VITAMINS AGAINST AGING SKIN

The quest for the Fountain of Youth continues at a frantic pace, especially with the popularity of knife and dental drill wielding doctors on television.Let's considerless drastic promotions such as the use of vitamins in antiaging creams. While the prices may have changed, the last time I looked at advertisements, I found the following:

• Dove's Essential Nutrients™. For skin "so healthy it glows" contains Vitamins A, E and B5, Zinc, Nutrient Lipids, Green Tea Extract, and Pure Spring Water (1.69 fl. Oz $6.99).
• Ponds Anti-Wrinkle cream contains Alpha Hydroxy, Retinol (vitamin A derivative) and Vitamin C to fight signs of aging
• Rite-Aid's Anti-wrinkle Cream is a combination of Pro-Vitamin B5, Vitamin E. (1.4 oz. $8.95) and L'Oreal Dermo-Expertise Hydra-Renewal Daily Dry Skin Cream With Pro-Vitamin B5 (1.7 oz $7.29).
• Z. Bigatti Delicate Intensive Moisturizing Facial Treatment provides "skin rejuvenation" with "an infusion of multiple vitamins, superoxide dismutase, and antioxidants for anti-aging benefits and moisture retention" (2 oz. $150.00).
• Arovita C Cream from Darphin Botanical sold by Neiman Marcus contains "retinol (vitamin A), to fight free radicals; vitamins C, E, and B5, to stimulate cell regeneration" as well as the herbs, "gingko biloba and ginseng, to firm and moisturize and jujubier to promote oxygenation of cells. " ($130 no size given).

All the above can be purchased on the Internet as well as in stores. Vitamins C and E are well proven antioxidants and A, of course, helps peel the top layers of skin. There is evidence that antioxidants fight free radicals, the molecules believed to play a role in the development of aging. Exposures to oxygen and to rays of the sun are among the conditions that can produce damaging free radicals so you can see why Vitamins C and E are also being promoted in sunscreens.

but they cost a lot less than plastic or dental surgery and you don't have to recover from the discomfort an operation. If you believe you look younger after slathering a cream on your face every day, well that "non-extreme makeover" may be worth it.

As for the Fountain of Youth, we're still looking!