What to Look For in the Best Skin Care Products

The best skincare products not only moisturize but they protect against free radical damage and support skin regeneration. There are some commonly used compounds that should be avoided and others that contribute to desirable, healthy skin. Here's a brief look at both.

Dermatologists (doctors that specialize in treating skin diseases), have always recommended that we avoid the use of lotions, creams, cosmetics and other health and beauty aids that can cause adverse reactions or negatively affect the natural skin regeneration process. Most cosmetic companies didn't get that message.

Instead consumers are left to their own devices to learn to differentiate between the best skincare products, the mediocre ones and those that actually do more harm than good.

Right off the top, you should avoid perfumes or fragrances and preservatives. These ingredients are the two most common sources of allergens.

Even if you have never had an allergic reaction, it doesn't mean that you won't. Whenever the warning label on a product says to "test on an inconspicuous area before use," the manufacturer knows that some of the ingredients are common allergens, and it should be a "heads-up," to you to avoid.

The best skincare products contain natural vitamin E, because it naturally preserves the other ingredients in the bottle. Unfortunately, most of the major brands (those names you thought you could trust) use parabens as preservatives.

Some contain as many as five different parabens - check the labels, you'll be very surprised! Some of those preservatives are not only known to cause allergic reactions, they have been linked to cancer in several different studies.

One more ingredient to avoid is mineral oil. Mineral oil is liquid petrolatum or petroleum jelly. It is not an effective moisturizer, because it has no similarities to the skin's own natural oils and it does not penetrate the skin. It actually "repels" moisture, which is why it was commonly used to treat diaper rash. If used regularly, it can actually hinder the natural rejuvenation processes.

For moisturizing, the best skincare products use plant oils that have a similar chemistry to the sebum or oil, produced by the glands beneath our skin's surface. Olive, jojoba, grape seed, palm and avocado oils are the most similar natural oils and because of their similarity they are most effective.

To protect against free radical damage, the best skincare products contain antioxidants like vitamin E, but there are numerous other antioxidants present in nature. Grape seed, for example contains unique antioxidants, such as resveratrol.

Plant antioxidants provide natural protection against UV radiation. UV radiation and pollution in the air are the primary causes of free radical damage, which can eventually cause wrinkles, scarring or cancerous growth.

To support and encourage the skin's natural rejuvenation process, natural skin care products should have moisture, antioxidants and a few other nutrients such as essential fatty acids, amino acid proteins, the B complex vitamins and coenzyme Q10. Just to name a few of the most important nutrients.

You may have noticed that some individual components serve multiple purposes. For example, the oils that are effective moisturizers also provide essential fatty acids. Coenzyme Q10 supports regeneration of the cells and is a wonderful antioxidant, as well.

Those are just some of the things to look for in the best skincare products. Read the ingredients carefully, and if necessary look them up. Find a manufacturer that is committed to consumer safety and get as much information as you can, before you buy.

The only way to protect your skin's health is to know what it is you are faithfully applying to your skin. Simply because you see a high paid model rubbing a skin cream on herself, doesn't mean that skin care product is safe for you to use.


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Discover what to look for in the best skin care products.