First up is your sleeping habits, anti aging skin care begins with a restful (and regular) hours of sleep.  Your skin heals and regenerates when you’re asleep. If you miss out on sleep, you’ll miss out on those natural healing processes too causing your skin cells to age faster.

Avoid getting all stressed out.  Easier said than done, I know.  Stress will always be there. But one way to combat the effects of stress and release the toxins it produces in the body is to get moving.  Spend at least 15 minutes of at least 3 days of your week dancing, hula-hooping, stairs climbing, jogging, walking, swimming and anything you can think of that can get your heart rate up.

Get your daily dose of Vitamin C and antioxidants.  It’s as simple as taking a supplement, eating an apple, drinking a glass of orange juice or adding tomatoes (rich in antioxidants) to your menu.  What this does is provide your skin with the collagen it needs to stay firm and, yes, young.  Miss out on that more often than not then you’ll surely be saying hi to sag and fine lines sooner than you would certainly like.

Get your green tea on.  Green tea has been proven to have the antioxidants that will help you keep yourself younger looking, longer.  Consider replacing your coffee and your soda sessions with a cup of hot or glass of cold green tea.

Finally, just as it is important to keep your insides prepped up for fighting aging, so should you take care of the outer layers of your skin.  Cleanse, tone, exfoliate and moisturize, these are the step to skin care that you should incorporate into your daily routine.  And I’m not just talking about the facial area; these steps should be applied to the rest of your body as well.  There are plenty of anti aging skin care products out there and they’re not all tailored to your skin type.  That means you should find the best one for you.  The sooner you get to do so, the better.

Avon could be considered the "Ford Motors" of cosmetics. In this case, sadly, I think that the analogy works, remember the "Found On Road Dead" analogy/acronym? This is not a bad product, with regard to its actual results. Its an excellent moisturizer and, while a little costly, the Avon name carries a bit of value in itself. In real world performance, however, many customers report that while it is indeed a very nice moisturizing cream, the 2 in 1 concept seems to work for some but not for others. This is certainly true of all products and Avon Anew Clinical is no exception. But the problem comes in where the advertising leaves off.

Is this a true "Anti-Aging" cream? Uh... No. The biggest test is dark circles. This is the whole point of the product. And on that note, the results do vary somewhat. While virtually all customers report that the product's moisturizing properties are not in doubt, the weak point is whether it will "reverse the aging process." And most agree that "No," it will not. There are mixed reviews about its performance on lines and dark circles, with some reporting good results and more than a few reporting no results at all. So does it work? Well, uh... Again, no. Not really anyway, if you find it on the cheaper side, then why not have a fling and try it, but at full retail, nope, not worth it.

See larger image Avon Anew Clinical Eye Lift 2 In 1 Jar (Health and Beauty) New From: $14.48 In Stock

More Customer Reviews Below

This item is a pretty good eye cream. I have noticed that the firming portion of the treatment really does work. Your eyelids and upper eye region will feel tighter. The under-eye cream does not do anything for dark circles or fine lines. It does provide moisture to the area but is not reversing any aging.

Review

Avon products have more miss than hit for me but I keep on trying their new concoctions. I picked up two jars of Avon ANEW CLINICAL Eye Lift on eBay for $10.00 apiece along with a few other highly discounted products about a month ago. This eye ...

Customer Review

Antioxidant has become one of the most important buzz words of the decade. It seems that every time you peak up a health related magazine there’s more news about the health benefits of an antioxidant diet. These free radical scavengers which mop up the damage caused by the effects of toxins and the natural aging process on the body play a key role in preventing chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer as well as slowing down the effects of aging on the body and the brain. Unfortunately, most people don’t get enough high antioxidant foods in their diet, particularly if they eat a typical American diet consisting mostly of processed foods.

One way to increase your blood level of antioxidants is to choose those foods which are the highest in antioxidant levels. Most of these foods consist of fruits and vegetables with four foods being particularly high in antioxidant levels. In fact, these foods are considered to be some of the highest antioxidant foods known. Antioxidant levels are measured by using a scale called the ORAC or oxygen radical absorbance capacity which gives a value that allows you to compare the antioxidant potential of one food with another. Here are four foods that measure the highest on the ORAC scale:

High antioxidant food: Cranberries

These brilliantly red berries that grace the table at Thanksgiving celebrations do more than just dress up the turkey. They’re a rich source of proanthocyanidins, a class of antioxidants which appear to have an anti-aging effect on brain cells, most likely related to its ability to protect brain cells from oxidative damage. It appears to help offset the loss of memory and coordination that occurs with advancing age and may play a role in protecting against certain neurological diseases associated with aging. If you can’t appreciate the tart taste of these berries, there are cranberry supplements available at most health food stores.

