Well, maybe not a facelift…but it’s the closest you’re going to get without a plastic surgeon’s knife and a least $15 grand in your checking account. Buying a product in a bottle, tube or jar and expecting all of your wrinkles to disappear is not reality, but don’t despair there are over-the-counter products that contain ingredients that have proven to aid in the anti-aging war on wrinkles.

The #1 ingredient to look for is retinol. Both scientific evidence and loyal users will attest to its effectiveness. #2 look for an addition of an anti-oxidant ingredient, like vitamin E oil or grapeseed oil, and #3 make sure it does not have any unnecessary and maybe even damaging additions like colors or scents. Just stick to these basics and don’t fall for advertising or even some doctor trying to sell you expensive cream with promises that sound ‘too good to be true’.

On the ‘To-Do’ List for Keeping Your Skin Looking Younger Longer:

1. Avoid the sun. If you must be exposed to the sun; wear a hat and apply sunscreen daily.

2. No tanning beds.

3. No smoking.

4. Drink plenty of water on a regular basis.

5. Keep skin moisturized and well nourished with creams and/or lotions.

6. Keep your skin clean and use a gentle exfoliant daily.

7. Use a cream to help smooth skin tone and decrease dead skin cell build up – such as a retinol cream.
   
        What You Should Know BEFORE Buying Skin Care Products:
   

The FDA classifies skin care products as cosmetics, which are defined as having no medical value. Thus, they get very little of the Agency’s attention, unless they advertisers portray them as drugs or if a cosmetic contains ingredients that would be harmful or pose a health hazard to consumers.

What this means to you, the consumer, is that there is little or no testing for the safety or effectiveness of cosmetics. Further, there is no guarantee that what the label says is actually in the product.

When buying skin care products there are some points you should consider:

1. Research suggests that certain ingredients may in fact improve wrinkles and skin’s appearance, however, there is NO ‘face lift in a bottle’.

2. Cost has no relationship to effectiveness. Just because a product is expensive does not mean it works better than a less expensive product. The reputation of the company who makes the product is more important.

3. You will more than likely need to use skin care products once or twice daily for many weeks before seeing an improvement. Further, once you stop their use, your skin will return to its original condition.

4. Some products may cause redness, a rash or skin irritation. If this occurs, discontinue their use. Make sure you are following the instructions on the product.

5. Do not purchase skin care products in large quantities. Creams and lotions particularly become less effective the more they are exposed to air and light. Therefore an amount that takes you a year to use, is probably not a good idea.
   
   

We all want to stay young looking. Science has shown us that there are definitely things we can do, eat and products we can use that will help us accomplish this goal. Just remember to be realistic about your expectations. Use products produced by companies you trust and realize there is no need to spend a fortune on skin care products to get effective ones. Following these tips will help your skin stay looking it’s best and keep your wallet a bit fuller!
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