Guess what we discussed in Skin Care Ingredients to Avoid? That’s right – skin care ingredients to avoid. It wasn’t a trick question. But that article is only partially helpful as it did not tell you which skin care ingredients are safe and effective. That’s what today’s article is about. Effective and safe skin care ingredients.
But, before we get into that. Here’s another way to remember what to avoid. Avoid products with artificial colors, dyes, fragrances fillers in addition to those harmful chemicals we discussed previously. Like that previous article much of the content for this one comes from a talk presented by Julia Hunter, MD at the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine’s 23rd World Congress.
Effective and Safe Skin Care Ingredients
This is paramount. For any skin care product to be optimally effective your internal physiology must be working as well as possible. You cannot expect a skin care or cosmetic product to overcome poor lifestyle habits like smoking, unhealthy eating, and minimal physical activity. When the internal physiology is NOT clicking on all cylinders skin care products only reach 3o% to 50% of their capability. This is similar to hormone replacement which is more effective in the presence of clean eating and regular exercise.
Another caveat when it comes to skin care is this. To quote Dr. Hunter, “The side effect of creating beauty should always be health and vice versa.” So whatever you put on your skin should improve your general health.
One term important in discussing skin care ingredients is the word “chirality”. It has to do with the geometric shape of molecules which must be such that they fit on the cell receptors. Chirally correct molecules more easily penetrate into the cell. Natural molecules are chirally correct more so than synthetic compounds.
Qualities of Effect and Safe Skin Care Ingredients
The ideal skin care products provide optimal therapeutic effects and visible results and they accomplish this by:
- having sufficient quantity of the most effective ingredients.
- having the most active, potent, pharmaceutical grade, and chirally correct ingredients.
- having a formulation of the correct ratio of ingredients.
Chirally Correct Ingredients
Here’s the part you’ve probably have been waiting for. The following ingredients are non-toxic and physiologically and chirally correct. These are the effective and safe skin care ingredients.
- L-mandelic acid:
- L-lactic acid
- L-malic acid
- Retinyl acetate
L-mandelic acid, L-lactic acid, and L-malic acid are all nontoxic alpha hydroxy acids with L-mandelic acid being stronger than glycolic acid. L-mandelic acid has antimicrobial and anti pigment properties and is anti-inflammatory, stimulate collagen production, has even penetration, and has volumizing effects.
L-lactic acid does much the same but also hydrates the skin by being a ceramide. A ceramide is a waxy lipid compounds that prevents water loss from evaporation and is a barrier to microbes.
L-lactic acid is anti-inflammatory and anti pigment and is a strong exfoliator. It stimulates collagen production. It is also a humectant which means it hydrates skin (moisturizer).
Retinyl acetate stimulates collagen production. It has deep penetration into the dermal layer. It helps with non inflammatory wound healing and scarring.
*To find such products that are non toxic and chirally correct go to Dr. Hunter’s product section of her website.
But, don’t forget to eat a low glycemic diet which is non inflammatory, exercise regularly, and keep your hormone levels optimal for best results from you skin care products.
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