The Mayo Clinic’s Best Ingredients for Fighting Wrinkles

When it comes to understanding the body and the research behind it all, you can trust what The Mayo Clinic has to say. I found a great article on their site about a wrinkle-fighting regimen which offers some tips along with ingredients you want to look for in effective skin care. They didn’t offer product suggestions other than Tretinoin, so I hunted down the products I felt best represented each ingredient they had listed.

Of course their top slot went to Tretinoin, the only FDA approved solution for wrinkle reduction. It’s a derivative of vitamin a and is only available through a prescription from your doctor. It’s something I’ve used off and on throughout the years and encourage women who are starting to see fine lines and even sun spotting to see their doctors for a prescription. It typically isn’t covered through insurance and can be pricey ($80-$100 depending on the pharmacy) but it’s well worth the cost because it lasts a long time and gives visible results.

Hydroxy acids were second on the list, they’re derived from sugar and help to exfoliate the skin and bring the new, evenly pigmented skin to the surface. You’ll want to wear SPF during the day because hydroxy is known to cause heighten sun sensitivity, but the side effects of using alpha hydroxy are typically slight if any. I remember years ago there was a segment on 20/20 where they tested a bunch of higher and lower priced alpha hydroxy creams and found that this one made by Walgreens had the highest content of active AHA and was also the most effective.

Coenzyme Q10 (COQ10) helps to keep your cells on the up and up, I take it as a supplement, but there have been some recent studies that show how using it around the eyes can safely reduce wrinkles. Look for Ubiquinone on the label (the medical name for COQ10) and make sure it appears early in the ingredient list so you know there’s enough in there to work. Hydra-Pure Firming Eye Cream by Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare is a great one that contains COQ10 along with vitamins and peptides for both wrinkle treatment and prevention.

You may not hear a lot about Copper Peptides, but Denver-based skincare company Osmotics has been using them for years. Copper is known for its healing properties and when it’s carried into the skin using peptides, it can rev up antioxident protection and stimulate collagen. Their #1 product for the job is their Blue Copper 5 Firming Elasticity Repair a favorite of their loyal customers and Beauty Editors alike.

Kinetin is a funny ingredient. It’s been quietly popping up in prestige skincare lines for years because it’s effective in moisture retention and wrinkle reduction but we aren’t exactly sure why. Kinerase uses it as an age-preventer along with their own advanced ingredient line up for their new Restructure Firming Cream that targets both sagging and and wrinkles.

Green Tea doesn’t  just provide benefits as a drink, when it’s used on the skin it helps to fight environmental damage and calm inflammation so your skin care can absorb and work that much better. I like it in a simple, organic version like Alba Organics Aloe & Green Tea Moisturizer which is oil-free and ultra light under makeup.

You’ll find the whole article from the Mayo Clinic HERE.

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