Does the ‘Wonder ingredient’ retinol, found in face creams claiming to reverse the signs of aging actually work?
It depends who you ask but recently this ‘wonder ingredient’ has been taken to task and under closer scrutiny didn’t stack up to be so wonderful. Although many creams prove to be effective in fighting the signs of aging this is primarily because they contain retinol, also known as vitamin A. Vitamin A is vital for healthy and young looking skin.
If you can get vitamin A from natural products, why waste money on expensive face creams?
This is a good question and an important one. This is not to suggest that face creams containing retinol are ineffective when it comes to fighting wrinkles but there are a whole host of natural remedies which are readily available that give you the same effect as the pricey face creams on the market.
1. Eat Nuts
Eating meaty nuts like brazil nuts or hazelnuts will provide you with a lot of the essential vitamins your skin needs to stay looking young. Nuts contain vital fatty acids which support those fatty acids already present in the skin. They naturally moisturize the skin and helps it retain its firmness.
2. Drink Water
And plenty of it! Water is your best friend when it comes to young and healthy looking skin. It is recommended adults consume lots of water throughout the day especially during the summer months. When we perspire and dehydrate the major organs in the body need to work twice as hard and the skin is not given biological priority.
3. Exercise Regularly
Ensuring you exercise regularly gets the blood flowing and is an important of any ‘stay young’ regime. When you exercise blood is pumped around the body causing live skin cells to rise to the surface of the skin promoting skin renewal, making your skin look younger.
4. Eat Vegetables
Especially carrots and tomatoes which are a vital source of betacarotene for the body. The body converts the betacarotene into vitamin A (another name for retinol) which builds collagen aiding skin cell growth. This helps the skin to retain elasticity and the antioxidants present also have anti-aging properties.
5. Use Olive Oil
Olive oil is an ancient remedy which is thought to protect the skin especially after exposure to the strong and damaging rays of the sun. The antioxidants present in the oil protect the skin from pollutants and oxidation which cause the skin to look aged.
