You may or may not find this surprising. But, big companies are not completely honest, especially in their marketing claims. When it comes to anti-aging products and other cosmetics, they base their claims on one or two active ingredients that are present in such low quantities they could not possibly be effective.

When it comes to Shea butter, they do not use the pharmaceutical grade that is used in some countries to treat wounds, heal eczema, reduce inflammation, heal sunburns, relieve frost bite or take the itch out of insect bites. In the US, it is not considered a pharmaceutically active ingredient. But, if you want to fade age spots remove wrinkles or address the other signs of age, it is very “active”.

Now, in order to provide all of these benefits, you must look for a premium quality product that is prepared using cold press methods. Heat destroys the nutrients found in this natural cream and it is the nutrients that are responsible for its effectiveness.

It is rich in vitamins A and E. Vitamin A creams containing retinol have been prescribed for wrinkle reduction. Retin-A is one of the most popular brands. But, those creams cause redness, itching, irritation, inflammation and flaking. In other words, they are accompanied by a number of unwanted side effects.

The vitamin A in Shea butter is beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is non-irritating and non-toxic. It actually has natural anti-inflammatory activity. In large amounts, retinol, the animal form of vitamin A is toxic, which is probably why it causes so many adverse reactions.

The essential fatty acids in Shea butter are virtually identical to those produced by the sebaceous glands, within the skin. Because of this, Shea butter is quickly absorbed and leaves no greasy feeling.

The brand that you buy should not contain artificial preservatives or added fragrances of any kind. It may include other ingredients, but no synthetic chemicals or artificial additives. Natural vitamin E is an effective preservative and it also will prevent future age spots from developing.

There is another important ingredient to look for if you want to fade age spots remove wrinkles and increase firmness. Lost firmness is responsible for sagging and the appearance of deep wrinkles. The sagging is caused by decreased production of new skin cells and elastic fibers. A protein complex called Functional Keratin has been shown to stimulate the production of new cells and fibers. In less than three weeks, it can improve firmness by over 40%.

There are other nutrients that are important to the skin’s health, but if you use a night cream that contains Shea butter and Functional Keratin, you can get rid of age spots remove wrinkles and increase firmness in no time.

Valerie Rosenbaum has found the most effective skin care products available on the market today. Visit DefendYourSkin.com if you have fine lines, wrinkles or age spots and want to do something about it today.

If that comes as a surprise, you might also be surprised to know that the sun contributes to wrinkling and sagging, as well. If you have ever seen someone with sun-damaged skin, you would understand. These people look ten or more years older than their actual age. With the research that has been made available to us, there is no reason for anyone to look older than they are and certainly no reason for anyone to look older than they feel.

Clearing skin age spots may have been difficult in the past for several reasons. For decades, medical research focused on finding drugs that could be produced synthetically. Most of the creams and lotions on the market still contain petrochemicals and other synthetic ingredients that are not beneficial to the skin’s health.

While you may not think of the skin’s appearance as medically relevant, it is. Practically all diseases will cause some change in a person’s appearance. The first symptom of a number of nutritional deficiencies is dry, flaky skin.

Most of the knowledge that we have about anti-aging creams is due to medical research concerning diseases or cancer. Some of the ingredients that are no known to be effective for clearing skin age spots were initially created to relieve dermatitis, repair sun damage, reduce irritation or help prevent skin cancer. Here’s a two step approach that will improve your skin’s health and help you look younger, too.

Number one was already mentioned. That is to avoid the sun. When you do go out, use a zinc oxide sun-block on exposed areas. Try to stay in the shade and wear protective clothing. If you are a woman that wears makeup, look for a new line that contains zinc oxide and natural mineral colors. Just say no to the petrochemicals and mineral oils that cosmetic companies have been selling us for years. They made us look older, not younger.

Number two for clearing skin age spots is to use a nourishing lotion on a daily basis, both day and night. The ingredients to look for depend, somewhat, on what you want to accomplish. If you would like to achieve an overall lightening of your facial complexion, look for Extra-pone nut-grass root. It is all natural and non-irritating, but will start to lighten and even out pigmentation in as little as two weeks.

