Over $700 million dollars is spent per year on anti-aging skin care products and facial moisturizers according to Mintel International Group, a market research firm. Companies such as Nivea, Lancome, Vichy and Avon are just a few of the major players trying to wrestle business to their corner. Folks will gladly fork over the money if they are convinced that a product will perform as advertised.
The claims of moisturizing while you sleep, minimizing lines and wrinkles, fighting off free radicals, erasing sun spots, firming the skin texture and perfecting your skin tone are intriguing indeed – intriguing enough to entice you to pull out the credit card for sure. We need to be aware, however, that basic moisturizing ingredients alone will not perform all of the above mentioned jobs effectively. This is where an educated and informed consumer has an advantage over the one who has not done their homework.
One of the main problems is that it is hard to find a single product that offers you the maximum in potential benefits without forking over hundreds of dollars per bottle. The best course of action is to find a product in your price range that has the highest amount of beneficial ingredients. Some of the ingredients you should look for on the label are:
- Retinol – A chemical compound that the sun can swipe away from you during the day. Replenishing overnight is highly recommended by dermatologists. This is probably the most important ingredient to look for in a night cream and is the best guard against skin aging and wrinkles.
- Peptides – Speed up the production of collagen, which adds firmness to skin and also helps alleviate wrinkles.
- Vitamin C – This is another essential factor for producing collagen.
- Antioxidants – Look for coenzyme Q, vitamin E, idebenone and/or green tea.
Other good quality ingredients include hydroquinone; extracts of licorice, mulberry or cucumber; kojic acid, chamomile, aloe vera, ceramides, salicylic acid and feverfew. You might even see cholesterol on the label, it helps seal in moisture.
Trial and error might be your best guide in choosing the ideal night cream for you. Remember that results do not occur overnight. It may take up to two months for you to notice improvements, so patience may be required. Night cream can be a great addition to your normal skin care treatment as long as you choose your products wisely.