How over-the-counter wrinkle creams can help you reduce the appearance of your wrinkles?
Numerous wrinkle creams and skin lotions offered by department stores, drugstores and online promise to reduce or eliminate wrinkles and stop or reverse sun damage. But the question is, do these anti wrinkle creams work? Many researches propose that some wrinkle creams contain ingredients that may reduce skin wrinkles. But some of the ingredients haven't been scientifically tested to prove their benefits.
Are Wrinkle Creams effective?
Wrinkle cream's effectiveness can depend on its active ingredients. Some of the common ingredients that work against wrinkles to some extents, are: Hydroxy acids, Retinol, Coenzyme Q10, Kinetin, Copper peptides, Tea extracts.
Below we will explore each one of these ingredients to help you understand the products and at least get some ideas on their effectiveness before shelling out big bucks (Hint: wrinkle creams are not cheap).
?  Hydroxy acids include alpha hydroxy acids, beta hydroxy acids, and poly hydroxy acids. These acids are synthetic versions of sugar-rich fruit acids. These acids remove the top layer of dead skin, and encourage the growth of silky new skin that is evenly pigmented. These acids however increase a chance of sun damage, so it is best to wear sun-screen for a few days after use, to minimize risk of sun damage to your skin.
?  Retinol is a vitamin A mix. Retinol is extensively used in nonprescription wrinkle creams as an active ingredient and is an antioxidant. These substances counteract unbalanced oxygen molecules that break down skin cells (the cause of wrinkles). Retinol derived tretinoin, is a prescription treatment that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for wrinkle treatment. You should not use vitamin A derived substances if you're pregnant or may become pregnant as they may increase the risk of birth defects.
?  Coenzyme Q10 is a nutrient that regulates production of energy in cells. This nutrient has shown some evidence of reducing fine wrinkles, especially around the eyes. It has also been suggested that Coenzyme Q10 may help prevent sun damage.
?  Copper peptides are an element found in all cells in trace amounts. In wrinkle cream products, copper peptides are mixed with peptides. Copper peptides promote healing of the broken skin and can stimulate the skin regeneration.
?  Kinetin can improve wrinkle appearance and help make skin pigmentation more even. Kinetin helps skin preserve moisture. It also helps in the production collagen and is an effective antioxidant.
?  Tea extracts teas contain composites with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory characteristics. Most common wrinkle cream ingredients are the green tea extracts.
Which Wrinkle Cream Product is Best for Me?The true effectiveness of a wrinkle cream can only be measured over-time and it is very difficult to know which wrinkle cream will work for you the best, without sticking to a single product for a few weeks. As these products can be quite expensive, consumer is frequently faced with confusion as to which wrinkle cream to choose.
Fortunately there are a few companies that are glad to send you a free supply of their wrinkle products (some even offer a generous 1-month's supply), so that you can try it out and see if the product measures up to your expectations, before spending significant amounts of money. Once you determine that a particular wrinkle cream product works for you, stick with it for a while to see long-term improvements.