If you only want to fade a spot, not your whole complexion, use a night-cream that contains high quality cold-pressed Shea butter. It has proven effectiveness for clearing skin age spots in four to six weeks. It is also a wonderful moisturizer that softens and smoothes. There are other ingredients to look for, but that should give you a place to start.

Valerie Rosenbaum has been researching the aging process for many years. If you want to protect your skin from wrinkles and fine lines using all natural clinically proven skincare products then visit her website http://www.DefendYourSkin.com

Most of the products on the market contain artificial preservatives, colors and fragrances. While these were at one time thought to be safe, except in people with allergies or sensitive skin, it is now believed that many of them might contribute to cancer or other health problems. There is no advantage to adding colors or fragrances to cosmetics. Often they are used to mask chemical ingredients that have a strong odor or an unsightly appearance.

There are natural alternative for getting rid of age spots and for other skin issues. There are even a few brands of all-natural makeup on the market that contains the sunscreen zinc oxide, the safest and most effective sunscreen on the market.

There are also natural alternatives for preserving the ingredients in creams, lotions and other cosmetics. Grape seed extract and natural vitamin E are effective preservatives, because of their antioxidant activity. Most products contain mineral oil, which has no antioxidant activity of its own and quickly becomes rancid.

Using an effective sunscreen and a lotion, which contains natural vitamin E, are important for getting rid of age spots and preventing them from reappearing. The spot is actually a clump of melanin, which is produced in response to a sunburn and sometimes, because of hormonal activity. The spot should eventually fade on its own, if you protect your skin from the sun and support the natural reparation processes that go on daily.

The things that the skin’s cells need to repair, soften and rejuvenate are nutrients. Even if you were at one time a sun-worshipper, you can make your complexion lighter, soften, firmer and less wrinkled, as well as even out pigmentation, as long as you use nourishing creams on a regular basis.

The skin needs protein, essential fatty acids, minerals and antioxidants. Antioxidants may be one of the keys for getting rid of age spots. We know that vitamin E creams can prevent them. It looks like creams containing coenzyme Q10, a more potent antioxidant, may make them go away.

Another ingredient, known as Extra-pone nut-grass root, inhibits melanin production. It is a safe non-irritating alternative to creams that contain hydroquinone, a probable carcinogen that has been banned by the EU, but not the US.

Specific protein complexes stimulate the production of new cells. If melanin is inhibited and you avoid the sun, those cells will be lighter in color. So, that’s really all you need for getting rid of age spots. Nature has all of the answers.

Valerie Rosenbaum has made it her mission to provide the public with information supporting the use of natural and clinically tested ingredients in their anti-aging skincare products. She has found the most effective skin care products available on the market today. Visit her website http://www.DefendYourSkin.com if you have fine lines, wrinkles or age spots and want to do something about it today.

Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?Getting-Rid-of-Age-Spots-by-Nourishing-Skin-Naturally&id=2184185

One of the most popular ingredients is hydroquinone, not to be confused with ubiquinone. The names sound very similar, but the compounds have very little in common. Ubiquinone is the “official” name of coenzyme Q10. Hydroquinone is a chemical that inhibits melanin production.

Inhibiting melanin production makes it an effective ingredient, but not a safe one. It has been known to cause an allergic reaction that triggered the development of black bumps all over the face and body. It is a probable carcinogen (an agent that causes cancer) and it has been banned for use in cosmetics in the European Union. That may have prompted a German company to develop a safer compound.

Actually, the SYMRISE Company set out to make a lotion to reduce irritation; rashes, redness, itching, etc. Only later did they learn that their lotions were effective age spot faders, as well. The active ingredient is called Extra-pone Nut-grass or Motha Root. At a .5% concentration in a lotion it inhibits melanin production by 41.4%.

The only problem with inhibiting melanin production is that it will fade the surrounding area, too. This may be desirable for someone whose complexion is darker than they would prefer, but it would also make them more sensitive to sunlight and more susceptible to burning.

For the average person, age spot faders containing melanin inhibitors are probably unnecessary. On the other hand, everyone should be using creams that contain ubiquinone. Recent studies show that it repairs sun damage, reduces wrinkling and makes the skin softer.

