The use of anti-aging skin care products continues to rise each year; there is nothing wrong with wanting to continue looking young as you get older, in fact it is quite a healthy aim. This group of beauty products generally works by enabling the synthesis of collagen, the main protein of connective tissue in animals and the most abundant in our body; approximately one quarter of the protein contained in skin is collagen. Collagen is related to other natural substances which help to slow down the ageing process; we call them antioxidants, they aid the repair of cell damage associated with cell damage.

Vitamin C is probably one of the better known anti-oxidants in use today but the debate about the daily quota required is ongoing. 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.

To overcome this problem, manufacturers use alternative skin care treatments that still provide the same benefits but not the high manufacturing costs. 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 is an antioxidant and component of human blood whose purpose is to help increase the body's immune system; it helps build resistance against infection like cancer for example. On the other hand, lipoic acid or alpha-lipoic acid is necessary for energy production which keeps us alive; it is also known to combat the signs of aging very effectively by repairing skin damage caused by the aging process.

Other compounds called phytochemicals have proved to be beneficial in the formulation of anti-ageing skin care products; they are removed from various plants. Phytochemicals prevent occurrence of certain types of cancer; for example:

*Cancer of the Prostate

*Breast Cancer

*Cancer of the Bowel

These types of cancer are also becoming some of the most prevalent worldwide.

For some time now it has also been known that the vitamins B5, B6 and B12 also have anti-ageing skin care properties. This just goes to highlight just how complex and far reaching the whole field of anti-ageing skin care products is and why so much more research is required. Whilst a great deal has been learned about this subject, it is only the tip of the iceberg; more long term effective methods will eventually be found to reverse or slow down the effects of aging.

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. However, man-made skin care regimes should be used only as a supplement; fortunately there is a number of natural anti-aging regimes that can be carried out that do not rely on science. Drinking plenty of water, getting a good night's sleep, exercising regularly, maintaining healthy eating habits and keeping stress at low are an essential means of delaying the aging process.

Make sure you eat a lot of food that have high Orac score, you need to have 7,000 Orac to generate healthy cells.