Moisturizer and the prevention of wrinkles.

In My Humble Opinion
1

So, I’m nearly 32, which is really weird. I am regularly told that I look younger than I am, but I’m not sure if that’s legit, or because people expect someone in my occupation (grad student) to be younger. Anyway, in the last couple days I have decided to be paranoid about wrinkles, and I’m wondering if maybe I should use moisturizer more. I usually only use it in the winter when my skin gets dry. I always thought using sunblock was more important, and I am pretty good about using that (I have fair skin and a family history of skin cancer).

Does moisturizer actually prevent wrinkles? Is there even any real data on this sort of thing? I’m never sure what to believe when it comes to beauty advice because there’s so much marketing skewing our perceptions.

2

Moisturizer does not prevent wrinkles, but can plump the skin, giving a temporary appearance of less wrinkling. Some things that *can *prevent wrinkles are sunscreen, tretinoin (better known as Retin-A or Renova), and Differin, which is used for acne but also has wrinkle-fighting properties.

3

My own unscientific experience: I’ve used a moisturizer daily for many years - a generic brand. I’m 56. I don’t have many lines in my face. It may also be due to the extra pounds I carry, but for an old woman, I have pretty soft skin on my face.

It couldn’t hurt…

4

Ooh, really? (Differin) I’ve been slowly working my way through 2 tubes of the stuff. I already look young for my age - 31. Am I “reversing the effects of aging”? :smiley: :smiley:

5

This has nothing to do with moisturizer, but the Real Age email I got today says regularly eating tomato paste can prevent wrinkles, too, and could be of interest to the people reading the thread.

6

As of now, I’m using Nivea Q10 light day cream, night cream and eye cream. Am going on 37, people believe me to be in my mid-twenties. My three year younger sister, who doesn’t believe in moisturiser, looks older than me, which feels a bit embarrassing.

The thing that’s worked for me apart from oily skin in my teens, sunscreen and not smoking (well, I’ve smoked a total of a pack of cigs in my life, if that counts), is No Rubbing Your Eyes Ever, because the skin around them can’t take that much abuse.

7

Everything I’ve learned about my aging skin is that the thing that keeps it smoothest, healthiest, brightest is breaking it down, not softening it up. Hence acid peels, dermabrasion, that sort of thing. And of course prevention and general good health habits: exercise, water, no sun, no smoke…

8

I have been a believer in moisturizer all my life, first starting to use it when I was in college, not because I was worried about the future wrinkles but because my face just felt dry and tight after washing it. I started using an oil-free moisturizer for “normal” skin (a Raintree brand, which I haven’t been able to find for years).

So, I have theorized my relatively youthful skin is a reflection of that; something I didn’t really even know until Facebook came out and I started looking at all the “girls” my age and being surprised at how wrinkled they were! (I’m 46.)

Anyway, I still attribute some of it to the moisturizer, but as vifslan says above, I have kept the tanning to a minimum, smoked rather modestly and never rubbed my eyes because I wore contacts (hard lenses) from the age of 14 through 30.

Anyway, that’s my skin testimonial.

9

My take on this is experiential. Preface it all with mention of the deluxe moisturizer I’ve used for nearly thirty years, and have finally discontinued, has quadrupled in price from around twenty dollars to nearly ninety dollars!

As the layer of fat under my skin has dwindled the wrinkles have arrived.

Unsolicited advice: Smile a lot. A lot! Because whatever expression you carry most frequently on your face is one you will be later wearing for all to see.

I don’t mind looking older. But I would mind looking perpetually grouchy. Little eye crinkles on old ladies are tres kewl and bespeak a life well-lived. Yeah?

10

Retin-A does it for sure. And it’ll have the side effect of making your undereye circles lighter and skin better.

11

I think sun exposure is the biggest factor. The people I know (including myself) who studiously avoid the sun, all are considered young-looking for their age regardless of their other habits. People usually put me at 5-10 years below my age, and I’ve never used anything fancier than store-brand “oil of olay” (the cheapest moisturizer with SPF 15, basically), nor have I ever had a “facial” chemical peel or any other complexion enhancing service. I just stay out of the sun, and always have done so.

12

http://www.consumersearch.com/moisturizers/reviews has a lot of information. Keeping out of the sun is half the battle. And genetics, I swear - I’m in my 50’s and look to be in my 40’s, when by all accounts I should be looking very old and wrinkly by now. But I have female relatives who don’t have any major wrinkles, either.

13

I’m 44 (and a half) and am regularly mistaken for much younger.

I’m currently back in college working on another degree and so have a lot of classmates in their early 20s. The few times my age has come out, people, incl. professors, have expressed surprise (once in an acting class and I volunteered to play to role of the middle-aged mother “since I can identify with her…I also have an 18 yr old kid”, everyone just looked at me, gaped-mouthed and said, “No WAY!” (then, I imagine, they started trying to figure out exactly how young I was when I got pregnant…9 or 12? :eek:)

I’d pass it off as lack of perspective, except it happens a lot with those my age or older as well.

