Is anti wrinkle creams etc. bad when you are young(ish)?
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Wed Apr 25, 2012 3:10 pm

I'm browsing for a new day cream, and find that often the creams, lotions and potions that I find the most appealing and interesting ingredient- and effect-wise targets mature skin and are endorsed as age defying, diminishing wrinkles etc. I'm in my early 30's.

When looking at these creams in the store, I have had several instances where the sales girl/specialist has all but yanked the pot of cream away from me and said something like "No! This is not for you. This is for mature skin ONLY!" and has then directed me to something a bit more blah in both ingredients and claims to effect Smile

.

So, the question is, will something counterproductive or bad happen, if ones uses products targeted mature skin, but are not yet in the "appropriate" age group? I must admit that from experiencing those sales girls, I'm beginning to think that it is somewhat dangerous to my skin, I just cannot figure out why it would be?

Any of you very knowledgeable ladies able to enlighten me?

Sorry if this has been answered before, but the search option on this forum is not very cooperative.

free skin care · Wed Apr 25, 2012 3:30 pm

CPHgirl wrote:

So, the question is, will something counterproductive or bad happen, if ones uses products targeted mature skin, but are not yet in the "appropriate" age group? I must admit that from experiencing those sales girls, I'm beginning to think that it is somewhat dangerous to my skin, I just cannot figure out why it would be?

No, nothing necessarily bad will happen in terms of it causing wrinkles or problems like that. Depending on the product it could make you break out depending on your skin type and the ingredients. The question is, is that how you should be spending your money? If your skin is not overly dry it's possible that at this point in your life you could just need to use sunscreen, one that contains antioxidants. If you do want to so something about prevention I think you could start using a Vitamin C serum and a moisturizer with retinol in it or Retin A at night. Then use your C serum and sunscreen during the day. I wouldn't put too much stock in department store brand moisturizers.

Wed Apr 25, 2012 4:33 pm

jom wrote:

CPHgirl wrote:

So, the question is, will something counterproductive or bad happen, if ones uses products targeted mature skin, but are not yet in the "appropriate" age group? I must admit that from experiencing those sales girls, I'm beginning to think that it is somewhat dangerous to my skin, I just cannot figure out why it would be?

No, nothing necessarily bad will happen in terms of it causing wrinkles or problems like that. Depending on the product it could make you break out depending on your skin type and the ingredients. The question is, is that how you should be spending your money? If your skin is not overly dry it's possible that at this point in your life you could just need to use sunscreen, one that contains antioxidants. If you do want to so something about prevention I think you could start using a Vitamin C serum and a moisturizer with retinol in it or Retin A at night. Then use your C serum and sunscreen during the day. I wouldn't put too much stock in department store brand moisturizers.

Thank you for the reply. So basically I won't immunize my skin to anti wrinkle creams by using them too soon or cause some other trouble. At worst I would just be over treating a yet minor problem?
All new products comes with the risk of triggering an allergic reaction or a breakout from the composition of the product, I guess.

I'm not about to go out and actually buy one of these creams, I was just wondering why the ladies in the beauty department are so insistent on me not buying it.

My chosen products right now are Clarins Multi Active Day, Multi Active Night, Multi Active Serum, Hydra Quench Serum, a retinol serum, vit C serum and an eye cream from jurlique + topping it all with a spf 40 also from Clarins. (Ofc I don't use all the serums at the same time).

I do get the feeling that the claims of "targets the first signs of fine lines" in products aimed at 30-something skin really is just a nicer way of saying that it adds lots of moisture to combat lines from dryness, but does next to nothing on the cellular level apart from that.

But as I said, I'm not about to buy a more potent day cream right now, as I've chosen to add my actives on the side of the babystuff, that the ladies at the Clarins Counter will let me have (*sulk*).

free skin care · Wed Apr 25, 2012 5:00 pm

You might find it helpful to distinguish between preventative ingredients and 'reversal' of ageing type ingredients (tho there is a lot of overlap). There is ineffective rubbish at all levels, despite what sales staff and packaging would have you believe. Part of not allowing you to have a product for mature skin will be building up the impression that these are highly effective products, and building up desire in customers minds.

