Effective Exfoliating Skin Care

What to Look for in an Effective AntiAging Exfoliating Skin Care Product

Exfoliation not only removes dull, dry surface cells that have already lost the free radical battle, but also has been shown to slightly stimulate the skin's natural regenerative abilities to produce new collagen and elastin thereby thickening the skin.

If, or once, your skin has that youthful glow, you don't need as much exfoliation.

Be aware that exfoliation exposes more delicate, fresher skin to the sun's UV rays and you need to be even more diligent about sun protection.

A study that looked at the effects of glycolic acid on sun sensitivity found twice the amount of sunburn cells (a marker for UV-induced skin damage) in areas treated with AHAs and not protected by sunscreen.

Some aesthicians warn against manual exfoliation with a rough cloth or coarse scrubbing grains. The act of vigorously scrubbing delicate facial tissue may be more damaging than the benefit of removing dull, dry cells.

Look for AHAs like glycolic, lactic, tartaric, malic, alpha-hydroxyethanoic or alpha-hydroxycaprylic acid and sugar cane extract; or the BHA salicylic acid (less irritating than AHAs and also used to treat acne).

As an added bonus, it is now generally recognized that exfoliation stimulates collagen production.

Here are a few excellent topical exfoliants to try:

MD Formulations Vit-A-Plus Illuminating Serum with Glycolic Acid
GreatSkin BHA Lotion with the BHA Salicylic Acid.

Chemical exfoliants should be applied in the morning. Don't forget sun protection.

If you can get a prescription, tretinoin (a.k.a. retinoic acid) creams like Retin-A or Renova (Retin-A in a moisturizing base for dry skin) can be used in combination with chemical exfoliants for additional skin anti-aging benefits.Retinoids should be applied at night.

If you prefer a gentler approach or cannot get a prescription, OTC ingredients to look for are vitamin A derivatives called retinoids and including retinol, retinal and retinyl palmitate.

This article is for informational purposes only. It does not purport to offer medical advice.

Consult a qualified physician before using any of these products.

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More Information on The Most Effective AntiAging Skin Care Product Ingredients

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Effective Moisturizer Cream Ingredients
Effective AntiOxidant Ingredients
Effective Skin Regrowth Ingredients
Effective Clarifying Ingredients