What ingredients you should look for in your skin cleanser and facial cleanser
You may not realize it, but dirt and pollutants that get
trapped on your skin are a key factor in determining what will one day become
wrinkles on your face. Cleansing your
face on a daily basis is key to staving off premature signs of aging and other
skin conditions such as acne. But if you
don’t use the right skin cleanser, you may actually be harming your skin more
than helping it.
Not all skin cleansers are alike. Some will dry your skin while others will not
get deep into your pores where dirt works to age your skin. When you use a skin cleanser, you will want
to use one that gets rid of all makeup, dirt, pollutants, irritants, and deep
down to where cellular degeneration and aging begins. It takes a balancing act of scientifically
proven ingredients placed together in the right combination to produce an
effective facial cleanser that will also work as an anti-aging tool.
Using the results of clinical scientific studies performed
on facial cleansing ingredients, it is highly recommended that the following be
included in your chosen cleanser:
Glycolic Acid, CoEnzyme-Q10, and Acetyl-Hexapeptide-8.
Glycolic Acid is a type of alpha hydroxy acid. The reason that Glycolic Acid is so important
as a cleansing ingredient is that is will penetrate your outer layer of
skin. Dermatologists regularly utilize a
certain strength of Glycolic Acid in chemical peel treatments, getting deep
down into the skin and revealing new, radiant facial skin. Well, the lowdown on Glycolic Acid in facial
cleansers is to look for it in concentrations of 10%-20% in your ingredient
list. Glycolic Acid is a natural acid
that is usually found in fruits, sugar and milk. So when you see the word “acid”, do not worry
about synthetically produced, harmful substances. A study cited in the Western Journal of
Medicine reported that forms of Glycolic Acid may revers the effects of
photo-aging (wrinkling and aging signs as a result of sun exposure) within 2-12
months of use) (West
J Med. 1994 April; 160(4):
366–367). Cleansers should leave your skin feel
moisturized and smooth after your skin has been thoroughly cleansed. Glycolic Acid also works to increase
hydration and hold in moisture according to studies reported in The Journal of
Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology in August, 2011. With a cleanser containing Glycolic Acid, you
are deep-cleaning your skin and moisturizing at the same time, making this an
essential ingredient to be on the lookout for.
Be wise and also search for a cleanser that contains
CoEnzyme-Q10, also referred to as ubiquinone.
CoEnzyme-Q10 is a strong
anti-oxidizing agent that is found naturally in every cell of the body. It gives our cells the energy it needs for
growth and repair work, converting food into energy. Unfortunately, our natural CoEnzyme-Q10
resources lessen with age. This
anti-oxidant will penetrate the skin’s outer layers, letting any cleanser it is an ingredient of work deeply
and effectively. CoEnzyme-Q10 can help
build new collagen for your skin, helping you look younger once again. It will also renew your elastin fibers
giving strength and flexibility to your facial skin and underlying structure.
The anti-oxidizing effects of CoEnzyme-Q10 will combat free radicals
that will damage your skin’s ability to produce new collagen. According to a The University of Maryland
Medical Center, scientists believe that free radicals are a leading cause of
the ravages of aging and related health problems. CoEnzyme-Q10 is truly an amazing ingredient
to find in a facial cleanser. According
to Web MD, CoEnzyme-Q10 provides the energy that your body’s cells need and it
provides anti-oxidant help. When your
skin’s cells are protected from damage and are re-energized, they tend to make
your skin glow, look younger, and have lessened wrinkles and fine lines.
According to Web MD, Acetyl-Hexapeptide-8 is in the
forefront of anti-aging ingredients.
Acetyl-Hexapeptide-8, or Argireline) is an anti-aging peptide
formulation that can stave off wrinkles and smooth those already formed. It works in a manner similar to Botox, by
inhibiting the release of certain neurotransmitters that prohibit facial
muscles from forming those wrinkles in the first place. Acetyl-Hexapeptide-8, when included in your
facial cleanser, will reduce the depth of the wrinkles you have on your face,
especially those on your forehead and around the eye area. When Acetyl-Hexapeptide-8 was tested on
subjects aged 18 to 70-years-old, Acetyl-Hexapeptide-8 in a 0.5% solution
concentration, did not cause any skin irritation or sensitivity. Other studies using 5% Acetyl-Hexapeptide-8
cream showed a significant reduction in wrinkle depth
(16.26%) in subjects aged 39 to 64.
Not All Skin Cleanser for Oily Skin Is Beneficial