3 Anti-Aging Products You Don’t Need

Hay ladies! It’s time to cut through the clutter (and save cash while you’re at it) with savvy skincare advice!

With the thousands of anti-aging products available in drug stores, online and even at our local shopping malls, it’s no surprise that consumers get overwhelmed when deciding what to buy. Some of us end up trying, over time, the entire drugstore, while others just play it safe with the same rotation of products that they’re never completely happy with.

Cut through the clutter and make practical, scientifically sound choices with my advice on what you don’t need in your anti-aging routine.

1. Cleansers with Botanical Extracts

What they are: Botanical extracts are ingredients extracted from plants (flowers, roots, stems, trees, etc.) for use in skincare for everything from healing blemishes to reducing fine wrinkles. They have been used for centuries and have anecdotal purposes in just about, if not, all cultures. In anti-aging creams, toners, and serums, they work effectively.

The issue: Botanical extracts need to remain on your skin in order to work. In cleansers, there is simply not enough contact time on your skin for any true anti-aging benefit to take place.  Another issue: Most botanical extracts are water soluble, which means that the moment you wet your skin and begin to wash your face, they’re watered down and rendered useless.

How to solve it: You may love how your cleanser makes your skin feel, or how it evens out your skin tone, but it’s the effects of the balance of surfactants (cleansing agents) that you actually like—not the botanical extracts! To save on your cleanser, but still get the feel you love, find a formula containing similar surfactants—matching botanical ingredients does not matter.

2. Lip Exfoliators

What they are: Dry, chapped lips are uncomfortable, but you don’t need to purchase a special product to relieve them. Most lip exfoliators consist mainly of sugar and natural oils in a wax base to hold everything together.

The issue: Lip exfoliators work, but they’re pricy.

How to solve it: Spare yourself this unnecessary expense! Before going to bed, apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly to your lips. The next morning, gently rub them with a washcloth, and the dead skin will peel right off. For a natural alternative, replace the petroleum jelly with olive oil and with a light hand, rub a toothbrush on your lips in a circular motion to get rid of the dry skin. This quick-and-easy exfoliation technique will leave your lips feeling smooth and soft.

3. Retinol and Acids in one product

What they are: Retinol is one of the best anti-aging ingredients available. It can help reverse the visible signs of premature aging due to excessive sun exposure, help control acne and reduce wrinkles. Likewise, acids such as Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) like glycolic acid or Beta Hydroxy Acids (i.e. salicylic acid) are wonderful chemical exfoliants that breakdown the gunk holding dead skin cells together. The end result is silky smooth skin, a more even skintone and a reduction of fine lines. It’s no wonder skin care manufacturers want the benefits of these ingredients in one power-packed anti-aging product.