Friday, February 10, 2012

How Choosing the Best Skin Firming Lotion?

Choosing the best skin firming lotion can be a bit tricky. First, there are several products and brands that claim to be the best... and, the ingredients that make them effective can vary widely. Here's a quick explanation of what we think are the best ingredients and formulations you should consider.

What Should a Skin Firming Lotion Do?

Let's talk first about overall application and what you want out of a firming lotion. For most folks, there are two primary goals; one, firm or tighten loose, sagging or wrinkled skin. Given there are plenty of options for wrinkle serums for the face and skin tightening cream, a lotion is primarily used on the body - arms, legs, waist, stomach, chest, thighs, etc. Two, skin firming lotions should provide moisture and hydration to relieve dryness and to improve the smoothness and flexibility of the skin. Note: This added hydration cuts-down on the wrinkled, sagging appearance of the skin, too - a little added bonus.

So, what should we look for? In our opinion (and granted we manufacture hundreds of products), there are several key ingredients you need to make sure you get...the remainder are fluff, add-ons or ingredients that provide some specific incremental benefit.

Look For...

    Matrixyl® 3000 - While there are several ingredients that provide control of wrinkled skin, Matrixyl® 3000 continues to be our favorite. Matrixyl 3000 is a polypeptide with Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, and Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 in a patented formula. The benefits of Matrixyl 3000 are that it is one of the most effective and widely used firming agents for skin care products. You'll find it used in popular brands ranging from Skin Tight® Body Firming Lotion to Nuetrogena® and others.

    Hyaluronic Acid - We in the skin care industry continue to cringe at the name, but it is what it is. Hyaluronic Acid is naturally produced by our bodies and help us retain, increase and improve moisture in our skin tissue. It is (what we think) is a key ingredient in any skin firming lotion where you want/need maximum hydration.

    Emu Oil - While not too popular (yet) in the U.S., Emu Oil is a staple for skin care in Australia and New Zealand. Once considered a "miracle oil" with little scientific support, Emu Oil has been the subject of numerous clinical studies that have proved its long list of benefits - anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, deep moisturizing, and improved tissue health.

    Green Tea - There are few natural ingredients that perform antioxidant protection as well as Green Tea extract. Why is this important? Antioxidants provide protection from (and in some cases) repair to damage caused by free-radical oxidization. Well, so what? Well...many scientists and researchers agree free-radical damage - or I should say the accumulation of such damage - is the primary cause of aging skin. Free-radicals damage and degenerate the cell membranes of bones, tendons, skin cells, muscle, and organs. For topical applications, Green Tea is a key for lotion protection.