Skincare Sleuth » Functional Keratin

Simple Solutions to Increasing Skin Firmness and Elasticity

admin — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 15:28:22 +0000

Scientists and consumers both are aware of what the causes of wrinkles are, so there ought to be a simple solution on the market that will rejuvenate our skin to the firm, supple form it once had.

It doesn’t make sense that we are able to walk on the moon and unravel the secrets of human DNA, but cannot find a solution to fine lines and wrinkles other than antioxidants. Do you think something is suspiciously wrong with this situation?

Antioxidants included in natural skin care products are the answer to repairing your lines and wrinkles caused by noxious free radical activity, and there are quite a few anti-aging skin creams that contain natural ingredients for this reason.

Antioxidants reduce the risk of damage free radicals can cause to your chemical structures. They also assist in healing any injury done to your chemical structures that resulted in wrinkles forming.

The other major causes of wrinkles include the loss of elastin, collagen, and hyaluronic acid because of the destructive actions of certain enzymes.

The steady decline in elastin and collagen output means that at some point loss is going to overcome the rate of creation, and then wrinkles and skin loosening will occur. Skin care product formulas typically don’t offer a solution to these two problems.

I know that you are probably thinking that there are formulas available containing collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acids, and that these formulas are already addressing this issue.

But what conventional cosmetic companies don’t want you to discover is that the molecular denseness of our skin tissues and polymer is so great that it is impossible for us to absorb these compounds through topical applications. Any increase must come from within.

One company has solved this problem by developing Cynergy TK protein complex/enzyme synthesis, Rigin facial masks and a reduced form of CoQ10 called Nano-Lipobelle H-EQ10. These components create a surge in the body’s own creation of collagen and elastin. The company uses Phytessence Wakame kelp extract and grape seed oil to prevent the degradation of the newly formed tissues.

This company is the only one that took a serious look at the causes of aging, and found a solution to each of them.

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Answers to the Most Common Anti Aging Skin Care Questions

admin — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 12:12:56 +0000

Do you have a skin care routine that works? Which steps are unnecessary? What products should be avoided, because of their toxic nature? Will using a skin firming cream help? Let’s discuss the honest answers to these questions.

Cleansing and moisturizing are an absolute must. Though many manufacturers recommend toners, exfoliants and other products, they are largely unnecessary. In fact, if they contain certain ingredients they may actually be hazardous to your health.

Alcohols dry out your skin and can lead to the formation of age spots. Plastic bead based exfoliants may cause scratching and inflammation. These plastic beads are also a environmental problem, because they are not bio-degradable or recyclable.

Cleansers with sodium laurel sulfate are detrimental to anyone with acne. It may actually be harmful for everyone. Research suggests it can enhance the growth of tumors.

The Environmental Working Group recommends creams with natural compounds and using a lower number of products. The addition of fragrances can create a toxic product because it is impossible to determine which of the nearly 4000 chemicals used to create the fragrance are included in the product. Have you thought of using a collagen supplement?

Ingredients like oatmeal and olive oil are excellent all natural daily cleansers. In an ideal world, every monthly skin care routine will include the use of a deep cleansing mask to clear the pores and absorb excessive oils.

Kaolin and bentone gel are extracts from clay that can absorb dirt particles without scratching or irritating the skin. They are not suggested for daily use, because they will dry out the skin when used too often.

The best moisturisers contain plant-based oils, not mineral oil. Certain plant oils are very comparable to those naturally present in the skin, which means they are highly compatible and promptly assimilated. It is the inclusion of mineral oil that causes people with oily skin to stop using moisturizers. Plant-based oils don’t lead to that greasy feeling.

It is important to apply a natural moisturiser after every shower and on your face after you remove your war paint at night. There are usually specific moisturizers for use in the day, and others that are better suited for overnight use.

All natural cleansers and moisturisers are the keys for any natural skincare regimen. Safe all natural products will lead to longer life and more beautiful skin.

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Latest Research on Skin Care with Phytessence Wakame

admin — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 14:33:04 +0000

A plant-based skin care compound named Phytessence Wakame was recently discovered to contain fucoxanthin, a carotenoid. Carotenoids are well known to be useful when topically applied or consumed. Here’s what the latest research on wakame has shown.

The most recent experiment was conducted in Japan. Although wakame has spread throughout most of the world’s oceans, it was originated in the Sea of Japan. It has a long history of use as a food item and a beauty preserver.

When eaten, wakame is considered filled with nutrients. It contains essential vitamins and minerals including iodine, thiamine and calcium.

When applied to the skin, kelp has been known to protect against sun damage and ease burns. Contemporary scientists have been able to isolate the traits that make it a useful anti-aging ingredient for use in natural skin care creams.

Fucoxanthin is the most recent discovery. Japanese researchers found that it acts as an anti-inflammatory, which is helpful for lowering skin redness and irritation. It blocks the activity of a variety of enzymes that cause hyperpigmentation, which makes it perfect for getting rid of age spots. It also blocks an enzyme that breaks down the skin’s hyaluronic acid.

Hyaluronic acid is included as an ingredient in numerous skin care products, but the benefits are measly according to dermatologists. The skin’s hyaluronic acid content does decrease with age, which contributes to the formation of fine lines and wrinkles But, hyaluronic acid molecules are too large to penetrate into the skin. So, it provides little or no effect. The same is true for those people using a collagen supplement.

Since the enzymatic activity responsible for lost hyaluronic acid is inhibited by wakame, it can reverse one of the primary causes of wrinkle formation.

All carotenoids have antioxidant activity, which means they avert free radical damage. The molecular damage caused by free radicals can eventually lead to the formation of wrinkles or even skin cancer, depending on the specific mutation.

So, this ancient Japanese beauty secret can do lots of things for skin health and maintenance. You will find the ingredient in some of the high quality natural skin care products.

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Achieve Younger, Healthier Skin with Natural Skin Care Products

admin — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 17:41:59 +0000

One of the all natural skin care products manufactured today is grape seed oil. It is useful as a moisturizer and a shaving lubricant. It is nourishing and soothing when used on the delicate skin around the eyes. The antioxidants it contains can help prevent free radical damage, one of the causes of wrinkles. But, grape seed oil is not the only beneficial ingredient around.

Recent research has focused on protecting the skin against the causes of an aged appearance. The grounds for the focused research is clear. Billions of customers are interested in anti-aging solutions.

Antioxidants are quite effective at preventing aging by rendering free radicals inert. Refined protein complexes like Functional Keratin and protein peptides are also effective. Plant extracts from the avocado and special types of seaweed are beneficial. Some companies have excelled at combining these ingredients.

All natural skin care products available today contain only one or two ingredients at most. Distilled or purified water is often the main ingredient. Water is plainly necessary for blending. But, if the label of ingredients includes only water and one other compound, then you aren’t getting much for your money.

When it comes to each day cleansers, the gentler the product the better. But, even if you use the mildest cleanser, you still need a high quality moisturizer. If you are what some people call a “purist”, you might not want anything that science can provide. There’s nothing improper with that. The best moisturizer you can use is grape seed or olive oil.

If you are willing to use some scientifically advanced all natural skin care products that contain no man-made chemicals or added perfumes, you can look for a moisturizer containing grape seed oil, the active form of the protein keratin and a kind of seaweed named phytessence wakame.

Mixed collectively in lotion-form, those ingredients are soothing and energizing. They help protect against sun & free radical damage. They reduce wrinkles and stimulate the skin’s own rejuvenation processes. They even reduce the depletion of one of the compounds responsible for the skin’s smoothness and firmness. The loss of hyaluronic acid is reduced by wakame kelp.

Many of the all natural skin care products on the market contain hyaluronic acid. Only a few contain wakame.

