You work hard to keep your body looking young but no matter how hard you try, you still have flabby arms.

Believe me when I say that you’re not alone. The tricep muscle in the back of your arm is one of the hardest to isolate, but it can be done.

The good thing is that once you start targeting your tricep, it’s fairly easy to tone so if you follow my advice, those flying squirrel arms can be a thing of the past in no time at all!

One of the biggest mistakes that you can make when trying to target the triceps is to use your forearms and biceps to move the weight. You have to concentrate on using the muscles in the backs of your arms or these exercises won’t be nearly as effective.

You’re probably going to be sore at first because if your arms are flabby, you’re probably not using your triceps. A little soreness in your tri muscle is a good thing though – it means that you’re finally hitting the right spot!

1. Tricep Pulldowns: This one can be done at the gym using the pull down machine or at home using two dumbbells. It’s great because you’re using both positive and negative resistance, which many professionals agree will hasten your results. To do it at the gym:
   1. Adjust the weight on the lat pull down machine so that you can pull it down fairly easily.
   2. Stand in front of the machine with your feet shoulder-width apart and grasp the bar so that your hands are also shoulder-width apart.
   3. Start by grasping the bar at about a 45 degree angle above your head.
   4. Slowly (it should take you 3 seconds) pull the bar down as close to your thighs as the machine will allow, keeping your arms straight. Concentrate on using only your triceps.
   5. Hold for a second
   6. Slowly let the weight pull your arms back to the starting position.
   7. Repeat 15 times and do 3 sets

   To do it at home, simply use your dumbbells to simulate the bar. Your resistance will be backwards when you do it this way but the results will be the same.

   
2. Dumbbell Tricep Extensions: These can be done either standing or sitting, and you may do one arm at a time, or both together. I recommend doing one arm at a time, because it’s easier to focus on working just your tricep.
   1. Start with your dumbbell in your left hand, with your arm extended above your head, palm facing forward.
   2. Slowly (again using a 3-count) lower the dumbbell behind your head, bending your arm only at the elbow.
   3. Slowly return to starting position.
   4. Repeat 15 times with each arm. Do 3 sets per arm.


3. Rope Pull Down: This exercise looks easy but I think that you’ll find finishing the third set challenging until you build up your triceps. You’ll need a cable machine and a rope attachment for it, so you may need to do this one at the gym unless you have a machine at home. This exercise also uses both positive and negative resistance so it’s an awesome way to fast-track your way to gorgeous arms.

   1. Set the weight on the machine to a weight that feels easy to pull but offers a small amount of resistance when you test it.
   2. Standing with your feet shoulder-width apart, grasp the rope with both hands.
   3. Keeping your elbows locked at your sides, slowly pull the rope down toward your thighs.
   4. Slowly return the rope to the starting position.
   5. Repeat 15 times and do 3 sets.


4. Tricep Kickbacks: You’ll need a bench to do this one, or you can kneel on the floor if you’re doing it at home. For the sake of this exercise, we’ll assume that you’re using the floor.

   1. Kneel on the floor with your back straight and a dumbbell in one hand. Support yourself on the floor with the other.
   2. Your upper arm should be parallel with (or slightly higher than) your body and your elbow is bent so that your lower arm is vertical with the floor.
   3. Keeping your upper arm stuck to your side, slowly push the dumbbell back so that your arm is completely straight.
   4. Hold for a second.
   5. Lower the weight slowly to the starting position.
   6. Repeat 15 times with each arm and do 3 sets per arm.


5. Close-hand pushups: This is a great exercise that you can do anywhere and it works not only your triceps but also your butt and your entire core! You can do traditional, plank-style pushups with your weight on your toes, or you can do the “girl” pushups with your weight on your knees.

   1. Instead of starting the pushup with your hands shoulder-width apart, bring your hands in close together.
   2. Do the pushup as you regularly would.
   3. Repeat 15 times if you can, and do 3 sets.

Previous: Wrinkled Knee Exercises

Next: Sagging Butt Exercises

• Saggy Arm Exercises
  

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• Arm Exercises for Women at Home
  

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As you age it seems like everything starts to sag, including your stomach.

What was once a tone, tight belly is now a flabby, unattractive pouch that you try your best to hide.

Unavoidable you say? Absolutely not.

With a little effort and dedication on your part, you can ditch the mom jeans and jump back into that bathing suit in no time. Read on to learn exactly what you need to do to tone your belly and get rid of that pouch!

What Ab Muscles Do You Need To Work?

Great question. First, you may be under the impression that each one of those bumps that you see in a person with great abs is a separate muscle but they’re not.

The front abdominal muscles, called the rectus abdominus (the one you see) and the transversus abdominus (the one that lies behind the 6-pack and supports your organs), are a set of two layered muscles that run from your rib cage to your pelvis. The 6-pack look is caused by the rectus abdominus muscle bulging through connective tissue that runs down the outside of it.

Your internal and external oblique muscles run down your sides and support movement and posture. It’s important to work these muscles for two reasons: they help you look great and they also support your spine and torso.

Let’s Get Started!

The first things that pop to mind when you think “ab exercise” are probably sit-ups but in reality, sit-ups won’t help you get rid of the pouch on your lower belly nearly as fast as the following exercises because they only work part of your abdomen. They’re great for the upper part of your ab muscle, but you need to target your lower portion and obliques as well. These exercises will help you do that.

1. Bicycle Crunches: This are one of the best exercises that you can do because it works all of your ab muscles. You don’t need any special equipment and you can do them at home even while you’re watching TV. As a bonus, you’ll be giving your thighs a good workout, too.

   1. Lie on the floor on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Bend your elbows so that you have your hands by your ears. Don’t lock your hands behind your head because you’ll be more prone to cheat when you’re doing this exercise if you do.
   2. Bring your left knee up at the same time that you bring your right elbow up. Bend in the middle and cross over to meet your knee.
   3. Hold for a couple of seconds.
   4. Return to your starting position and repeat with your right knee and left elbow.
   5. Repeat 15 times with each side and do three sets.


2. Reverse Crunch: This exercise works your front ab muscles top to bottom. It’s great for getting rid of that pouch. You may not be able to do more than a few in the beginning but as your abs get stronger, the exercise will get easier so keep at it.

   1. Lie flat on your back with your knees slightly bent, your ankles crossed, and your arms at your sides.
   2. Bring your knees up so that they are vertical to your belly button.
   3. Return to starting position.
   4. Repeat 15 times and do 3 sets.
   5. When these become easy for you, you can increase the difficulty by performing it with your legs straight or by adding ankle weights.


3. Exercise Ball Planks: These are amazing for your entire core. If you don’t have an exercise ball, you can do them on the floor.

   1. Kneel beside your exercise ball and place both elbows on it, shoulder width apart.
   2. Assume a push-up position with your weight on your elbows and toes and your body completely straight.
   3. Hold this position for as long as you can, up to a minute. Keep your arms and body straight.
   4. Drop back to your knees
   5. Repeat 3 times, resting at least 1 minute in between.
   You can modify this exercise in a couple of ways. If you don’t have an exercise ball, simply do it on the floor. If you find that you can hold the pose for a minute with no problem, extend your arms straight out instead of placing your weight on your elbows.


4. Straight Arm Crunch: This is an interesting and more challenging twist to a typical crunch. You’ll be working both the upper and lower part of your front ab muscles. If in the beginning these are too hard, try them with your knees bent and work up to doing them with your legs straight.

   1. Lie flat on your back with your legs straight on the floor and your arms extended above your head.
   2. Lift your legs straight up so that they are vertical to the ground and raise your arms and upper body so that you’re reaching for your toes.
   3. Return to starting position.
   4. Repeat 15 times and do 3 sets.

