Cosmeceuticals

While making healthy lifestyle choices makes a big difference in the appearance of skin, skin care products can help correct imperfect behavior. Cosmeceuticals are among the most advanced members of the skin care family. They are topical products that have properties and effects of both cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

A product of sophisticated research and development, cosmeceuticals are an important weapon in the fight against aging caused by free radical damage. Effective anti-aging cosmeceutical ingredients include:

Polyphenols

Byproducts of the body's oxygen use and other natural processes, free radicals are unstable molecules with a missing electron. They attempt to become stable by taking an electron from other nearby molecules. This sets off a chain reaction as each successive, unstable molecule attempts to stabilize itself. The aftermath is misshapen and broken molecules that weaken cell structure and damage the body and skin.

Antioxidants protect cells by neutralizing both internal (e.g. stress and metabolism) and external (e.g. sun damage and pollution) forces that cause free radical damage. Polyphenols are and especially potent variety of plant-derived antioxidants with many potential health benefits resulting from their ability to fight free radicals.

Good sources of polyphenols include berries, wine, olive oil and, in particular, green and black tea. All teas from the Camellia plant have about ten times the polyphenol content of fruits and vegetables.

Alpha Lipoic Acid

Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) is another powerful antioxidant that promotes healthy cell function, boosts skin's radiance, and minimizes enlarged pores and surface imperfections.

Every cell in the body contains ALA. It powers the body’s functions by converting glucose into energy, and also works as the ultimate antioxidant by neutralizing free radicals and combating aging.

One reason ALA is so effective against aging is because of the role it plays in resisting glycation. Glycation is the result of a sugar molecule bonding to a protein or lipid molecule without the controlling action of an enzyme. Glycation impairs the functioning of biomolecules.

As humans age, the number of glycated proteins in the body increase. Evidence shows that ALA blocks or reduces the process of glycation. It also protects proteins already exposed to oxidative stress, therefore reducing effect of aging on the skin, such as fine lines, wrinkles, and discoloration.

ALA works to:

DMAE

Dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE) provides both long-lasting and instant anti-aging benefits to your skin and body, even contributing to an anti-aging face lift in the right concentrations. DMAE occurs in the brain in small amounts to facilitate the synthesis of a neurotransmitter acetylcholine.

For the skin, Perricone's patented DMAE: When applied to the skin in a cream or treatment, DMAE can help the skin to renew itself and maintain a healthy moisture balance. DMAE cream improves skin’s elasticity as the DMAE renews and restores skin cells. Because acetylcholine in involved with muscle activity, DMAE creams also help firm the skin by working to stimulate increased tone in the muscles behind the face.

Neuropeptides

Neuropeptides are small, protein-like molecules that neurons use to communicate with each other. They influence the activity of the brain in specific ways and are involved in particular brain functions such as:

When used in skin care products, these special molecules boost production of collagen and elastin and increase circulation. Neuropeptides can have a number of positive effects on the skin including:

Perricone M.D. Cosmeceuticals

Dr. Perricone's Neuropeptide Facial Conformer is a cutting edge cosmeceutical product. It includes patented anti-aging technologies in the form of DMAE, phospholipids, and neuropeptides.

The strong and non-invasive active ingredients in the Facial Conformer work synergistically with an anti-inflammatory diet and supplementation to: After 6 weeks of use, over 80 percent of users reported improvement in photo damage and/or reduction in lines and wrinkles. The Neuropeptide Facial Conformer represents the sophisticated nature of cosmeceutical products by using modern pharmaceutical technology to work toward impressive results in the health and beauty of skin.