Sleeping Beauty's Secret

I was over at Sleeping Beauty, checking out a fellow beauty product enthusiast's musings. I like the post she had on Emerge Wrinkle Relaxing Serum. According to her, Emerge has "THREE non-toxic anti-aging peptides chemically combined from naturally derived amino acids."

After using Emerge, Sleeping Beauty has this to say:

"...this product will not leave you expressionless like some other products will. It increases collagen and elastin production helping fill in those wrinkles without messing with your muscles so you have control of your face! This product also helps prevent premature aging and you will see visible results in two weeks."

When she said "other products" I suspect those that contain Botox-alternative ingredients. Oh well. Some people prefer the organic to the superficial. But I think everyone will agree that no matter what kind of brand one uses for the upkeep of one's skin care, all it comes down to the quality of results they'd gain after using the product.

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Anti Aging Benefits of Grape Seed Extract

Ever wonder why the French are as healthy as horses despite the fact that their cuisine is rich in fat and sugar? This medical mystery is called the "French Paradox" which brought about research into the reason why the French have very low rates of heart disease. Scientists believed the answer can be found in their favorite beverage, the red wine.

Wine is made from grapes, which are a rich source of antioxidants. Further research revealed that the oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPC) in the red wine promotes cardiovascular health. Grape seed extract, in particular, contain the richest sources of OPCs, making it one of the most powerful antioxidants available.

Grape seed extract is rich in polyphenols, a compound that is high in antioxidants which help protect cells from free radical damage and also promote healthy blood circulation. Compared with Vitamins C, E and A (beta-carotene), it stays longer in the body for as long as 3 full days, is 20 times more potent than Vitamin C, and can be 50 times more effective than Vitamin E.

Listed below are some of the anti aging and health benefits of grape seed extract:
* one of the most powerful antioxidants that fights free radicals and slows down the aging process
* 20 times more potent than Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and 50 times stronger than Vitamin E (alpha-tocopheryl acetate)
* helps improve cardiovascular health
* helps promote brain, skin, and eye health
* anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-inflammatory
* one of the few antioxidants that can penetrate the blood-brain barrier to help protect the brain and nerve tissue
* prevents formation of plaque in arteries
* improves mental alertness and help prevent senility

However, grape seed extract use is not recommended for those allergic to grapes. It can also cause excessive bleeding for individuals taking blood thinners. Minor side effects would include dizziness, nausea, and it may interfere with cholesterol lowering drugs.

There is no established recommended daily amount for grape seed extract, but most research doses range from 50 mg to 200 mg per day. Debasis Bagchi, a leading grape seed extract researcher, recommends a daily dose of 50 mg for ages 30 to 40 years, 100 mg for ages 40 to 50 years, and 200 mg for adults older than 50 years. So far, there were no recommendations for children and teens.

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Anti Aging Skin Care Product Myths and Truths

Anti wrinkle creams, beauty serums and skin rejuvenating lotions are often used by general consumers without thought about the truths and myths behind those anti aging skin care products.

Exposure to the sun has been found to be one of the factors in producing free radicals that destroy cell production and hastening the aging process. To protect one's skin from harmful UV rays, sun block creams and lotions should be used extensively. Sun block provides protection from the sun by preventing the absorption of ultraviolet rays into the skin's cells.

However, one of the most common notion in using sun block creams and lotions is that they are only appropriate in beaches and pools. If we want to prevent damage and advanced aging on our skin we should use sun block every day. It is recommended that we find a sun block product that has an SPF of at least 15 and for a more intensive skin protection we should use sun block with SPF 45.

Another skin care product that has long been misused is the moisturizer. Since we lose water when we sweat when we are exposed to heat, when we are under the sun for too long, or when we stay in an air-conditioned room for a long time, our skin experiences dehydration. Losing the required moisture to maintain its elasticity and smoothness, skin becomes dry and wrinkled.

Cells cannot regenerate without water thus skin cells fail to rejuvenate. To bring back the needed moisture to one’s skin, always use a preferred moisturizing product for at least four weeks to measure its results. It is recommended that we not jump from one moisturizer brand to another to avoid skin irritations.

If we want to slow down the aging process it’s not enough that we use the basic sun block and moisturizer creams and lotions. Anti wrinkle creams and skin rejuvenating serums are important in reducing fine lines and renewing dull and tired skin. Among the all-natural and the synthetically-produced skin care ingredients, the most important of all are the antioxidants.

Anti wrinkle creams like LifeCell Skin and Bellaplex often have some form of antioxidants, i.e. idebenone, tocopheryl acetate, retinol and ascorbate. These are forms of Vitamins A, C, and E, which are essential antioxidants that fight the damage caused by free radicals and energize cellular regeneration.

However do not expect immediate results when using anti wrinkle creams. One has to use these anti aging skin care products for at least 4 to 6 weeks before any visible result is achieved. Some users develop unrealistic expectations based on marketing hype and end up disappointed.

With continued research into effective anti aging products and methods, there are always new discoveries and better products being manufactured. Before purchasing the newest skin care product in the market it is best to read reviews of the best anti wrinkle creams on the market and be informed of what works, what doesn’t and what the side effects are.

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Botox and Anti Wrinkle Creams

Botox is a popular cosmetic procedure that claims to get rid of wrinkles. It is understood that Botox is injected underneath the muscle layer to prevent wrinkle formation. It is not botulism that is being injected but Botulinum toxin Type A which is approved by the FDA as a safe cosmetic product to use between the eyes to rid of the frown lines.

Botox basically prevents muscles from contracting when we are tense or angry. We can move our muscles through chemical communication between nerves and muscles. Nerve endings release the hormone acetylcholine which binds itself to receptors in the muscle. The binding of acetylcholine to receptors in the muscles tell them to contract when we feel strong emotions like anger or when we are tense.

But Botox prevents this chemical binding by blocking the nerve receptors in the muscles. As a result, the muscles fail to contract because the signal to move got lost before the nerve impulses reached the nerve receptors in the muscle layer. In short, Botox produces a short lived paralysis of the muscles underneath which it was injected.

Botox, however, is short lived. Its effects can be seen after only 5 to 10 days, but they wear off after 3 to 5 months as the muscle regenerates new acetylcholine receptor sites and regains the ability to sense the nerve’s signal to contract. To keep the wrinkles from forming again users need to have Botox injected regularly every 3 to 5 months and still this won’t assure men and women clients that their wrinkles will disappear for good.

Botox only works on wrinkles formed by muscle contractions but those caused by the aging process are difficult to rid of. They are caused by loss of collagen underneath, thus developing breaks in the collagen layer. Skin folds form on the upper dermis causing shadows of the skin folds to become visible. Though these kinds of wrinkles may be difficult to eliminate Botox injections can probably soften them.

An alternative to the Botox procedure is found in Argeriline. It is a synthetic peptide used as part of the ingredients in many anti aging skin care products. Argireline, which has the chemical name of Acetyl Hexapeptide-3 (AH3), is one of the most often used active ingredients as an alternative to botox. It is sometimes referred to as "topical botox". By inhibiting the release of neurotransmitters that initiate and control the intensity of muscular contractions of the face, it relaxes neural endings in wrinkles.

When choosing the best anti-wrinkle cream, always remember to check the product’s ingredients on the packaging label before you buy. Better yet, read wrinkle cream reviews with wrinkle cream ratings in them to find the best anti-aging creams and serums for your type of skin.

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