Final Note: These exercises are meant to be done in conjunction with each other on “ab day”. If you do them at least 3 times per week, you’ll easily start seeing results in about a month, especially if you’re doing at least 20 minutes of cardio 3 times a week, too.

You’ll notice that your abdominal muscles will be firmer and your jeans will begin to feel loose. Stick with your routine and don’t get discouraged if these exercises seem difficult in the beginning – they get easier as you strengthen your muscles. Good luck and see you at the beach!

If you know of another great ab exercise or technique, we’d love to hear about it in the comments section below.

Previous: Sagging Butt Exercises

• Exercises for Saggy Breasts
  

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  Every woman wants shapely and beautiful legs and we all know that in order to get them, we need to exercise. As difficult as it may be in order...

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Are you an Elizabeth Arden fan but haven’t tried the Prevage products yet?

Are you looking for a new product line because your old one isn’t working for you?

If so, this is the article for you. We’re going to take a close look at each product in the line so you’ll know if each one lives up to its claims.

Prevage Products

Elizabeth Arden has long been a name to be reckoned with in the cosmetics industry and their latest line of anti-aging products is no exception. Available at fine department stores, the Ceramide products are some of the most popular of the higher-end wrinkle-reducing lines and the Prevage products have found a permanent home on the vanities of millions of women.

Without further ado, let’s see if the loyalty is deserved, or just hype.

1. Prevage Day Intensive Anti-Aging Moisture Cream SPF 30

   Elizabeth Arden’s Claim

   Smooths dry skin, moisturizes, protects skin from sun damage, gives skin a brighter, more even-toned appearance.

   Active Ingredients

   Idebenone is a big-hitting antioxidant cousin of CoQ10 that protects skin from environmental damage caused by free radicals. The major difference between the 2 cousins is idebenone is much more water soluble. It also softens skin by increasing hydration and reduces the look of lines and wrinkles by encouraging healthy cell growth in an atmosphere free of free radicals.

   The product also contains hyaluronic acid, one of the superstars you can find in out Top 10 Ingredients article, as well as several different moisturizers, antioxidant vitamins (tocopherol, aka vitamin E) and emollients that help keep your skin soft and smooth. Finally it has the pH balancer Ammonium Hydroxide and sunscreen.

   Pros

   • Active ingredient is actually proven to prevent and even reverse the fine lines and spots caused by environmental factors.
   • Users claim that skin definitely appears brighter
   • Since it contains hyaluronic acid, it definitely has moisturizing properties and will help plump your skin
   • Because it also has the antioxidants, you get the short-term effects of the hyaluronic acid, plus the long-term, damage reducing effects of these awesome little free radical slayers.
   • You only need a little bit. A bottle should last 60 days or so.
   • Contains sunscreen to protect your skin from sun damage.

   Cons

   • It’s one of the priciest products in the series
   • Doesn’t really have much in the way of wrinkle-reducers if the antioxidants don’t work for you.

   Final word: For the cost, there may be better products out there. If, however, you just want to heal your face, add antioxidants, and are satisfied with a natural, healthy look even with a few wrinkles, then this is a great product for you.

Click here to find Prevage Day Intensive Anti-Aging Moisture Cream SPF 30





2. Prevage Night Anti-Aging Restorative Cream

   Elizabeth Arden’s Claim

   Restores moisture and helps fight the signs of aging caused by damaging environmental factors. Enhances skins own natural repair processes, restores skin’s natural resilience for a younger look, makes skin look restored and rested. Smooths, retextures and softens skin.

   Active Ingredients

   The night cream contains most of the same ingredients as the day cream as well as lactic acid, which is a whitening agent, and a retinoate, which is a more easily-usable form of vitamin A than retinol.

   Pros

   • Product was tested on US consumers with the following results:
     • 87 reported reduced roughness and dryness
     • 83% said Skin felt nourished all night
     • 80% believe it enriched skin with deep moisture
     • 70% reported that their skin looked revitalized

   Cons

   • Comes with a hefty pricetag
   • May not be best to use for oily skin because it’s got heavy duty moisturizers

   Final word: This is an excellent product if you’re into antioxidants and more “natural” methods of addressing how you maintain a youthful appearance. There are no hardcore synthetic age-defying ingredients in it, but there are several good antioxidants, retinoids and other proactive ingredients.

   Users also love the product and with the clinical trials, it’s a safe bet to spend your money on if you have dry to normal skin and you’re not addressing deep wrinkles.

Click here to find Prevage Night Anti-Aging Restorative Cream





3. Prevage Face Advanced Anti-Aging Serum

   Elizabeth Arden’s Claim

   Reduces the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, age spots and discolorations. Also minimizes existing sun damage, redness and small scars. Skin looks brighter and firmer. With long-term use, it helps fight the effects of environmental damage.

   Active Ingredients

   The serum contains several different antioxidants including idebenone as well as hyaluronic acid, the super-moisturizing agent that made our Top 10 List of Anti-Aging Ingredients.

   Peucedanum Graveolens (dill) extract helps your skin produce elastin which keeps your skin supple. Phospholipids, moisturizers, and emollients make up the remaining active ingredients.

   Pros

   • Voted best 2010 wrinkle treatment by InStyle Magazine, as well as a 2010 Healthiest Buy by Health Magazine. Whole Living Magazine voted it a Super Serum in 2011.
   • Moisturizers soften skin
   • Antioxidants help your skin fight environmental damage by battling free radicals
   • The dill extract actually increases natural production of elastin
   • You only need a little bit
   • Great for sensitive skin

   Cons

   • May not be good for oily skin
   • Is pretty expensive
   • Contains fragrance so if you’re sensitive to smell it may bother you

   Final word: The ingredients in the product are known youth-retaining substances and at the very least will make your skin moist and supple. That alone is enough to help you retain your youthful look even if none of the other products work for you.

Click here to find Prevage Face Advanced Anti-Aging Serum



4. Prevage Eye Advanced Anti-Aging Cream

   Elizabeth Arden’s Claim

   Minimizes the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, crow’s feet, dark circles, puffiness, age spots, sun damage and discoloration. It also firms and tones the eye area for a brighter look.

   Won Shape Magazine’s Best Get-Gorgeous Eye Treatment award in 2011 as well as being voted Self Magazine’s Best Anti-Aging Serum in 2011.

   There were 105 women between the ages of 25-65 tested and 95% of them saw immediate improvement in the look of the skin in their eye areas.

   Active Ingredients

   Much like the other products in the line, Prevage Eye contains antioxidants (including idebenone), moisturizers, emollients, skin conditioners, hyaluronic acid, peptides, and natural plant and flower extracts that are known for their protective and youth restoring properties. The serum also contains mica which refracts light to makes your face appear luminous and trisiloxane, a sunscreen.

   Pros

   • Great for puffy eyes and dark circles
   • Leaves skin feeling silky
   • Works well for sensitive skin

   Cons:

   • Expensive
   • Comes in a pump so you may not be able to get all of the product out.
   • May leave your skin greasy if you have extra oily skin.

   Final word: This serum has several ingredients in it that are really good for your skin. It’s got the sunscreen, the moisturizers and the hyaluronic acid that may actually produce the results that Elizabeth Arden promises.

Click here to find Prevage Eye Advanced Anti-Aging Cream

If you’ve tried any of Elizabeth Arden’s Prevage products, please let us know how they worked for you in the comments section below.

• Clinique’s Repairwear De-Aging Skincare Line Review
  

  Has Clinique Found the Fountain of Youth or Just a Well to Throw Your Money Down? In this review: Day SPF 15 Intensive Cream Intensive Night Cream Intensive Eye...

• Lancome Absolue Premium Skincare Line Review
  

  Premium Results or Just Premium Prices? In this review: Advanced Replenishing Cleanser Advanced Replenishing Toner Replenishing Cream SPF 15 Night Recovery Cream Eye Premium BX Absolue Hand Available at...

