Absorbing the Hype; We Are Bombarded by Advertisements Promising Us Younger-Looking Skin and Fewer Wrinkles by the Multi-Million-Pound Industry. But What Are These Mystery Ingredients and What Do They Actually Do for Our Skin?

The Herald › February 04, 2004

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Summary

They think it's so worth it that they would pay actress Andie McDowell $500,000 to sell the air-brushed, wrinkle-free dream. Despite the consensus that no anti-wrinkle cream could ever stop the appearance of lines (that would be like defying gravity), anti- ageing products now make up more than half of the multi-billion- pound skin-care market.

One independent consumer health watchdog now suggests that, not only are most of these creams ineffective, they could actually be the cause of ageing of the skin. MacDowell is the face of L'Oreal, which is named among the worst offenders. The watchdog slates its Wrinkle De-Crease for being silicone-based and containing all the evil P-words: PEG, propylene glycol (an ingredient found in antifreeze), parabens and other assorted preservatives.

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Absorbing the Hype; We Are Bombarded by Advertisements Promising Us Younger-Looking Skin and Fewer Wrinkles by the Multi-Million-Pound Industry. But What Are These Mystery Ingredients and What Do They Actually Do for Our Skin?

Margaret Elliott, who has used anti-wrinkle cream daily for the past three years, says she will carry on returning to her tub of Clinique regardless. For her, the cream is an important psychological crutch she is prepared pay (pounds) 40 a month for. "You...

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