ANTI-AGING COSMETICS

Cosmetic companies are claiming that some of their products can rejuvenate the skin by working at a “cellular” level, implying that the ingredients penetrate the skin deeply before they get down to work. Most such products are very expensive and contain, among other things, trace quantities of collagen or some of the body’s natural hormones.

If these creams really did any good, Cutis (39:23) points out, they would need to be classified as prescription drugs (like Retin-A), and claims that the ingredients have rejuvenating effects are akin to suggesting that blood transfusions can be given by rubbing blood on the skin. Such claims are “pure puffery,” according to a recent article in Time magazine.

Some of the “natural” substances in these “skin renewal,” “wrinkle-removing,” “rejuvenating,” and “sun damage-repairing” formulas have also caused allergic skin reactions, so don’t expect them to be better than any other skin creams. About the only good these expensive cosmetics can do is to moisturize the skin and thereby to make it appear a little more smooth. However, the much less expensive skin moisturizing products will do exactly the same thing. Keeping your skin moist (which means keeping the air indoors moist as well) and shielding it from the sun will, more than anything, help to keep your skin’s appearance young.