• Elizabeth Arden Prevage: Anti-Aging Reviews
  

  Top Anti-Aging Product Lines: Oil of Olay Regenerist Avon Anew Reversalist Lancome Genifique Elizabeth Arden Prevage Estee Lauder Time Zone Elizabeth Arden has invested significant resources, research and ultimately...

Millions of women swear by Estee Lauder’s products, but do the company’s ingredients have the substance to back this loyalty up, or is it all just wishful thinking?

We’re going to take a look at what exactly is in each product, and decide if they have what it takes to back up their claims.

Estee Lauder and the Re-Nutriv Ultimate Lift Age-Correcting Collection

Estee Lauder is one of the top cosmetics giants in the world and has long been known for their products that help you fight the signs of time. One of their latest lines, the Ultimate Line, is designed specifically for hydrating mature skin and reducing the look of fine lines and wrinkles so that you look notably younger. Let’s see if they really can.

1. Ultimate Lift Age Correcting Cream

   Estee Lauder’s Claim

   The company claims that the difference in your looks will be striking. The intense hydrators and repair technologies in their cream will visably lift, perfect and firm your face.

   Active Ingredients

   An abundance of antioxidants from plant extracts including sea algae as well as natural vitamins including vitamin E are included to fight free radicals that cause age spots, wrinkles, and fine lines.

   Finely ground South Sea Pearls give your face luminosity, colloidal gold calms irritation and black tourmaline is an ionically-charged mineral that energizes your skin and may stimulate new cell production.

   Other notable ingredients include the antioxidant EGT and the cell-regenerating sea plant silketare. Finally, moisturizers and emollients are plentiful in this cream.

   Pros

   • Antioxidants are proven to fight free radicals and diminish damage that has already occurred.
   • Only takes a very small amount to cover your entire face
   • Natural antioxidants are always good for your skin
   • Softens skin
   • Women report noticable difference in appearance
   • Use both day and night – no separate creams to take up space on your vanity

   Cons

   • If you use too much, it’s heavy
   • A few users report that they are happier with the older, less expensive Intensive line
   • Extremely expensive
   • Is scented, so if you’re sensitive to perfumes, it may bother you

   Final word: The ingredients are mostly patented secret formulas but Estee Lauder reveals just enough to assure us that there are quality, time-fighting ingredients in this product. If money is no object or you are considering a surgical procedure, then this creme is definitely worth a second look.

Click here to find Estee Lauder’s Ultimate Lift Age Correcting Cream





2. Re-Nutriv Ultimate Lift Age Correcting Eye Cream

   Estee Lauder’s Claim

   Instantly see results in the form of lifted, lighter tighter skin. Their advanced technology works to recharge, repair and restore your skin’s youthful appearance and glow.

   Active Ingredients

   The main difference between the eye cream and the face cream appears to be that it is chock full of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). These help your skin retain moisture and possibly stimulate production of elastin and collagen. They also help bond your skin together to firm and tighten it.

   Pros

   • Makes skin look lifted and younger
   • Moisturizes well
   • Tightens skin
   • Good Texture

   Cons

   • Doesn’t work well on dark circles

   Final word: Great product if you’re looking for lifting and tightening, but not so much if you’re trying to get rid of dark circles and puffiness. For the cost, you may want to opt for an alternate product if you need an all-in-one eye cream.

Click here to find Re-Nutriv Ultimate Lift Age Correcting Eye Cream





3. Re-Nutriv Ultimate Lift Age Correcting Serum

   Active Ingredients

   Contains the same active ingredients as the creme, except it has five times the amount in a concentrated version to really supercharge your experience with the set.

   Pros

   • The pearl gives a beautiful shimmer to your skin
   • Moisturizes, tightens and lifts
   • Is light
   • Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles

   Cons

   • The only downside to this serum appears to be the cost. Users had only glowing praise for the serum itself.

   Final word: If cost is no object or you don’t mind spending $200 for real results, this product appears to do all that it claims.

Click here to find Re-Nutriv Ultimate Lift Age Correcting Serum

This line is probably the most expensive ones available, but an overwhelming percentage of users agree that it’s well worth the money and does everything that it claims. I’d personally recommend trying a trial size prior to spending the money on the full-size products to see if you like it first.

If you’ve tried any of Estee Lauder’s Re-Nutriv Ultimate Lift Age-Correcting products, please let us know how you felt about them in the comments section below.

• Estee Lauder Time Zone Eye Cream Review
  

  The well known Estee Lauder brand recently broke new ground in the anti-aging skin care world by introducing their new Time Zone line. The eye cream in this line...

• Estee Lauder Time Zone Moisturizer Review
  

  Estee Lauder has long been a trusted source for incredible beauty and skin care products. Recently, the cosmetic giant launched and introduced the Time Zone skin care line. The...

• Estee Lauder Time Zone Reviews
  

  Top Anti-Aging Product Lines: Oil of Olay Regenerist Avon Anew Reversalist Lancome Genifique Elizabeth Arden Prevage Estee Lauder Time Zone Estee Lauder’s newest line of anti-aging products, called Time...

Are you tearing through product after product searching for the fountain of youth?

Well before you order another product, take a look at what we’ve discovered about Clinique’s latest de-aging skincare line.

By the time you finish this article, you’re going to know whether these products will rewind time, or just waste precious minutes.

About Clinique and the Repairwear Intensive Line

Clinique is a name that’s been around for years and is probably best known for their women’s skin products, though they also carry perfumes and men’s skin products. It should be noted that their most aggressive anti-wrinkle formulas are targeted at people with dry to combination skin.

1. Repairwear Day SPF 15 Intensive Cream

   Clinique’s Claim

   Replenishes antioxidants and helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It hydrates and turns your skin’s most vulnerable time into repair time.

   Active Ingredients

   Clinique states that this amazing cream contains antioxidants, moisturizers and sunscreen. Since there is no ingredient list for the product, I really can’t fully evaluate the potential effectiveness based on ingredients. Therefore, I decided to use trusted user reviews.

   Pros

   • Hydrates dry skin wonderfully
   • Doesn’t feel greasy
   • Great for sensitive skin
   • Reduces the appearance of fine lines with regular use
   • Protects you from further sun damage

   Cons

   • Not great for oily skin
   • Doesn’t contain any seriously big wrinkle fighters

Final word: Though consumers with dry skin love this product as a base moisturizer, it doesn’t really contain any significant anti-aging properties.

Excellent for keeping your skin hydrated in the winter, and many people use it on dry spots only.

Click hereto find Repairwear Day SPF 15 Intensive Cream





2. Repairwear Intensive Night Cream

   Clinique’s Claim

   Mends and blocks the look of lines and wrinkles. Provides 24-hour antioxidant replenishment.

   Active Ingredients

   Jojoba seed oil, wheat germ oil and soybean oil. Lecithin helps your skin hold moisture and even fills in some fine lines. There are also several tea extracts, moisturizers, emollients, and natural antioxidants.

   Pros

   • Excellent for dry or extra dry skin
   • Thick and luxurious
   • Non-greasy
   • Hypoallergenic

   Cons

   • Not so great for oily skin
   • Doesn’t contain any de-aging ingredients other than antioxidants.
   • May take a while to see results.

   Final word: This product contains several excellent moisturizers as well as some mild anti-aging ingredients. If your damage is light and you’re willing to wait for your skin to repair naturally, it may be a good product to try.

Click here to find Repairwear Intensive Night Cream



3. Repairwear Intensive Eye Cream

   Clinique’s Claim

   Strengthens thin skin for a youthful look. Boosts your skins repairing energy and replenishes antioxidants.

