L'Oreal cream | beauty products | anti aging skin treatments

According to scientific definition the human skin, a soft outer covering, is the largest body organ. This integumentary system is made up of multiple layers of ectodermal tissue and consist basically of two primary layers - the epidermis and the dermis. the third layer - hypodermis, which lies below the dermis, is not considered as a part of the skin, its purpose is to attach the skin to underlying bone and muscles. It provides skin with blood vessels and nerves. To find out more, visit Wikipedia here

L'Oreal focuses its research on both skin layers in order to understand its structure and function and even more what changes take place in the skin aging and wrinkle creating process.
The epidermis itself consists from several layers, the outermost is called strata, the innermost is basale. The objects of L'Oreal research are several types of adult stem cells located in basale layer. These cells are responsible for renewing the epidermis throughout our lives, they have imposing proliferative potential, they regenerate hair also when it falls and are capable to repair skin damages. How the whole process looks like: the stem cells produce the daughter cells during cell division and these move up to the strata, they die due to isolation from the blood source. The cell's cytoplasm is released and the hard insoluble protein keratin is inserted. They eventually reach the top layer of strata, which consist of up to 15 - 350 layers of dead keratin cells, what makes our skin mechanically strong and water-resistant, impermeable, but it has many more protective functions, for example to keep water inside of our body. Beneath the epidermis is the skin layer named dermis that consists of connective tissue and cushions our body from stress and strain. To the epidermis is tightly connected by a basement membrane. It is inhabited many mechanoreceptors (nerve endings that provide the sense of touch and heat), hair follicles, sweat glands, sebaceous glands, lymphatic and blood vessels. The dermis is composed from papillary region and reticular region. This reticular region is most important part of skin and it is usually much ticker then papillary region. It is composed of dense irregular connective tissue and receives its name from the dense concentration of collagenous, elastic and reticular fibres that weave throughout it. These protein fibres, but mostly collagen, gives the dermis (and so the whole skin) its properties of strength extensibility and elasticity.
So, as you can see, natural protein collagen, that form a supporting mesh, gives skin its smooth, healthy and resilient properties. Unfortunately, collagen production drastically breaks down with the age causing wrinkles to form. To help prevent it and fill in wrinkles it is necessary to reduce collagen breakdown and increase its supply. The research showed that the skin loses in average 2,1% of its collagen substance every year. However, during the first 5 years of the peri-menopausal and menopausal period the woman skin can lose up to 30 % of its collagen substance. This may explain perhaps why in that age women aging more quickly than men. Therefore all the best anti aging, anti wrinkle skin care products are mostly based on the collagen supply.

Each day the skin suffers multiple attacks, whether physical or mechanical, from undesirable micro-organisms or the sun. Fortunately, it withstands these with very sophisticated detection, protection and defence systems in the epidermis and dermis. To carry out its protective task, the skin must be a resistant and impermeable barrier. This role falls in large part on the epidermis, as it is directly exposed to the external environment. While the dermis is mechanically strong, it is hydrophilic, i.e. it avidly takes up water. It is the superficial layer of the skin - epidermis, horny layer, which makes the skin impermeable and hydrophobic, protecting the dermis from massive water entry. This layer also resists chemical attacks, thanks to the corneocytes filled with the hard insoluble protein keratin and the lipid cement which ensures cohesion between the corneocytes, and therefore impermeability.
However, the epidermis is not absolutely an impenetrable barrier. Free water from the dermis continually crosses the epidermis by capillarity and evaporates from the surface of the skin, known as the Trans Epidermal Water Loss, or TEWL (on average 9 g/m2 of skin per hour). In the reverse direction, the skin lets water in, and active molecules of oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide too, but this is almost negligible. This property of cutaneous absorption is used to hydrate the skin and promote the action of cosmetics or medical products.

