Anti-aging creams: it takes one to know one

You keep that copy of the American Association of Retired Persons magazine tucked away at the bottom of your gym bag. But why was your March & April issue stolen? Obviously by someone who had heard about the article evaluating face creams that are supposed to turn back the clock. And if the article appeared in AARP, well, you had to trust it because who has more invested in that endless pursuit than someone of, yes, a certain age.

AARP consulted leading dermatologists, who break he huge market down into six main types, beginning with products containing retinal (stimulates the skin to make more collagen), available in creams costing from $70 a 1.7 an ounce (Murad Age Balancing Night Cream) to one costing $11.89 (Neutrogena's Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Cream). Under glycolic acid (essentially an exfoliant) you can spring for Alpha Lipoic Acid Face Firming Activator at $95 for 2 ounces; or try Olay Total Effects Night Firming Cream for $18.99 for 1.7 ounces. Grape seed extract (an antioxidant that inhibits free-radical activity) comes as high as $100 for 1.7 ounces of DDF's Glycolic Moisturizer, of just $27 for the same amount of Murad Skin Perfecting Lotion.

You can also go for those tried and true vitamin C and E concoctions; and there is always green tea extract, not to be sipped but rather applied as a cream. Still in the early stages are pomegranate juice, wild yam and soy and licorice extract, all of which have shown promise and may be worth the wait.

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