   Active Ingredients

   Antioxidants, collagen boosters, moisturizers, emollients

   Pros

   • Non-greasy
   • Works for fine lines
   • Unscented and contains no dyes
   • Moisturizes

   Cons

   • No significant wrinkle repair ingredients, at least that Clinique reveals
   • Not good for bags or dark circles
   • Not good for deep wrinkles

   Final word: This eye product is great for younger eyes, or for people who need a little extra help with dryness or fine lines but if you want a serious wrinkle reducer, this probably isn’t the eye treatment for you.

   Click here to find Repairwear Intensive Eye Cream

If you’ve tried any of Clinique’s Repairwear products, we’d love to hear what you think of them. Please let us know in the comments section below.

• Elizabeth Arden’s Prevage Skincare Line Review
  

  Does Prevage Deserve a Spot on Your Vanity? In this review: Day Intensive Moisturizing Cream Recovery Night Cream Advanced Anti-Aging Serum Advanced Eye Anti-Aging Cream Are you an Elizabeth...

• Lancome Absolue Premium Skincare Line Review
  

  Premium Results or Just Premium Prices? In this review: Advanced Replenishing Cleanser Advanced Replenishing Toner Replenishing Cream SPF 15 Night Recovery Cream Eye Premium BX Absolue Hand Available at...

• Shiseido’s Bio-Performance Skincare Line Review
  

  Worth Your Dime, or a Waste of Your Time? In this review: Advanced Super Revitalizer Cream Advanced Super Restoring Cream Super Corrective Serum Super Eye Contouring Cream Super Revitalizer...

Available at the higher-end department stores such as Saks, Sephora, Nordstram and Bloomindale’s, Lancome’s Absolue Premium youth restoring line comes with one of the heftier price tags of the age-defying lines, but are they worth the cost?

A quick glance at user reviews would lead you to believe that they are, so we decided to dig a little deeper into the ingredients list and see if these products have the stuffing to back up Lancome’s claims.

Absolue Premium Products

As one of the leading cosmetic manufacturers in the world, Lancome promises to target every stage of aging with delightful textures and products with proven results. The Absolue Premium line offers a complete facial system that renews and replenishes your skin so that you look younger, fresher and well-rested.

Now let’s cut to the chase and take a look at each product individually using our Top 10 Ingredients article as a guide. These products are meant to be used in conjunction with each other in order to see the best results.

1. Lancome Advanced Replenishing Creme Cleanser

   Lancome’s Claim

   Lancome uses gentle yet extremely efficient cleansing agents to remove makeup and impurities. It contains a Bio-Network of Soy, Wild Yam, Barley and Sea Algae to prevent your skin from drying out while restoring radiance and elasticity. Your skin will feel clean, soft, and supple without the tight feeling. Daily use makes your skin feel revitalized, toned, and denser.

   Active Ingredients

   In addition to the natural ingredients listed above, the main ingredients in this cleanser consist of the moisturizers lecithin (which is also an emollient and antioxidant) and propylene glycol. Thee are also emollients to smooth and soften your skin including dicaprylyl carbonate and soybean protein.
   Finally, there’s a pH balancer in the cleanser called triethanol amine so that the other ingredients don’t irritate your skin. There are no harsh detergents in the foam cleanser to dry your skin out, only a couple of mild surfactants along with the natural ingredients listed in the claim.

   Pros

   • No harsh detergents
   • Contains several moisturizers and emollients to leave your skin soft
   • Is pH balanced and great for sensitive skin
   • You only need to use a small amount
   • Comes in a squeeze tube that makes it easy to use every single drop

   Cons

   • None. That’s right. There doesn’t appear to be any downside to this cleanser other than the cost, if that counts.

   Final word: Lancome’s Advanced Replenishing Cleanser is an awesome product to use on your skin, especially in the winter. It leaves your skin feeling soft, moist, and clean without using harsh detergents that will dry you out.

Click here to find Lancome Advanced Replenishing Creme Cleanser





2. Lancome Advanced Replenishing Toner

   Lancome’s Claim

   Formulated specially for mature skin, this toner is designed to complete your cleansing routine by clarifying, moisturizing, brightening, firming and replenishing your skin. For optimum results, use with the Advanced Replenishing Creme Cleanser.

   Active Ingredients

   Lancome’s Premium Advanced Replenishing Toner contains the Bio-Network listed above as well as Pro-Xylane, a complex derived from the extracts of the beech tree. It works to stimulate collagen and hyaluronic acid production in your skin. There is actual research to back up this product, and the reviews are great on it.

   Pros

   • Pleasant but mld fragrance
   • Leaves skin feeling soft and refreshed
   • Easy to apply
   • Feels light and absorbs quickly
   • Dermatologist-tested to be safe
   • Good bottle that allows you to use all of the product

   Cons

   • Cost is fairly high for a toner
   • There were only a few reviews to draw user opinions from

   Final word: This toner contains ingredients that back up Lancome’s claims, and users love it. There are no wrinkle-reducers in it per se, but the Pro-Xylane and the other moisturizers in it make it a good product to use with the others in the line.

Click here to find Lancome Advanced Replenishing Toner





3. Absolue Premium BX Replenishing Cream SPF 15 Sunscreen

   Lancome’s Claim

   Improves skin’s clarity and elasticity and helps deeply replenish moisture from within to help you regain the youthful suppleness, radiance and firmness. Diminishes the look of fine lines and wrinkles. They claim that in an 8-week consumer test, 85% of women reported improved firmness and elasticity while 91% felt that their skin was re-plumped and nurtured.

   This is the day cream that’s meant to be used in conjunction with the night cream discussed below.

   Active Ingredients

   This little daytime jewel is stuffed full of good stuff. It has several different awesome moisturizers and emollients including jojoba oil and soy proteins as well as silica that seals in moisture and makes your skin soft. It’s also got mica in it, which refracts light and makes your skin appear luminous.

   Also found in the replenishing cream is the pH balancer triethanol amine. Finally, this cream contains the sunscreen titanium dioxide, which is excellent for UVB rays and OK for UVA rays. It’ll be fine as long as you’re not going to be in direct sunlight.

   The Replenishing Cream also has Lancome’s Bio-Network, padina pavonica, and Pro-Xylane in it to really help plump your skin and increase natural production of collagen and hyaluronic acid.

   Pros

   • Contains ingredients that actually increase production of collagen and hyaluronic acid
   • Great for healing dry skin
   • Non-comedogenic, non-acnegenic, and dermatologist-tested for safety according to Lancome
   • Goes on smoothly
   • Users report improvement in skin tone and spots
   • Smells good
   • Is light and doesn’t feel greasy
   • You only need a small amount

   Cons

   • Some users report a red, itchy allergic reaction
   • Is scented, so even though it smells good, it may irritate you if you’re sensitive to scents
   • Because it contains products that trap moisture, there may be a film on your face that makes using it with makeup difficult

   Final word: Try a sample before you buy the full-size version, especially if you’re prone to allergic reactions. Besides that, this product contains the ingredients to back up its moisturizing claims, which may lead to a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles. It doesn’t contain the standard anti-wrinkle ingredients, but with the mega-moisturizers, it still gets a thumbs-up.

Click here to find Absolue Premium BX Replenishing Cream SPF 15 Sunscreen





4. Absolue Night Premium BX Night Recovery Cream

   Lancome’s Claim

   Night Premium restores your skin’s essential moisture in order to repair the visible signs of aging. It decreases the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, improves the firmness and elasticity of your skin, fades the signs of fatigue and increases smoothness and clarity by accelerating surface cellular renewal.

   Active Ingredients

   The Night Premium Cream contains several different moisurizers and emollients including shea butter, carnauba wax, isoparaffin, proxalane (Pro-Xylane) and Lancome’s Bio-Network to help plump your skin and assist in moisture retention.