The superficial layer of the skin - epidermis - is covered by the acidic mantle (pH between 4 and 5.5). This is the hydrolipidic film which has all the properties required to prevent non-resident bacteria from developing and it maintains the skin's barrier. This acidic mantle is composed of a mixture of sweat, sebum and lipids, where antibiotic peptides synthesised by the sweat glands are added. The epidermis is not a sterile place and numerous resident bacteria are sheltered there and prosper in the inter-corneocytic spaces. Three species of bacteria are particularly well adapted to withstand the acid environment and antibiotic peptides: Staphylococcus, Propionibacterium and Corynebacterium. They feed on corneocyte debris or on sebum cells and they prevent other undesirable bacteria from developing. These bacteria therefore play a fundamental role as "cleaners".
Maintaining the physiological pH (well around 5.5 ) of the skin is essential to avoid the proliferation of pathogens and an excess or lack of hygiene upsets the equilibrium of this cutaneous flora.
Next, very dangerous skin damage factor is over-exposure to the UV rays from the sun or sun beds, or excessive cumulative exposure to the sun. It is worth remembering, that UVB rays from sun reach the basal layer of epidermis, exactly where the stem cells are, and UVA rays penetrate even deeper all the way to the dermis. Sun damage of stem and progenitor cells with their proliferative and renewing potential could lead to developing of many forms of skin cancer, for example melanoma.

The most common factor valid for everybody is skin aging. As we age, the epidermal compartment of our skin undergoes significant changes. The horny skin layer, epidermis, becomes thinner, wounds heal more slowly and the natural skin barrier function is less effective. L'Oreal's skin research has shown the number of stem and progenitor cells didn't diminish with the age, their population remains stable with age, and they didn't lose their proliferative potential. What happens is that they stop doing their job, the components of their microenvironment change over time. The research is now targeted on how to get these cells back to work, how to ameliorate their regenerative potential and how to protect them. The knowledge gained so far means that it is already possible to propose new exciting anti- aging strategies for the skin and hair. These strategies focus on the protection of the stem cells and their environment, in order to preserve this extraordinary proliferative potential.
Similar aging process is in progress in the inner layer of the skin, in dermis, as mentioned already, there is an average lost of collagen about 2% yearly. Collagen is a natural protein that gives skin its smooth, healthy and resilient properties. The dermis contains large amounts of collagen fibers that form a supporting mesh responsible for skin's strength and texture. With aging collagen production break down causing wrinkles to form. To help prevent and fill in wrinkles it is necessary to reduce collagen breakdown and increase its supply.
Knowing that L'Oreal has developed a line of products inspired by dermatological collagen treatments (therapeutic surgery), which penetrate the skin surface to combine with water already present there and expand up to 9 times their volume filling in wrinkles, softening crow's feet and diminishing expression lines. The result is an immediate tightening effect you can feel and see.In addition, these products are made with Hyaluronic Micro-Spheres, which contains skin's essential natural hydrator and expand up to 30 times their size to fill in lines and wrinkles even thoroughly.

The French brand, L'Oréal Paris, one of the world's top beauty care brands, offers men and women on every continent beauty and personal care products that incorporate the latest scientific advances. Visionary formulas, upscale presentation and products that are a pleasure to use: L'Oréal Paris provides affordable luxury for people who demand excellence.
And, above all, the latest innovations from L'Oréal Laboratories make it sure, that their beauty products are tailored to your specific needs. Everyone may choose from its large offer what suits to, for every age, gender, ethnicity or special needs.
At L'Oreal you know what are you buying. Their products are worth every cent, because behind them are years of research, invention, development and experience.
Not for long time is here such possibility to pamper yourself like it is at these days. Currently you don't need to make a mistake by choosing skin care and anti-aging products - just keep in mind this enormously big research and invent capacity, based on more than 100 years experience and tradition - it won't be wrong.
How to choose from the large offer of L'Oreal?
As mentioned already, our skin changes its properties due to aging very dramatically. In other words, what works for your skin at 20 just won't do at 40 or by the time when you reach your 60. Almost every woman needs a richer, more hydrating regimen to combat the dryness that goes hand in hand with aging. There is a lot you can do to slow the inevitable and minimize the effects of aging.
The professionals in the area of skin care have for all this advice:
Sticking to an all-natural daily skin-care routine is essential if you want to achieve healthy, youthful skin that is free from damage. The good news is that giving your skin the care it deserves can be simple and effective when you know the right habits to create.

