Therapeutic beauty products, sometimes called cosmeceuticals, take advantage of the latest research in skin science to erase wrinkles, renew skin cells and rejuvenate skin.
Antioxidant Science and Wrinkle Reduction
The science behind anti aging skin care is tied to a concept called the free radical theory of aging. Environmental effects, from cigarette smoke to pollution to sunshine, can all cause the buildup of small compounds that happen to be missing an electron. Free radicals steal electrons from cells in the skin, thereby contributing to the visible signs of aging. Products with antioxidants work by giving their extra electrons to the free radicals, keeping the free radicals from harming cells.The oldest known antioxidant is Vitamin E, and plenty of products take advantage of this powerful vitamin and others, such as Vitamin C, to combat free radical damage and renew skin cells. Some companies go beyond the simplest free radical fighters and license the rights to proprietary antioxidant ingredients, including some derived from tree bark or harvested from microalgae, which may be fifty to five hundred times more powerful than vitamin E. Combinations of antioxidants are also becoming popular.
Peptides and Neurotransmitters as Anti Aging Skin Care Ingredients
Some companies are moving beyond antioxidants to find ingredients that work even more effectively. One of the latest developments is the inclusion of peptides into skincare.Peptides work by relaxing muscles and inhibiting the formation of molecules that destroy elastin and collagen, the components that keep skin firm. Peptides have even shown the ability to replace or repair damaged skin components, literally fixing the skin from the inside. The most common peptide in skin care is palmitoyl pentapeptide (also known as Matrixyl.)
Another peptide ingredient, Argireline (Acetyl Hexapeptide-3), works by relaxing the muscles, causing fine lines and wrinkles to disappear and smoothing the skin surface.
Searching for new ingredients doesn’t stop at peptides. Some skin care manufacturers have experimented with neurotransmitter molecules, tiny compounds that act directly on nerve and muscle cells to provide anti-aging properties.
One example is GABA (Gamma Amino Butyric Acid), a neurotransmission inhibitor that lowers the excitatory level of muscle cells. This prompts muscle relaxation, leading to the disappearance or softening of wrinkles.
While some of these products sometimes sound like they are strictly lab-created, therapeutic beauty products often get their benefits from natural ingredients. Natural products can be extremely strong compounds, despite the tendency to consider them milder than lab-created ingredients.
As scientists discover new compounds, and new properties of familiar ingredients, the list of active and effective anti aging skin care ingredients that protect, heal and renew skin is sure to grow.
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