High antioxidant food: Blueberries

Blueberries are another high antioxidant food that are though to help preserve brain function due to their high anthocyanidin content. A study published in the Journal of Neuroscience showed that blueberries appears to offset age related short term memory loss and loss of coordination associated with aging in rats. With a measured ORAC value of 8,963, it’s not surprising that blueberries pack a potent antioxidant punch. Blueberries also have powerful antioxidant properties which helps to reduce the effects of photoaging and preserve the collagen support structure of skin.

High antioxidant food: Beans

It may surprise you to learn that beans measure high on the antioxidant scale. Three types of beans with a particularly high antioxidant potential are the small red bean (ORAC = 13,272), the red kidney bean (ORAC = 13,259), and the pinto bean (ORAC = 11,864). In general, darker colored beans are associated with higher levels of flavonoids and thus have a higher antioxidant potential. Beans are a simple, inexpensive way to add extra antioxidant power to your diet.

High antioxidant food: Aronia black chokeberry

This small, dark berry with its rich, purple coloration has an ORAC value of 16,062, one of the highest known for any fruit or vegetable. This puts it in a class by itself in terms of antioxidant potential. Studies are currently ongoing to determine the potential of the chokeberry to prevent a host of age-related disease such as cancer and heart disease. Like the blueberry, they’re a rich source of anthocyanidins and have anti-inflammatory activity which plays such a critical role in aging. Expect to hear more about this amazing berry in the future. In the meantime, you may want to add more of these small berries to your diet.

Antioxidants appear to play a key role in slowing down the aging process and adding these four foods to your diet can be a simple and inexpensive way to protect yourself against age related diseases.

A variety of studies have shown that olive oil added to the diet may reduce the risk of heart disease and may even help to prevent certain forms of cancer. What about it’s effect on the skin? Does olive oil have anti-aging benefits when applied topically?

The Anti-aging Benefits of Olive Oil

Olive oil is a rich source of monounsaturated fats which plays a role in its ability to reduce the risk of heart disease, but it also has natural anti-inflammatory properties which may reduce the risk of age-related diseases as well as benefit the skin when applied topically. The anti-inflammatory properties of olive oil have been attributed to a component found in premium oils known as oleocanthal. The isolation of this anti-inflammatory component of olive oil and its anti-inflammatory properties was described and published in the journal Nature in 2005. Olive oil is also rich in polyphenols which act as free radical scavengers to help repair cellular damage. In addition, the monounsaturated fats found in olive oil have good moisturizing and humectant properties.

What evidence is there that olive oil does, indeed, benefit the skin and help with aging? Although few studies have objectively addressed the topical anti-aging benefits of olive oil, Japanese scientists have discovered that cold pressed olive oil may help to protect sun worshipers from skin cancer. A Japanese study showed that bald mice that were covered with high grade, virgin olive oil after being exposed to ultraviolet light were less likely to develop skin cancer than those who weren’t. It’s interesting to note that regular olive oil didn’t seem to have a protective effect which illustrates the importance of using quality virgin olive oil. It’s thought the reduction in skin cancers could be attributed to the ability of the virgin olive oil to clean up free radical damage induced by ultraviolet light. It should be noted that olive oil doesn’t appear to have sunscreen properties.

See larger image Olivella All Natural Virgin Olive Oil Moisturizer From Italy (50ml) 1.69 Fluid Ounces (Health and Beauty) List Price: $21.95 USD New From: $12.93 In Stock Release date February 2, 2006.

Although there are skin products available that contain olive oil such as Dr. Perricone’s hydrating line with added olive oil, the best way to benefit from the antioxidant potential of olive oil is to apply it directly to the skin, concentrating on the drier areas of the face. As suggested by the previous study, a high quality, virgin olive oil should be used, preferably extra-virgin olive oil. If you’re prone to skin breakouts or eruptions, olive oil may be too moisturizing for use except in the driest areas of the face such as around the eyes. It can also be added to your regular skin moisturizing cream to get its additional benefits. Olive oil has been used down through the ages as a skin moisturizer and anti-aging remedy with excellent anecdotal results.