   Other ingredients include antioxidant vitamin E in the form of tocopherol and polyacrylamide, which is used in aesthetic facial surgeries as a subdermal filler. Finally, this cream contains padina pavonica, an algae that has been proven to stimulate the production of hyaluronic acid, among other things.

   Pros

   • Evens out skin tone and diminishes age spots
   • Great for dry skin
   • Non-greasy
   • Smells good
   • Contains ingredients known to stimulate hyaluronic acid production
   • Great for sensitive skin because it’s non-comedogenic, non-acnegenic and dermatologist-tested for safety
   • Contains multiple moisturizers and emollients
   • You only need to use a little bit

   Cons

   • Even though it smells good, it may bother you if you’re sensitive to scents
   • If you use too much, your face will feel sticky

   Final word: Lancome’s Premium Night Recovery Cream has the ingredients to back up its claims and users seem to love it. Because of the steep price, it might be a good idea to try a sample before investing in a full-size version of the product.

Click here to find Lancome Absolue Night Premium BX Night Recovery Cream





5. Lancome Absolue Eye Premium BX

   Lancome’s Claim

   Intensely moisturizes the area around your eyes to visibly rejuvenate them and reduce fine lines and wrinkles within 4 weeks. Immediately, however, your eyes will appear smoother, brighter, and more luminous.

   Active Ingredients

   As with the other products in Lancome’s Absolue Premium Line, the eye cream contains the natural Bio-Network complex as well as their patented Pro-Xylane. There are also several other moisturizers and emollients in this cream.

   Pros

   • Ophthalmologist and dermatologist tested for safety
   • Contains the ingredients necessary to moisturize your eye area
   • Good for sensitive skin
   • Does, according to users, make the eye area softer and brighter
   • Users report that it reduces dark circles
   • Contains ingredients known to increase hyaluronic acid production

   Cons

   • It’s pretty pricey for the small amount that you get
   • Contains mostly the same ingredients as the face creams.

   Final word: The eye cream seems to be liked by most who try it but since it contains nearly identical ingredients to the face creams, you may be able to make due without it. It is created specifically for the eye area and is tested by ophthalmologists, so if you can do it, you should probably buy this to go along with the rest of the kit.

   It’s available in a trial size, so you may want to try it before you invest in the full-size version.

Lancome Absolue Eye Premium BX





6. Lancome Absolue Hand

   Lancome’s Claim

   Replenishes moisture, protects with sunscreen, diminishes age spots, increases suppleness and skin density.

   Active Ingredients

   This handy little lotion contains Lancome’s Bio-Network, salicylic acid (one of the ingredients used in peels to reduce age spots, aka aspirin), SPF 15 sunscreen (they don’t say which one), their N-Stimuline discussed above, several different moisturizers and emolients, and ginko biloba extract and liquitrine to decrease melanin production, which inhibits the appearance of age spots.

   Pros

   • Makes your hands soft
   • Protects your hands from skin damage
   • May reduce age spots because of the salicylic acid
   • May also make your skin denser because of the N-Stimuline that increases hyaluronic acid and collagen production.

   Cons

   • Pretty expensive at about $50 for a hand lotion.

   Final word: The lotion contains some good ingredients and if you’re really worried about the appearance of your hands, it may very well be worth the money.

Click here to find Lancome Absolue Hand

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• Shiseido’s Bio-Performance Skincare Line Review
  

  Worth Your Dime, or a Waste of Your Time? In this review: Advanced Super Revitalizer Cream Advanced Super Restoring Cream Super Corrective Serum Super Eye Contouring Cream Super Revitalizer...

Are you still searching for the best skincare line ever? One that won’t leave your skin oily, or break you out, and actually does what it claims to do?

If you’ve read our Top 10 Ingredients article, then you have a general idea of what you should be looking for in your products.

We’re going to use those ingredients as a guide to see how Shiseido’s Bio-Performance line stacks up.

Bio-Performance Products

Shiseido is a cosmetics company that specializes in skincare products that help you keep or regain a youthful appearance. Their products are available via their website or at department stores such as Sephora and Macy’s.

For your convenience, I’ve also included links directly to the products so that you may pick them up on Amazon for considerably less than you’d pay at the department store.

According to Shiseido’s website, this product line uses the most advanced boi-technology available today to bring you skincare products that give you a definite advantage in your fight against time.

Let’s break it down and take a look at each product in the line and what Shiseido claims that each one does. Just so that you know, each product is meant to be used in conjunction with the others.

1. Advanced Super Revitalizing Cream

   Shiseido’s Claim

   This product is designed using their patent-pending Bio-Revitalizing Complex to help you prevent the first appearance of lines by reinforcing your skin’s elastic fibers. According to Shiseido, this is the best way to encourage firmness and resilience. It’s meant to be used after one of their cleansers and softeners.

   Active Ingredients

   There are several ingredients including coenzymes, polymers, and amino acids in the product that are commonly used as moisturizing agents or lubricants. Some of these are L-arginine, hydrogenated c6-14 olefin polymers, dimethicone, and squalane.

   The cyclomethicone in it is commonly used in lotions and hair products to give you that soft, slick feeling. The Advanced Super Revitalizing Cream also contains hyaluronic acid, the awesome product that made our list as a moisturizing superhero.

   Pros

   • Hyaluronic acid is an awesome agent to help you retain moisture
   • Non-greasy
   • Goes on smoothly and requires only a dab
   • Lightly scented
   • Absorbs quickly

   Cons

   • No real wrinkle-fighting agents
   • Scent, though light, may bother some
   • May not be good if you have oily skin

   Final word: A great moisturizer for normal to dry skin but you need other products in order to fight wrinkles. If you’re just looking for a moisturizer to add to your arsenal, this is a good choice because of the hyaluronic acid if for no other reason.

Click here to find Advanced Super Revitalizing Cream





2. Super Restoring Cream

   Shiseido’s Claim

   By promoting smoothness and firmness, this product dramatically gives you a more youthful appearance instantly.

   The Super Restoring Cream utilizes their contour-recalling technology in a rich, age-fighting cream that targets age-related deficiencies and wrinkles in your skin.

   Active Ingredients

   As with the revitalizing cream, the main ingredients in this product are mostly moisturizers. It also has vitamin E, which is a known antioxidant with healing properties. Also contains polyisobutine and microcrystalline wax, which will give your face that smooth, soft feel.

   Pros

   • Contains sunscreen so it’s good for a daytime moisturizer.
   • Has tocopherol, aka vitamin E, to promote healing and fight free radicals
   • Moisturizes via several ingredients
   • Has Shiseido’s special form of hyaluronic acid to help your skin retain moisture
   • Absorbs quickly if your skin is dry
   • Smell is light so if you have scent issues, this may work well for you

   Cons

   • May make oily skin feel greasy and may not absorb well
   • May break you out if you have sensitive skin
   • Some report that it’s hard to apply because it’s so thick
   • May not be great for daytime use for people with oily skin because of the absorption issues.

   Final word: This cream may be great as a night cream for people with dry to normal skin, but many people report that it’s a bit heavy for daytime use. If it works for you during the day, it’s got the added bonus of sunscreen. If you’re looking for serious deep-wrinkle solutions but like this for a moisturizer, you’ll need to use a serum that has bigger anti-aging guns in it.

Click here to find Super Restoring Cream





3. Super Corrective Serum

   Shiseido’s Claim

   Counteract wrinkles, dullness and sagging with this revolutionary, time-fighting serum. You’ll see some results immediately and further improvements with continued use.

   They also claim that firmness is visibly improved in 1 week and you’ll notice a difference in deep wrinkles in 3 weeks. Finally, Shiseido claims that this product increases production of hyaluronic acid, collagen, and elastin via their Bio-Corrective Complex.

