Individuals are always on the lookout for ways to keep their skin youthful and vibrant looking. And if you turn to the drugstore, the department store and even the internet, there certainly isn’t a shortage of new products delivered in enticing packaging all promising to eliminate the signs of aging. Because of the way the skin care industry is regulated, it’s often difficult for consumers to know which products are effective and which are not. One of the latest ingredients to show up in anti-aging cosmetic products is emu oil. It comes from the fat deposits of the emu, an Australian bird.
Today, I’ll describe its use as an emollient as well as a possible solution for getting rid of wrinkles, fine lines, and other signs of aging. Plus, I’ll explain why like many cosmetics ingredients, emu oil might not be as miraculous as you may have been led to believe.
How Emu Oil Is Used
Emu oil contains Vitamins E and A to deliver antioxidant action and it has been shown to reduce inflammation. In addition, it contains fatty acids, which may have medicinal benefit. Cosmetic companies claim that topical application of emu oil offers all of the benefits of a moisturizer with greater skin penetration than mineral oil. Plus, it doesn’t block pores, nor is it irritating to the skin. So, emu oil is marketed as a moisturizing ingredient.
While emu oil can penetrate the stratum corneum barrier and moisturize the skin this doesn’t mean that it can reduce signs of aging. Wrinkles and fine lines are the result of a break down in collagen and elastin. Unless emu oil can encourage the synthesis of both, there’s little it can do to have a dramatic effect on them.
Lack Of Significant Research
Interestingly, most of the research that exists demonstrating the effectiveness of emu oil has been performed by scientists in Australia, home of the emu. While this doesn’t suggest that their studies are flawed, it would be valuable if additional research from other countries supported their earlier findings. For now, we’re forced to rely upon a couple of double-blind studies and the questionable claims offered by cosmetic manufacturers.
Proven Anti-Wrinkle Solutions
After more research has been performed on emu oil with regards to its efficacy in treating wrinkles and fine lines, it may become the next generation of anti-aging ingredients. Until then, it’s best to use topical formulations that have undergone rigorous testing. Following are 3 solutions that will help reduce signs of aging in your skin:
Credentials Botanical Bio Peptide Concentrate – Matrixyl (studies have shown that matrixyl can stimulate collagen production) plus moisturizing ingredients have been shown to reduce deep surface wrinkles by 68% in a 2 month period.
Green Cream – Retinol benefits skin in many ways including unclogging pores, reversing sun damage, stimulating collagen production and increasing cell turnover.�
