Skin care for summer

Summer’s here.
Time to pamper your face. The skin-care shelves in stores are packed with antiaging products and claims. Here are the topical ingredients clinically shown to help diminish the fine lines and wrinkles that appear when collagen fibres break down.

Vitamin A: Often listed as retinol, it penetrates skin to increase collagen production, eventually smoothing lines, says US dermatologist Dr Flor A. Mayoral.

Vitamin C: It can stimulate collagen to help build up your skin and smooth and fade lines. It works best when you apply it at night, says Dr Arthur W. Perry, a clinical associate professor of plastic surgery at a US medical school.Vitamin E: Look on the label for DL-alpha-tocopherol; it blocks the cancer-causing effects of UV light and slows the production of wrinkles.

And vitamin E enhances the efficacy of sunscreen, decreasing redness and swelling after sun exposure.

Alpha hydroxy acid (AHA): Used as an exfoliant, it’s also listed as glycolic acid. By peeling off the top layer of dead skin, it gives you a more youthful appearance.

Strong:Vitamin B3 (niacin): It helps shield skin from toxins and decreases brown blotches. Bonus: It helps ease the irritation that can be a side effect of vitamin A creams.