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There are seemingly an infinite number of anti-aging creams available in the aisles of your local department store or pharmacy. However you may be asking yourself - "what's really in these cream that help me to reduce the wrinkles on my face?"

It's a compelling question and especially important if you have to think about potential allergies or even basic home budgeting. For example, you may find one product that costs $50 more, but has almost identical ingredients as the cheaper alternative.

Turning back the hands of the clock a bit and reducing the visible effects of aging is certainly a desirable goal, but caution in the selection of products must always be the by-word. Simply because a cream shouts "anti-aging" doesn't mean it is so.

To learn more about common ingredients in most daily use anti-aging creams and to help you locate products that are actually effective, keep reading.

Alpha Hydroxy Acid

Alpha Hydroxy Acid, also known as AHA, is a common component of anti-aging creams. There are actually a variety of these acids which are known as glycolic acids, lactic acids and citric acids.

The glycolic acids are made from sugar cane and are reportedly the best type of AHA. The lactic acid comes from milk and is perfect for sensitive skin, while the Citric acids are like astringents from apples, pears and grapes.

AHA is used in a variety of beauty care products and treatments including chemical peels. The use of AHA is safe when the recommended dosage is adhered to. However, it can cause slight burning, irritation and redness, but these are only temporary side effects, normally shown on people with sensitive skin.

Retinol

Retinol is associated with the retinoid chemical compound family and the animal form of Vitamin A. Vitamin A is crucial in the anti aging process because it helps the skin to create new cells, rejuvenating the collagen and providing a fuller, healthy set of skin.

Retinol can be found in a variety of skin care products such as in Pond's age defying cleansing towelettes, Neutrogena's age fighting moisturizers, Sally Hansen Age Correct and the RoC series.

Kinetin

Kinetin is the leading ingredient in many anti-aging creams. Kinetin has the ability to perform cell division and naturally resides in human skin cells. As long as cells divide, aging is slowed because the skin can reproduce new cells and at a more rapid pace.

However, when the cell loses its capability to split, wrinkles appear. With the use of kinetin delivered through anti-aging creams, cells are able to continue splitting. Kinetin can be found in the Kinerase anti aging products which have a variety of face and body lotions, eye creams and skin treatments.

The ingredients that reside in anti aging creams are numerous. AHA, Retinol and Kinetin are the three most popular and highly used ingredients in anti aging creams. So when you shop for creams that claim to smooth over or reduce skin wrinkles, first verify the ingredients before you purchase them. Your skin will thank you.