It’s gratifying to know that in this world of expensive and overly hyped moisturizers and skin care products, a simple product like virgin olive oil may have skin nourishing, anti-aging properties.

An anti-aging cream that’s received a great deal of attention in the last few years is Kinerase. Kinerase is a topical agent applied topically to the skin that’s being touted for its ability to reduce the visible signs of skin aging. It’s available without a prescription and is currently being marketed as a wrinkle reduction cream through physician offices, medical spas, and online. It’s claimed that kinerase gives similar skin anti-aging effects to the prescription retinoids without the side effects frequently seen with retinoids such as skin redness and peeling. Does kinerase really live up to the marketing claims?

What exactly is Kinerase and what gives it the ability to function as an anti-aging cream? The active ingredient in kinerase is a plant component known as kinetin. Kinetin is a plant derived component that functions in the plant as a growth hormone like substance to help retard aging of the plant. Because kinetin has shown the ability to slow down plant aging, it's thought to have some anti-aging properties when applied topically to human skin. Kinetin has also been shown to have antioxidant properties which may help to reduce the effects of free radicals on human skin cells. Another important property of kinectin is that it’s been shown to aid in repair of DNA , the genetic material found in every cell in the body, including skin cells.

A study carried out at the University of California in Irvine looked at different strengths of Kinerase and their effects on human skin over a 48 week period. The groups receiving the Kinerase showed significant improvement in the texture of the skin, the appearance of fine wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation. Although the results of this study show support for the topical anti-aging effects of Kinerase, double blind, placebo-controlled studies are still absent and it may be premature to say that Kinerase is as effective as the well studied, time tested topical retinoids.

Although Kinerase needs further study in order to be recommended as an alternative to prescription strength retinoid preparations, patient reviews of this product have been favorable. The preponderance of patients using Kinerase as an anti-aging cream report improvement in skin roughness, uneven skin pigmentation, and improvement in the appearance of fine wrinkles. Plus, its antioxidant effects and its ability to repair DNA make it likely that it would have some anti-aging benefits for aging skin.

Should you consider using Kinerase as an anti-aging skin treatment? If you make this choice, it won’t come cheaply. A half ounce of Kinerase based cream can cost over a hundred dollars. If you are unable to tolerate use of prescription strength retinoids due to skin irritation and redness, Kinerase may be a reasonable alternative. If you’re currently on prescription strength retinoids and are tolerating them well, Kinerase may not offer any additional advantages for you and it may be best to wait until studies comparing the effectiveness of retinoids versus Kinerase are completed before jumping on the Kinerase bandwagon.

Can retinol help to restore a youthful glow to your skin?

With so much hype and misinformation associated with the marketing of anti-aging skin care products, it can be difficult to determine what actually works for improving the texture and appearance of aging skin. One skin care ingredient that’s been promoted heavily for skin rejuvenation is retinol. Is there truth behind the widely claimed benefits of usin retinol for skin rejuvenation?

Retinol is a purified form of vitamin A which is thought to stimulate collagen product when applied directly to the skin. It does this by stimulating skin fibroblasts, the cells that produce collagen, and by inhibiting the action of enzymes that promote breakdown of the skin’s collagen support structure.

The limiting factor with many skin care products that advertise that they promote collagen production is that the molecules are unable to penetrate deeply enough to gain access to the dermis where the fibroblasts are located. Hence, they’re unable to stimulate collagen synthesis despite their advertising claims. This where the retinol molecule is different. It has the ability to penetrate the outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, and gain access to the inner dermis where it can stimulate the fibroblasts to produce more collagen.

The ability to gain access to the dermis and stimulate collagen production gives retinol the ability to improve the appearance of lines and wrinkles as well as counteract some of the skin damage created by years of sun exposure. Retinol also increases the thickness of the outer skin layer, the epidermis. This results in a skin with a finer, more translucent texture as well as a reduction in skin roughness.

Do studies confirm that retinol works to improve the appearance of aging skin? A study performed on 31 subjects to test the effects of retinol on skin texture and appearance. The individuals had a 0.4% retinol solution applied to one arm and a placebo to the other. Not only did the arm that received the retinol show improvement in skin roughness and texture, but a skin biopsy revealed an increase in the precursors of collagen synthesis, suggesting that collagen production was being stimulated. In addition, retinol has been used by dermatologists and physicians for many years as an anti-aging cream with good results.

