• Supplements: Consider taking folic acid, magnesium, and calcium, as well as omega-3s, coenzyme Q10, and alpha lipoic acid, a powerful anti-inflammatory agent. Always consult your doctor before starting a supplement regimen.
• Moisturizers: If you have oily skin, you may not need moisturizer. For others, used regularly, effective moisturizers protect the skin while sealing in moisture.
• Cosmeceuticals: Some new lotions and creams contain therapeutic ingredients such as peptides, growth factors, or antioxidants.
• Antioxidants: Antioxidants such as vitamins A, C, and E and beta-carotene help prevent cellular damage from external forces, such as pollution, cigarette smoke, and the sun, and from internal forces, such as stress hormones and the normal oxidation of food. They are a trusty anti-aging ally.
• Peptides: These chains of amino acids (the building blocks of proteins) help stimulate the skin's natural rebuilding process by facilitating communication between the skin's layers.
• Retinoids: Retin-A and Renova are commonly used prescription topicals containing vitamin A derivatives that stimulate collagen production, balance skin tone, and reduce dark spots from photoaging. For people who are sensitive, there are some well-tolerated over-the-counter retinol products. Women who are pregnant or nursing should avoid retinoids.
• Bleaching creams: These can reduce age spots, treat melasma (dark facial skin coloration), and brighten the skin. Prescription preparations tend to be more effective than OTC products and often contain ingredients such as hydroquinone, an organic skin bleaching compound (examples: Triluma, Lustra, Epiquin).
• Botox: The most popular cosmetic procedure in the United States (done more than three million times a year), Botox uses botulinum toxin to reduce facial muscle contractions that produce forehead lines and wrinkles.
• Dermal fillers: Ranging from collagen to hyaluronic acid (the skin's natural moisturizing agent), fillers are injected under the skin to reduce the appearance of nasolabial folds (the lines that run from the nose to the corners of the mouth) and wrinkles.
• Physical exfoliation: Microdermabrasion is a manual exfoliation technique that removes the dead cells that often clog the outer layers of the skin, stimulating collagen production and new cell growth.
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Excerpted from The Beauty Prescription, copyright 2008 by Debra Luftman and Eva Ritvo. Used by permission of McGraw-Hill Companies. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced except with permission in writing from the publisher.
