The beauty industry is a big business that spends a tremendous amount of money each year on product development and advertising, and the anti aging skin product sector is the fastest growing sector in this market. If you have never purchased an anti aging skin product before, you could literally get lost in all of the marketing hype and promises made by companies who sell and promote these products.
Among the myriad of anti aging skin products to choose from, such as creams that claim to be the best anti wrinkle cream that will help you to have younger looking skin, and lotions and serums that make the same claims, there are actually some good anti aging skin products available on the market. The key to finding the good products is to know what you are looking for before you buy. To help you wade through the hype and hoopla, we’ve put together some anti aging tips to help you decide which product is best for you.
Anti Aging Skin Product Ingredients
The first place to start when choosing an anti aging skin product is to check the ingredients. Manufacturers often add ingredients that have great label-appeal, but do nothing to help slow down the skin aging process. The following three ingredients have gone through meticulous clinical tests and are proven to be effective:
Vitamin C – Vitamin C, an antioxidant and the only one proven to stimulate the production of collagen, has undergone significant clinical research to substantiate its benefits in anti aging skin products. Though conducted studies, Vitamin C has been found to help minimize wrinkles, fine lines, and scars. Vitamin C must be formulated correctly to be effective.
Vitamin A (Retinol) – Retinoids are derived from Vitamin A. Many anti aging skin products contain retinoids, such as retinol and retinyl palmitate, tretinoin, and tazarotene. Tretinoin, and tazarotene are stronger retinoids, found in Retin-A and Renova, and are only available in prescription preparations. The benefits of retinol include the improvement of skin texture, skin tone, skin color, fine lines and wrinkles. Retinyl palmitate is not as effective as retinol and you will need to use more of a product containing this ingredient than you would with one that contains retinol.
Anti aging skin products that contain retinoids cam be irritating and should be introduced into your skin care regime gradually, especially those that are prescription strength. Retinols can increase your sensitivity to sunlight so exercise caution when going out in the sun and use sunscreen. Pregnant women should avoid retinoids and Vitamin A as is is known to be harmful to a developing fetus.
Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) – AHAs, which include glycolic, lactic, tartaric, and citric acids, are one of the most popular ingredients used in anti aging skin products. These acids naturally occur in and are derived from the sugars of particular plants. AHAs are used to exfoliate the skin leaving it smoother and softer and the benefits include the reduction of – age spots, irregular pigmentation, acne scars, and fine lines.
Alpha Hydroxy Acids can increase sensitivity to sunlight and using sunscreen is an absolute must when using products that contain AHAs . Alpha Hydroxy Acids can also cause skin irritation, so it should be introduced into your skin care regime gradually and at lower levels until you know your skin will tolerate it well. If you have darker skin you may be more prone to scarring, especially in products containing glycolic acid. Products containing mandelic or malic acid tend to be much safer for people with darker skin.
Additional ingredients used in anti aging skin products include: Beta-Hydroxy Acid (Salicylic Acid), Hydroquinone, Alpha-Lipoic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid and Copper Peptide. More in depth information about these ingredients can be found here on the WebMD website in their article titled Understanding Skin Care Products.
Effectiveness of Ingredients
In order for an ingredient to be effective, it should be present in the anti aging skin product at a specific level of concentration. Vitamin C should be present at a level of at least 10% to be effective. There are many different forms of Vitamin C that appear in anti aging skin products that have different levels of effectiveness for various skin types.
The effectiveness of Alpha Hydroxy Acid is determined by the concentration level and the pH. An effective concentration should 
have at least 8% Alpha Hydroxy Acid and a pH of between 4.5 and 4.0. Anti aging products for use at home should never contain over 25% Alpha Hydroxy Acid.
Retinol products are more effective when retinol is found at a concentration of at least 0.30 or higher. If you have sensitive skin, you are better off starting at the lowest level and working your way up, however, the highest level you will find in over-the-counter products is 1%. Anything higher and you will need a prescription.
Be aware that while manufacturers will list the ingredients on the product labels, they are not required to list the exact concentration of each ingredient in the overall product. They are, however, required to list them starting at the highest concentration ingredient to the lowest.
Which Brand To Choose
More is not always better and if the anti aging skin product you are considering lists several of what are considered good active ingredients, it doesn’t necessarily mean the product is better. If there are too many active ingredients, they may end up reducing the effectiveness of one another. You are better off choosing a product that only has one or two active ingredients at the recommended levels of concentration.
Other points to consider when choosing an anti aging skin product are:
- Cost – Cost does not determine the effectiveness of an anti aging skin product. One that costs more may not necessarily be better and more effective than a less-costly product.
- Usage – More than likely you will need to use the product at least once or twice a day. In addition, it may be several weeks, about 4 – 8, before you notice any improvement so you have to be willing to give it time to work. And if you stop using the product, your skin will likely return to condition it was prior to starting the product.
- Side Effects – Some anti aging skin products may cause skin irritation, burning, redness, or rashes. It is important to read the labels and follow the product instructions in order to limit any possible side effects.
- You And Your Skin Are Unique – Products that work well for other people may not work well for your skin type. You should start out by knowing the type of skin you have and work from there with the understanding that you may have to try different products before you find one that is right for you.
To find a good anti aging skin product that will work, you are better off purchasing from a dermatologist based supplier that 
offers dermatologist-grade, clinically active skin care products. One such company is SkinCareRX, founded by a world-renowned dermatologist and cosmetic laser surgeon. Their website has an online community where you can ask questions, get advice, check reviews from other users, and get information on special offers.
DermStore is another excellent online site that features a Skin Resource Center plus an Expert Directory that give you contact information for skilled skin care experts in your area.
Make sure the company you purchase your products from has a a return policy. If your anti aging skin product isn’t working for you, you want to be able to return it or exchange it for another. Be sure to read the return policy carefully and follow the company’s directions for returning or exchanging products.
Advertisers are paid well to make products look good, even when they are not. You have to get past all of the gimmicks and promises by doing a little homework, which most people don’t do – and advertisers count on that. Take your time and look at the various products on the market. You will find the right anti aging skin product that is going to work best for you when you know what you are looking for.