It appears that retinol is effective both in improving the texture of the skin as well as reducing the appearance of fine lines. By stimulating collagen production, it may also compensate for some of the solar damage accrued over the years. Although you can buy dilute retinol formulations over the counter, they may not have the same benefit as prescription formulations available from your doctor. Because prescription strict retinol in the form of Retin-A and its derivatives may be too irritating for some people’s skin, it may be prudent to start with a lower strength, non-prescription formulation and advance to the prescription form if results aren’t achieved. Remember to always wear a sunblock when using retinol since it increases sensitivity to the sun.

Mice kept in a germ-free room with intensive nursing care at Harvard Medical School are hopefully the key to this side effect. A mouse gym holds a miniature exercise machine that tests the rodents’ ability to balance on a bar, while in a nearby water maze, mice must recall visual cues from their "training" to swim to safety on a hidden platform - thereby testing memory powers. (Don't worry: the that forget their lessons are rescued as they start to submerge.)

The new drugs being tested are called Sirtuin activators, and are based on a theory that most species have an ancient strategy for riding out famines: switch resources from reproduction to tissue maintenance. These activators appear to be triggered in mice when fed a healthy diet with 30 % fewer calories. The mice seem to live longer because they are somehow protected from the usual diseases that kill them.

Left to our own devices, many of us couldn't stick to a diet that requires a 30% cut in calories, so a drug that could initiate this "famine" reflex is what the study is working toward. Safety tests in people have just started, with no adverse effects so far.

The hope is that activating sirtuins in people would, like a calorically restricted diet in mice, avert degenerative diseases so often linked to aging - things like diabetes, heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer's. Because the FDA doesn't have a specific approval category for longevity drugs, if the drug resulting from this study is submitted for approval, it needs to be for a specific disease.

Read more at my Anti-Aging blog.

Wear sunscreen on a daily basis.

You probably already know what an important role the sun plays in promoting skin aging. This is particularly true for the delicate skin tissue around the eyes. One of the best ways to prevent crow’s feet is to invest in a good sunblock that filters out both UVA and UVB rays. It should have an SPF of at least fifteen to give optimal anti-aging protection. To be effective, it needs to be applied in sufficient amounts and worn consistently when you’re out in the sun.

Get a good pair of sunglasses.

When you spend time in the bright sun without sunglasses, you’ll squint without being aware of it. Repetitive squinting is a major factor in promoting formation of crow’s feet. Repetitive movements due to squinting eventually take their toll on the delicate tissue surrounding the eyes particularly when collagen production starts to dwindle with age. Buy a good pair of sunglasses and wear them every time you go out into bright sunlight. Be sure they have a good UV filter to prevent damage to your retina. Make them a standard part of your anti-aging strategy.

Take breaks from your computer monitor.

People rarely think of their computer monitor as contributing to skin aging and crow’s feet. If you stare at a bright monitor all day, your eyes will eventually fatigue and you’ll start to squint. The result is premature formation of undereye wrinkles and crow’s feet. If you work in front of a computer monitor all day, give your eyes frequent breaks.

Ditch the smokes.

Smoking is a major cause of premature skin aging as well as crow’s feet. The smoke from a burning cigarette creates eye irritation which encourages squinting. Plus, smoking reduces oxygenation of the skin tissue as well as vitamin C levels which can impact collagen synthesis. If you observe a smoker, they almost always have evidence of crow’s feet if they’re over the age of thirty. Kick the habit for your lungs as well as your skin.

Anti-aging eye care products can help.

Keep the area around the eyes moisturized with a product that contains vitamin C or glycolic acid. Vitamin C and glycolic acid are both thought to be anti-aging and appear to play a role in boosting collagen synthesis which helps to ward off crow’s feet. Another product proven to prevent fine lines, wrinkles, and crow’s feet is Retin-A. This anti-aging product is available by prescription from your doctor.

Another option

If you’re still not satisfied with the appearance of crow’s feet, you can have the area injected with Botox. This will immobilize the muscles which prevents squinting and can significant reduce the appearance of crow’s feet. These injections are usually done in a dermatologist’s or plastic surgeon’s office and can give instant improvement in the appearance of crow’s feet.

Don’t let crow’s feet ruin your appearance. Incorporate crow’s feet preventative measures into your anti-aging lifestyle and you’ll be rewarded with younger looking skin.

