Cosmetics, plain & simple

All creams that claim to make your skin soft and smooth rely on an ingredients to boost credibility even if the benefits have not been clinically proven. Hydroxy acids -- alpha and beta, usually listed as AHA and BHA -- aloe vera, vitamin E, vitamin C and even pure aqua, which is another name for water, a whole range of products are being sold based on false claims.

All creams that claim to make your skin soft and smooth rely on an ingredients to boost credibility even if the benefits have not been clinically proven. Hydroxy acids -- alpha and beta, usually listed as AHA and BHA -- aloe vera, vitamin E, vitamin C and even pure aqua, which is another name for water, a whole range of products are being sold based on false claims.

HT Image

The hydroxy acids are naturally-occurring non-toxic substances found in fruits, wine, milk, sugarcane and berries. AHAs are the best method to rejuvenate Asian skin but they are effective only in concentrations of more than 10%. Most AHA-containing products have them in too low a concentration to be effective. But even in small concentrations, AHA raises the skin’s sensitivity to the sun, so it works best in a night cream.

BHA -- mostly salicylic acid -- is an active ingredient of acne-care products and works at levels more than 2%. It works well in summers when the skin is oily but dries up the skin in winter.

A simpler way to get the benefits is from fresh ingredients, which should be used one to times a month.

For dry skin: Mixing 3 tablespoons of milk with 1 tablespoon of sugar makes a scrub that gives the benefit of lactic acid and malic acid.

Oily skin: Adding one tablespoon of fresh lime juice to 2 tablespoon of baking soda to exfoliate and rejuvenate skin. Always clean in the evening, but never for more than once in two weeks.

*Dr Agarwal is a dermatologist and director of Mehak Skin Clinic in South Delhi’s Sarvodaya Enclave.