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Skin care products: the new fountain of youth?Grab this swicki from eurekster.com 
Let us now look at some fairly popular skin care products ingredients on the market. Some of these are also relatively new; you may or may not have heard of them.
Please note that all of the following skin products have shown varying degrees of efficacy. Also, if you do decide to give them a try, I'd like you to remember the following points: 1. Not all skin care products are created equal. Some manufacturers may add fillers which, at best, will do absolutely nothing to improve the look of your skin and, at their worst, may actually harm it or make a pre-existing condition worse. 2. Always test the product on a small area of your body, preferably the underside of your forearm. Wait at least 24 hours. If no allergic signs/symptoms show up, proceed. To test the product, you will need to obtain a sample. Ask the seller for the sample. If the seller is unwilling or "unable" to grant your request, walk away. Also walk away if you hear something along the lines of, "You really should buy this today because (it's selling quickly; it's on sale today only....)" There'll always be another sale, and if the product really is that good and in demand, a new shipment will soon arrive. 3. Do not expect immediate results. 4. Don't get fooled by someone wearing a white lab coat; the coat is just another selling prop. 5. If you have any questions, need clarification, but all you find and hear leaves you even more perplexed, get in touch with me by using the contact form. You'll find the contact form to the left of this page, in the navigation bar ("Share your thoughts").
Ready now? Here we go.... Hydroquinone. This ingredient can be found in several over-the-counter skin preparations. If you'd like to "bleach" your skin, this is the one to try. Should it not work as quickly and/or as efficiently as you'd like, visit your health care provider, who can write a prescription for a more concentrated form. Follow the instructions to a "T". Kojic acid. This is an acid produced by several types of fungi. In the food industry it is used on cut fruit to prevent it from turning brown. Kojic acid inhibits the production of brown pigment (melanin). It has an effect very similar to hydroquinone. Alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). These acids occur naturally but may also be synthesized. The most popular AHAs include lactic, glycolic, and citric acids. If you're new to AHA, start by applying the product every second or third day, so that your skin has a chance of getting used to it. After a week or so, you may be able to apply it on a daily basis. AHAs may cause sun sensitivity and mild irritation. Always wear a good sunscreen, or stay out of the sun! AHAs may help even out skin tones and tighten up pores (but personally, I prefer artichokes for skin tightening). Beta hydroxy acid. Another name for it is salycylic acid (aspirin). This acid has the ability to enter hair follicles, providing beneficial results to those afflicted by severe cases of acne. It may also improve the texture of your skin, and it's less irritating than the alpha hydroxy acids.
Hyaluronic acid. This ingredient is also used in an injectable form to temporarily smooth out wrinkles. The effects last approxiamtely six months. Hyaluronic acid aids in cell proliferation and may have skin-repair properties. However, you should also be aware that it has been implicated in the proliferation of tumor cells. I'm not writing this to scare you, but to inform you. Vitamin C is sometimes used with this product, because vitamin C appears to facilitate the penetration of hyaluronic acid into the skin.
Vitamin C . This is the only proven agent that stimulates the synthesis of collagen, something which decreases as we get older. However, you should know that vitamin C is quite unstable when exposed to oxygen. Additionally, most vitamin C-containing preparations do not enter the skin in sufficient quantity to make a real, visible difference.
Alpha-lipoic acid. Some advertisers promote it as "the miracle in a jar" because of its purported anti-aging properties. This acid can be found in potatoes, spinach, broccoli, and kidneys, and it's soluble in both water and oils. It will give skin a healthy glow and can reduce fine lines. Dimethylaminoethanol. No, it's not that difficult to pronounce. Just divide it up into 3 parts: (a)dimethyl; (b)amino; (c)ethanol. If you're still having problems, just call it DMAE. It is produced in the brain, but can also be found in foods like salmon, and anchovies. There is conflicting evidence about DMAE. Some earlier studies showed its ability to reduce wrinkles. But new reasearch (2007) now suggests that DMAE can actually have damaging effects on cells and their reproduction. In light of this, I would refrain from using it - at least until we find out more.
Well, folks, that's it for today. Thank you all for your time.
JMS skin care products
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