Preparing ubiquinone in a manner that allows it to penetrate deeply has been challenging. But, some companies have found a way to do it. They have made use of nanotechnology.

Nanotechnology reduces the size of the molecules of ubiquinone. A compound called NANOLIPOBELLE HEQ10 has been shown to penetrate through seven of the skin’s layers. That allows it to reach the dermal layer, where the collagen and elastin fibers are located. Regular use of creams containing it will repair damage done and prevent further damage from occurring by neutralizing harmful free radicals.

Another important ingredient for age spot faders and other anti-aging creams is an ingredient made by the KERATEC Company in New Zealand. You may have heard the name, if you have ever needed a “healing” lotion.

What the ingredient does is stimulate the skin’s natural reparative processes. It has been used to treat and heal contact dermatitis and other skin conditions. It is important for fading age spots, because it speeds up the cell turn-over rate. Newer lighter cells should start to appear in four weeks or less.

Nighttime calls for another ingredient. The nutrients in Shea butter are known to be effective age spot faders. It’s just that most companies do not use the highest quality of the cream. Shopping for high quality, safe and effective ingredients is easy, when you know what to look for.

Valerie Rosenbaum has deeply studied natural skin care products and the ingredients used in them. She believes the best skin care products should be clinically proven to be effective. Visit her website http://www.DefendYourSkin.com if you have fine lines, wrinkles or age spots and want to do something about it today.

Stay out of the Sun

Staying out of the sun is always step one, because the spot was most likely caused by UV rays from the sun. UV triggers the production of melanin. Melanin is actually a hormone responsible for the skin’s color. Sometimes, the melanin producing cells or melanocytes become damaged. So, instead of even production, you get “uneven” production and clumping. It’s not unlike a freckle.

If you protected the area completely from UV, it might start to lighten on its own, in eight weeks or so, but maybe not. It really depends on how much damage has been done to the melanocytes. But, regardless, the first step for how to fade age spots is to stay out of the sun. The best way to do that is to wear protective clothing, like a hat with a wide brim, or to use a sun block containing zinc oxide. Other sun-screening ingredients are not as effective.

Avoid Smoke and Pollution, if Possible

If the spot was not caused by the sun, the most likely cause was smoke or environmental pollutants. These things would not naturally trigger melanin production, but they can cause the production of free radicals, which can damage the melanocytes.

Free radicals can also lead to skin aging. People that smoke cigarettes look older and have more wrinkles than those who don’t. Not only are these two steps important for how to fade age spots, but they will also help insure that the spot does not return.

Check the Ingredients in Your Skincare Products

Petroleum based alcohols, such as ethanol, methanol, isopropyl and denatured alcohol, can cause hyper-pigmentation when applied directly to the skin. These are relatively common ingredients in cleansers, aftershave and some other health and beauty aids.

Use mild, all natural cleansers and moisturizers. The moisturizer that you choose could be the key step in how to fade age spots.

Use a Good Cream

There are a number of natural ingredients that even out pigmentation. If you want all-over whitening, look for cyperus rotundus extract. Don’t buy hydroquinone. It’s not safe, no matter what some sources say and it can make the problem worse.

If you simply want to even out pigmentation, follow the steps above and use a night cream that contains Shea butter, coenzyme Q10 and bioactive keratin. Each of these has been shown in separate studies to even out pigmentation, reduce brown spots and reverse sun damage.

In addition, these ingredients will improve firmness and moisture content. They will reduce wrinkles and sagging. They will improve your skin’s health, in many ways. If you haven’t always been as good to your skin as you could have been, it deserves some good treatment, for a change.

So, that’s how to fade age spots in four simple steps. Be patient, it will take a few weeks, but the effect should be permanent.

Valerie Rosenbaum studies anti aging skin care products and the ingredients used in them like Phytessence Wakame. She believes the best skin care products are clinically tested by independent labs. Visit http://www.DefendYourSkin.com if you have fine lines, wrinkles or age spots and want to do something about it today.

