It’s sad in a way. Information about naturally occurring compounds (things like herbs and other botanicals) is hard to get. Manufacturers are not allowed to go into much detail about what the compounds can do.
A good example is wakame kelp, a kind of seaweed. It is rich in vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids. It contains a unique antioxidant called fucoxanthin, which has been shown in laboratory tests to help protect the skin from sun damage.
Protecting the skin from sun damage is important. Exposure to the sun causes photo-aging. UV rays lead to increased production and activity of free radical molecules. The molecules begin to act strangely, damaging cellular membranes, collagen fibers, melanin-producing cells and the DNA strands of the skin’s stem cells.
The typical natural beauty anti aging cream contains organic sunscreens. Some of those sunscreens are safe and effective. Others are not.
The better creams contain wakame kelp. Not only because of fucoxanthin. Wakame has also been shown to inhibit the breakdown of hyaluronic acid.
Hyaluronic acid has become a popular ingredient for anti-aging creams and lotions. The popularity has nothing to do with its effectiveness according to dermatologists. The molecules are too large to penetrate the skin’s surface. So it could not possibly provide any benefit.
The skin’s hyaluronic acid content will decrease with age. This causes a variety of visible symptoms including under-eye circles, sagging skin and decreased production of new skin cells.
A natural beauty anti aging cream can prevent or correct the decreased hyaluronic acid content, if it contains wakame kelp extracts. Researchers have proven this benefit in the laboratory and with human volunteers.
Avocado is another botanical that can provide numerous benefits to the skin’s health. It is rich in the antioxidants A and E. All antioxidants help prevent free radical damage. Vitamin E helps prevent age spots. Vitamin A creams are known to correct fine lines and wrinkles.
In one study, avocado was shown to increase the amount of collagen present in the skin. Like hyaluronic acid, collagen concentration decreases with age. That also contributes to dark circles and sagging skin.
There is a natural beauty anti aging cream designed for nighttime use that contains avocado and wakame, as well as a number of other beneficial ingredients.
Trying to learn about the ingredients in anti-aging creams before you buy them is sometimes difficult. Manufacturers are not always willing to publish a complete list of 20 or 30 ingredients. They think the public is not smart enough to understand what they are, anyway.
Here’s my advice. Before you buy a so-called natural beauty anti aging cream, find the complete list of ingredients and learn what you can about them. That is the only real way to be safe.