinctively thinking that Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate must surely be some form of synthetic chemical, but I can assure that it is not. It is simply a form of vitamin-C. Vitamin-C plays a significant role in the overall health of our skin. It can help to protect skin from free-radicals; it can stimulate collagen production; it can help to keep skin adequately hydrated, and when applied topically, it can lighten dark blemishes such as sun spots.
Vitamin-C, in one form or another, is found in many different types of skin care products. However, there are also many different types of vitamin-C, and they are not all equal. In fact, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate is not the most biologically active form of vitamin-C. L-ascorbic acid is the most active form.
While you will no doubt find that L-ascorbic acid is used in some skin care products, I very much doubt you will find it in good quality skin care products. L-ascorbic acid is far more likely to cause skin irritation than magnesium ascorbyl phosphate. Also, L-ascorbic acid breaks down rapidly if it is added to any skin care formula that contains water. This is not the case with magnesium ascorbyl phosphate.
Studies have revealed that magnesium ascorbyl phosphate retains 95% of its potency, even in aqueous solutions. Its high degree of stability and its impressive antioxidant properties are the main reasons why this is the vitamin-C of choice for companies that manufacture high quality skincare solutions.
Hyaluronic Acid and What It Does
Hyaluronic Acid plays a significant role in our bodies, but I am not going to discuss all of that now. According to Medical News Today, hyaluronic acid is found mostly in your eyes, your joints, and your skin. One of its primary functions is to trap moisture inside tissue cells. It is, for example, what keeps your eyes moist. It also keeps your joints adequately lubricated.
In your skin, hyaluronic acid plays a significant role in repairing damaged tissue. Because of its crucial role in skin health, hyaluronic acid is found in several different types of skin care products, and particularly in things like anti-wrinkle creams.
A gel form of hyaluronic acid that swells when it mixes with water has also been approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for use in filler injections for treating lines and wrinkles. Results from such injections generally last from 6 to 12 months, but they are rather expensive and results are not guaranteed either.
Brilliant Skin Care Ideas – Work Smarter, Not harder
Going out and spending hundreds, or even thousands of dollars on a vast array of skin care products is definitely not what I would consider to be a brilliant skin care strategy. You don’t have to spend a fortune in order to keep your skin looking radiant and youthful. You simply need to choose your skin care products carefully.
It is far better to have one really good product that actually delivers results, than have a cupboard full of creams and lotions that do absolutely nothing for you. Really good skin care products are never going to be the cheapest products you can find, but as with many things in life, you generally get what you pay for.
I hope that you have enjoyed reading through this post. If you have, then be sure to visit my site regularly because I am constantly adding new and fresh content. Thanks for reading.
