Skincare Reviews – Why You Can’T Trust Them

Let's face it, we're all on the lookout for new skincare reviews. It seems like everyone you know is, at least, halfway disappointed with their skin cream. But it isn't surprising, this constant dissatisfaction. We look in the mirror and see wrinkles, lines, and sagging and we want them gone. We think, is there a product out there that's better than the one I'm using? We want to know what other people think is the best skincare brand.

But this often gets us into trouble; let me explain.

Where do you often read skincare reviews? Magazines, right? You find them in both womens and mens magazines. If you don't believe me guys, go pick up the lastest issue of Mens Health and I'm sure you'll find skincare info in it. Anyway, in the pages of magazines is where you frequently find articles about the best skincare brand; you may even come across a Top 10 Skin Creams of 2009 list. The question is: can you trust these reviews?

In my opinion, no.

There is often a financial conflict of interest that prevents a magazine from giving an unbiased review of a product. If you regularly read womens or mens magazines, you've probably noticed that most pages are advertisements. They're annoying to flip through for the reader, but they generate sizable revenue for the magazine. A good chunk of that revenue comes from skincare and cosmetics companies paying to adverstise in the magazine.

Here's where the conflict comes in. A magazine's editors often write skincare reviews of the same products that are featured as advertisements. When this is the case, it's unreasonable to expect a fair review. The magazine has a huge financial incentive in naming a product the best skincare brand. If they panned the product instead, the cosmetics company that manufactures it may never advertise in that magazine again.

Where do we consumers stand in all this? We're being manipulated.

While the magazine earns revenue dollars and the cosmetics company gets a favorable recommendation in a national publication, the honest consumer gets stuck with a biased review. And, unfortunately, many people make a purchase based off that review. It's a fruitless way to find the best skincare brand.

Is there an alternative to these skincare reviews?

As a consumer, I think the best way to fight skin aging is to learn how skin aging works. You see, there is a science behind wrinkles, lines, and sagging, and you can learn something about it. The first things to learn are the three root causes of skin aging. Since they're not the main thrust of this article, I'll only list them here. Here are the roots:

The gradual slowdown of collagen and elastin production

The breakdown of hyaluronic acid by a harmful enzyme

Free radical oxidation damage to skin cells

These are all natural processes that worsen with age. To make your skin firm, pliant, and younger-looking, the best skincare brand must target these major skin agers.
Now, this is just a taste of the science of skin aging. Are you interested in approaching skincare scientifically? If so, I encourage you to visit my website where I organized more detailed info on this topic.

To sum up, what I really hope you got out of this article is a new skepticism of skincare reviews. Next time you're in a waiting room and flipping through a magazine, read that Best Anti-Wrinkle Creams of 2009 review and remember what you learned in this article.

Are you fed up with skin care products that don't combat the three major skin agers? Carol Truesdale writes about the most effective skincare ingredients for firm, glowing skin on her webpage Quality Skin Care. Visit her site now and discover the natural skincare line she recommends.