The regular use of anti-ageing skin care products is becoming normal these days; the growth in popularity is due in no small part to the fact that we are all living and working longer. The skin care industry uses beauty products that increase the synthesis of the protein collagen, the main protein in skin which becomes less elastic as we age; approximately one quarter of the protein contained in skin is collagen. Collagen is a member of another family of substances that aid in reducing the signs of ageing. known as antioxidants, they are the body's method of slowing down the ageing process.

Probably the best known of these anti-oxidants is vitamin C although no-one really knows just how much we should have each day. The problem with vitamin C derived skin care treatments is they can become oxidized when exposed to the atmosphere, often even before they are used.

More stable skin care treatments are now available that are almost as efficient and actually cost less to manufacture. These alternative products are not as effective as vitamin C but vitamin E and lipoic acid are anti-oxidants and are now being used.

Vitamin E has many functions including inhibiting the formation of cancer cells. It is found in the blood it is an antioxidant that is also used to increase the body's defenses against other diseases. Lipoic acid is also an energy making component of the body, found in every cell, it can also help reduce the ageing process which affects the skin.

Another group of products used to reduce the visible signs of ageing are phytochemicals which are compounds extracted from various plants and used in many anti-ageing skin care products. Like lipoic acid, phytochemicals help reduce the occurrence of cancers such as prostate, breast and colon cancers.

Surprisingly, the group of vitamins; B5, B6, and B12 have also shown that they can be used to help reduce the effects of ageing. The use of anti-ageing skin care products is a huge scientific field to research and has far greater potential than just producing goods that reduce the visible signs of age.

Although current regimes are effective, there are still many challenges to finding better and more efficient ways to combat the effects of time. In time it is hoped that less expensive and more reliable anti-ageing skin care products will become available for a larger number of people to use.

At the moment though, science is still behind the field of natural anti-ageing methods and it might take some time to replace them. Natural methods are known, but few people actually follow them; what proportion of the population actually eats healthily, takes plenty of exercise, drink sufficient water and obtain restful and regular sleep?