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Monday, December 22, 2008
by Skincare-news.com team
With so many great advances in skincare today, we’re able to build a better defense against Father Time. Though we can’t stop the clock, we can certainly slow the hands of time and look younger, longer. Here are some surprising ways to do just that.
- Seek out silk. Great hair can shear years off your appearance. The key lies in proteins, which chemists have turned to for years to help hair. Recently, the attention has shifted to silk protein, touted for its intense shine, body and weightlessness. These days, silk is harvested from worms or spider genes transplanted in tobacco or alfalfa plants — both costly processes. Similar to less-pricey wheat proteins, the molecule size is ideal for sitting outside of the hair shaft, but its ability to deliver shine is unsurpassed.
- Attack emotional aging. Whatever we feel emotionally, our skin “feels” too. That’s because “The skin and brain are connected by the same neuromediators,” says Naz Toloui, Vice President of Sales and Education at Orlane Paris. This means that worry and stress affect our skin. In fact, according to Toloui, a staggering 80 percent of skin problems result from emotional aging. To attack this stress-induced aging, look for products with arctic cranberries, which carry powerful antioxidants. These cranberries are found in an unusual plant that blooms its omega-3 rich cranberries just once a year.
Arctic cranberries are just one variety of about 20 berries that grow in arctic locales, boasting both essential fatty acids and antioxidants, according to Time.
- Get creative about sunscreen. “You need to protect your skin daily and nothing keeps you looking younger than avoiding sunlight,” says dermatologist Diane Berson, M.D., KAO Brands Skincare Consultant. But you can be creative about it: to get the benefits of both SPF and a youthful sun-kissed look, apply a self-tanner that contains sun protection.
- Lose the lipstick. It can actually draw attention to lines, wrinkles and imperfections. Instead, try using Vaseline on your lips. “This will leave the mouth looking plump and shiny,” says Dr. Berson.
- Nourish your insides. “A good rule of thumb is that anything that’s good for the body is good for the skin,” says Dr. Berson. “Vitamin C and omega-3 fatty acids give a glow, and vitamin B and biotins (vitamin B complex found in yeast, liver, and egg yolk) help build strong hair and nails.”
- Check out sirtuins. After studying Tibetan monks from Okinawa Japan — known for their long lives and wrinkle-free skin — researchers found that the monk’s 30 to 40 percent calorie restriction led to more active cells. It appears that this calorie restriction activates a family of genes called sirtuins, which help to repair DNA and delay cell death.
In fact, in last January’s Cosmetics & Toiletries, researchers “established a link between sirtuin production and life cycle of skin cells,” according to the blog, The Beauty Brains. The researchers concluded that sirtuins may protect the skin against stress and photoaging. The hope is that skincare products can “fool the body” to activate sirtuin to speed up skin tissue regeneration, says Toloui. More research is still needed, though, so keep an eye out for studies on this exciting ingredient. -
See also:
Review of Top 5 Products to Repair Aging Skin
Develop an Eye for Eye Cream
Exercise: Another Essential Part of Your Skincare Routine
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A: There are dozens of great moisturizers for the hands; the key is to use them consistently. Also, look into hand creams with caviar, which is oily and vitamin-rich.
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A: Moisturizers don’t prevent wrinkles, Dr. Berson says. But avoiding sunlight, cigarette smoke and other factors that contribute to aging slows the process. Using a moisturizer will minimize the appearance of wrinkles but doesn’t prevent them from forming.
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