No matter your skin type, you should be using a moisturizer on your face and body every day, right after you shower. What’s the reason?

Showering strips away the skin’s natural moisturizers. Even plain tap water, without any cleanser strips away protective oils. Dry skin looks older and more wrinkled. If your moisturizer contains the right ingredients, it will even out pigmentation, reduce wrinkles and improver moisture content, as well as firmness.

If that sounds like more than you could expect, then you are used to cosmetic companies that make grandiose claims, without any real basis. But, you really can expect age spot lotions to de-age your skin. The latest research has proven it.

One of the ingredients that you must look for is coenzyme Q10, just be sure that it is natural COQ10 and not synthetic. Some scientists might argue, but there is no way that a synthetic nutrient could be as effective as a natural one.

Research has shown that coenzyme Q10 repairs sun damage and that’s what age spots actually are. They aren’t related to your liver or even how old you are. They are melanin clumps caused by overexposure to the sun.

When you are out in the sun, UV rays cause an overproduction and excitement of free radical molecules within the skin’s cells. Research has shown that levels of COQ10 are quickly depleted as the molecules try to neutralize the free radicals, before they can damage the skin cells and collagen fibers. But, if you continue to stay outdoors, without protection, they lose the battle.

Most age spot lotions do not repair free radical damage. They simply inhibit melanin production, which is why they lighten other areas of the skin. Creams containing a special formulated all natural coenzyme Q10 can repair free radical damage, as well as preventing further damage from occurring. They have been shown to reduce wrinkles, improve hydration and soften.

If all that you want to do is fade the spots, please be careful when you are shopping for age spot lotions. Many of them contain an ingredient called hydroquinone. Lots of sources will tell you that’s a safe ingredient. But, if it’s safe, why has it been banned from skincare products manufactured in the European Union? It has been banned, because it is associated with an increased risk of skin cancer.

A safer ingredient, that also inhibits melanin production, is a natural extract from a plant called cyperus rotundus, nut grass or Motha. Hopefully, you see that you have many choices, other than hydroquinone age spot lotions. Take my advice and shop for safe all natural ingredients. In the long run, you’ll be glad that you did.

Valerie Rosenbaum studies anti aging skin care products and the ingredients used in them. She believes the best skin care products are clinically tested by independent labs. Visit http://www.DefendYourSkin.com if you have fine lines, wrinkles or age spots and want to do something about it today.

Even though they are most often seen in older people, they really have nothing to do with age. Despite the fact that they are commonly referred to as liver spots, they have nothing to do with the health of your liver, either. They are really nothing more than adult freckles, caused by overexposure to the sun.

They are harmless, not indicative of skin cancer. But, the damage that causes them also plays a role in skin cancer. So, if you do see a sudden change in the color or size of a spot, you should report it to your doctor, immediately.

Using a home remedy for age spots will only be effective if you protect the affected area from sunlight. You can do that buy wearing protective clothing, such as a hat, if the spot is on your forehead or face. You can also use a zinc oxide sun-block, but those other sunscreen ingredients are not as effective. Some of them could actually increase your risk of skin cancer.

If you are a woman and the spot is on your face, choose a foundation that contains zinc oxide. There are several brands that contain it. The SPF rating of your makeup really doesn’t mean much. By the time that you are on your way home from work, any of them will have lost their effectiveness.

The only home remedy for age spots that is not a commercially manufactured product, but might be effective is fresh lemon juice. It is acidic enough to peel of the outer layer of skin. That may work, but it might also cause redness, itching and irritation. In order for it to work, you would need to dab it on the spot with a cotton-ball twice day. It will take about 6-8 weeks, but if you avoid exposure to the sun during that time, you should start to see it fade away.

Even a commercially produced home remedy for age spots will take 6-8 weeks to work, because that’s how long it takes for the outer layer of epidermis to be replaced. That’s right. Every couple of months, your outer layer of skin is completely replaced. Thousands of your skin cells are sloughed off every day. New ones are produced by specialized mother cells in the deepest layer of the epidermis.

