| > | | | | favorite. Its chemical name is tocopherol, and it is |
| If you have sun damage, mature skin, | | | | known not only as a particularly strong |
| discoloration, or fine lines, your complexion may | | | | antioxidant, but as a natural |
| need more than a cleanser, toner, and moisturizer | | | | preservative.Grape-seed extract: If you're a label |
| to look its best. Enter the intensive daily | | | | reader, chances are you've seen grape-seed |
| treatment. Designed to be worn under, over, or | | | | extract listed on quite a few skin-care ingredient |
| instead of your regular moisturizer, these | | | | lists. Literally the extract of grape seeds, this |
| super-charged formulas contain high percentages | | | | product contains a compound of ingredients |
| of active ingredients to target specific | | | | known collectively as procyanidolic oligomers. |
| problems.Understanding antioxidantsIf you're at all | | | | These ingredients help grape-seed extract |
| health conscious, you probably know a bit about | | | | strengthen capillary walls, reduce inflammation, and |
| antioxidants. These naturally occurring substances | | | | act as antioxidants on your skin.Green tea extract |
| include certain vitamins and plant extracts that | | | | According to some studies green tea |
| fight off free radicals. Free radicals damage skin | | | | precancerous skin lesions, thanks to its active |
| by penetrating cells and damaging the cells' ability | | | | ingredient, catechins.Pycnogenol: Derived from the |
| to renew themselves, and by degrading the skin's | | | | bark of Landis pine trees, pycnogenol is another |
| collagen and elastin. When applied to your skin, | | | | antioxidant that contains procyanidolic |
| antioxidants help neutralize free radicals before | | | | oligomers.Alpha hydroxy acidsAlpha hydroxy acids |
| they can do any damage - some experts also | | | | are naturally occurring substances that break |
| believe antioxidants may be able to help repair | | | | down the dead cells that sit on the skin's surface, |
| past free radical damage. Among the more | | | | dulling the complexion and clogging pores. Alpha |
| popular antioxidants used in skin care are:Vitamin | | | | hydroxy acids also stimulate new collagen growth, |
| A: There are over-the-counter products that | | | | giving users a slightly tighter, more youthful |
| contain one of two vitamin A derivatives - retinol | | | | complexion. And the acids' light bleaching effect |
| and retinyl palmitate. For a product to be | | | | helps treat discoloration, freckles, and acne scars. |
| effective, look for a formula that contains at least | | | | For an alpha hydroxy skin care product to be |
| 3 percent retinol or retinyl palmitate.Vitamin C: | | | | effective, it should contain at least 5 percent of |
| Over-the-counter serurns and moisturizers | | | | the ingredient, and preferably 10 percent or more; |
| containing vitmain C are among today's | | | | stronger products are available through |
| hottest-selling skin-care items. That's because | | | | dermatologists and plastic surgeons. Here are the |
| they are especially effective at treating the signs | | | | acids and where they occur:Citric acid: derived |
| of sun damage. Get the most effective vitamin C | | | | from citrus productsGlycolic acid: derived from |
| product by choosing a formula with a 10 percent | | | | sugar caneLactic acid: derived from milk |
| or higher concentration of ascorbic acid, which is | | | | productsMalic acid: derived from grapesTartaric |
| thought to be the most effective of the vitamin | | | | acid: derived from applesIf you are trying to |
| C derivatives. Other derivatives include | | | | improve skin and pigmentary imbalances, take |
| magnesium ascorbate and sodium ascorbate. | | | | fastidious care to use a sunblock, even on cloudy |
| Because vitamin C breaks down quickly in light, | | | | days. This will help prevent the return of any |
| keep the product in a dark place, such as a | | | | pigment that has been successfully bleached out |
| medicine cabinet.Vitamin E: Often found combined | | | | by a treatment. |
| with vitamin C, vitamin E is a perennial skin-care | | | | |