| In Part 1 of this article, I discussed a handful of vitamins | | | | product is also good to use following the exfoliant use |
| and nutrients that you can take internally to benefit | | | | of alpha hydroxy acids and Retin A to promote |
| your skin. You can also "feed" your skin by applying | | | | optimal healing and repair. |
| biologically-active vitamins and nutrients topically. Here | | | | |
| are eight vitamins, minerals and nutrients you can apply | | | | CoEnzyme Q10 levels diminish in the skin as we age. |
| to your skin for anti-aging skin care — to achieve a | | | | A cream containing this vitamin-like compound |
| more youthful, vibrant appearance. | | | | increases your cells' ability to produce energy. The |
| | | | | likely outcome for users of topical CoEnzyme Q10 is |
| Please note there are many products on the market | | | | diminished wrinkles, improved texture and increased |
| that contain the following ingredients. I personally favor | | | | elasticity — in other words, better, younger skin. |
| cosmeceuticals — skin care products that contain | | | | |
| the purest pharmaceutical-grade biological actives. | | | | HYDRATE IT |
| While this article isn't a product review, if you need help | | | | |
| deciding which products to buy, I encourage you to | | | | Hyaluronic Acid, which also diminishes in our skin |
| contact my office (see my information at the bottom | | | | through aging, attracts many times its weight in water. |
| of this article). | | | | A moisturizer containing hyaluronic acid can "plump" |
| | | | | skin, filling fine lines for a noticeably younger |
| REPAIR IT | | | | appearance. One note: in dry climates, the hyaluronic |
| | | | | acid may try to pull water from the skin instead of the |
| Vitamin C, available without a prescription, has | | | | air. Be on the lookout for drier skin, and increase your |
| emerged as the wunderkind of topical skin repair | | | | moisturizer use accordingly. |
| agents. Its antioxidant action is clinically-proven to | | | | |
| reverse damage caused by free radicals while also | | | | SMOOTH AND EVEN IT OUT |
| stimulating collagen growth. This is a good thing. More | | | | |
| collagen equals visibly younger-looking skin. One | | | | Alpha hydroxy acids, present in many moisturizers, are |
| caveat: vitamin C preparations are notoriously unstable, | | | | clinically-proven to reduce the appearance of wrinkles |
| and can actually cause free-radical damage once they | | | | and to even out skin tone. Look for preparations that |
| degrade. Therefore, make sure to store your vitamin | | | | contain at least eight percent AHA but that don't |
| C cream or other preparation in a cool dark place and | | | | exceed 15 percent (at least not without the supervision |
| discard if the color changes. An anhydrous (non-water | | | | of your dermatologist). |
| containing) vitamin C cream, or one that also contains | | | | |
| ferulic acid, enhances the vitamin's stability. | | | | Niacin A was featured in a recent 12-week study, and |
| | | | | showed that a five-percent niacin preparation reduced |
| Retin A, also known as tretinoin, is a form of vitamin A | | | | fine lines and wrinkles, faded extra pigmentation and |
| available by prescription. A tretinoin cream works in a | | | | blotchiness, and smoothed rough skin. A bonus: this |
| variety of ways to reduce the appearance of wrinkles | | | | topical vitamin is very safe and easy to use. |
| and to minimize the signs of aging. Some of these | | | | |
| ways include increasing the skin's thickness, regulating | | | | Vitamin K is a vital component of the blood's clotting |
| oil production, stimulating collagen production, and even | | | | factors. Along with a diet rich in vitamin K or a |
| possibly turning back the aging clock of skin cells. Take | | | | supplement, a vitamin K cream can be applied topically |
| care with using Retin A, though, as some people | | | | to reduce dark under eye circles. |
| develop local irritation when using it. | | | | |
| | | | | With a practical routine of repair, hydration and |
| Copper peptides are absorbed deep into the dermis, | | | | smoothening, a vibrant, youthful appearance is close at |
| where they're effective in stimulating the skin to heal | | | | hand when you "feed" your skin with biologically active |
| and repair itself. The result is increased collagen | | | | vitamins and nutrients. |
| production and decreased wrinkles. A copper peptide | | | | |