In a young healthy person, it takes only 28 days for those new cells to reach the surface, but the process slows down greatly, with age. Now, if you are interested, there are some new anti-aging creams that can speed that process up again. Once you learn about that, you might not be interested in a home remedy for age spots and you might not ever need one again.

Valerie Rosenbaum studies natural skin care products and the ingredients used in them. She believes the best skin care products are clinically proven to be effective. Visit her website http://www.DefendYourSkin.com if you have fine lines, wrinkles or age spots and want to do something about it today.

That’s what scientist call them; oxygen species. Most often, we here them referred to as free radicals. They are actually oxygen (and sometimes nitrogen) molecules that have lost an electron. If an antioxidant like coenzyme Q10 is present, it will voluntarily give up one of its electrons. If not, the radical will become frenzied and start to damage the cells and fibers that are responsible for the skin’s strength, thickness and firmness. Eventually, this molecular damage results in visible wrinkling and sagging.

Overexposure to the sun causes overproduction of free radicals. So does exposure to things like cigarette smoke and air pollution. Those things can also cause hyper-pigmentation, in other words, age spots. So, if you want to eliminate age spots, you have to recognize the importance of free radicals and the role that the sun plays in producing them.

That doesn’t mean that you have to give up your love for the great outdoors. You just need to protect your skin. Don’t rely on those disappearing sunscreens to help. Some sun screening ingredients have been shown to cause damage similar to what is caused by free radicals.

Wear protective clothing, like a hat with a wide brim. If there are areas that you cannot protect with clothing, use a zinc oxide sun “block” and reapply it regularly. If you’re spending the day at the beach, invest in a beach umbrella. The shade is your friend if you want to really eliminate age spots.

What about those age spot removers that you see advertised on TV? Most of them contain hydroquinone. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it makes the problem worse. That may depend on how much time a person spends in the sun or it may be due to the chemical structure of the ingredient. An increased risk of skin cancer has been associated with hydroquinone. We don’t know if the risk is due to the chemical, itself, or to consumer misuse.

There are some completely safe and natural ingredients that have been shown to even out pigmentation and eliminate age spots. You could use a night cream that contains high quality Shea butter, for example.

Shea butter has a “healing quotient” due to the antioxidants and other nutrients that it contains. It is nearly identical to the natural moisturizer produced by the sebaceous glands within the skin. So, it is readily accepted and quickly absorbed without causing a greasy feeling. It has been said that Shea butter can literally transform the skin’s health and appearance, with regular use.

You might also look for a moisturizer that contains natural coenzyme Q10. It has been shown to reverse sun damage, even reversing wrinkles over the course of six weeks. Basically, nourishing ingredients and avoiding the sun will help you eliminate age spots faster and more effectively than any hydroquinone cream.

Valerie Rosenbaum studies anti aging skin care products and the ingredients used in them. She believes the best skin care products are clinically tested by independent labs. Visit http://www.DefendYourSkin.com if you have fine lines, wrinkles or age spots and want to do something about it today.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?Eliminate-Age-Spots—Simple,-Safe-and-Effective-Creams&id=2270545

The ingredient has been banned in several countries, because it may increase a person’s risk of cancer. It should have been banned years ago, because it can cause the opposite effect of increased pigmentation. Complaints about a hydroquinone face lotion to reduce age spots include darkening and too much lightening of the area. Obviously, the effect that it has cannot be controlled. It’s too unstable.

So, how can a face lotion reduce age spots safely and effectively? If it contains an extract from the cyperus rotundus root, a well-known medicinal plant among traditional healers, it can lighten and even out pigmentation, by inhibiting melanin production. But, if you like your skin’s color, other than the spot, beware. By inhibiting melanin production, it will lighten your skin’s tone. If you don’t want to be “whiter”, you might want to choose something else.

How can a face lotion reduce age spots without inhibiting melanin production? That’s a good question, since the spot is a melanin clump, similar to a freckle. Here’s the answer.

Creams that contain a proprietary ingredient called Cynergy TK have been shown to increase the production of superoxide dismutase and glutathione within the skin’s cells. These antioxidants will help reverse brown pigmentation caused by UV exposure or environmental pollutants.

