Do anti ageing creams really work?

[gregssausageroll]

I gave in and bought an expensive pot from Lizzie Arden but not sure i'd do the same as I am not convinced. Do they really work or am I better staying with cheaper products?

Hi, I have always asked myself that question. I was this close to buying crem de la mer products, but decided against it, as I think cheaper products would do the same thing. I am using Elemis at the moment ( pro collagen marine ) and I love it, I cant say it has softened any wrinkles, but then again, Im not wrinkled anyway, im only 30. But answer to your question, personally I don't think anti ageing creams work, but I might be wrong.

I don't think so, It's a fad if you ask me and I would just go for a simple cheaper moisturising cream.

No - use any old cheap shit cream but wear a very high spf every day.

Well, that was what I was thinking Getorf. If I mix the 2 surely that would be ok?

Yes I always mix my moisturiser with a spf 30

Do i think that anti aging creams work? - Definitely.
Do i think that that the majority of creams available from cosmetic companies work? - No!

Vitamin C, Vitamin A and a host of other vitamins and ingredients have been proven time and again to aid in keeping your skin youthful. Some of these helpful things are only effective for a short time before going 'off' and losing their potency. Obviously creams from cosmetic companies sit in the warehouse/on the shelf for months, in which time many of the creams 'lose' some of their power.
The best and cheapest way is to make your own creams because you can make sure your ingredients are fresh and work better.
My skin has improved no end since making my own stuff.

You can buy ingredients from lotion crafter in the US who have a large range but do charge a bit for shipping.
Active extracts are from the UK, have a smaller range (but sell most of the good stuff) and are cheaper on most things.

Maybe super-scientific anti-ageing creams have got better at the top end of the market but whether you can get significant benefits at high street levels is debatable. What has definitely improved over the past few years is Photoshopping technology in magazine ads, subtle cosmetic procedures for celebrities willing to pay the money and, as a result, our own expectations of what well-cared-for skin should look like at 40+.

I'm putting my faith in daily SPF, lots of water and soft lighting.

The best brands are the mid priced ones, eg Olay.

Department store brands do not have the volumes to generate enough cash to do research. Cheap brands do not generate enough margin to do research. Only the mid- priced brands can afford proper scientific research.

I guess you are not a chemist, cedge?

Many people get bamboozled by all the hype surrounding the latest creams. Vitamin C and A have years of independant scientific studies behind them, showing they can increase collagen and make your skin appear younger.
But as i said before, i doubt many of the ready made creams achieve this.

No- not really.

There are a few ways you can try to stop the rot though:

always use a sunscreen SPF 25 and aove 365 days a year. it's the UVA and UVB that age us.

use a moisturiser that holds water in your skin, and also plumps it up.

Use serums etc to give the impression of smoothness.

Use products with retinol- Vit A derivative- to reduce wrinkles. Retinol is licensed on prescription for skin problems so it does seem to work, but it can also irritate skin.

All the dermstologits I have heard talk about skin and ageing say the same thing- it's diet, ( no alcohol or very little), exercise, SPF protection and a simple moisturiser that keeps skin young (er).

p.s. collagen is found deep inside the skin. Skin cannot absorb collagen that is put on it in the form of creams.

mindthegap that is not actually true- the cosmetics industry has a few "giants" who own not only the dept store brands but the rest as well.

eg Lancome is I am sure a brand of L'Oreal , etc etc.

They invest millions in research and what is first sold as a premium beauty product eventually finds is way into the mid price range.

Sleep, water, SPF every day, multivit, omega 3, aspirin face mask, good diet, meditation, good sex life

And E45

Keeps me young

But l'oreal have all their brands as stand alone.

They don't usually put their innovations into premium brands. It is almost always their mass market brands. The premium brands are fairly insignificant to the company finance bods.

although they might market otherwise.

bottom line, though, is that l'oreal is a mass market, mid-price brand, so reasonably trustworthy (when not pissing off the ASA).

Of course they don't!

Olay, L'oreal etc all have an interest in making sure any studies they do have positive results.
Seek out independant studies, find out what works then make it yourself.
It has worked for me - so far : )

You've never worked in the beauty industry, I gather.

If they worked then the richest women in the world would never age.

My boyfriend lost his hair at a young age. He figures if Prince William, Wayne Rooney et al can't buy magic in a pot then neither can he.

The ONLY cream that is scientifically proven to reduce lines and wrinkles is Retinoid. I was prescribed Retin A as after having DD3 I was suffering with sore spots along my chin line and chin and it has definitely helped reduce fine lines and I haven't been using it very long. I also wear a SPF of 30 EVERY day. Plus not smoking, exercising, eating well and not drinking too much alcohol all help.

Can an over the counter cream truly anti-age you? - No.

Mindthegapp - i have worked in the beauty industry as it happens.
It is true that prescription only retin a (a derivative of vitamin a) will help you look younger, as will all types of retinoid in sufficient quantities. The problem is that over the counter creams do not use sufficient quantities in the majority of cases. Likewise, when including vitamin c in their formulations, they often use a vitamin c derivative which stays fresh longer than normal vitamin c. The issue with this is that again it is not as effective.
Over the counter creams also frequently include stuff we dont want on our skin e,g parabens and other preservatives.
So the best choice for me is to either get retin a on prescription or make my own creams or both.
Over the counter creams may work for some, but they never did for me and they cost me plenty of money in the process.

As a formulator?

btw, vitamin C in formulations is there as an antioxidant for the formula (to stop it going rancid), not for clinical or consumer-noticeable benefits.