Does Anti-Wrinkle Cream Actually Work?

Every day, consumers are inundated with marketing targeting one of our greatest fears: aging. Cosmetic companies promise to make you look younger through regular application of their new age-defying cream packed full of an active compound taken from some exotic plant extract. By playing on our fears of growing old, using slogans with scientific sounding terms and rare sounding ingredients, and throwing around the word 'research', we are hooked into believing that youth is really available in a jar. But how can a person be sure these products will really be effective in preventing or reversing the aging process? Consider the following points before buying into industry promises

The Bitter Truth

Unfortunately, most of the claims and promises made about products in the cosmetic industry are untrue. Nearly 80% of the anti-aging products on the market do not live up to the claims made about them. That means only one in five of all products will actually produce the kind of results they advertise. The only way you can be sure you are using an effective anti-aging product is to do your homework. Look for product comparisons done by unbiased consumer testing organizations and online consumer forums with feedback from real people, not paid bloggers.

Do Some Research of Your Own

One of the most effective sales gimmicks cosmetic companies use to market their anti-aging products is the use of words and phrases that are supposed to establish scientific credibility in our minds. Through the use of such expressions of '6 out of 10 users say', 'Clinical research shows', or 'Laboratory tests conclude that', we are led to believe their promises and pay huge sums of money for what are actually glorified moisturizing products.

Before you buy anything, do some of your own research on the company's 'clinical evidence'. Find out if the research was done by the company's own laboratory (which is often the case) or if the research they have used was actually done by a scientifically or academically reputable institution. A useful source of information is your dermatologist. He or she is familiar with the products available and will be able to help you sift through the evidence and research (or lack thereof) on a particular product, ingredient, or technology before you decide on any particular anti-wrinkle treatment.

Get Ingredient Smart

Another marketing gimmick used by big cosmetic companies to plug their anti-aging products are the use of 'extracts', 'essences' and 'infusions' from exotic-sounding plants, herbs, or berries. This may make the product sound more exclusive and luxurious, but beware. The effectiveness of these ingredients is doubtful. Before deciding on an anti-wrinkle cream, look up the active ingredients used to market it. Is there any unbiased clinical research to suggest it works? Examine the other ingredients. Do they interact with each other in a negative way, reducing shelf life and perhaps counteracting effects of the active ingredient? And most importantly, are any of the ingredients known to be harmful to your skin? Armed with this knowledge, you will be less likely to fall into the big companies' clever advertising traps.

For Your Eyes Only: The Cause of Puffiness, Dark Circles and How to Prevent Them Standing in front of the bathroom mirror this morning, did you mistake yourself for a raccoon or a panda? It is easy to do with those undeniable black bags lingering below your puffy, swollen eyes. You have been working long, hard hours at the office and you haven't been taking care of yourself quite the way you should. Puffiness and dark circles, both of which add years if not decades to your appearance, are the price many of us must to pay for abusing our bodies. The following points are the causes and remedies for those unsightly rings and unwanted puffiness, and in so doing, take years off your physical appearance in seconds. Cause #1: Lack of Sleep and Sleeping Positions

As obvious as it may sound, the real perpetrator of under-eye circles and puffiness is too little sleep. Not simply for the sake of your appearance, but also for your general health and well-being, try to get seven or eight hours of quality sleep each night, as most doctors recommend. Puffy eyes are also often a symptom of water retention in the body, thus some dermatologists recommend sleeping with your head slightly elevated to prevent water pooling underneath the eyes.

Cause #2: Dehydration and Poor Diet

Let's face it. Many of us don't eat as nutritious of a diet or drink as much water as we really should. Foods high in salt and fat make up the majority of what we eat and eight glasses of water often come as an afterthought. However, adequate hydration and lowering our salt intake are essential in the prevention of under-eye puffiness and dark circles. Lowering the sodium in your diet will further reduce the amount of water your body retains. Drinking plenty of water not only flushes toxins and impurities from our system, it also decreases the likelihood of water retention. Similarly to getting enough sleep, reducing your salt intake and drinking plenty of liquids are things which should be done to promote overall health and longevity.

Prevention through Clinically Researched Treatments

To bolster the benefits of adequate sleep, hydration, and a healthy diet in preventing puffiness and dark eye circles, you may want to consider adding a research proven eye treatment to your happinesslifetime.com skin care regiment. There are a multitude of products available, so remember to look at the active ingredients and technology behind the products.

Stem cell-based products are the latest technology breakthrough being used in anti-aging products. Voss Laboratories' Amatokin implements cutting-edge rejuvenation and cell regeneration properties through derived from the use of stem cells. Astara's Botanical Eye Treatment features wild yam and arnica as its active ingredients. These have been clinically proven to have anti-inflammatory properties which are important in reducing puffiness and swelling. In partnership with major Germany universities, Barbor has formulated its HSR Lifting happinesslifetime.com Eye Cream using the active ingredients multitendyn and phytic acid. Both ingredients are known to improve elasticity and combat the effects of free radicals.

Erase those wrinkles by incorporating cutting-edge www.drskinspa.com/bkamins.aspx wrinkles cream, such as www.DrSkinSpa.com Elemis, Kinerase, and Vivier, which can be found at DrSkinSpa.com, where all products are assessed based upon their scientific ingredients.