By Katie Martlew
With so many creams on the market promising to unveil a ‘younger looking you’ it can be an overwhelming, expensive and tiresome task trying to discern which products will actually work for you.
Whether you need help in the restorative or preventative department, or both- we hereby present you with need-to-know facts on anti-ageing, and our top picks of the most effective face creams on the shelves.
Face the facts
FACT: factors such as poor diet, air pollution, UV exposure, and hormonal imbalance all wreak havoc on our skin, and our skin loses its natural resilience to withstand these stresses as we age- which makes it harder to maintain texture, radiance and firmness.
FACT: As we get older, the eye contour, jaw line and neck tend to be the first areas to loose firmness.
FACT: You are what you eat: AGEs stand for Advanced Glycation End Products- glycation occurs when sugars we consume affix to proteins in the skin (eg collagen). Skin hardens, takes on a yellowish appearance, sags and becomes prone to cross hatch wrinkles. The gylcation process naturally increases as we age, and sun exposure also speeds it up.
Face value: our top 7 picks of the best face creams on the market.
1. Doctor’s Prescription for firm Skin
Try: Doctors Dermatologic Formula (DDF) Advanced Firming Cream
What it is? An advanced dermatologic anti-ageing night cream designed to measurably improve skin firmness and reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
Key ingredient: Tumeric Complex (with gylcerin, zinc and copper)
Key benefits: DDF uses cutting edge Integrated Science when developing their skincare products, integrating three additional skin sciences- biotechnology, nutrition and esthetics. The Advanced Firming Cream contains key ingredient Tumeric- the ancient healing spice native to India, which is known as a powerful antioxidant. The Turmeric Complex boosts skin’s defenses to everyday external stresses, by minimizing damage from free radicals to strengthen the skin’s natural moisture barrier and hydrates to improve firmness, as well reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
DDF Advanced Firming Cream RRP $189.95 available at Kit Cosmetics www.kitcosmetics.com
2. When hope in a jar is not nearly enough
Try: Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream
What it is? Olay’s first ever luxury super cream which is targeted to treat the eye, jaw line and neck- to firm the skin, improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and help restore elasticity and suppleness.
Key ingredient: Olay’s highest level of amino-peptide complex.
Key benefits: “Regenerist’s penta-peptides are extremely effective anti-ageing ingredients that provide hydration to the skin to deliver an intense anti-ageing formula”, says Proctor & Gamble Senior Scientist David Khoo. “Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream contains the amino-peptide complex and moisturising ingredients which work together to leave the skins appearance with a progressive and visible firmness that’s noticeable even in areas prone to sagging- around the eyes, jaw-line and neck” says David.
The sculpting cream is extremely hydrating, luxurious to touch, and very affordable.
Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream, RRP $49.95, is available from Priceline, Target, K-mart, Big W, National Pharmacies and Chemist Warehouse stores. Phone 1800 028 280 for a full list of stockists.
3. Stress Relief for exhausted skin
Try: SK-II Skin Signature
What it is? An essential daily moisturiser for both day and night, designed to enhance the skin’s tolerance to external stresses and helps to restore firmness, smoothness and radiance.
Key ingredient: Contains a powerful cocktail of Oli-Vityl (the latest groundbreaking ingredient- an olive derivative)
Key benefits: “As you age, your skin undergoes different changes. Whilst these may not seem prominent at the start, as the changes accumulate, the signs of ageing become more obvious as the outer layer of the skin is exposed to damage such as oxidation, UV exposure and moisture loss. So, our skin’s ‘power’ is determined by two key aspects: the skin’s tolerance – which protects the skin from stress and the skin’s ability to regenerate itself. ” Says Misa Ito, SK-II Scientific Communications Manager.
The key ingredient in Skin Signature is Oli-Vityl: a naturally derived ingredient from an olive species that thrives in Tuscany. This breakthrough ingredient helps the skins ability to regenerate and restore its ability to produce anti-oxidants in the skin to combat ageing stress.
SK-II Skin Signature RRP (80g) $200 Available from David Jones and Myer.
4. The future of skincare is here
Try: Shiseido Daytime Protective Cream SPF 15 and Shiseido Total Regenerating Cream
What it is? This two-part system is part of Shiseido’s new Future Solution LX range. The Shiseido Daytime Protective Cream is a multi-functional daytime moisturiser that helps protect from UV rays while reducing the appearance of wrinkles and sagging, while maintaining long-lasting moisture.