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Preventing Aging Skin is Your Best Option

admin — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 21:00:37 +0000

Instead of wondering what you should do to reverse the signs of aging skin, you should work to prevent the problem from occurring in the first place. There are many things that you can do to help your skin look better and hold off the aging process for many more years.

The first thing that you will need is a good skin are regimen. Having a routine that you follow every single day will help you to keep your skin in good shape. Find a good skin cleanser that is gentle for your skin and still cleans the dirt and keeps your pores clear of the harmful bacteria that could be responsible for breakouts. A high quality moisturizer is also important in your skin care routine. Choose a product for your daily moisturizer and a different one that you will use at night. When you are sleeping is a good time to wear a heavier night cream that will take the hours while you are sleeping to absorb into your skin. Also find a good eye cream that will keep the delicate skin around your eyes well moisturized.

Some of the signs of aging will occur when you are not keeping yourself as healthy as possible. This should always include your diet. Your skin requires a healthy diet as much as your body does. Eating the right foods and staying away from junk food will help to promote the right conditions in the body to fight off the signs of aging. Drink plenty of water and make sure that you include antioxidant rich foods in your diet. When you are not healthy, one of the first places where it will be noticed is in your skin. It is important that you have the correct balance of nutrients in your diet to have the healthiest skin.

Another factor for preventing aging skin is the amount of rest that you give your body. Not getting enough sleep will show up in the condition of your skin. Your body needs the recovery time every day to repair itself from all of the environmental abuses that occur during the day. Make sure that you get plenty of sleep and take good care of your skin.

Preventing aging skin should always include sunscreen. The sun can do a great deal of damage to your skin. You should always make sure that you are wearing sunscreen when you will be out in the harmful rays. Try to stay out of the sun between the hours of ten am till three pm when the sun is at its strongest. Sun spots or age spots are one of the signs of aging skin that you can prevent by wearing a good quality sunscreen.

Stick to your skincare routine every day. Your moisturizers and anti aging products have no chance of working if you do not use them. Consistency is the goal when you are developing your skincare routine. You will also not know if the product is providing benefits to your skin unless you use it on a consistent basis. Preventing aging skin is something that you will have to give a priority to. Your skin health is directly related to the amount of care that you give it.

Dr. Valerie Rosenbaum is a board certified dermatologist who has done extensive research on the way many chemicals used in skin care products do more harm than good. If you have fine lines, wrinkles or damaged skin visit her website http://www.DefendYourSkin.com to find out which skin care products she uses and recommends.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Valerie_Rosenbaum
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Increasing Collagen For a Youthful Appearance

admin — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 20:58:32 +0000

One of the most important ingredients in your skin is collagen. As you age, your body will reduce the amount of collagen that it produces resulting in the aging of your skin. When you are trying to improve your appearance and look youthful, it is important that you find a way for increasing collagen in your skin.

Many cosmetic and skincare brands claim that you can apply collagen to your skin. When you do a little more research on the topic, you will discover that it is not possible for collagen to absorb into your skin and have any effect on your appearance. To produce results on your skin, you will have to find a way to naturally increase the amount of collagen in your skin through other methods.

Aging collagen skin can be helped with injections of collagen that is used to fill wrinkles and fine lines. Many women use this method, but it is not long lasting and you will have to continue to have the injections for the effects to remain. If you do not want to take such a drastic step in your skincare treatment, there are other things that you can do.

Do some research on skincare and collagen in your skin. Sites like X-tend Life are very informative about the process of aging skin and the things that you can do for increasing collagen naturally. There are a number of products on the market that will help your skin produce its own collagen and give a more youthful appearance in a less drastic method than injections.

Your skincare routine should begin with your diet and end with natural skincare products that effectively use the body to produce the results that are wanted. There have been some great strides in aging skin research and the ingredients that can be used to be effective. Keep in mind when you are doing research that it is not merely the presence of these ingredients that matter. They must be in the product in the correct quantities to have any effect at all. There are many brand name skincare products that claim to have some of the most cutting edge ingredients in their products, however, when you do more research you will find that there is not a sufficient amount to do anything at all.

