The Truth About Face Creams
Although they are considered health and beauty aids, cosmetics are not regulated in the same way as other products you will find in that section of a department store. Manufacturers are allowed to use all but a handful of banned substances in their products. New ingredients do not have to be tested for safety. When old ingredients are found to be health hazards, they are not pulled from the shelves.
Fifty years ago, it would have been easy to understand. No one knew that the ingredients in face creams could penetrate the skin's layers and enter the bloodstream. Today, we have trans-dermal patches that deliver drugs directly to our bloodstream, in a slow release fashion.
The molecules of the drugs must be small enough to penetrate and typically an enzyme that breaks down hyaluronic acid is included in the patch, because hyaluronic acid slows the penetration of chemicals. It is also one of the compounds that are responsible for the skin's elasticity and youthful appearance.
Many of the ingredients in face creams have a small molecular size that will penetrate the skin's layers. Levels of hyaluronic acid naturally become lower with age. So, as you get older, these ingredients pass through even more quickly. It is one of the reasons that our skin becomes more sensitive with age and more prone to allergic reactions.
Some of the problematic ingredients are artificial preservatives, particularly parabens. Others are sun-screening compounds. They have been shown to alter cellular DNA, which can lead to the formation of a cancer cell. Researchers have noted an increased incidence of melanoma among regular sunscreen users. The ones to avoid are those that "disappear" after application. They don't provide effective protection from UV rays, anyway.
Then there are some problematic ingredients that do not penetrate, but cause other problems. They are widely used in face creams.
If you have every used a lotion and felt that it was greasy, the primary ingredients were probably petrolatum or mineral oil. Those are petroleum-based compounds and they are not absorbed by the skin's layers as a moisturizer should be. Glycerin and lanolin are better choices, because they are absorbed by the skin. They are non-allergenic and do not leave a greasy feeling.
But, the best face creams contain more. They contain the nutrients that keep the skin's layers healthy and glowing. They contain plant-based oils that are similar to the skin's natural moisturizers, antioxidants that prevent damage to cellular DNA and protein complexes that stimulate the production of new cells and fibers.
Make no mistake about it, no matter your age you are probably concerned about when that first fine line or tiny wrinkle will appear. If you use the right skincare products, you can delay that day, for many years to come. There are ingredients that inhibit the breakdown of hyaluronic acid. One of the best is wakame kelp. Look for face creams that contain it and other nourishing ingredients. It's time to protect your skin's health. You'll look better for it.
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