The Total Regenerating Cream is a high performance night cream that instantly energises the skin, while helping to reduce signs of ageing and loss of firmness.
Key ingredients: Effective ingredients are derived from nature and include Skingenecell P, Premium Uji Green Tea, Super Yeast Extract, Super Bio-Hyaluronic Acid.
Key benefits: Shiseido Future Solutions fuses the greatest technological advancement in luxury skincare with effective anti-ageing ingredients derived from nature. The Shiseido Daytime Protective Cream is not only packed with SPF to prevent further skin damage, but also hydrates to create an even, luminous complexion and improved makeup finish. The Total Regenerating Cream acts as a perfect partner to the daytime cream, by promoting radiance, clarity and resilience through improved hydration and micro-circulation.
Shiseido Daytime Protective Cream SPF15 50ml, RRP $455
Shiseido Total Regenerating Cream 50ml, RRP $485
Available at selected Myer, David Jones and pharmacies nationwide. For more information, phone the Stockist number: 1800 225 032
5. The multi-tasking miracle worker
Try: Crème de la Mer Miracle Broth
What it is? The Crème de la Mer Miracle Broth is a super luxe day AND night face moisturiser that is coveted around the globe for its ability to dramatically reduce ageing lines and pores while improving skin’s softness, firmness and soothing sensitivities.
Key ingredients: sea kelp, calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, lecithin, Vitamins C, E and B12, plus oils of citrus, eucalyptus, wheat germ, alfalfa and sunflower.
Key benefits: Crème de la Mer was conceived by aerospace physicist Dr. Max Huber after he suffered a horrific accident which left him covered in severe chemical burns. Huber spent twelve years perfecting the Miracle Broth, and along the way discovered it was not the ingredients themselves that were going to work miracles, but the way the ingredients were distilled. Working with the ancient science of fermentation, Huber spent 3-4 months to complete the bio-fermentation process, which in turn transforms the ingredients into super anti-ageing powers.
The Crème must be individually hand-filled in order to sustain its delicate balance. The Miracle Broth is suspended within its formula. To activate the broth and release its key ingredients, warm a small amount between your fingertips and you will instantly feel the smoothing effects on the skin. In a short time, skin becomes softer and firmer while ageing lines and pores become noticeably less visible.
Crème de la Mer Miracle Broth RRP 30ml $250 or RRP 60ml $440. Available at selected David Jones stores nationally and via www.cremedelamer.com.au
6. The time machine
Try: POLA B.A The Cream
What it is? The first face moisturiser proven to remove AGEs (AGEs appear on the skin in the form of sagginess, dull, yellow skin tone, and cross hatch wrinkling, as result of glycation which happens when the proteins in our dermis affix to the sugar in our diet)
Key ingredients: Yac Extract, and Swertia Japonica Extract.
Key benefits: The Cream’s ability to remove ages is attributed to the combination of its two key ingredients. Yac Extract is a patented natural ingredient derived from Mugwort that effectively removes AGEs from the skin. Swertia Japonica Extract is a unique bioactive ingredient, which repairs the damaged collagen in the dermis once the AGEs have been removed. Within 14 days of use (apply of an evening), skin becomes firmer, wrinkles become less prominent and the complexion appears brighter, without the yellowish tone characterised by AGEs.
POLA B.A The Cream, RRP $458. Available at leading beauty salons nationally, and online at www.polacosmetics.com.au For further stockist enquiries, visit www.polacosmetics.com.au, or call 1800 813 758.
7. Mother nature’s little helper
Try: KOSMEA Eighth Natural Wonder
What it is? A revitalising facial lotion that was specifically developed to coincide with the introduction of High Definition TV (AKA too-much-information camera- for its ability to show extreme clarity, including every imperfection on a celebrity’s face!) The cream is intended to smooth out wrinkles and visible pores while fighting the signs of ageing.
Key ingredient: Myoxinol®- obtained from the seeds of Hibiscus Esculentus.
Key benefits: Key ingredient Myoxinol® is proven to ‘freeze’ wrinkles and combat signs of ageing. The addition of free radical fighting rose hip oil works as a super face hydrator, which helps to fill in lines, while giving the face a supple appearance sans the dreaded shine factor. The lotion instantly lifts dull and tired skin, injecting it with an instant youthful glow.
Eighth Natural Wonder 20ML RRP $39.95 and 50ML RRP $69.95. Available at David Jones, and selected pharmacies and health food stores nationally. Also available at www.kosmea.com.au. For further stockist information call: 1300 130 320.
