There are literally thousands of anti aging creams to choose from with new must-have magic ingredients appearing weekly in the beauty press. Anti aging is big business and millions of dollars are spent every year on the search for the ultimate anti aging cream.

The best anti aging skin care doesn't come cheap - so how do you choose where to put your money?

This part of the site helps you decide what products you need to keep your skin looking as young as possible - without blinding you with science.  The aim is to take you through the types of anti aging skin care product available, what the ingredients are and what they claim to do in simple, non-scientific language.

And if you want to make sure you get updated articles and features on anti aging skin care as they're written - enter your email address in the box at the top of the page to get new content delivered straight to your in-box.

Finally if you're considering more radical anti aging treatments - take a look at the non-surgical facelifts site to find out about the real cost of botox, or get the low-down on laser skin resurfacing, dermabrasion and dermal fillers.

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As any skin care expert will tell you - getting the right levels of vitamin C is essential if you're going to age well, look younger and feel fantastic.

Vitamin C is vital for the formation and maintenance of connective tissue which make it so important in anti aging skin care.  Put simply - it's good for your skin and helps prevent and reduce wrinkles.

Getting the right levels of vitamin C may sound easy - but it's a water soluble vitamin which means it can't be stored and needs to be topped up every day. Even if you love fresh leafy vegetables and fruit - you may have trouble getting the levels you need simply from food alone.

A daily supplement is an obvious solution.

But first of all - here's ten essential FAQ's about vitamin C and aging which should convince you that it really does have a claim to be an anti aging wonder vitamin.

What does vitamin C do for my body? Quite a lot including: better heart health, boost to your immune system, quicker healing and repairing damage to connective tissues so vitamin C is anti wrinkle and anti aging

How do I know if I'm not getting enough? You may be more susceptible to colds and minor ailments. Some people find that small wounds take longer to heal - another indication that you need more vitamin C.

What about smoking? If you smoke your intake of vitamin C is likely to be severely depeleted and you will definitely need to add more vitamin C as a supplement - or even better for your skin and health - give up smoking.

Does vitamin C work with other vitamins and minerals? Yes - it helps you take up and use iron - so essential for female health. From a skin aging point of view vitamin C works with vitamin E to boost the joint antioxidant effect.  So a multi-vitamin supplement is often the best thing to go for.  Take one that is targeted for anti wrinkle or anti aging skin improvement

Where’s the evidence of all this? The evidence has been around since the 1960's when Linus Pauling showed the benefits of taking large doses of Vitamin C. In more recent studies, Vitamin C has been proven to be an antioxidant that can help to shield the body from free radicals.

How should I take vitamin C supplements? Supplements typically contain vitamin C in the form of ascorbic acid. Vitamin C is better absorbed in the presence of flavonoids so many supplement manufacturers also add flavonoids to their formulas.

What fruit should I eat? Citrus fruits are the first thing most people think of when most people talk about Vitamin C – but actually strawberries have far more vitamin C than oranges or any other citrus fruit. Blueberries score even higher for vitamin C content but winning outright are Acai Berries - one of the new anti-aging super foods.

What about vegetables? Go for colorful vegetables like red peppers (bell peppers) which are really high in vitamin C and the green leafies - spinach, cabbage, salad crops like watercress and rocket.

How much should I take? Well for a start you can ignore the official recommended daily amount (60mg in the US). This is well under the minimum amount that is beneficial. Recent studies have shown that much larger doses are not only safe but also have added health benefits. Many anti aging experts recommend 500mg as a daily intake and some go much higher - up to 1000mg.

Isn't it dangerous to take too much? You can't - as vitamin C is water soluble the body will simply eliminate the excess. If you're worried about upper limits, you may be interested to know that as recently as 2000, the National Academy of Sciences set a Tolerable Upper Intake Level for vitamin C at 2,000 milligrams (2 grams) for adults.

So the lesson is - up your intake of fresh fruit and vegetables just like your mother probably told you.

But if you want optimimum anti aging health and great skin add a high level vitamin C supplement or skin protecting multi vitamin product to your daily routine.

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Generally I have tended to use less expensive exfoling products believing that as they don't stay on your skin long it may not be worth paying over the odds.

Also - how different can one scrub be from another when it comes down to it?

Dr Brandt's product made me revise that opinion.

