There are a huge number of anti-aging and anti-wrinkle over the counter preparations available today as it seems everyone wants to look younger and have wrinkle free skin, but do they work? Are there some that are a waste of money? Finding an anti-aging cream that is effective, suits your skin and is not too expensive is a challenge but we hope to help you find just that in this article.

Before you go out and buy an OTC anti-aging cream you should find out the type of skin you have and what condition it is in. Do you have dry skin, oily skin or a combination skin? Most people as they age find that their skin becomes drier so will need a more effective treatment. if your skin is still young looking or less dry then it will have fewer deep lines and perhaps more fine lines so you will need a less intense skin treatment.

There are a wide variety of products supposed to prevent or reduce wrinkles and not all of them are effective or have been clinically tested. Which ingredients are useless and which have been shown to have a beneficial effect on fine lines and wrinkles?

What ingredients are ineffective in anti-aging creams?

Collagen is often added to skin creams and purported to reduce lines but it does not have any effect when applied to the skin. Collagen is a component of the deeper layers of the skin where it acts as a support for the top layers. Although it is important for the health of the skin and to prevent the skin sagging applying it to the surface of the skin does not have any effect as collagen is a very large molecule that cannot penetrate the skin. Preparations that repair damaged collagen however are effective. 

Do not be persuaded to buy an anti-aging cream just because it is expensive! there is no correlation between how much a preparation costs and how effective it is. Instead look at the ingredients in the cream and choose one that has ingredients that have been clinically proven to reduce wrinkles.

What ingredients are effective in anti-aging creams?

Retinol had been shown to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in many clinical trials. Over the counter anti-aging preparations containing retinol are available and a similar ingredient, tretanoin, is found in prescription only preparations. Over time it will be effective in reducing wrinkles on the skin but the effect is temporary so you will need to keep on using it or your skin will slowly revert back to the way it looked before you started.

Coenzyme Q is also an effective ingredient as it has been shown to reduce the appearance of fine lines around the eye. It is also useful for protecting the skin from damage by the sun.

Copper peptide may be included in anti wrinkle products. It has been used for a long time for healing wounds and has been shown to stimulate collagen production which is important for the health and youthful looks of the skin.

Using retinol skin care products

One precaution we should mention for retinol containing products is to be careful in the sun as they can increase the skin's sensitivity. They are best applied at night rather than in the morning but if you do apply them during the day always use a good sun screen. They can cause some irritation to the skin when first used but this should clear up in a few days.

When can I expect to see results?

None of these products, or any others, will perform miracles overnight! You will have to use them regularly for at least six weeks before you start to see any effect. You should see a real improvement in your skin's appearance if you persevere for a few months but remember that the effects will slowly disappear after you stop the treatment.

There are not too many people who appreciate wrinkles. Wrinkles are a sign of aging, they make us feel old, so it comes naturally that we wish to delay or get rid of them in any way we can. Options include micro-injections with Botox, skin resurfacing procedures, face lifts or anti aging creams which can help the skin relax, thus stretching those fine wrinkles around the eyes and the mouth.

How Do Anti-Wrinkle Creams Work

The power of rejuvenating face creams is usually in their active ingredient. Billions of dollars are invested in research each year, in order to discover new substances that could help us preserve the young look of our skin for as long as possible. Here are a few of the most known active ingredients in facial cosmetic products:

Coenzyme Q10

Coenzyme Q10 is an oil-soluble substance produced by our body, which pays a role in generating the body energy. It also plays the role of an anti-oxidant, by neutralizing free radicals which are responsible for accelerating the aging process and the deterioration of living cells. By adding CoQ10 in face creams, such products would stimulate the collagen production and the regeneration of skin cells. There are not so many clinical studies to support this statement. Actually, there was only one study done in 1999, which demonstrated the long term effect of CoQ10 in reducing crows feet. Still, Coenzyme Q10-based cosmetics are very popular. There’s no wonder, as they are heavily supported by advertising.

Retinol

Retinol is another anti-oxidant that’s largely used in manufacturing anti-wrinkle creams. It has the property of stimulating cell growth, so it has a repairing effect upon the damaged skin. In its active form, which is retinoic acid, retinol is available only in creams and facial treatments that are prescribed by doctors for severe skin conditions. Over the counter creams contain only a small amount of retinol. Tea Extracts Green tea is one of the hottest trends in healthy living. Not only all nutritionists would advise people to drink green tea every day, but green tea extracts have become a common ingredient in shower gels, shampoos, body lotions or wrinkle creams. Like oolong tea, green tea has been proven to have anti inflammatory and antioxidant properties, thus being a good skin photo aging protection screen. Green tea extracts also help moisturizing the skin and making it softer.

Hyaluronic Acid

This is a natural substance which helps cells retain moisture. It is produced by the body, but as we get older, this production decreases, thus the skin becomes dehydrated and wrinkled. Adding hyaluronic acid in face creams has been proven to help softening the skin, boosting its elasticity and making it look younger.

Most wrinkle cream brands include also UV protection. This is good for the skin, because sun is our biggest enemy when it comes to wrinkles and premature skin aging. It’s obvious that people who spend very much time outside, in the sun, without protection, are prone to looking older than their real age. This is why it's important to use a sun screen each time we are going to spend a longer time outdoors, either laying on the beach or when practicing sports.

Depending on their texture and on their ingredients, wrinkle creams can be for day or for night. Day creams are softer, lighter, they get faster absorption in the deep skin tissues and offer a better UV protection factor than night creams which are rather greasy, oily and tend to stay longer at the skin surface. That could be good for repairing damaged cells, but it surely doesn’t offer a pleasant look to the user. Such wrinkle creams are supposed to be put on just before going to sleep.