How anti-wrinkle creams work depends on what they are made with. Although anti-wrinkle creams have one common goal, that is to get rid of wrinkles, they come in different formulations or ingredients, based on which you can tell the good ones from the bad ones. So if you want to know how an anti-wrinkle cream works, start by knowing the ingredients and understanding what they do and what they are for. Some ingredients are desirable, but others are toxic and are likely to cause a range of negative reactions.
Let’s start with the “undesirable ingredients”:
Retinol. Well, actually, Retinol can’t be all that bad, that is if you are not allergic to Retinol. A form of Vitamin A, Retinol has properties that are found to fight skin aging. The thing is, it can cause irritation and negative skin reactions, and since lots of people have sensitive skin, Retinol appears to work to a selected few only. I don’t think Retinol makes a good ingredient in anti-wrinkle creams in that case.
Parabens. Parabens are chemicals that are supposed to prolong the shelf-life of products. Parabens, though, can trigger allergies and skin aging, which entirely defeats the purpose of coming out with an anti-wrinkle cream.
Mineral Oil and Petrolatum. These chemicals clog the pores and even cause skin aging.
Triclosan. If your anti-wrinkle cream comes with anti-bacterial properties (some do), watch out for Triclosan. It is a chemical that can interfere with the function of the endocrine and reproductive systems.
Anything synthetic or not “natural”. Anything synthetic cannot give you the results you need and deserve. So stay out of products with chemical ingredients.
Now for the good:
Coenzyme Q10. CoQ10 is a compound that naturally occurs in every cell of the body. It works as an antioxidant that provides numerous benefits to the heart, skin, and practically every part of the body. But you need your CoQ10 to be sufficient for you to be able to enjoy its benefits. The problem is that as you age, the levels of your CoQ10 diminishes and as a result, so does your production of collagen, and this becomes evident in sagging and wrinkled skin. An anti-wrinkle cream that contains coenzyme Q10 facilitates the production of more collagen to fight skin aging.
Alpha Hydroxy Acids. Alpha Hydroxy Acids (or AHAs) are natural acids from fruits. They work as exfoliants, stripping the skin of dead skin cells and causing the regeneration of new ones. Not all anti-wrinkle creams contain this ingredient, but I think AHAs are important as they keep the skin clear, smooth, and younger-looking.
Vitamins C and E. Vitamin C and Vitamin E are both antioxidants, but Vitamin C is more involved in the healing process of damaged skin, while Vitamin E protects the skin from bacteria and retains moisture.
Green Tea. Green Tea is also another powerful antioxidant that gives you protection from both the sun and free radicals.
So essentially when you have these “good” ingredients in your anti-wrinkle cream, fighting aging becomes possible and easier by stimulating the production of collagen, removing dead skin cells and bringing out new skin, healing damaged skin and enabling the skin to repair itself naturally, retaining moisture, and fighting sun damage and free radicals. Avoid the hypes, the fakes, the half-truths. CoQ10, AHA, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Green are the anti-wrinkle ingredients that deliver as they promise. But see to it that they do not come with other chemicals or their value significantly decreases. In the case of AHA, make sure that it is not very concentrated or synthetically formulated.
Fight aging naturally with an anti-wrinkle cream that works.