Eat a well balanced diet, drink plenty of water, get exercise and rest and make sure that you have all of the information on skincare and you will be on your way to looking great for a long period of time. It’s never easy to watch your skin age and worry about what you can do about it. Good research and a healthy body will help you find the best results.

Increasing collagen is possible if you allow your body to do it naturally. Take a look at all of the information that is available and look for the method that will work for you. There are steps that you can take today to make sure that your skin is in the best possible condition.

Dr. Valerie Rosenbaum is a dermatologist who specializes in aging of the skin. If you want to protect your skin from wrinkles and fine lines then click here to find out which natural skincare product line she uses and recommends to her patients. She has worked extensively in combating the signs of aging through the use of natural ingredients that help the body repair itself. To learn more about protecting your skin from wrinkles and fine lines then visit her website DefendYourSkin.com today to learn what she recommends.

Finding a 100% Pure Skin Care Treatment

admin — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 01:35:55 +0000

Many people are recognizing the need to find quality skin care that does not contain any of the chemical ingredients that are in so many of the products that are currently on the market. The search for a 100% pure skin care treatment will require you to do some research and find out the kind of ingredients that you should be looking for in your skin care products.

The people who are looking for pure skin care products are usually interested in finding the best anti aging skin treatment that is available as well. Most of the time the purer the ingredients the better the anti aging skin care treatment will be. You should consider the damage that can be caused to your skin when you are using products that contain chemicals and other ingredients that you should steer clear of. There are a number of resources online that can give you the information that you will need to begin your search.

Of course, when you conduct your research, you will discover that there are some ingredients that must be included even in those that claim to be a 100% pure skin care treatment. When you are looking at the products that are available, look for ingredients that are made from natural sources. Some of the ingredients will need to be processed in some way before they can be used so in this sense they are not completely natural. However, you can find products that are free of the harmful chemicals that should not be put on your skin. Consider that the ingredients are being absorbed into your system through your skin and decide if the chemicals that are in the products are something that you want in your system.

Fragrances and other ingredients that make the skin care product smell nice and have a better texture are the ingredients that you should be wary of. Anything that does not add to the effectiveness of the product is just not necessary in your 100% pure skin care treatment. Save your use of fragrances to the perfumes that you decide to wear. You will only be placing it in a small area and can choose the fragrance that you like. Manufacturers understand that people like things that smell nice and add the fragrances to enhance their product. Unfortunately, the fragrances are doing more harm than good.

For the best anti aging skin treatment and a 100% pure skin care treatment, you should look for products that are made of plant based ingredients that have been proven to be effective. Watch out for the quantities of the effective ingredient when you are shopping as well.

Many companies use a very small amount of the best ingredients to entice customers, but they are not effective because there is not enough of the ingredient to make an impact on your skin. Do not be deceived by this practice and do your research on the ingredients and their effective quantities before you buy a skin care product.

Collagen and Elastin Damage Cause Skin Aging

admin — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 01:33:58 +0000

Here you can learn about the aging of skin and collagen and elastin damage that occurs over time. If you want to look your best throughout your life, these are lessons that are worth your while.

Many of the things that you have probably heard about the skin’s health and appearance were misleading. For example, most sources say that collagens are a primary component of the skin, but they are not a primary component of the epidermis, which is the part that we see. It is a primary component of the dermis, which lies between the epidermis and the subcutaneous tissue.

There are four or five layers of the epidermis, depending on which area of the body you are looking at. Making up those five layers are four different kinds of cells, but 95% of the cells are made of keratin, a different kind of protein that many people have never heard of.

The dermis is composed of two layers, elastin-fibers are only found in the deepest layer, alongside densely packed collagen-fibers. Loosely packed fibers of collagens are found in the other.