Agree with Jom that a good zinc oxide sunscreen plus antioxidants at concentrations that are proven to be effective, prevention more than treating. Be sure your sunscreen is based on zinc because chemical sunscreens can become pro-oxidant (damaging) after UV exposure, plus they need to come into direct contact with the skin so should not be layered over a silicone-based serum for example. Retinoids and vitamin C are arguably the two anti-ageing actives with the best track record in published research but it is important you check the form, concentrations, pH (for vit C) and partner ingredients to ensure the formulations you have chosen are going to have any effect. These two you should be using regularly for best results long term.

Other than that I'd like to know exactly what active ingredients are in all your lotions and potions? I used to use Clarins because the textures are lovely, but they are very expensive for what they are. IMO eye creams are a waste of money, the eye area is skin like the rest of your face and neck, and you should be using gentle but effective products on the entire area. Every 'active' you use that is ineffective or inappropriate takes up space in the product that could be filled with something more useful. And more likely than allergies is the risk of irritation, of damaging the skin barrier so your skin doesn't protect itself effectively or just doesn't look/ feel right.

free skin care · Wed Apr 25, 2012 5:25 pm

CPHgirl wrote:

jom wrote:

CPHgirl wrote:

So, the question is, will something counterproductive or bad happen, if ones uses products targeted mature skin, but are not yet in the "appropriate" age group? I must admit that from experiencing those sales girls, I'm beginning to think that it is somewhat dangerous to my skin, I just cannot figure out why it would be?

No, nothing necessarily bad will happen in terms of it causing wrinkles or problems like that. Depending on the product it could make you break out depending on your skin type and the ingredients. The question is, is that how you should be spending your money? If your skin is not overly dry it's possible that at this point in your life you could just need to use sunscreen, one that contains antioxidants. If you do want to so something about prevention I think you could start using a Vitamin C serum and a moisturizer with retinol in it or Retin A at night. Then use your C serum and sunscreen during the day. I wouldn't put too much stock in department store brand moisturizers.

Thank you for the reply. So basically I won't immunize my skin to anti wrinkle creams by using them too soon or cause some other trouble. At worst I would just be over treating a yet minor problem?
All new products comes with the risk of triggering an allergic reaction or a breakout from the composition of the product, I guess.

I'm not about to go out and actually buy one of these creams, I was just wondering why the ladies in the beauty department are so insistent on me not buying it.

My chosen products right now are Clarins Multi Active Day, Multi Active Night, Multi Active Serum, Hydra Quench Serum, a retinol serum, vit C serum and an eye cream from jurlique + topping it all with a spf 40 also from Clarins. (Ofc I don't use all the serums at the same time).

I do get the feeling that the claims of "targets the first signs of fine lines" in products aimed at 30-something skin really is just a nicer way of saying that it adds lots of moisture to combat lines from dryness, but does next to nothing on the cellular level apart from that.

But as I said, I'm not about to buy a more potent day cream right now, as I've chosen to add my actives on the side of the babystuff, that the ladies at the Clarins Counter will let me have (*sulk*).

I think you could save some money and lose the day and night creams unless you have really dry skin. Then use the Vitamin C, Hydra Quench and SPF during the day and then just your retinol serum at night. It might be better to just use the retinol straight and not dilute it with a night cream. Eye cream both times of the day.

I think you're smart not to fall for the "targets the first signs of fine lines" gimmick.

Fri Apr 27, 2012 10:19 pm

CPHgirl wrote:

I'm browsing for a new day cream, and find that often the creams, lotions and potions that I find the most appealing and interesting ingredient- and effect-wise targets mature skin and are endorsed as age defying, diminishing wrinkles etc. I'm in my early 30's.

When looking at these creams in the store, I have had several instances where the sales girl/specialist has all but yanked the pot of cream away from me and said something like "No! This is not for you. This is for mature skin ONLY!" and has then directed me to something a bit more blah in both ingredients and claims to effect Smile

.

So, the question is, will something counterproductive or bad happen, if ones uses products targeted mature skin, but are not yet in the "appropriate" age group? I must admit that from experiencing those sales girls, I'm beginning to think that it is somewhat dangerous to my skin, I just cannot figure out why it would be?

Any of you very knowledgeable ladies able to enlighten me?

Sorry if this has been answered before, but the search option on this forum is not very cooperative.

