A Man’s Guide To Anti-Aging Creams

For centuries, men have obsessed over youthful skin.

In Greek mythology – the gods achieved agelessness by eating ambrosia.

In the modern world – we have our own version of ambrosia… anti-aging creams.

Our skin is the first line of defense against the elements. Women are accustomed to creams that reduce the signs of aging and offer protection against further skin damage.

Should a man also use anti- aging creams?

⁉ What do you think?

A real man is applauded for being an upstanding citizen, a contributor to society and a caretaker of the family.

Why would men be concerned about the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines on the face? After all, aren’t wrinkles just an indicator of past smiles, as Mark Twain once remarked?

On the one hand – your skin is the largest and most exposed organ in your body.

On the other – your skin is comprised of dead cells. Why spend money on the excess of the outer layer of your anatomy?

▶ 5 Factors To Consider Using Anti-Aging Cream

1. 1️⃣ Your profession – What you do for a living will affect your decision to take care of your skin. Some professions will require that you look young and healthy.

The most appropriate example is when you are the “face” of your company or business. It is important that you take care of your face and how you look when you are an actor or a salesman.

1. 2️⃣ Exposure and condition of skin – The use of anti-aging creams is important for men who are always exposed to the sun. Some of you may have blue-collar jobs and you are always out there working in the sun. Anti-aging creams will reduce the signs of aging caused by direct exposure to sunlight.

2. 3️⃣ Genetics – Some people age faster. Your genetic make-up plays an important role in how you age. The action of a single gene affects how long a person lives. Many factors affect longevity but scientists have looked into the effects of an “aging gene” on human life span. Nevertheless, proper skin care could take a few years off your age.

3. 4️⃣ Personal situation – Are you in your forties or fifties?

Do you dress for yourself or to impress others? You may be recently divorced or still single but you want to go out there and look your best.

Whatever your personal journey is, consider the idea of taking good care of your skin so in different situations, you are confident of yourself.

1. 5️⃣ What do you want? – You may be one of those men who simply want to look good.

Proper skin care is very vital if you want to look young even as you age.

An anti-aging cream is your best option to reduce skin stress.

▶ Anti-Aging Moisturizers – Why bother?

We live in a chemical world.

As a result of overexposure to pollutants in our environment, ultraviolet radiation and poor diet choices – the elasticity of our skin degrades. Which leads to accelerated aging.

Fortunately – there are age- old methods to reverse the effects of time on your face.

Vitamin C is required for the body to produce collagen – the substance that increases the elasticity of your skin and makes it look supple. It is also an antioxidant. The process of oxidation releases stress into your skin, making it look aged and damaged.

Taken orally in the form of tablets, insignificant amounts of vitamin C reach the skin. And because levels of vitamin C decline with age – it is essential to find other sources to replenish its stock in the body.

Research studies have shown that when applied topically – vitamin C promotes the formation of collagen and reduces the effects of free radicals. Which leads to firm and youthful skin.

Have you ever used a body moisturizer on your face? You might be forgiven for assuming that the two are interchangeable. After all, why buy a separate lotion for different parts of the body?

▶ Are All Moisturizers The Same?

Your skin covers your entire body – but its thickness varies.

The part of your body that are prone to wear are padded with thicker skin while other parts of your body are enclosed with thinner skin. The skin on your body is thicker than the skin on your face.

The composition and ingredients on each of these products will differ.

▶ Facial moisturizers offer the added benefit of anti-aging properties, sun-protection and anti-acne. Their formulation is lightweight and non-comedogenic (they shouldn’t clog your facial pores). Anti-aging versions of facial moisturizers contain fillers that plump up the moisture content of your skin, reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.

▶ Body moisturizers are primarily used for relief from dry, cracking skin. These moisturizers contain mineral oils or petroleum-based ingredients which form a protective barrier and stops the skin from losing moisture. The barrier also offers a layer of protection against harsh environmental conditions. They tend to be too heavy for the face and can clog pores.

▶ Facial Lotion Vs. Anti-Aging Creams

A lotion has a lighter composition while creams are a little more substantial and provide hydration to your skin for longer.

Lotions are a blend of oil and liquid.

They are lighter than creams and have a higher percentage of liquid compared to oil in their composition.

They are more easily absorbed into the skin than creams.

Creams are a blend of oil and liquid with the higher percentage being oils.

They’re thick, like soft butter and are absorbed easily into the skin. Their moisturizing properties tend to last longer than lotions.

▶ When To Start Using Anti-Aging Products?

In your 20s, your skin is able to repair itself fully without help from external sources.

The downside of using anti-aging products at this age? Irritation to your skin and making it more sensitive to the sun.

In your 20’s, a pile-up of ingredients on your face can cause the biggest skincare problem for young people – breakouts and acne.

When your forehead starts to crinkle and you notice the formation of crow’s feet around your eyes… that’s the time to start using anti- aging moisturizers.

Your 30s are the perfect time to start paying attention to anti-aging creams. At this age, men start to notice the changes in the appearance of their skin.

Past your 30s? Start using anti-aging creams today.

▶ Ingredients Proven To Reduce Signs Of Aging

Ingredients such as Vitamin C & E, alpha lipoic acid, niacinamide, green tea… they may reduce the oxidative stress caused on your skin by exposure to sun and pollution.

The effectiveness of anti-wrinkle creams depends in part on the active ingredient or ingredients.

Here are some common ingredients that may result in slight to modest improvement in the appearance of wrinkles.

• Vitamin C – A potent antioxidant that helps protect the skin from sun damage.

Antioxidants are substances that neutralize free radicals — unstable oxygen molecules that break down skin cells and cause wrinkles.

• Hydroxy acids – Alpha hydroxy acids, beta hydroxy acids and poly hydroxy acids are exfoliating substances that remove the upper layer of dead skin and stimulate the growth of smooth, evenly pigmented new skin.

• Retinol – Vitamin A compound, the first antioxidant to be widely used in nonprescription wrinkle creams.

• Coenzyme Q10 – Helps reduce fine wrinkles around the eyes and helps protects the skin from sun damage.

• Grape seed extract – In addition to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, also promotes wound healing.

• Tea extracts – Red, green, black and oolong tea contain compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Green tea extracts are most commonly found in anti-aging creams.

• Niacin amide – A potent antioxidant, related to Vitamin B-3 (niacin). It helps reduce water loss in the skin and improves skin elasticity.

▶ How To Slow The Process Of Aging

There are plenty of skincare gimmicks out there, and most of them are ridiculously expensive. An anti-wrinkle cream may lessen the appearance of your wrinkles. The effectiveness of the cream will depend on how often you use it, the type and amount of active ingredients in the wrinkle cream, and the extent of the wrinkles you want to treat.

There are more reliable ways to improve and maintain your skin’s youthful appearance…

• Protect your skin from the sun – Sun exposure is the top reason for signs of aging in the skin, including uneven pigmentation. Limiting the time you spend in the sun and always wearing protective clothing and a hat helps.

• Use products SPF protection – When selecting skin care products, choose those with a built-in SPF of at least 15. Broad spectrum products block both UVA and UVB rays.

• Daily use of moisturizers – Dry skin turns plump skin cells into shriveled ones, creating wrinkles and fine lines. Though moisturizers can’t prevent wrinkles – they can temporarily mask tiny lines and creases.

• Quit smoking – Smoking causes narrowing of the blood vessels in the outermost layers of your skin. It also damages collagen and elastin — fibers that give your skin its strength and elasticity. As a result, skin begins to sag and wrinkle prematurely.

• Drink more water – Our skin is composed of 30 percent water but adequate water intake will give you a glowing complexion. Drinking 8-10 glasses of water everyday will flush the toxins from your system and will prevent skin dryness.

▶ Tips When Purchasing Anti-Aging Products

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies creams and lotions as cosmetics and not as drugs. They are defined as having no medical value. As a result, these products are not subject to the rigorous safety testing that topically applied medications undergo before approval for public use.

Cosmetic products are not evaluated for effectiveness and as a result – there’s no guarantee that any over-the-counter product will reduce your wrinkles. Consider these points when judging the merits of using a wrinkle cream:

• Cost – The money you pay for an anti-aging cream has no relationship to effectiveness. A wrinkle cream that’s more expensive may not be more effective than one that costs less. • Fragrance Free – Men’s products are generally made without fragrances. Ingredients added to creams to produce a pleasant smell can have a reaction with a man’s skin. Best to choose a product that is fragrance-free, unless you’ve tried it and it has no adverse reaction with your skin.

• Lower doses – Nonprescription wrinkle creams contain lower concentrations of active ingredients than do prescription creams. So results, if any, are limited and usually short-lived.

• Overloading ingredients – There’s no data to suggest that mixing two or more of the ingredients mentioned above will be more effective than consistently using just one of them.

• Frequent and consistent use – You’ll need to use anti-aging creams at least once or twice daily for a few weeks before noticing any improvements in your skin. Once you stop using the product – it is likely your skin will return to its original appearance.

• Side effects – Some creams can react with your skin and cause irritation, burning, rashes or redness. Read the product information and follow instructions to limit side effects.

• Differences in skin types – Just because it works for your girlfriend doesn’t mean it will work for you. Men have different skin types and no one product works the same for everyone.

▶ Oily Versus Dry Skin Type Anti-Aging Creams

Most anti-aging products contain a combination of ingredients that offer varying degrees of moisture-retention and protection from UV rays. Choose a moisturizer based on your skin type

• Oily skin – Facial creams with sunscreen (SPF protection) are not appealing to men with oily skin. These creams tend to add shine and feel greasy to skin that is already shiny. Avoid using heavy products or thick creams. Look for formulas that are specified as oil-free and non-comedogenic on the label.

• Dry skin – A cream with SPF is required to protect dry skin from forming fine lines. A heavier cream with sun protection works for dry skin. For dry skin – you want a product that has more substance – it’s better to use a cream, which tends to protect skin better than lotion.

▶ $200 Or $5? Spending on Anti-Aging Creams

Does a $200 moisturizer magically erase all wrinkles from your face? Is price an indicator of quality when it comes to anti-aging creams and facial lotions?

The truth is – any cheap moisturizer will temporarily plump the skin by infusing it with moisture. The effects will last for a few hours. For high-end anti-aging creams, you are paying for the quality of the ingredients and the duration of its effects on the face.

Cheaper creams work just as well, so don’t feel bad about sticking with sunscreen and an affordably priced moisturizer, especially if you are still in your 20’s.