You might also look for a face lotion to reduce age spots that contains coenzyme Q10. Another antioxidant, COQ10 has been shown in clinical studies to reverse sun damage. Sun damage is what caused that spot to appear in the first place. You probably spent too much time outside, without protection, either over the course of several years or during a single trip to the beach.

Can a face lotion reduce age spots without bleaching? If you are fair skinned, you will undoubtedly notice that you skin looks lighter. How much lighter depends on how much or how little time that you spend in the sun. If you are still thinking that a tan is attractive, consider this. Fair skinned people that spend enough time in the sun to acquire a tan have far more wrinkles than people that limit sun exposure.

Basically, you might not need a face lotion to reduce age spots if you had spent a little less time in the sun or you had made efforts to protect your skin. If you are saying, “Wait, but I always wore sunscreen.” That’s not surprising. Most sunscreens are actually ineffective. Only zinc oxide is truly effective and people don’t like it, because it doesn’t disappear.

So, can a face lotion reduce age spots, safely? Yes it can, as long as it contains the right ingredients. Read the label carefully, before you buy face lotion to reduce age spots. That’s the best advice.

Valerie Rosenbaum studies anti aging skin care products and the ingredients used in them. She believes the best skin care products are clinically tested by independent labs. Visit DefendYourSkin.com if you have fine lines, wrinkles or age spots and want to do something about it today.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?Hydroquinone-in-Face-Lotions-to-Reduce-Age-Spots-is-Not-Safe!&id=2270541

Nobody wants to see the appearance of brown age spots, any more than they want to see wrinkles or sagging. Luckily, we live in the time that we do. Scientists have shown us what compounds will effectively prevent and repair the signs of age. And, no matter where they are in the world, they are readily available for order over the internet.

One drawback to internet ordering is that some manufacturers do not completely disclose all of the ingredients included in the product. At least when you are shopping in a store you can easily read the label of ingredients, along with any warning labels. My advice is this.

Don’t order anything unless the manufacturer fully discloses all of the ingredients. If you don’t know anything about an ingredient, look it up at “Skin Deep”. That’s a cosmetic safety database created by the Environmental Working Group. The database can also tell you about whether or not the company conducts animal testing. They rank products strictly according to safety, not effectiveness, but people that use the product are able to write a review for it. So, it is very helpful.

An ingredient that is often recommended for fading brown age spots is hydroquinone. Skin Deep lists hydroquinone as a probable carcinogen; a cancer-causing agent. It’s also a common irritant and allergen. A safe alternative to hydroquinone is Extra-pone Motha Root Extract.

It’s a plant extract that acts to inhibit melanin production. The spot that you see is actually a melanin clump, something like a freckle, but usually larger. Melanin is produced by cells deep within the skin in response to UV radiation from the sun. But, as time goes by, those cells don’t work so well and that’s why you sometimes get brown age spots.

The Motha Root is found just about everywhere, it’s a very common weed. But, only a German manufacturer produces the extract for use in skincare products. Testing has shown that their formula inhibits melanin production by over 40% at a .5% concentration. How long does it take to work?

As a single ingredient, it could take some time. Inhibiting melanin production means that the new cells that are created that day will be lighter in color, but it takes time for them to work their way to the surface. It might only take 28 days if person is under the age of 30. For the over 40 crowd, it could take as long as 8 weeks. Luckily, there are other compounds that help speed up the process.

If you want to see brown age spots fade quickly, as fast as it would happen in a younger person, a compound called CYNERGY TK should help. CYNERGY TK contains the protein keratin. In its most active form, it has been shown to increase skin cell production by as much as 160%.

With those two ingredients, consumers have reported seeing a significant difference in just two weeks, depending on their level of sun exposure. The only thing that will fade brown age spots more quickly is laser treatment or freezing and that can cause scarring. Just remember to read about all of the ingredients in a product, before you buy anything.

Valerie Rosenbaum has deeply studied natural skin care products and the ingredients used in them. She believes people should only use products that are clinically proven to be effective. Visit her website http://www.DefendYourSkin.com if you have fine lines, wrinkles or age spots and want to do something about it today.