A complete skin-care routine should cover all of the bases, including cleansing, nourishing, toning, and protecting your skin from signs of premature aging.

--> Step 1 - Cleanse: Using the right cleanser twice a day will help remove dirt and impurities that have accumulated throughout the day, while simultaneously moisturizing and protecting your delicate complexion. This leaves your skin feeling soft, soothed, and refreshed.

TIP: Be sure to remove your makeup and cleanse before you go to sleep each night. Not cleansing properly can cause you to look older than your years.

--> Step 2 - Tone: While you may be familiar with drugstore astringents that strip your skin of moisture and leave your complexion feeling tight and itchy, you should be using one that will tone your skin while preserving its natural moisture. Using a gentle, effective toner is a must to preserve the delicate moisture barrier in your skin and prevent long-term dehydration.

TIP: Toning should be done immediately after cleansing in your daily skin-care routine. Be sure to choose a toner that delivers the nutrients your complexion needs to protect it from outside damage and preserve its youthful look.

--> Step 3 - Moisturize: Moisturizing after cleansing will keep all skin types in balance and reduce the risk of premature aging.

TIP: After cleansing and toning, be sure to moisturize - even if you have oily skin. Oily skin can still become dehydrated and produce even more oil as a result, leaving you worse off than you started! Choose a moisturizer that penetrates deeply into the skin to slow down the aging process, promote healthy cell growth, and improve the quality of skin tissue - ensuring that your complexion remains youthful and wrinkle-free.

It really is as easy as completing these three steps each day to protect your skin from external damage and premature aging.

A special care is needed to devote to the oily skin.
Oily skin is caused by over-active sebaceous glands, that produce a substance called sebum, a naturally healthy skin lubricant. When the skin produces excessive sebum, it becomes heavy and thick in texture. We can easy recognize an oily skin by shininess, blemishes and pimples. The oily-skin type is not necessarily bad, since such skin is less prone to wrinkling, or other signs of aging, because the oil helps to keep needed moisture locked into the epidermis - outermost layer of skin.
The negative aspect of the oily-skin type is that oily complexions tend to clogged pores, blackheads, and buildup of dead skin cells on the surface of the skin. Oily skin can be sallow and rough in texture and usually has large, clearly visible pores everywhere, except around the eyes and neck.
The goal of treating oily skin is to remove excess surface sebum without complete removal of skin lipids, the protective layer. Severe degreasing treatment can foster an actual worsening of sebum secretion, which defeats the aim of the cleansing. A method of cleansing oily skin is to cleanse with a natural face cleanser formulated especially for oily skin. The cleansers pH should be 4.5 - 5.5, since the skin's pH value is approximately 5.4. On oily skin work best gel cleansers. Oily skin products should contain very little natural oils. They should not contain waxes or other synthetic lipid agents that could make the oily condition of the skin even worse. A toning lotion should also be natural and have a pH between 4.5 and 5.5 and formulated especially to help balance and hydrate oily skin. Some cleansing products have lower concentrations of hydroxy acids, which remove dead cells from the upper levels of the skin. Those products should be used on a regular basis to work adequately as intended.

Almost every woman worries about wrinkles. Skin full of wrinkles is neither attractive nor sexy. To be beautiful at any age is a dream of all women - girls and ladies. The sad truth is that wrinkles begin to develop under the skin as early as about the age of twenty years. On the outmost surface of the skin they become visible at about the age of thirty years. However, there is recommended using preventive skin care cosmetics since the age of twenty years.
At the beginning it is sufficient to use daily moisturizing cream with UV factor and later (around 25 years) add to it a light night cream or serum. This prevention will ensure you a smooth and more radiant complexion. From the thirtieth year, it is appropriate to use the first anti-wrinkle cosmetics. We do not recommend using anti-wrinkle creams before, it could have the opposite effect, it would make your skin more quickly aged.