The difference lies in the combination of ultra-fine crystals in a silky smooth base cream. The end result is that the Dr Brandt Microdermabrasion cream delivers something close to a professional dermabrasion treatment.

Apparently the crystals are made of magnesium oxide and they are diamond shaped to exfoliate evenly without scratching or irritating the skin. The cream was easy to massage in and to rinse off afterwards - not always the way with some cheaper exfoliating products.

After using the microdermabrasion cream my skin was smooth, with a definite polished 'glow'. The effects of my regular serum and moisturizer (currently Boots No 7) were definitely enhanced.

Make up went on really well afterwards and my skin retained its lovely glow all day.

I only used Dr Brandt Microdermabrasion on my face and neck area but it is also apparently very good for backs of arms and other parts of the body too. Great for a really good treatment before applying a self-tanner.

Checking out the reviews at SkinStore confirmed my initial impressions - 57 reviews nearly all very positive with many customers giving glowing testimonials at great length.

The crunch point of course is the cost.  It's more than four times the price of my current exfoliator Boots No 7 Total Renewal Micro-Dermabrasion Exfoliator which I have been very happy with so far - I have to decide is it worth it?

I have to say it probably is. Exfoliating regularly is so important for younger looking skin and this product has had an impact on my skin tone and texture after only two applications. There's less initial skin redness with the Dr Brandt Microdermabrasion too.

As far as cost goes - I only have to use it once a week - as recommended - and only a little is needed as the cream works in so well to the skin.

In the end I decided to use up my Boots No 7 exfoliant and buy Dr Brandt Microdermabrasion next time.

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We all know how important exfoliating is for sloughing off dead skin cells and getting active anti aging ingredients deeper into the skin.  But you probably don't know that you can take a cheap store cupboard basic and transform it into an effective home made exfoliant.

Not only good for cake making it seems - baking powder is also a great natural skin polisher.

So if you've got a packet lurking in the back of your cupboard - why not give one of these three thrifty  recipes a go:

Baking soda and cleanser: Combine 1 tablespoon of baking soda and 1 tablespoon of your favorite face lotion or cleanser. Using a circular motion, gently scrub face, then rinse and moisturize.

Baking soda and sea salt: Take a small cup and mix a teaspoon of baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt. The baking soda will polish the skin and the sea salt will perform the scrubbing action. The salt grains reduce in size once applied to the skin. The results are baby smooth skin with a definite glow.

Baking soda and aloe vera: Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda with enough aloe vera juice or gel to make a smooth paste. You can add more baking soda if the mixture gets too wet. Use bottled or fresh aloe vera - both work well. Gently scrub face with circular motion for 1-2 minutes then rinse, tone and moisturize. You can use this for your whole body - just make up a bigger quantity and apply in the shower.

As with any exfoliant - you should wear a good all round sunscreen after exfoliating, toning and moisturizing.  And don't overdo the treatment - 2-3 times a week is fine.

Your skin should soon see the benefit from regular exfoliating and no-one need ever know your expensive looking 'glow' comes from your very own homemade skin care.

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To find one that many people say actually works is even rarer.

Recently I noticed that several visitors to this site have been buying a retinol cream called Afirm 3X so I decided to check it out.

Afirm 3X is one of three retinol creams from TX Systems.  They come in varying strengths depending on how sensitive your skin is and whether you've used a retinol cream before:

Afirm 3X is the strongest with 0.6% retinol - use this if you don't have a particularly sensitve skin or you have used a retinol cream at a lower strength

Afirm 2X has 0.3% retinol and is for normal, fairly tolerant skins or if you're already used to using a lower strength retinol product

Afirm 1X is the weakest of the three creams with only 0.15% retinol - if you have a sensitive skin or you're not used to a retinol product then this is the level recommended. This cream is also best for sensitive areas of the face like the eye area.

The two things that matter with any retinol cream are - how much retinol is in it and is the delivery system good enough to get the retinol into your skin without causing irritation and inflammation.

TX systems - unlike many manufacturers - clearly state the level of retinol in their products. They also claim that their creams have a unique delivery system which allows them to carry a high concentration of retinol and yet be exceptionally gentle on your skin.

They also say that Afirm 3X or any of the other products in the line will:

repair years of sun damage

make your skin look and feel smoother and firmer.

reduce the appearance of fine lines

unclog and tighten pores by lifting out dirt and makeup

The recommendation is to apply Afirm to a clean face in the evening. If you use it in the daytime as well you definitely need a good sunscreen and you may also need a moisturizer - both of which can be applied on top.

