The quest to be forever young
The concerns of aging, skin aging in particular, are things you never really think will happen to you, well, until they happen to you. Today I regretfully look back on my bad habits, as I stare at my fine lines, dark spots and dry patches that refuse to go away and seem to increase by the day. My skin has changed not just with age but with the lifestyle I’ve led. In my 20s, I didn’t worry about wrinkles or pores and was quite oblivious to sun damage. Now it shows on this 30-something face if I’ve had a late night of partying, or sadder, if I lack sleep because I was up surfing the net. The damage shows not just on the face but on the body as well, especially on exposed areas like the arms, neck and hands. In my 20s, I lived for the moment, stayed up ‘til 3 a.m. and turned my face towards the sun. Today, I worry about the future, I moisturize, sleep by midnight and try to wear sticky sunblock. No one said being responsible was fun.
According to the latest campaign by Vaseline for its Healthy White Perfect 10 lotion, a woman reaches the peak of her beauty in her 30s. While the looks of a woman in her 20s may be seemingly “perfect,” with her supple, unblemished skin, a woman in her 30s exudes a different kind of attractiveness — it has depth and character. At this age (and in the years beyond) she has become more sure of herself and accepts her unique beauty. She has learned a few of life’s lessons.
Unilever marketing manager for skin Jacqe Yuengtian and dermatologist Dr. Alto Bautista-Ocampo Although we’re proud of the self-proclaimed “beauty-meets-substance” 30-something women we’ve become, the signs of aging are also more apparent, and admittedly a heightened longing for youthful–looking skin. This week Vaseline held its media launch for Perfect 10 Whitening and Anti-Aging Lotion, which promises the “perfection” of young skin. It is Vaseline’s first and only product that delivers both whitening and anti-aging benefits. Its promise: to reduce fine lines, lighten and nourish skin, boost radiance, reduce dark spots and give UVA/UVB protection.
The Vaseline Skin Technology Center has conducted clinical studies to prove this lotion’s efficacy. The formula includes vitamin B3 that whitens and evens out skin tone and CLA that targets age spots and hyper-pigmentation. Together, these two ingredients make for fairer, even-toned skin. This doesn’t mean you will turn two shades whiter — it simply means improving uneven skin tone and eliminating dark spots caused by sun exposure. The dreaded fine lines and wrinkles are corrected through the triple-action of Retinol, Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA), and antioxidants. AHA exfoliates dead skin cells, to diminish the appearance of wrinkles and smoothen skin texture. Antioxidants strengthen the skin by protecting it against free radical damage, thus arresting the formation of fine lines and sagging skin. Antioxidants are of course those wonderful things in fruits and vitamins that slow down the breakdown of collagen. Retinol helps stimulate collagen production, allowing the skin to retain its elasticity. “Retinol is a derivative of Vitamin A, which makes skin tighter and taut,” explained dermatologist Dr. Alto Bautista-Ocampo, at the launch.
“There are two aspects to skin aging, intrinsic and extrinsic,” said Dr. Ocampo. Intrinsic aspects speak of your lifestyle, such as nutrition and habits like exercise or smoking. Extrinsic factors are controllable, and this is what emollients aim to address. As the environment wears down on the outside surface of the skin, the skin develops age spots and wrinkles, causing it to thin and droop. This is due primarily to the loss of collagen and elastin, skin proteins that deliver firmness and elasticity. Although we cannot stop skin aging, there is a way to slow it down and restore some of its signs.
Fortunately we live in the age when technology and chemistry are being utilized for skin care formulations. Thank God the world is changing — and because 40s are the new 30s, we can still look forward to an exciting, “glowing” future ahead.