I think it is not bad for uses products targeted mature skin.I use products targeted mature skin in 30,and now my skin is better than other who didn't use it .

Sat Apr 28, 2012 7:11 am

Thank you so much for your replies, they are very helpful

The initial question on anti aging products being harmful or not if used too soon seems somewhat settled with a "no, but they might irritate your skin and disrupt the barrier function". Firefox, very good point on building up desire in customers minds, apparently it does works that way with MY mind Smile

.

I agree on Clarins. The products do have nice texture and I have some notion that they are not too filled with bad junk and are somewhat natural - although I must admit that I haven't really researched them, so again I might have taken in some marketing babble. But also I agree that they doesn't really do anything apart from keeping skin in moist and peeled condition.
I've used Clarins "forever" and have had no problems with it, but have, as I mentioned, come to the conclusion that I need to do something besides that if I want to change anything about my skin.

As for dumping the day and night creams and going only with a basic moisturizing product in the morning and the vit A cream at night, I've never thought about that, but it is actually a great idea, since I don't see or expect any results other that basic moisture from those creams anyway and I like being able to do the actives on the side. Thank you for the eye opener, Jom!

Basically my skin is in OK condition, it's not sensitive or prone to outbreaks.
I'm very Scandinavian and pale, I have annoying melasma (which I'm trying to combat with IPL treatments) and I have been smoking for 15 years Embarassed

.
All that and my skin is starting to look a bit tired; it has lost some of it's firmness in the upper eye area and the wrinkle between the eyes has begun to take hours to disappear when relaxed.
I would like to better these things if possible, but mostly I would like to prevent further problems.

As for my "lotions and potions", I might try to tweak my routine, and any further input on that is higly appreciated. What I'm using now is:

Clarins Multi-Active Skin Renewal Serum:
Organic lemon acids and Nopal flower extract combine to stimulate skin and perform as both a non-chemical and enzymatic exfoliation process.
- Papaya adds to the overall elimination dead skin cells.
- Phytosphingosine and Cangzhu: Reinforce skin?s barrier function, reinforces the dermal-epidermal junction, putting ?bounce? back in skin, einforces skin resistance to early signs of aging. Soothes stressed skin, reducing redness.
(Sorry but couldn't find detailed list of ingredients).

Beaute Pacifique Super3 Booster (A Danish medical brand, the Vit A cream) has a list of ingredients a mile long and I don't know half of it, but it starts with:
Water, glycerin, squalane, argania spinosa kernel extract, glyrecyl stearate, PEG-100 stearate... and then further down what I'm guessing are the usefull ingredients:
Sweet almond oil, sesame seed oil, wheat germ oil, linoleic acid, retinyl palmitate, retinyl palmitate, retinyl acetate, retinyl propionate, peanut oil, lanolin, licorice root extract.

The Vit C is pure powder L-ascorbic acid that I mix with water in a 10% solution, any higher and it stings too bad. I don't know the pH of it though.

Jurlique Purely Age-Defying Eye Cream:
Claims to be "A high-performance, deeply hydrating cream that provides immediate and long-term improvements to the delicate skin around the eyes. It helps to re-energise tired-looking eyes so they appear brighter while diminishing dark circles and puffiness to leave a smooth eye contour."

Clarins UV Plus HP SPF 40:
Main point for me being that it is mineral UVA/UVB filters and it sits well on my skin.

Then a have a derma roller kit with a HA serum, that I only use after rolls.

I'm thinking that I will not get the Clarins serum again, as is seems to do nothing that isn't covered by the other stuff.
The eye cream from Jurlique I like a lot, as it gives a lot of moisture and oils that helps my concealer to blend in in a good way.

(Wohaa, looong post. Sorry 'bout that).

free skin care · Sat Apr 28, 2012 10:38 am

Wrinkle creams in general have so very minor effects even for those they are intended for. I do not believe you can impact the future of your aging negatively as a result. If they worked magically to restructure the skin back to youth, we wouldn't all be on this forum looking for the smoking gun to anti aging.

Stick with the basics for prevention though, C, A, sunscreen, etc. Its not time for correction yet unless you have issues that need to be addressed. The girls at the makeup counters are unfortunate victims of a training program aimed at marketing.

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