Collagens and elastins are sometimes found in anti-aging skincare products. But, if they were to prevent aging of skin and collagen and elastin loss, they would need to penetrate through the four of five layers of the epidermis, in order to get to the dermis. Elastins would need to penetrate through five or six layers. The whole idea is structurally impossible.

The long chained proteins are too large to penetrate through all of those layers, which is why cosmetic surgeons came up with the idea of injecting it. If they could be applied topically and provide benefit, then injections would be unnecessary.

The relationship between the appearance aging of skin and collagen and elastin damage is pretty well understood. When the fibers are damaged, they become less strong. The skin becomes less elastic and loses its ability to tighten back up after a weight loss.

The thickness of the subcutaneous tissue becomes thinner with age, having the same affect that a large weight loss would have. Add these together and you see more sagging. Wrinkles and fine lines may start to appear.

Most of the damage to the fibers is caused by free radicals, although chronic inflammation and stress can also do some damage. The body’s defenses against free radical damage are antioxidants, which can be applied topically. There are natural anti-inflammatories that can also be applied to the epidermis. Stress reduction is a different subject.

To address the aging of skin and collagen and elastin loss with antioxidants and natural anti-inflammatories, you need to find a company that uses nanotechnology. Antioxidants like coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E will not penetrate through all six or seven layers without using the technology.

With creams containing amino acids, it is possible to stimulate the production of new cells, which increases thickness and reduces wrinkles. They also act as anti-inflammatories to fight the aging of skin and collagen and elastin damage. Those are the basics, but there’s always more to learn.

Dr. Valerie Rosenbaum is a dermatologist who specializes in aging of the skin. If you want to protect your skin from wrinkles and fine lines then click here to find out which natural skincare product line she uses and recommends to her patients. She has worked extensively in combatting the signs of aging through the use of natural ingredients that help the body repair itself. To learn more about protecting your skin from wrinkles and fine lines then visit her website http://www.DefendYourSkin.com today to learn what she recommends.

Why Anti-Wrinkle Creams With Collagen and Elastin Are a Waste of Money

admin — Mon, 25 May 2009 02:31:31 +0000

Buying anti-wrinkle creams containing collagen and elastin is a waste of money. You want something that stimulates collagen production with the skin. To do that, you need to stimulate the production of new cells. There’s a way to do that, safely.

When you understand how the cells of the body work, it is easy to understand why anti-wrinkle creams containing collagen and elastin are not beneficial. The cells of the body produce peptides, (short chains of amino acids) known as pro-collagen. The pro-collagen is then secreted into the space around the cell, where other peptides become attached to it and tropocollagen is formed.

The tropocollagen molecules automatically assemble into larger arrays called fibrils. The fibrils bundle together to form fibers. So, when we want something that stimulates collagen fiber production, we first need something that will stimulate the production of new cells.

Anti-wrinkle creams containing collagen and elastin are derived from animal skins or marine life. If they contained tropocollagen, they might bind with the skin’s own to form new fibrils, but that’s not what they contain.

Tropocollagen is used in some medical procedures, but they are extracted from the skin of very young animals and that is not the case with most skincare products. Most people wouldn’t like the idea of slaughtering young animals to improve their appearance, anyway.

There is a type of bio-active peptide that stimulates the production of new cells, which in turn stimulates collagen production. The peptides are gently extracted from sheep’s wool and processed in a manner that allows them to remain bio-active, throughout the process and all the way into your bottle.

The process was developed and patented by a company called KERATEC. Their team of researchers has published a number of scientific studies. The ones that pertain to the skin include an ingredient called Functional Keratin.

The results of clinical studies were exciting enough to encourage a health supplement company to develop and begin distributing a line of anti-aging skincare products. Creams containing Functional Keratin have been shown to increase skin cell proliferation by as much as 160% in as little as three days. This, of course, stimulates collagen production, as well.