In the age of 20s your skin begins finding its balance, which means even though you are not longer a teenager, you still may experience breakouts. To take care of your skin it is the best to use a good cleanser that get dirt, oil and makeup out from every pore. For example Go 360 Cleanser with Deep Exfoliating Scrub do just that with the help of the flexible cleansing disk that reaches deep down for a more thorough clean. You can also opt for a lightweight moisturizer that hydrates your skin without clogging the pores, like Active Daily Moisture Lotion. With pro-vitamin B5 and conditioning agents for all skin types, this formula protects skin from premature aging caused by UVA / UVB rays with built in SPF15 sunscreen.
To enhance positive effects on your skin you should use a soothing moisturizing daily / night cream what helps reduce signs of stress, fatigue and aging and counteract to adverse environmental influences. It contains microcapsules of lipids and hyaluronic acid, what grant your skin intense hydration treatment for 24 hours.

TIP: Go For Glow - create instant radiance with a shimmering bronzer. Dust your cheeks and decolletage to give skin a warm glow that looks fresh and natural.

In your thirties the signs of aging begin to set in on the skin surface, they become visible. You may notice more fine lines as your skin's ability to develop collagen and elastin begins to slow down. Therefore every woman in this age should use cosmetics with collagen. This care will promote collagen production and strengthen the dermis, the layer of skin what is beneath of epidermis. This treatment will ensure that your skin wouldn't loose its elasticity and stays beautifully beaming. At this age it is appropriate to use serum daily moisturizer with collagen or night cream to cure deep wrinkles.
To create smoother, brighter, more even skin, you need a regimen that counteracts the effects of reduced collagen production, like Ideal Skin Genesis. All Ideal Skin Genesis products work to recreate skin's ideal quality by smoothing skin's texture and equalizing skin's tone. The results is a brighter, younger looking complexion. You may also begin to notice fine lines, dark circles and puffy tired skin around the eyes. Ideal Skin Genesis Eye Serum with a unique Skin Perfecting Complex, Vitamin C and Caffeine works to reveal smoother brighter skin around the eyes.

BEAUTY TIP : FOCUS ON EYES
Accent your eyes with a dramatic look. For a truly captivating gaze, sweep a coppery shade across your eye lid and accent your crease with a deeper shadow.

Maybe you heard it already, people say forties are the women's best age, providing they take appropriate skin care earlier. Forty is really fabulous!! At this age women are experienced enough to know their job well what reflects they may get the peak income, and, on the other hand young enough to work with energy and passion, to have enough energy for their children and family. They are more confident and are taken more seriously, they know how to follow fashion and which clothes suit them best, they know what they like - and what they don't. They may look charming what is now easy with L'Oreal's creams and beauty products.
Do you know it? Forty is now the new thirty!!
Unfortunately, the nature is not too much pitiful. Skin aging is in progress and deeper lines begin to appear around the mouth and eyes. As mentioned above, these wrinkles are caused by breakdown in collagen and elastin production. Skin begins to lose its elasticity and its beautiful tension, causing wrinkles to set in and become more apparent and the skin becomes noticeably drier. The priority is now on retaining moisture to keep your skin soft and supple, while at the same time combating wrinkles by making skin firmer.
Therefore every woman at this age should use cosmetics with collagen. This care will promote collagen production and strengthen the lower layer of skin - the dermis. So the skin wouldn't lose its elasticity and remains beautifully beaming. At this age it is appropriate to use the serum with collagen under your daily moisturizer and night cream with collagen to combat deep wrinkles.
To find the right balance, you want to look for a daily product that provides continuous moisture along with ingredients that firm your skin. So you can use RevitaLift Deep-Set Wrinkle Repair products which combine Pro-Retinol for continuous moisture and the Fiber Restoring Complex that stimulates and regenerates the fibrous network of the skin as an added benefit. Those products were clinically proven, the appearance of deep-set wrinkles is visibly reduced.

