Do Anti-Aging Creams Ever Work?

Timothy Caulfield is on a mission to prove Gwyneth Paltrow wrong.

It’s not like he doesn’t like Gwyneth.

What he’s concerned about is her advice.

Specifically, the way she’s positioned herself as an authority on health and wellbeing … you know, being an actress and all.

But he’s a guy. If you’re a woman looking for health and beauty advice, surely you’d look no further than a gorgeous, ageless celebrity like Gwyneth.

Celebrities look SO much better than the rest of us that we assume they know everything there is to know about staying slim, vibrant, and beautiful.

When they recommend a beauty cream or health routine, the world takes note.

Have you ever bought a product just because a certain celebrity recommended it?

I definitely have. I pay close attention to articles about the daily beauty regimes of top models. Not because I have any aspirations in that direction myself, but because I assume models know much more than me about beauty.

A lot of women pay close attention to what Gwyneth says and does, because at 45 she’s the epitome of agelesness. She looks more like a woman in her 30s. She must be doing something right.

And that’s what Timothy Caulfield is worried about.

Celebrities have become our go-to gurus for all things related to diet, fitness, youth and beauty. They’re dispensing health and sometimes even medical advice they’re not qualified to give.

And we’re listening with eager ears, because we assume they have access to top-of-the-line products and procedures most of us can only dream about.

That’s why Caulfield set out to test the validity of celebrity health and beauty trends.

Is Gwyneth’s advice any good? Should we be following celebrity recommendations when it comes to what we eat and how we care for our skin?

What he found was shocking.

There is hardly ANY sound scientific evidence for most of the health and beauty fads considered gospel in Hollywood.

In particular, the beauty benefits promised by skincare products—whether top of the line or drugstore brands—are universally suspect.

I’ve written before about why you shouldn’t believe the hype when it comes to the latest and best products promoted by beauty editors.

But Caulfield goes even further. He concludes:

[I]t is safe to assume that almost all over-the-counter products … are probably not worth your money or time.”[1]

If a cream won’t save our skin, what will?

Caulfield doesn’t want to leave us in the lurch. He gives us 5 science-backed solid skincare tips that genuinely work to keep your complexion in tip-top shape.

1. Don’t smoke.
2. Wear sunscreen.
3. Sleep.
4. Eat right.
5. Exercise.

Boring? Yes.

But extremely effective.

Any one of those factors vastly outweighs anything a cream or mask can do for your skin.

What if you’ve already done damage to your skin, though?

Is there really no hope of reversing the signs of aging?

Turns out that science is on your side.

As long as you’re willing to splash out on a dermatologist, that is.

Dermatologist Rhonda Rand argues that anything that’s not prescription-strength probably isn’t strong enough to do anything for your skin.

Watch out for skincare products that claim to have the same ingredients as dermatologist-prescribed ones. “In many [over-the-counter] products,” she says, “the dosage is so low it doesn’t do anything.”[2]

Save your hard-earned dollars for the dermatologist, who can do one of three things that will make a real difference for your skin.

1. Prescribe retinoids
2. Laser resurfacing
3. Inject fillers

Retinoid-based anti-aging creams are the only creams clinically proven to reduce wrinkles and boost collagen … as long as they’re prescription strength.

Retinoids won’t give you youthful skin overnight. You’ve got to commit to using them for at least 12 weeks and ideally a year. Once that first year is up, you’ll want to switch to a stronger prescription to keep seeing benefits.

If you want more of an immediate impact, go for laser resurfacing or fillers.

Resurfacing uses a laser to peel off the top layer of your skin. It’s great for fine lines and acne scars, but not recommended if you suffer from acne.

Make no mistake: this is a medical procedure. You’ll come home bandaged up, and your skin may sting or itch. You’ll want to lay low for about 10 days, and healing fully can take up to 3 weeks.

In fact, you might have to put 3 months aside before you see the full benefits. The tender new skin beneath will be sensitive to the sun. You’ll suffer redness for a few months. But at least it will be younger and smoother than your old skin!

Dermal fillers fill in wrinkles and add volume. Apparently many ultra-thin celebrities get them to compensate for the hollowness in their cheeks.

Unlike resurfacing, injecting a filler gives immediate results. You don’t have to set aside time to heal. But, unlike resurfacing, results are usually only temporary.

Given the cost of these procedures, a $20 anti-aging cream seems like a bargain.

How far would you go to keep your skin youthful?

Does your skincare routine cost you a fortune, or are you happy with the results of drugstore brands?

Let us know in the comments.

[1] Is Gwyneth Paltrow Wrong about Everything? (Boston: Beacon Press) 71.
[2] Ibid, 70.