Anti-wrinkle creams containing collagen and elastin are supposed to improve firmness. Those containing Functional Keratin improve firmness by over 40% in less than three weeks. These were short term studies, so firmness could continue to improve over time.

Even though they were short term studies, there is no question about the safety of long-term use. One of the safest, most hypoallergenic ingredients in skincare products is a pharmaceutical grade of lanolin, which is extracted from sheep’s wool.

Avocado oil also stimulates collagen. The best night creams contain avocado oil and Functional Keratin, along with a pharmaceutical grade of Shea butter, which has been shown to soften, smooth and reduce wrinkles in as little as four weeks. I can vouch for it myself.

So, now that you know about the alternatives to anti-wrinkle creams containing collagen and elastin, you’ll be looking better in no time.

Dr. Valerie Rosenbaum is a dermatologist who specializes in aging of the skin. If you want to protect your skin from wrinkles and fine lines then visit her website to find out which natural skincare product line she uses and recommends to her patients. She has worked extensively in combatting the signs of aging through the use of natural ingredients that help the body repair itself. To learn more about protecting your skin from wrinkles and fine lines then visit her website http://www.DefendYourSkin.com today to learn what she recommends.

Collagen Diet and Anti Aging Skin Care

admin — Mon, 25 May 2009 02:30:13 +0000

Many people are falling for the new collagen diet because they are being promised that it is an easy and natural way for them to lose weight. Others are using ultra-pure collagen because the manufacturers have promised them that the products will cause the collagen in their skin to build back up, and erase the lines and wrinkles that have been plaguing them.

It is the latter followers of the so-called collagen diet that we are going to concern ourselves with here. Although people have been lead to believe that you can be healthier and younger looking simply through the introduction of new collagen into the system what you are being told is not entirely true. While it helps in certain ways it is not a cure all.

What the companies that produce ultra-pure collagen products fail to tell you is that even though they have included the types of collagen that are necessary for adding collagen to your skin there will likely not be enough left after the body has processed the compound to make any noticeable difference in the way that you look.

What the producers of collagen diet supplements sometimes fail to tell you is that the same two types of collagen that are the structural tissue of your skin are also the structural tissue of the walls of both your arteries, and your organs. When the collagen production in your body begins to slow down the collagen in your skin is the first to be depleted. This happens for a very important reason.

Collagen is a tissue that like everything else in your body has to be renewed in order for everything to hold its structure. It is more important for the body to maintain the structural soundness of your organ and artery walls, so the collagen being produced is mainly used for that purpose. The ultra-pure collagen that you ingest will primarily be used for this purpose also.

This is why the collagen diet supplements that these companies are trying to convince you are some type of fountain of youth will not do much of anything to improve the way that you look. If you want to take them as supplements for your internal health then be my guest, but for improving the overall way that your skin looks will take something else entirely.

Instead of using ultra-pure collagen to improve your appearance you should try the anti aging skin care products of a manufacturer from New Zealand. They have put together a carefully selected mixture of keratin proteins, which they call Functional Keratin. What this ingredient does is it greatly improves collagen and elastin production in your skin, which is primarily made up of keratin.

The ingredient improves your skin’s ability to produce new cell formation, which in turn significantly increases the production of collagen in the skin. If you truly want to erase the lines and wrinkles, and look literally years younger, then this is the ingredient that you need to have in your products. Functional Keratin will give you everything that the collagen diet supplements cannot.

Dr. Valerie Rosenbaum is a dermatologist who specializes in aging of the skin. If you want to protect your skin from wrinkles and fine lines then find out which natural skincare product line she uses and recommends to her patients. She has worked extensively in combatting the signs of aging through the use of natural ingredients that help the body repair itself. To learn more about protecting your skin from wrinkles and fine lines then visit her website http://www.DefendYourSkin.com today to learn what she recommends.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?Collagen-Diet-and-Anti-Aging-Skin-Care&id=1856264