I use morturizer, but usually only in the winter when my skin dries. I prefer either some natural all over blend (Jason is good) or the natural oils added to bath or rubbed in before bed. Anything with petroleum/derivatives irritates my skin, so I avoid it.

Recently I have begun using a daily lotion with a low sunscreen and soy complex (Aveeno) because my recent issue is not wrinkles but darker discolorations that come out with sun exposure. (very common with women my age with my skin tone (sort of olive) due to hormones). I wear stronger sunscreen when out for longer periods/swimming. I also swear by hats. (and not ONLY because I have been told I look cool in my big black sunhat lounging by the pool :cool:)

I currently smoke (sometimes like the proverbial chimney) and have for, oh gosh, a few decades, cummulatively now. :o Yes, time to quit, AGAIN!

I grew up on the Gulf Coast and NEVER wore sunscreen (but only burned twice, a bit of pink aside).

I do eat fairly well (a vegetarian for 16 yrs or so now, mostly whole grains, lots of fresh veggies/fruits, little junk and lots of water)

I don’t exercise as much as I should lately, but I walk around campus and USED to cycle 50 miles a week (for 5 yrs) and do yoga.

I think most of it is genetics/skin tone, really. I have darker, more olive skin. I tan like crazy but seldom if ever burn. My skin has always been a bit oily, to the point that by the end of the day I can run my hand across my bare face and feel the thin layer of oil there. No doubt that helps with locking in the moisture.

I certainly don’t take much credit for it (a co-worker once saw my DH, who was a few yrs older than me, dropping me off and asked, “who’s that old guy?” I told her and she said “he must be a LOT older than you!” I told her and she said, “You must have taken really good care of yourself!” I said, “No, I haven’t, actually.” :p)

Re’ the area around the eyes, YES. I can tell that will be the first to “go”. It’s so fragile/thin. After my husband died a few yrs ago, I cried so much my poor eyes HURT and were SO red and swollen…I didn’t leave the house for over a week because I looked so awful (not due to vanity, but because I knew if anyone saw me they would ask what was wrong and I knew it would make me cry again, which would HURT LIKE HELL/make it worse. :() And I rub/touch my eyes too much generally. Guess I’d better stop now, huh? :smack:

ETA, I look forward to my own lovely wrinkles…I find them charming…a map of your life (so SMILE:)) But note that I prefer to look FORWARD to them for now. :wink:

14

The only way to prevent wrinkles is to pick your parents carefully. I lucked out . . . at least in this respect.

15

I don’t think moisturizer prevents wrinkles. As others mentioned, there are other things that do… retinoids, limited sun exposure, good diet, sleep, limited stress, genetics, etc.

At night, I alternate between using retin-a-micro and a topical niacinamide + moisturizer. In the morning, I use sunscreen. I know people who wear gloves when they drive or don those large visors that cover a large part of their face, but I usually just carry a parasol when the sun is really strong. The sun-worshipping culture of America really needs to go.

16

The surefire and only way to prevent wrinkles is simply die before they arrive.

17

I think moisturiser feels like it’s doing more than it probably is - though I wouldn’t wanna prove the point by not using it at all. Not ‘stripping’ the skin with harsh cleansers is probably useful. Using ‘more’ moisturiser can sometimes clog pores and defeat the skin-care purpose I think Kyla! I agree with those who have said that it’s general health considerations, drinking plenty of water, skin type, and lucky genetics that probably make the most difference. Anecdotally, it seems that sun damage and stress seem to be the greatest cause of wrinkles.

18

I read once that one should never use soap on your face, so for about 10 years I used Noxema exclusively to wash my face. At some point I got sick of it and went back to soap + moisturizer. Who knows if it made any difference, wrinkle-wise, but it certainly left my face clean without being dry.

I’m dying to see pictures of all you youthful ladies. Anyone want to share?

19

Yeah! I think the soap thing was drilled into me before I even knew what a face was. I use nothing but tepid water to wash my face, (:eek:) followed by cold - unless I’m removing makeup and then of course I have to use cleanser or a jackhammer.

I don’t have a picture to share Ellen - but if you envisage a baby smoking, it’d be close. If you imagine it yelling at people wandering across the road on their phone with their iPod in, it’s even closer.

20

“You can have a face or a figure, dahling!”

I don’t know who said it, but I think it’s true. Thinking of my mom’s friends, who are mostly in their 60s, the ones who are average weight or a few pounds overweight, maybe sizes 10-14, look less wrinkly than those who are really skinny.

Then again, I don’t know if this applies to women who are naturally skinny or just to women who like to diet themselves into oblivion.