One of the best known anti-oxidants is vitamin C and despite continual research, no-one body involved can decide just exactly how much our body should consume on a daily basis. Skin care treatments that are based on vitamin C, pose the problem of becoming oxidized themselves as they come into contact with air during their usage.

More stable skin care treatments are now available that are almost as efficient and actually cost less to manufacture. These new anti-oxidant products are not quite as good as vitamin C although other naturally occurring compounds, vitamin E and lipoic acid can achieve the same effect.

Vitamin E is found in the blood and is an antioxidant that is also used to increase the body’s defenses against other health problems; it helps build resistance against infection like cancer for example. Lipoic acid, which is found inside every cell of the body, helps generate the energy that keeps us alive and functioning; it is also known to combat the signs of aging very effectively by repairing skin damage caused by the aging process.

Another group of products used to reduce the visible signs of ageing are phytochemicals which are compounds extracted from various plants and used in many anti-ageing skin care products. Like lipoic acid, phytochemicals help reduce the occurrence of cancers; for instance:

*Cancer that attacks the Prostate

*Breast Cancer

*Colon Cancer

All of which are on the increase globally.

Other vitamins from the B group are also used in anti-ageing skin care like vitamins B5, B6 and B12 for example. The field of anti-ageing skin care products is vast and needs a great deal more research. There is no doubt that what has been learned so far is only a small part of the jigsaw puzzle; more long term effective methods will eventually be found to reverse or slow down the effects of aging.

In time it is hoped that less expensive and more reliable anti-ageing skin care products will become available for a larger number of people to use. It may be time to learn that not every synthetic anti-aging product is going to work; man-made products may never replace those that are available naturally! You know all these things but how many do you practice? Regular exercise, restful sleep, drinking plenty of water, eating a healthy diet and keeping your stress levels low are all necessary.

It is no longer fair to just consider beauty care products as those used be the elderly like anti-aging products. The number of products available is huge and continues to grow; all designed to improve the health and beauty of the skin. With all the hard work our skin has to put up with, the least we can do is look after it.

Part one in your daily skin care regime is to use a cleansing agent to remove all the pollutions like smoke, dust and make-up that our skin has to put up with on a daily basis. To do this requires a gentle cleanser which must be used with cotton wool pads moving the wetted pads in a circular motion around the face until all areas have been done then once you have washed with warm water, use a soft towel to dab your skin until it is dry.

To ensure your PH balance is not disrupted, you will need to use a tone after the cleanser has been applied. Whilst the tone replaces the PH balance, moisturizing afterwards ensures the skin stays supple and can help reduce the signs of aging that come in the form of small wrinkles and lines. Beauty care products that moisturize the skin also form a barrier to lock in the moisture so the skin does not dry out.

Once or twice weekly you should treat your skin with an exfoliant or natural peel to remove dead skin cells and to deep cleanse your skin as part of you skin care routine. You must not forget however, that when you carry out this exfoliation you make sure that you continue with a complete cleanse and tone afterwards.

Eye creams are used to help maintain the delicate tissue surrounding your eye, these are specially formulated beauty care products that reduce the appearance of puffiness, dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles or to help improve elasticity and firmness. Taking some form of daily exercise and drinking plenty of water are two things you don’t need to spend a fortune on but will really improve the skin tone and feel. It is not a good idea to forget the important role our skin plays in our overall health and of course how we look so taking care of it is not just about vanity.