Also you should be careful what you use with a retinol cream like Afirm. Any product containing AHA's (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) should not be used at the same time as you apply the cream.

My advice would be to start at a lower strength and use on alternative days to start with to gradually build up tolerance. No matter how good the makers say the cream is - retinol can irritate skin.

The reviews that I have seen of all the Afirm products - but especially the Afirm 3X - are highly positive. And the great news is that all three sell at under $50 at SkinStore.  Affordable anti aging skin care is a bonus in these credit-crunched times and retinol is an anti aging ingredient proven to work.

So, at that price - even if you haven't used a retinol cream before - you can afford to give it a try.

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For most of us those little brown patches that pop up on our hands, arms and chest are very unwelcome visitors from our thirties and forties onwards. 

But did you know that age spots aren't really a result of aging? And if you've got them there are things you can do to get rid of them and stop them coming back

So if you've always hated those little brown marks - here's the most frequently asked questions about age spots to put you in the picture:

1. When do we get them? For some of us age spots happen as early as thirty, others don’t see age spots appear until their later forties and into their fifties. As you increase the sun exposure to your skin over the years, you become more prone to age spots, so it may take a while for them to develop. Heavy sun exposure, more delicate or more susceptible skin will result in earlier age spots. What is fairly certain though is that somewhere along the line, you will see the results of sun exposure in your face and body - and it may not be pretty.
2. What causes age spots? Contrary to popular belief, age spots just a result of living longer. They are the visible effects of sun damage - if you lived to be 100 years old and had never been exposed to the sun, you would not develop age spots.
3. So why are they worse for some people? The more sun exposure you’ve had, the more likely it is for the age spots to emerge. Age spots can develop as you get older simply because you have lived longer and been exposed to the sun for longer. Genetics also matter – age spots seem to be more likely if you have parents that have had them.
4. Are they dangerous? Most age spots are painless and harmless, so there’s no need to worry about them as a health risk. However, you might want to keep an eye on them with the help of your doctor because they can be easy to confuse with melanomas and certain types of skin cancer.
5. So should I just put up with them? No - not if they worry you. Blemishes on the skin can cause you to feel less happy about your appearance and undermine your overall self-confidence and nothing adds more years than lack of confidence about how you look. Age spots or sun spots are naturally associated with age and you may be self-conscious about them because of that. Don't put up with them if you are unhappy - taking action to deal with something so apparently trivial as age spots can be a huge boost to your self-esteem.
6. How can I get rid of them? To start with, you may want to consider a fade cream which is simply a topical anti aging skin treatment that contains a skin lightening agent. In America this is often hydroquinone but in Europe hydroquinone is not an approved ingredient and so natural alternatives like liquorice extract are often used. Other topical remedies are based on Retinol again at very high doses to help lessen the sun spot's appearance over time
7. How long will fade creams take? The effect of a fade cream will be to lighten the age spots gradually so they become less noticeable. Fade creams are unlikely to fully remove your age spots and could take anywhere from 3-6 months to have any noticeable effect.
8. Is there anything quicker? You could try a chemical peel - perhaps after an initial application of a good fade cream. Chemical peels use glycolic acid to remove the outer layers of skin and the age spots together. You may need repeated treatments depending on how bad your age spots are.
9. What about lasers? Lasers offer a highly effective form of treatment for age spots.  Laser resurfacing works in a simular way to a chemical peel by removing the outer layers of skin and the age spots. Laser resurfacing is also likely to be much more long term than a chemical peel but it will cost you.
10. How do I stop age spots coming back? That's easy - use a broad spectrum sunscreen every day. By putting on anti-aging sun protection before heading outdoors - whatever the weather - you give your precious skin a barrier against any further damage as well as protection from the UV rays that can cause skin cancers. Look out for anti aging moisturizers and make up with as high an SPF as you can get.

So - the message is clear - you don't have to put up with your age spots unless you choose not to.  And whatever you do make sure your age spots don't get worse - protect your skin from further sun damage.

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The makers of the celebrity A-listers favorite lip-plumper - Fusion Beauty - have produced what they call the first 'topical injectible'. Something of a contradiction in terms if you ask me but we get the idea.

The aim is to offer a real alternative to botox plus restylane which is the path followed by many seeking younger looking skin. Like botox injections - LiftFusion deals with facial wrinkles caused by movement - expression lines as our mother's used to call them.

Fusion Beauty have patented something they call M-Tox which is carried within nanospheres so it can penetrate the outer layer of the skin. M-tox is 'a proprietary blend of anti-wrinkle ingredients and muscle inhibitors' which absorp on contact with the skin to fill and smooth your wrinkles in a matter of minutes.

Although it's not totally clear from the blurb - the technology seems to be based on hyaluronic acid spheres (just like the Babor Wrinkle Filler) combined with a muscle relaxant similar to Freeze 24/7. 

LiftFusion also contains proteins to boost the skin's collagen structure over the longer term. Fusion Beauty promise the product will do the following (the words are lifted from the product information page):

transform the skin's appearance into firm, smooth, virtually wrinkle-free skin

smooth even deep wrinkles

soften vertical and horizontal forehead furrows, frown lines, crow's feet and nasolabial lines

dramatically transform skin tone and texture

And all without the discomfort and inconvenience of botox injections and restylane. The serum should be applied am and pm for best results and should be applied under make up or moisturizer.

At SkinStore I spotted three ecstatic reviews and three critical ones. The only real way to see if it works is to try it.  As it promises results very quickly you will be able to tell if it works within the 30 day return period and you can just send it back if it doesn't do what it says.

It carries a hefty $140 price tag.  But if it does deliver younger looking skin as promised - even on a temporary basis - then this could be a true botox alternative and worth every cent!

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So - if you're looking for a retinol cream that really delivers results - here's five of the best:

1. SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.5 - Skinceuticals scores highly in my book for actually telling you how much retinol is in the product - unlike many other manufacturers.  They make two grades of retinol serums - this one is the recommended starter product.  0.5% retinol is the minimum effective level and you should try this if your skin is sensitive or you've never used a retinol product before.  Move up to the 1% retinol serum once your skin is acclimatized.  The retinol is stabilized and delivered to the deeper layers of the skin by Skinceuticals technology - so you should see significant anti aging results including: a reduction in fine lines, wrinkles and age spots.  If you have enlarge pores, blemishes or age spots the serum will help with that too. Reviews on the SkinStore site are very impressive.
2. Skin Medica TNS Retinol Complex - A combination of three Pro-Retinoic acids (Retinol, Retinyl Actate, Retinyl Palmitate) together with Vitamin E.  The overall effect of this combination is the same as for a retinoic acid without the redness and irritation.  Improves the radiance, texture and tone of the skin, diminishes fine lines, aging, and sun-damage.  The retinol is microencapsulated to deliver it safely to the deeper layers of the skin and prevent contamination.  Use with moisturizer especially as part of the superb TNS Regeneration Kit
3. Philosophy Hope and a Prayer Retinol Capsules.  Any anti aging active ingredient can degrade on the shelf or after opening.  Philosophy solve this problem by giving you the retinol in capsule form for mixing fresh with your favorite serum or moisturizer.  Produces dramatic results in repairing sun damaged or aging skin - highly rated.  Downside may be the serum or moisturizer you choose to mix the retinol with.  Better mixed with a simple moisturizer - or Philosophy's own products - to avoid a clash of active ingredients.
4. June Jacobs Brightening Serum - a light lipid-based fluid that quickly sinks into the skin leaving it silky and radiant.  Contains retinol and Alpha-Lipoic acid as well as ceramides for moist youthful skin.  Evens skin tone and texture and brightens the complexion.  Because of the mix of ingredients may not deliver the same retinol effect as some of the other products.  A great skin serum nonetheless.
5. Leaf & Rusher Active Serum combines retinol and Vitamin C which are activated by contact with the skin.  This is Leaf and Rusher's best selling anti aging product - a light, velvety serum which dramatically improves the skin's tone, texture and firmness.  High potency serum so gradually build up use to avoid irritation.  Maximum use is twice a day.  Excellent reviews.

Any of these products should deliver excellent anti aging results  but some are more retinol-focused than others.

If you want a single retinol serum that works then buy the Skinceuticals Retinol 0.5% because you know what you are getting and it delivers results across most skin types and ages.  Alternatively - try the Skin Medica TNS Retinol Complex but preferably buy it as part of the Skin Medica TNS Regeneration kit for maximum effectiveness.

Whichever you pick all of these products are among the best of any retinol creams and serums available.

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