These days, whether you have wrinkles or you are certain that you will get them in the near future, it is hard to ignore the hundreds of new anti aging products on the market. With retinol and AHAs, BHAs and vitamins, it's hard to tell which products are actually going to work and which ones are will not. While a lot of the success rate depends on the unique qualities of your skin, there are scientific studies that have shed light some of the more popular skin treatments.
What is Retinol?
At first glance, retinol seems like an ideal skin product. Derived from Vitamin A, this skin care ingredient is a natural part of the skin and can help to restore the diminishing levels of this vitamin as you age. Touted as being able to smooth out your skin's texture and reduce the appearance of fine lines, this skin care ingredient is in everything these days - from lotions and serums to overnight creams and even some makeup foundations. But is this skin ingredient as good as it sounds?
The Issues with Retinol
The main concern with retinol is that it is derived from Vitamin A, which is a very potent vitamin to have in your body. If you look at studies done about Vitamin A, you will notice that it is not to be taken in high doses because it can cause permanent damage to the brain - if taken orally. But there are studies now that are indicating that you might not want to apply this topically as it can cause skin damage as well.
Retinol is a very powerful ingredient. When used on sensitive skin or used too often, it can begin to harm the texture of your skin, causing it to look weathered. Because it can strip the layers of the skin, those newly exposed layers are now going to be subjected to the dangers of the surrounding environment, causing it to age prematurely.
There is also some concern that applying this skin care cream will add to the vitamin A stores in your body. In doing so, you might be building up this toxic vitamin in your nervous system, causing long term damage. If you are carrying a baby during a pregnancy, these higher levels of Vitamin A might be causing your baby to have a higher risk of birth defects and developmental delays.
The further exposure of the skin with the use of retinol can also make your skin more sensitive to the sun, which can increase your risk of skin cancer. If you're not applying sunscreen religiously after using retinol products, you might be speeding up the sun damage that you already have on your skin as well as leaving your skin exposed to harmful UVA and UVB rays.
What Really Works
If you're concerned about these harmful effects of retinol, you may consider nourishing your skin from the inside instead of trying to apply vitamins to the outside. By eating a healthy diet, exercising, and getting enough rest, you will be able to create a youthful glow to your skin without having to have a ten step skincare routine.
You should also find a sunscreen that you can apply to your skin everyday, helping to prevent any further aging signs.
While retinol is still one of the most recommended anti aging products on the market, you need to carefully consider the possible side effects before you begin your routine.
First of all - what is mineral makeup? Mineral makeup is made from naturally-occuring crushed minerals, usually zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, iron oxides and mica. These loose minerals are combined together in different quantities to make a variety of mineral makeup powder formulations such as foundations, finishing powders, concealers, blushers, bronzers and eye shadows. The minerals titanium dioxide and zinc oxide in particular, act as a natural sunblock, effectively filtering UVA and UVB rays to deliver sun protection of up to SPF 20.
Mineral makeup is free of irritants like perfumes, preservatives (such as parabens), alcohols and dyes. Many traditional makeup brands use synthetic FD&C dyes in their products - however, these dyes have been identified as the one of the leading causes of allergic reactions in makeup. Most mineral makeup lines do not use synthetic dyes, instead, the colors are derived from naturally-occuring iron oxide pigments. All this makes mineral makeup very suitable for people with sensitive skin. In fact, mineral makeup has even been used after surgical procedures like laser peels, when skin is at its most sensitive.
However, not all mineral makeup lines are completely free of chemical irritants. Some brands use the bismuth oxychloride, which can be very irritating on the skin. Bismuth oxychloride is a mineral that is used in some major mineral makeup lines because it imparts a shimmery look to their makeup, and is a cheap filler. Bismuth oxychloride is also heavy, hence the need to 'buff' or force it into your skin. Mineral makeup lines that do not use bismuth oxychloride tend to be lighter in texture and easier to apply.
Mineral makeup can also be good for acne sufferers. By its very nature, mineral cosmetics are non-comedogenic, oil-free, anti-inflammatory and cannot harbor bacteria, which means that acne blemishes can be covered or concealed without further aggravating them. Mineral makeup will not necessarily cure acne, but skin has a much better chance of healing while wearing it, compared to traditional makeup. Many have also reported that they have fallen asleep wearing their mineral makeup without suffering any breakouts the following day. In fact, some mineral makeup lines even have mineral night-time treatments, which are specially-formulated mineral powders that you can wear every night to improve your skin. A good excuse to wear makeup to bed?
Crucially, mineral makeup avoids the use of talc, a known carcinogen found in a lot of traditional makeup. There are also no petrochemicals or coal-derived ingredients, common in a lot of traditional makeup. As you can see, the ingredient listing in say, a mineral foundation is much shorter compared to a traditional liquid foundation.
The positive claims of mineral makeup cannot be applied to all mineral makeup brands or all people. Some will have different reactions compared to others. It is always good to research first before you buy.
Both Craig Elliott & Erin Kelley are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Craig Elliott has sinced written about articles on various topics from Vacation, Bankruptcy Law and Careers and Job Hunting. About Author:Craig Elliott is a writer for Lane Labs. Lane Labs is a leading provider of . Craig Elliott's top article generates over 90500 views. to your Favourites.
Erin Kelley has sinced written about articles on various topics from Skin Care. Erin Kelley writes for , a beauty and health E-Zine. She recommends