One of the consequences of aging is the shrinkage and loss of muscle tissue. This can have a variety of negative health consequences including a decrease in strength and mobility, loss of muscle tone, as well as weight gain secondary to the drop in metabolism related to the loss of muscle mass. Fortunately, there are simple steps you can take to help preserve muscle tissue as you age. Here are some anti-aging tips for preventing age related loss of muscle:

Start a resistance training program.

This is the most important anti-aging step you can take to preserve muscle mass. The reality is that without a resistance training program, you’ll lose muscle mass at a rate of around three percent every decade after the age of fifty. Resistance training can help to prevent critical loss of muscle tissue as well as build strength and increase mobility. Resistance training doesn’t necessarily have to involve weight lifting. You can use your own body resistance to build muscle by doing push-ups and sit-ups as well as by using resistance training aids such as weighted balls and resistance bands. If you’ve never taken part in a resistance training program before, schedule a session with a personal trainer to help formulate a plan for you. It’ll be well worth the investment.

Increase your protein intake.

Many older Americans fall short when it comes to protein consumption. If you’re unsure as to whether you’re getting enough protein in your diet to preserve muscle mass, use this simple formula. Convert your weight to kilograms by multiplying by 0.45. This will tell you how many grams of protein you should be consuming each day. (one gram per kilogram of body weight). Even if you don’t enjoy eating meat, you can still use vegetarian protein sources such as tofu and tempeh to get your daily protein quota.

Watch you vitamin D intake.

More attention has been focused on vitamin D recently and the anti-aging benefits it provides. Not only are studies showing it may prevent some of the chronic disease processes associated with aging, it also may help to preserve bone and muscle tissue. Since most foods are not good sources of vitamin D with the exception of fatty fish and fortified eggs, try to get ten minutes of direct sunlight on most days which should provide you with your daily vitamin D quota. Some experts are now recommending that a vitamin D supplement be taken on a daily basis, particularly if you live in an area that doesn’t get a great deal of direct sunlight.

Get your potassium.

A recent study showed that potassium may have an anti-aging role in preventing loss of muscle mass. The recommended daily intake of potassium is 3,500 milligrams. This particular study published in the Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that older people who consumed at least this amount were better able to preserve muscle tissue than those who didn’t. To increase your potassium intake, try adding more fresh fruits and vegetables to your diet. Oranges and bananas are particularly good sources of potassium.

Loss of muscle mass is not an inevitable result of aging. Maintaining an active lifestyle, adding some resistance training, and altering your diet can help you maintain your muscle mass even into an advanced age. Why not give these muscle preserving, anti-aging strategies a try?

Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease

In animal studies, the catechins found in green tea have been shown in various studies to protect nerve cells from cell death. Based on these results, it’s thought that the catechins found in green tea may help to reduce the risk of degenerative diseases of the nervous system such as the Alzheimer’s. Green tea catechins have also been shown to improve the behavior of mice afflicted with dementia. The healthy chemicals in green tea may not only help to prevent Alzheimer’s, it may also reduce the risk of another relatively common neurological disease, Parkinson’s disease. Both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease are characterized by the presence of amyloid plaques in the brain and central nervous system. A particular catechin found in green tea known as EGCG has been shown to help prevent the formation of amyloid plaques in mice. Whether this holds true in human and whether green tea catechins can reverse amyloid plaques once they’ve formed is still in question.

Skin aging

The polyphenols found in green tea are strong anti-oxidants which have been shown to counteract free radical formation in the body. Not only do the polyphenols in green tea exert their anti-oxidant properties when taken internally, they can also reduce skin related free radical damage when applied to the skin. Studies have recently confirmed that application of a topical green tea extract protects against skin damage related to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Although topical green tea extract shouldn’t take the place of your regular sunscreen, it may provide an additional level of protection that goes beyond standard, commercial sunscreens on the market. Because of green tea’s potential anti-aging skin effects, more and more cosmetic products are coming on the market that contain green tea extract. You can probably find one of these products at your drugstore or local cosmetic counter.

Chronic disease of aging

Green tea catechins may also protect against many of the common, chronic diseases associated with aging including certain types of cancer, heart disease, stroke, and even osteoporosis. Although results look promising, most of these studies have been observational and there’s no conclusive evidence that green tea can prevent or reverse these diseases. But with preliminary data looking so promising, why not add more green tea to your diet both for the taste and the potential health benefits?

Green tea seems to hold a great deal of promise in the world of anti-aging medicine. It’s a drink you can enjoy without guilt, knowing that you’re looking doing something quite healthy, and possibly protecting your body against the ravages of aging.