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.