Beauty skin quality care is a combination of serum and cream. Serum gives tired skin vitality in the form of vitamin C and cream adds needed hydration and also contains vitamin A which helps to fight wrinkles.

Pay special care around the eyes - the skin there is very thin and delicate (easily irritated). Eye creams are hypoallergenic, non perfumed and contains no alcohol. These creams are designed to combat wrinkles, dark circles under the eyes and puffy follicles.

Looking good never goes out of style. To bring out your best there is recommended to follow these basic beauty tips:

BEAUTY TIP 1 : ALWAYS MOISTURIZE
Your beauty begins with a healthy complexion, so always use moisturizer to help keep skin supple and smooth. And, in addition, moisturizer serves as a great base for smoothing on foundation.

BEAUTY TIP 2 : CONCEALER IS THE KEY
Whether you need to hide dark circles or small imperfections, choose a lightweight concealer that blends in with your skin. For the best results apply it with a stiff brush and remember - don't choose a shade that is too light - it will work on the contrary, it will accent the area you are trying to cover.

BEAUTY TIP 3 : SHOW YOUR GLOW
For an added touch of color, look for a blush that blends in with your skin. To create a natural look, tap your brush before you apply and then dust a hint of color across your forehead, cheekbones and the bridge of your nose.

BEAUTY TIP 4 : FOCUS ON EYES
To draw attention to your eyes, accent them with earth-tone shadows and in matte finish. Shimmery shadows attract light and make fine lines appear more prominent. Apply shadow up from inner corner of the eye outward - this will open up the eye without overdoing it.

BEAUTY TIP 5 : SMILE WITH STYLE
It is well known - a great smile lights up the entire face. To keep your smile looking perfect, prepare lips with a rich balm to keep them smooth. Then use a lip liner to define the lip line. This contours your shape while keeping lipstick from bleeding into fine lines. Fill in with a soft berry, coral, or peach matte lipstick to make lips look their fullest.

BEAUTY TIP 6 : ADD SOME SHINE
Add shimmer to your lips with a luscious gloss. A hint of metallic will add shine while softening and conditioning at the same time.

The most remarkable sign at this age is the menopause - a period in women's life characterized by the gradual decline in hormonal secretion from the ovaries, up to the point when the ovaries cease to function.
The average age for the menopause is between 45 and 55 years old, but most commonly women commence menopause at 50 or 51. The menopause causes various changes to the texture and elasticity of the skin. The hormonal changes which occur, impact on the skin's surface. The amount of oil produced by the skin drops dramatically resulting in skin which looks more wrinkled and creased. As mentioned already, the skin loses in average up to 2.1% of its collagen substance every year starting from your 20's, however during the first 5 years of the peri-menopausal and menopausal period the skin can lose up to incredible 30% of its collagen substance!
This decline in the substance prompts a progressive loss of elasticity, tone and suppleness in the skin. In particular, the jowls begin to sag, wrinkles become more marked and lines around the mouth become more prominent. These changes will continue over the years post-menopause. The result is that during the menopause and over five years which follow, the identity of the face will progressively change.
As mentioned above, skin becomes thinner and more fragile, there is increased dryness and age spots become more visible. To address these issues you want to opt for a rich moisturizer that rebuilds the skin's network, deeply moisturizes and provides adequate sun protection. So you may choose from the L'Oreal's Age Perfect creams and skin care products which deliver on all fronts. They are formulated with Soy Seed Proteins that stimulate the synthesis of natural fibers found in younger skin to help menopausal and post-menopausal skin rebuild its own substance. In addition, these formulas contain a Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) complex to help reduce the appearance of age spots and a Broad Spectrum SPF 15 Sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun's damaging rays as well.

BEAUTY TIP : LOVE YOUR LASHES
Boost your lashes with two in one mascara that conditions and thickens. Long and flirty lashes will enliven your eyes instantly.