   Active Ingredients

   This serum contains several ingredients targeted at evening skin tone and balancing pH. It also contains hyaluronic acid, which we already know helps your skin retain moisture. The corrective serum has mica, which is a material used to refract light, among other things. This helps give a visual illusion of brightness and youth by reducing the appearance of dark circles and giving your skin an iridescent glow.

   Sodium Metaphosphate, another ingredient, is used in some dental products as a whitening agent.

   Pros

   • Contains ingredients that will moisturize your skin
   • Non-greasy
   • Has ingredients proven to balance pH and even skin tone
   • Smells good
   • The mica will make your skin look brighter

   Cons

   • Doesn’t contain any anti-wrinkle ingredients
   • May cause breakouts in sensitive skin
   • Very thick – more like a cream than a serum
   • Comes in a pump so you can’t see when you’re nearly out
   • Heavily fragranced so even though it smells good, it may bother you if you’re sensitive to smells

   Final word: This is a good product if you don’t really have wrinkles or fine lines. It has some good moisturizing and toning agents and very few people reported breakouts or feelings of greasiness.

   If you’re looking for a heavy-hitting wrinkle reducing cream though, you may wanna keep looking.

   Click here to find the Super Corrective Serum

   
   
   

4. Super Eye Contouring Cream

   Shiseido’s Claim

   Reduces the appearance of dark circles, wrinkles and dullness while energizing and hydrating your skin. Uses their Wrinkle Targeting Complex and Super Bio-Moisture Network.

   Active Ingredients

   The eye contouring cream contains several different moisturizers as well as Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate (hyaluronic acid) and tocopheryl acetate.

   Also found in the product are ascorbyl phosphate (a vitamin C derivative) and saccaromyces lysate extract. Both are known to moisturize, increase collagen production, lighten and brighten your skin, and act as antioxidants and anti-inflammatories.

   The eye contouring cream also includes a couple of products that are used in different cosmetics to give you that slick feeling, though they don’t contribute to the time-fighting abilities of the cream.

   Finally, it has Retinyl Acetate, a form of retinol, which was on our list of top 10 ingredients.

   Pros

   • Lightweight and non-greasy
   • Contains ingredients that can at least potentially back up Shiseido’s claims
   • Costs less than many other specialty eye creams
   • Users with sensitive skin report that it doesn’t break you out
   • Light enough to wear under your makeup without causing it to smear

   Cons

   • May help with fine lines because of the moisturizers and antioxidants, but has no big-time wrinkle reducers.
   • Comes in a pump so you can’t tell how much you have left

   Final word: Reviews on this product are fairly decent as long as you’re not expecting miracles. People seem to love the feel that it gives your skin, and most report improvement in dark circles, puffiness, and fine lines.

   Since the ingredients back it up, you may want to try this one for yourself.

Super Eye Contouring Cream





5. Advanced Super Revitalizer (Cream) Whitening Formula N

   Shiseido’s Claim

   Shiseido states that this products battles the effects of an environment that is tough on your skin. It works by energizing and rehydrating skin while giving you back your youthful appearance by reducing dryness, roughness, fine lines, and other signs of aging.

   Active Ingredients

   Shiseido’s pretty tight-lipped when it comes to listing ingredients and the only thing that I could find that this product contains for sure is hyaluronic acid. We know all about this, but I have no idea how much is in the actual product.

   They also list their Spot Deacti-Complex as one of the main active ingredients but what this “revolutionary” compound is comprised of remains a mystery.

   Pros

   Just FYI – The pros and cons on this product are drawn from what users had to say about it. I couldn’t really add much due to the lack of exact ingredient disclosure.

   • Non-greasy
   • Doesn’t irritate sensitive skin
   • Most users report a reduction in uneven skin tone and age/sun spots
   • Smells good
   • Excellent moisturizer

   Cons

   • Contains no sunscreen, according to users
   • Because it’s scented, it may bother those of you who are sensitive to smells
   • Expensive

   Final word: I can’t really make any recommendations on this product one way or another without knowing exactly what’s in it. The reviews were mixed but all users seem to agree that it works well at least as a moisturizer.

Click here to find Advanced Super Revitalizer (Cream) Whitening Formula N





6. Super Refining Essence

   Shiseido’s Claim

   Reduces the appearance of wrinkles and dullness while rehydrating your skin. Made with their unique Bio-Regenerine Technology that promotes natural exfoliation and saturates your cells with vitality.

   Active Ingredients

   As with the Revitalizer Whitening Formula, Shiseido doesn’t share the exact ingredients of this product. I listed it just so that you have a complete list of the products in the Bio-Performance line. It may be noteworthy that Sephora no longer carries this product, at least on their website.

   Pros and Cons

   I’m hesitant to even list the pros and cons from users for this product because they were all overwhelmingly good. That may seem like a good thing, but I’ve discovered occasionally that when that’s the case, it may be a “buyer beware” situation.

   Final word: Especially since the product is pretty pricey and Sephora’s discontinued it, I can’t make a recommendation either way. I’m going to let you make your own decision on this one. Maybe we can get some readers to chime in on their experiences.

Click here to find Super Refining Essence

If you’ve used Super Refining Essence, or any of the other Bio-Performance products, let us know how it worked for you in the comments section below.

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  Premium Results or Just Premium Prices? In this review: Advanced Replenishing Cleanser Advanced Replenishing Toner Replenishing Cream SPF 15 Night Recovery Cream Eye Premium BX Absolue Hand Available at...

Do you have an amazing daily anti-aging routine in place but just aren’t seeing the results that you’d like? It could be that your skin just isn’t absorbing it correctly.

Don’t worry, though – it’s fixable. You just need to get that outer layer of yuck off of your face so that your products can roll up their sleeves and get to work!

What’s the Difference Between a Facial and a Peel?

Have you heard these terms and wondered what in the world the difference was? Well we’re going to clear it up once and for all.

A regular facial is simply a good, deep cleanse and exfoliation accompanied by a massage to stimulate your blood flow.

A peel involves the use of chemicals, either natural or man-made, to treat wrinkles, fine lines, age spots, acne scarring or other blemishes. A peel actually removes the first, and sometimes the second, layer of skin on your face.

What Ingredients Should I Look For In a Facial Peel?

This is a tough question because it really depends upon what your skin tone is and what problems you’re wanting to correct. We’re going to review several of the most common ingredients and discuss exactly what they’re used for. There are peels that contain two or more of these ingredients if you need to treat more than one condition. We’ll review our top product picks at the end of this article.

• Glycolic Acid

  Glycolic acid is one of the most common ingredients that you’ll find in an anti-aging facial peel and is an alpha hydroxy acid. It’s extremely powerful and is actually regulated by the government. It’s a favorite ingredient as an exfoliant because of its high acidity but excellent water solubility.

  When applied to your face as part of a peel, it goes underneath the first, and sometimes second, layer of your skin and dissolves the cells that hold all of those dead skin cells in place. The other ingredients in the peel wash away those dead layers and neutralize any remaining glycolic acid, leaving your skin smooth and younger looking.

  Because it’s so acidic, you may be sensitive to the sun and have a red appearance for a day or two after your peel, depending on the percentage of acid in the peel so for your first time, you may want to try something around 30%. Glycolic acid is a great ingredient for getting rid of fine lines, sun damage and age spots in concentrations higher than 10% but less than 70%.

• Salicylic Acid

  Salicylic acid has been used for centuries to treat everything from pain to acne and is the main ingredient in plain old aspirin. Originally made from willow bark, it’s now usually synthetically created.

  The primary use for salicylic acid in a chemical peel is to exfoliate and to treat acne and psoriasis. It also opens up your pores so that your skin is ready to absorb your moisturizers or other treatments.

