ANTI AGEING/AGING SERUMS

SERUMS AND THEIR ANTI AGING BENEFITS

Looking after your skin can be a complex affair. To give your skin the best possible outcome, treatment goes beyond the usual cleanse, tone and moisturise regime of the past.

There is a huge range of skin care products on the market today and we will try to help explain the best way to choose your star items.

Serums are the latest additions to the beauty world and offer all sorts of tempting improvements from smoothing wrinkles to reducing pigmentation marks. Can this really happen you ask? Yes they can go a long way towards these goals.

An important point to remember is that serums are not moisturisers. Serums usually contain concentrated, active ingredients designed to perform specific tasks. Small molecules are selected to ensure deeper penetration and  absorption.

A good serum is an excellent bonus to add to your skin care routine especially if you have a particular area of concern. Serums are generally used after cleansing and need to be sealed by a moisturiser. They are another layer of skin care well worth the effort and a little extra expense.

The many benefits of serums are they can deposit nutrients, vitamins and minerals deeper in the skin so problems such as dull, lined, uneven skin tone and dryness in the complexion can be addressed. More intense treatments can be given very easily.

Ingredients or features to look for in serums include Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamins A, C and E and Peptides.

Hyaluronic Acid is top of the list and is known as the King of Hydrators. Skin is very commonly dehydrated especially as we start to age. As collagen and elastin deposits reduce, lines form. This is where Hyaluronic Acid comes to the fore, plumping skin, adding moisture lost  from environmental damage and aging. HA is the missing link of elastin and collagen. Now you can provide that ingredient topically.

Vitamin C and Vitamin E are antioxidants critical to use for protection from free radicals during the day. Vitamin C can help reduce pigmentation and prevent further development. Vitamin C also helps strengthen capillaries and even skin tone.

Vitamin C is best used in an oil form because it is very stable and non irritating. Many soluble  forms of Vitamin C oxidise quickly and lose their efficacy. They can also be irritating on some skins.

Retinol and Vitamin A stimulate natural cell renewal and thickening of the epidermis.

When purchasing a Vitamin C serum the best formulations contain Vitamins A, C and E in an oil form.  Your skin then receives maximum protection and sun damage can be improved. Uneven colour tone and light pigmentation will also improve.

Peptides are a new generation in anti aging actives. They are synthesised from Amino Acids and are readily accepted by the skin. Several peptides have been developed to carry out different jobs but Matrixyl 3000, a signal peptide seems to have the best results at this time. These tiny peptides signal the skin to stimulate the growth of collagen and elastin, hence smoother skin.

Hyaluronic Acid and Matrixyl 3000 work well together and give excellent results quickly. It is not just the combination of ingredients but percentages and molecule size that is vital in formulating serums.

For best results look for all the ingredients listed above and a more youthful appearance can be expected.