Unfortunately an anti-aging pill hasn't been find yet, but there are many products ready for use to slow down the skin aging process.
As the aging process continues in your sixties and beyond, the skin becomes drier, thinner and more fragile. At this age the collagen levels decline significantly and due to this skin is visibly less smooth. To restore skin texture, you need a regimen that is specifically formulated for mature skin needs. The goal here is to restore skin's density and firmness using a deep moisturizer that visibly improves the skin's appearance and helps revive sagging. At this point you may use skin care products from the lineup Age Perfect, e.g. Age Perfect Hydra Nutrition Moisturizer, that is formulated with a Nutrient complex enriched with Calcium in order to built resilience and to fight the signs of aging. It soft, silky texture wraps your skin in pure luxury.
If you are looking for an immediate solution to fight against stubborn lines and wrinkles, the best way is to focus on replenishing your skin's collagen supply. As the skin's production of collagen drastically breaks down at this age, this causes wrinkles to form. At L'Oreal you can find many skin care products named Collagen Filler. This products line is formulated with Collagen Biospheres that penetrate upper layer of the skin (Epidermis) combine with natural moisture in cells and expand up to nine times their volume to visibly plumb and fill facial lines and wrinkles. It softens crow's feet and diminishes expression lines. The result is an immediate tightening effect you can feel and see.
If you will supplement your skin care regimen with collagen-based treatments your skin will stay smooth and youthful.
Additionally, Collagen Filler Targeted Wrinkle Reducer and Eye Treatments are made with Hyaluronic Micro-Spheres, which contain skin's essential natural hydrator and expand up to thirty times their size to fill in lines and wrinkles even more thoroughly.

BEAUTY TIP : BRIGHTEN YOUR NAILS
Show that you are chic with a slick red or deep berry nail that is short, refined and high on shine. Perfect for even the most formal occasions.

L'Oreal developed in last decade a large products range focused on men. It includes face, hair and body lines.
The face category incorporates products for cleansing, shaving, after shave and skin care.
All products from L'Oreal's Men Expert's category reflect the differences between men and women skin, which are mostly due to hormonal influences and they are:
- men's skin is thicker ( e.g. on the face it is on average 22% thicker) and it contains a greater level of collagen,
- it is greasier, so can be more susceptible to imperfections,
- it ages later, but then is the aging process more quick and more noticeable,
- it can become irritated and weakened by shaving,
- it transpires more

L'Oreal focused its research on five different clinical characteristic of male skin and they studied its evolution during the male skin aging:
- dilated pores and shine,
- sign of fatigue around the eye contour, crows feet, shadows under eyes,
- furrows between the nose and cheeks,
- sagging at the base of the face
- forehead lines
According to their research results these clinical signs of aging develop during the time:
- forehead wrinkles are an early sign of aging of men; their evolution slows towards 50 - 55 years,
- the depth of crow's feet and shadows under eyes evolve slowly until around the age of 50, after which they appear more quickly,
- bottom of the face sagging doesn't appear until around 40 years, after which it can occur rapidly,
- furrows between the nose and cheeks are a very representative sign of male age and develop progressively,
These average differences in male skin's aging illustrate the need for products specially adapted to a man's age and lifestyle.
The Men Expert's range has been specifically designed with those facts in mind.
Except this, male skin needs more special care because of (almost) daily shaving. Every day man's skin can feel dry and sensitive from shaving. Actually, shaving is a daily test for male skin: the effect of repeated aggression on the skin can leave it feeling dry and sensitive.
Regular shaving and washing with soap can remove some of the skin's protective hydro-lipidic film so it can feel dry and tight. This film is (as mentioned earlier) a natural protective film on the skin, protecting it from outside aggressions.

In response to this L'Oreal's Men Expert's introduced a few lines of products in the Shaving & After Shave category for normal and sensitive skin, anti-irritation and Tough Stubble for shaving, and in the face care category products similar to the women's face care category:
- for conditioning,
- for hydrating
- anti fatigue
- to combat oily skin,
- anti wrinkle and anti aging,
- against aging spots