  Salicylic acid treatments are considered to be light, or superficial, because they only remove the outer most layers of skin.

• Lactic Acid

  Lactic acid is produced by your body during exercise and is also found in milk products. It’s a great ingredient to look for in your peel if you have dry skin and want to treat fine lines and wrinkles around your mouth and under your eyes. Lactic Acid treatments are also great to use as a weekly moisturizing treatment.

• Trichloracetic Acid (TCA)

  TCA is a non-toxic exfoliating acid that’s used to treat fixed fine lines, freckles, age spots, acne and sun damage. It’s not a good treatment for dynamic wrinkles or acne scars. After a treatment with TCA, your skin will be brighter and small blemishes will be reduced or eliminated. TCA peels will cause your skin to peel, so that’s something that you may wish to consider when scheduling your treatment.

• Resorcinol

  Resorcinol is a chemically-created agent that is water-soluble and used to treat such skin conditions as acne, psoriasis and rosacea. Because it is a moderately aggressive acid, you may have a slightly red appearance that resembles a sunburn for a day or two after getting your peel, depending upon how strong the concentration is.

• Baker’s Phenol

  Because this ingredient is typically used to treat deep wrinkles and is considered a deep chemical peel, you won’t find it in any at-home kits, or even at spas but we thought you might want to know about it.

  Baker’s phenol is so powerful that it carries a risk of heart and kidney problems as well as decreased skin coloration (hypopigmentation). Deep chemical peels are so dangerous that they must be conducted in an operating room and require weeks of preparation.

  You run the risk of infection, herpes simplex infections, bacterial infections, scarring and discoloration of your skin, so think carefully before you undergo this procedure and choose a seasoned professional.

If you’d like to do an at-home facial peel, check out the products that we’ve chosen below. We’ve broken them down into categories for you to make it easy to choose.

Our Top Picks

1. Fine Lines, Discoloration, Uneven Complexion, Enlarged Pores, Clogged Pores (Keratosis Pilaris)
   

   DermaDoctor Physical Chemistry Microdermabrasion + Multiacid Chemical Peel: This powerhouse contains glycolic, lactic, azelaic and alpha hydroxy acids that work together to provide the ultimate at-home peel. It also contains several skin soothers such as green tea extract, algae extract and dimethicone to reduce irritation. To top it off, it has smooth-edged microdermabrasion beads that do an excellent job of exfoliating but break down when applied so that they don’t irritate your skin.

2. Acne, Oily Skin, Clogged Pores, Fine Lines and Wrinkles, and Age Spots
   

   40% Glycolic Acid Peel by Skin Obsessions: This really says all that it needs to – it’s a high enough concentration to work, but not so high that first-time users will burn themselves. Be sure to follow the directions!

3. Uneven Skin Tone, Acne, Psoriasis, Sun Damage – All Skin Tones
   

   50% Lactic Acid Gel Peel: Formulated for all skin tones and contains enough for 15 full facials.

4. After-Peel Treatment
   

   Neutralizer Skin pH Balancer: Helps balance the pH of your skin after a peel for a safe, effective procedure.

If you’ve tried a facial peel, we’d love to hear how it worked out for you. Please fill us in in the comments section below.

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Are you tired of buying one expensive skin product after another with exactly zero results?

If so, you’re not alone.

There are a million products out there that claim to reduce wrinkles, eliminate age spots, and improve your complexion in general.

Unfortunately, many of them simply don’t live up to their claims.

Your problem may also be user error. If you’re not properly preparing your face, you’re wasting your time and money slathering on that expensive moisturizer or wrinkle-removing serum. As a matter of fact, you may be making the problem worse.

Don’t worry though – you’re in the right place. By the end of this article, you’re going to know exactly what steps to take each morning and night to stay young-looking and beautiful!

Also, just as a side note, all of the products that we suggest are available either over-the-counter or from reputable online skincare companies – none of those scammy deals that require memberships or credit card numbers are included.

Deep Cleanse at Night

Nighttime is when you do your deep cleansing. Basically, you only need 4 products but you need to make sure that they are designed for your skin type. Especially if you have excessively dry or oily skin, using the wrong product could make your issues worse instead of better.

1. An Exfoliating Cleanser: In order to have healthy, glowing skin, it’s absolutely imperative that you exfoliate. It’s only necessary to do this once or twice a week because it takes a few days for dead skin cells to accumulate, but you’ll see almost immediate results. Your skin will be brighter, will have a more even tone and will feel softer, too.

   Our Top Picks

   • Neo-Cleanse Exfoliating Skin Cleanser by NeoCutis: This product gets our top pick because it’s free of fragrances and dyes, contains glycolic acid, and is good for all skin types. It claims to be good for twice-daily use, but we caution against that simply because glycolic acid can be an irritant if used too much. As with any product, use your common sense.

   • Loreal Paris Go 360 Clean Deep Exfoliating Scrub: This inexpensive exfoliating scrub has natural apricot beads and comes with a little scrublet with which to clean your face. It’s gentle enough for all skin types and works to scrub away dead skin cells without chemicals. Great for people with sensitive skin.

2. A Good Daily Cleanser: On nights that you don’t exfoliate, you need to clean your face with a mild cleanser that’s free of fragrances and oils that can irritate your skin and cause breakouts.

   You can pick up a good cleanser for very little money and there isn’t really a difference between many of the cheaper ones and the more expensive ones. Make sure that it’s a facial cleanser, though; you should never use regular bar soap on your face because it will dry your skin out.

   When cleansing your face, use warm water and massage your face in circular motions. This stimulates your circulation, which helps your skin generate healthy new skin cells. Make sure that your water is luke warm because both really hot and really cold water can cause your capillaries to burst.

Our Top Picks

Here are a couple of great suggestions that are gentle, effective, and affordable:

• Liquid Neutrogena Facial Cleansing Formula: We like this product because it’s inexpensive, won’t clog your pores, is great for all skin types including sensitive skin, and is fragrance and oil free.

• Alpha Hydrox Foaming Face Wash: This product gets our thumbs up because it’s oil and fragrance free, gentle enough for all skin types, and is even gentle enough to use around your eyes for makeup removal. As an added bonus, it’s got Alpha Hydroxy in it, which helps smooth fine lines.

3. Anti-Aging Serum: Some people prefer to simply use an all-inclusive moisturizer because historically serums haven’t really been that effective. With recent breakthroughs in anti-aging technology though, they’re worth a second look.

   Serums are targeted specifically at your eyes, forehead, laugh lines, and/or neck and our research turned up some awesome products that received rave performance reviews. You’re going to spend a bit but the results will be well worth it if you’re serious about giving your wrinkles the boot.

   When you’re applying your serum, do so in a circular motion just like you do when you’re cleansing. Many of these products take a few weeks to see results so don’t get discouraged and quit before the product has a chance to work its magic.

Our Top Picks

Here are a couple of tried and true serums. They’re a bit pricey but worth it. With these, you could skimp a bit on the moisturizer because they contain all of the anti-aging ingredients that you need.

• PCA Skin ExLinea Peptide Smoothing Serum: Packed full of good stuff like argireline, vitamins A and E, and aloe, this little miracle worker has what you need to decrease wrinkles and hydrate your skin.

• SkinMedica Tri-Retinol Complex: The name says it all on this one. It’s got your retinols to get rid of those wrinkles, plus shea butter to help moisturize.

4. A Proven Anti-Aging Night Moisturizing Cream: When it comes to anti-aging moisturizers, the more expensive products really are usually better. Look for ones with antioxidants and a combination of anti-aging products. Some effective ingredients to look for include:

   • Argireline (acetyl hexapeptide)
   • Hyaluronic Acid
   • Retinol
   • Matrixyl
   • Alpha-Lipoic Acid
   • Haloxyl

   Our Top Picks

   Here are a couple of night creams that people just love:

   • Peptides Double Action Wrinkle Reverse by Derma e: In addition to argireline and matrixyl, this product from Derma e also contains vitamins A and E as well as several natural moisturizers and ingredients to help increase collagen and elastin production. To make it even better, it’s not tested on animals!

