Diminish Facial Wrinkles...Really!

Desperate to smooth weathered skin and reverse the signs of aging and sun damage, I know many people who are quick to shell out the big bucks for what they hope will be miracle anti-aging creams. But do expensive products and skin restorative prescriptions really work any better than more affordable over-the-counter cosmetics?

According to a recent study published in the British Journal of Dermatology, not necessarily. No 7 Protect & Perfect Intense Beauty Serum, a reasonably priced product sold at many drugstores, has been shown to smooth wrinkles and fine lines, and produce younger, healthier looking skin after 12 months of use.

While many cosmetics claim to reverse the signs of aging and sun-damage, few actually fulfill their promises. In fact, the majority of anti-aging products on the market haven't even been rigorously tested. However, No 7 Protect & Perfect Beauty Serum, the original version of the cosmetic currently being tested, No 7 Protect & Perfect Intense Beauty Serum, was methodically assessed a few years ago and proven to stimulate the production of Fibrillin-1 (a protein that stimulates skin elasticity) in photoaged skin. Researchers wanted to make certain that the updated version also produced Fibrillin-1, as well as repaired sun-damaged skin as effectively as prescription retinoid creams.

In the study, 60 male and female volunteers with moderately sun-damaged skin between the ages of 45 and 80 participated in a double-blind randomized controlled trial to test the product's performance. 30 participants were provided with the No 7 Protect & Perfect Intense Beauty Serum, and 30 were given a placebo containing no anti-aging ingredients. Neither the volunteers nor the researchers knew who had received which formula. Participants were told to apply their cream to their face and hands once daily, for 6 months. Researchers examined their skin before the trial began to assess a baseline, then again after 1, 3 and 6 months of use. During the last 6 months of the study, all volunteers received No 7 Protect & Perfect Intense Beauty Serum. The results showed that the individuals who had used the real cosmetic the entire time had significantly fewer facial wrinkles after 12 months of daily use as compared to volunteers who had used a placebo. Thus, the findings demonstrate that this particular over-the-counter cosmetic does indeed rejuvenate sun-damaged and wrinkled skin following long-term use.

So, next time you're lured by exorbitantly priced products that claim seemingly impossible feats such as wrinkle-free, radiant skin in mere minutes, hold onto your hard-earned cash and head to your local drugstore for a cheaper remedy (that actually works) instead.