What products are good for your skin?
SUNBLOCK!!
90% of aging skin is caused by the sun, known as extrinsic aging.
10% is natural aging, which is known as intrinsic aging.
Wear your sunblock!!!
Vitamin A - Vitamin A is necessary for the maintenance and repair of skin tissue. Without it, you'll notice the difference. Fruits and vegetables are loaded with vitamin A. Topical vitamin A is the form that makes a real difference in your skin. Medical studies show a reduction in lines and wrinkles, good acne control, and some psoriasis relief, all from using creams containing this nutrient. For example, in research presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology in 2003, researchers from France showed that topically applied retinol plus vitamin C demonstrated a "reversal of skin alterations induced by chronologic aging and photoaging."
Vitamin C - The trick here is to use a formulation containing the L-ascorbic acid form of vitamin C, the only one that can penetrate skin layers and do the job. Vitamin C is extremely important for wound healing; helps prevent broken capillaries and excessive bruising; can prevent the consequences of prolonged sun exposure which can lead to skin cancer; helps reduce the damage caused by free radicals.
Vitamin E - prevents and treats dry skin. Slows down cellular aging; may prevent skin damage caused by excessive sun exposure; although not proven, some claim it may help diminish stretch marks; supplementation of natural vitamin E in 400 mg per day has been noted to reduce photodamage, wrinkles, and improve skin texture; helps reduce the damage caused by free radicals.
Vitamin D - The main benefit of vitamin D for the skin is in the treatment of psoriasis. In fact, vitamin d is widely used around the world to treat this skin problem. Vitamin d plays a role in skin cell metabolism and growth. Therefore, it has shown some effectiveness in treating itching and flaking which are common symptoms of this skin problem. Studies have indicated that over the counter type vitamin d creams are not very effective at treating psoriasis because they do not contain the active vitamin d derivative. The active vitamin d form is only available in prescription creams or supplements. Several weeks of treatment are normally required to relieve the psoriasis symptoms. A big advantage is that vitamin d creams have few side effects, unlike steroid containing creams. UVB treatments can also help relieve psoriasis. One of the main reasons is that these treatments produce vitamin d and therefore vitamin d benefits in the skin naturally. In addition, because one of the vitamin d benefits is to act as a powerful antioxidant, vitamin d can play a role in preventing the premature aging of skin and damage to the skin structure.
Vitamin K - works well to reduce dark circles when combined with vitamin A; helps reduce bruising.
What are Free Radicals? Free radicals are a harmful byproduct of sunlight, smoke and pollution. They gobble up collagen and elastin, the fibers that support skin structure, causing wrinkles and other signs of aging.
CoEnzyme Q10, in the form of 'Nano-Lipobelle H EQ10"
This is CoEnzyme Q10 in a special ‘nano-emulsion’ form, which can penetrate down through seven layers of skin. It is extremely effective at ‘gobbling up’ free radicals in your skin, which results in quite a dramatic anti-wrinkle effect. Many skincare products now contain CoQ10 … but very few contain a sufficient concentration of active CoQ10, in a form that can effectively penetrate the skin. A ‘nano-emulsion’ form of CoQ10 particles are broken down to a microscopic size, which allows them to penetrate more deeply and effectively into your skin. With most other brands of skincare product, CoQ10 simply stays on the surface of the skin and does not penetrate deeply. Thus it is largely ineffective.
Copper - Together with vitamin C and the mineral zinc, copper helps to develop elastin, the fibers that support skin structure from underneath. What's more, they have been found to firm the skin and help restore some elasticity, according to four studies presented at the American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting in 2002.When compared with a popular skin care treatment and a placebo, a cream containing copper peptides demonstrated rapid, visual overall improvements in skin roughness, clarity, fine lines, wrinkling, and overall photodamage. In similar studies, this same team of researchers found that copper peptides noticeably improved skin elasticity and thickness.
Cynergy-TK - Truly is the closest thing to a miracle ingredient in reversing the aging process of the skin. It contains bio-active keratin, which is similar to the basic protein found in human skin. This means it is powerfully effective in rejuvenating the skin. In fact, Xtend-TK is almost like applying a ‘liquid skin’ to your face and body, in a unique bio-available form which stimulates the growth of new skin cells. Furthermore, it is a wonderful moisturizer, which penetrates deeply into the skin, and also forms an invisible barrier to retain moisture.
Phytessence Wakame– a Japanese ‘beauty preserver’. A powerful antioxidant derived from Japanese sea algae, an extract from a specific type of Japanese sea kelp. It inhibits a harmful enzyme (hyaluronidase) which breaks down hyaluronic acid in your skin. Thus your levels of hyaluronic acid will gradually increase to the amounts normally found in a much younger person! This is also clinically proven.
Zinc - Another skin-friendly mineral is zinc, important if you have acne. In fact, sometimes acne itself is a symptom of a zinc deficiency. Taken internally or used topically, zinc works to clear skin by taming oil production and may be effective in controlling the formation of acne lesions or help those already on your skin to clear sooner. Food sources of zinc include oysters, lean meat, and poultry.
Alpha-Lipoic Acid. A powerful antioxidant, hundreds of times more potent that either vitamin C or E, alpha-lipoic acid may turn out to be a super boost for aging skin. What makes it so special, say skin experts, is its ability to penetrate both oil and water, affecting skin cells from both the inside and the outside of the body. Most other antioxidants can do one but not both. More importantly, Alpha-Lipoic Acid helps nuetralize skin cell damage caused by free radicals.
DMAE - Another powerful antioxidant, this nutrient has one of the strongest appetites for free radicals. It works mostly by deactivating their power to harm skin cells. It also helps stabilize the membrane around the outside of each cell so that assaults from sun damage and cigarette smoke are reduced. DMAE also prevents the formation of lipofucsin, the brown pigment that becomes the basis for age spots. As with alpha-lipoic acid, DMAE is available in supplements and in topical creams.
Hyaluronic Acid. Made by the body, this nutrient's main job is to lubricate joints so that knees, elbows, fingers, and toes all move smoothly and easily. But research shows it also plays a role in skin cells, acting as a kind of glue that helps hold them together, keeping skin looking smoother and younger. Another plus is its ability to hold water, up to 1,000 times its weight, which means more moisture in each skin cell. Top skin care lines now include creams with hyaluronic acid. Sullivan says it is equally powerful taken in supplement form, though more research is needed to prove effectiveness. The nutrient isn't readily available in food.
Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs). If your skin is dry, prone to inflammation, and frequently dotted with white heads and black heads, you may be lacking essential fatty acids, nutrients that are crucial to the production of skin's natural oil barrier. Without an adequate supply of EFAs, the skin produces a more irritating form of sebum, or oil, which can result in problems.
The solution may be to balance two of the key EFAs, omega-3 and omega-6. While most folks get plenty of omega-6s (in baked goods, cooking oils, poultry, grains, and many other foods), omega-3s are often lacking. They're found mostly in cold-water fish, including salmon, sardines, and mackerel, flaxseed, and flax and safflower oils. Taking supplements, such as fish oil capsules or evening primrose oil, may also help keep your skin smoother and younger-looking.