   • Peter Thomas Roth Mega Rich Intensive Anti-Aging Cellular Creme: This night formula made our list because it contains several different peptides known to boost collagen production as well as Argireline, antioxidant vitamins A, C and E, and sodium hyaluronate to help your skin retain moisture.

Now that we’ve covered what you need for your night time anti-aging routine, let’s talk about what you need to do in the morning to keep your skin healthy and youthful. Go ahead and jump to page 2!

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Have you been thinking about spending some money on a really good anti-aging serum or moisturizer but don’t know what to look for?

You’re definitely not alone.

Every product claims to be the best, but which one’s telling the truth? We’re going to review the top anti-aging ingredients, tell you how (and if) they work, and then offer some product suggestions for you.

Ready to get started?

Good. Here goes, in no particular order:

1. Retinol: Long used for it’s anti-wrinkle properties, retinol is the purest form of the antioxidant vitamin A. Though it’s effectiveness has been proven, many people can’t use it because it causes redness and irritation. ROC claims that they have resolved this issue with their newest product, Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Creme.

2. Argireline: Touted as the needle-free alternative to Botox, argireline is a peptide that is a shortened version of the botulinum toxin in Botox, Dysport and other injectable wrinkle treatments. It also acts similarly by relaxing facial muscles, thus decreasing the appearance of wrinkles.

   Since it’s relatively new, there are no long-term studies regarding effects or side effects, but the short-term reviews on it are nothing short of incredible. The product being shouted about from the rooftops is PCA Skin ExLinea Peptide Smoothing Serum. It has an entire anti-aging arsenal in it including argireline, vitamins A and E, and aloe.

3. Hyaluronic Acid: With the ability to hold up to 1000x it’s weight in water, this is the ingredient that you want to look for in your moisturizers and other creams. It’s actually naturally produced and used in you joints, connective tissue, and eyes as a lubricant.

   In addition to its amazing ability to latch onto and retain moisture, it’s also prescribed by doctors as an anti-scarring and healing aid. Look for it in your moisturizer, your sunscreen, or anything else that you slather on! Give Derma e’s Hyaluronic Acid Night Creme Intensive Rehydrating Formula a shot. It’s affordable and contains your hyaluronic acid, plus vitamins A and C. This is an excellent cream to use if you’re also incorporating a serum with the big-dog ingredients in it.

4. Matrixyl: This mighty little ingredient is actually scientifically proven to stimulate both collagen and hyaluronic acid production in your skin. It’s a lipopeptide (fatty acid mixed with amino acids) and its active ingredient is Micro-Collagen, another peptide. It stimulates the lower layers of your skin cells to heal themselves, so it’s good for healing as well as anti-aging.

   The best part is that it acts relatively quickly. Women noticed that deep wrinkles were decreased by as much as half and fine lines faded, sometimes completely, within 2 weeks. A product that’s receiving rave reviews is Peter Thomas Roth’s Unwrinkle Nightcreme.

5. Haloxyl: Another relative newcomer to the anti-aging scene, this tetrapeptide is making a huge splash because of its ability to reduce and even eliminate under-eye circles and puffiness. It works by increasing lymphatic drainage while you sleep.

   The blood and fluid that normally builds up under your eyes overnight is what causes both the puffiness and the circles so Haloxyl doesn’t just cover up your circles and bags, it actually prevents them from occurring to begin with. To get rid of your bags and under-eye circles, try EmerginC’s Lighten-Up Under-Eye Circle Fighter

We’ve made it through the first 5 top anti-aging ingredients, but we’re not done yet. Continue reading to find out what other products made the list. I’ll give you a clue: there are actually SIX more! That’s right. I couldn’t narrow it down to just 10, because the last one may just be the most important. Read on!

6. Alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA): Alpha-lipoic acid is an antioxidant and is unusual in that it is both water- and fat-soluble. This means that it can fight damage caused by free radicals both inside and outside the cell. It also is a “recycling” agent for other antioxidants such as the mighty CoQ10 and Vitamin C.

   Because alpha-lipoic acid also has a mild anti-inflammatory effect, it’s great to use in conjunction with stronger, more irritating anti-aging products. On its own, it’s not a really big anti-aging gun but it’s an awesome little helper in your war on wrinkles. Give this one a shot: Dermaquest’s Skin Therapy cleanser. It’s packed with goodies including ALA, DMAE and Vitamin C.

7. Alpha Hydroxy: An acid derived from fruits, alpha hydroxy is an excellent exfoliant. It eats away the top layer of dead, dull skin so that your skin can rejuvenate with new, healthy cells. Though the name sounds fancy, you may recognize it by some of its various compounds including citric acid, glycolic acid, malic acid, lactic acid and tartaric acid.

   If you’ve been looking at anti-aging products including wrinkle reducers and peels, some of these are probably familiar. Both glycolic and lactic acid are frequently found in facial peels and of course citric acid is just old fashioned, antioxidant vitamin C. A good toner containing alpha hydroxy is Nutragena’s Pore Refining Toner.

8. Tretinoin: As the first retinoid (an acidic form of vitamin A) used in aging, tretinoin remains effective as an anti-aging tool. Much like retinol, it dissolves the outer dead layers of skin so that new cells are exposed and can thrive.

   Tretinoin also has a second function (as do all retinoids) that’s a little fuzzier to understand. The gist of it is that when it’s absorbed into your cells, it’s converted into retinol and acts as an antioxidant as well as a cell nutrient. Therefore, you get double your bang for your buck.

   Tretinoin eats away the dead stuff, burrows into the healthy cells and then protects it from free radicals and feeds it. Unfortunately, tretinoin is extremely irritating and will often cause redness, peeling, swelling and extreme sensitivity to sunlight wherever it’s applied. That’s why you don’t see it used more frequently – people choose to use the less-irritating retinol instead.

9. Copper Peptide: Used primarily as a healing agent for wounds and ulcers, copper peptide’s usefulness as an anti-wrinkle tool is questionable. It does have anti-inflammatory properties and stimulates collagen production, so combined with its healing properties copper peptides may be useful as a tool to use after a chemical peel to help prevent the creation of free radicals caused by the irritation that many chemicals such as retinoids cause. Used as a stand-alone anti-aging tool, however, its effectiveness is unproven.

10. Coenzyme Q10: This little protein/vitamin combination is a veritable powerhouse of good things for your body. It’s disease fighting abilities are becoming legendary, it’s a free radical’s worst nightmare, and its importance in many bodily chemical functions is proven. For more on this, check out our Coenzyme Q10 article.

    Unfortunately, there haven’t been many studies focusing on its topical effectiveness. Until that happens, you might want to stick with using the proven bad boys of topical anti-aging as your main ingredients until more research is done on the external effectiveness of CoQ10.

11. DMAE: OK, so I said 10 at the beginning of the article but I just had to throw this one in, too. DMAE, or dimethylaminoethanol, is an ingredient that actually has some scientific backing supporting its claim to reducing facial sagging which is probably an even bigger indicator of age. After all, young people can get wrinkles, but they surely don’t get saggy faces or bodies.

    How it works exactly is unclear even to scientists but they suspect that it destroys the garbage that accumulates in your cells as you age, thus preventing sagging. An awesome product that contains DMAE along with several of our other top picks here is Pericone MD’s Face Finishing Moisturizer.

If you’ve had any experience with these ingredients or would like to mention one that’s not listed, please tell us about it in the comments section below.

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