Fine lines and wrinkles are the most visible and possibly the least desirable signs of aging. Our grandmothers would probably poke fun at our obsession with youth, but our generation is lucky to have access to many anti-aging skin products dedicated specifically to fighting or minimizing fine lines and wrinkles.

Antioxidants and retinol are very effective tools in the fight against aging skin.

What Are Antioxidants?
To understand antioxidants, you should know about free radicals. Free radicals are unstable and reactive chemicals that damage living cell structure. They are one of the primary causes of the appearance of age in skin. Free radicals damage collagen and elastin, two key components in the skin. Environmental pollutants and excessive exposure to sunlight also causes fine lines and wrinkles to develop prematurely. Fortunately, anti-aging skin care products designed to treat fine lines and wrinkles are available and those that contain antioxidants are typically the most effective.

What Do Antioxidants Do for Wrinkles and Fine Lines?
Antioxidants neutralize free radicals and help reduce their damage to the skin. They also protect the skin from sun damage. When skin is exposed to sunlight, antioxidants are depleted, which puts the skin at increased risk of sun damage that contributes to wrinkles, fine lines and premature aging. Antioxidant anti aging skin care products for fine lines and wrinkles come in cream, lotion, gel and other forms, and include such products as Aveeno Continuous Protection Sunblock Lotion with SPF 30, Erno Laszlo Antioxidant Mattifying Complex SPF 15 and ReVive Eye Renewal Cream.

Natural Antioxidants
In addition to topical antioxidants, many foods contain anti-aging antioxidants. Several common vitamins are antioxidants. Fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains and some meats, poultry and fish are especially rich in antioxidants. The added benefit of food antioxidants is that by adding more healthy foods to your diet, you can minimize free radical damage to the rest of your body as well.

Here’s a short antioxidants rich food guide:

• Foods abundant in vitamin A include liver, sweet potatoes, carrots, milk, egg yolks and mozzarella cheese.
• Vitamin C, which is also called ascorbic acid, is in many fruits and vegetables, as well as cereals, beef, poultry and fish.
• Almonds, mangos, nuts, broccoli and certain oils (wheat germ, safflower, corn and soybean oils) contain vitamin E.
• Beta-carotene is an antioxidant found in naturally orange-colored foods such as sweet potatoes, cantaloupe and squash and in leafy green vegetables.
• Lutein is good for healthy eyes and is found in leafy green vegetables.
• Tomatoes are a significant source of the powerful antioxidant lycopene. Watermelon, guava, papaya and blood oranges also contain lycopene.
• Although selenium is a mineral and not actually an antioxidant, it is a component of antioxidant enzymes. Good sources of selenium are rice, wheat and Brazil nuts.

Retinol as Anti-Aging Skin Care
Retinol is a form of vitamin A that is now available in many anti-aging and skin care products. Retinol, also called retinol A, used to be an unstable ingredient that was easily deteriorated by ultraviolet radiation in sunlight. But research has created a stable version of retinol and there are now many anti-aging skin care products that feature retinol as the active ingredient. Vitamin A promotes health of the skin’s top layer — the epidermis — and increases collagen and elastin formation in the next layer of the skin — the dermis — which helps minimize fine lines, wrinkles and sagging skin.

Retinol is a form of vitamin A that is now available in many anti-aging and skin care products. Retinol, also called retinol A, used to be an unstable ingredient that was easily deteriorated by ultraviolet radiation in sunlight. But research has created a stable version of retinol and there are now many anti-aging skin care products that feature retinol as the active ingredient. Vitamin A promotes health of the skin’s top layer — the epidermis — and increases collagen and elastin formation in the next layer of the skin — the dermis — which helps minimize fine lines, wrinkles and sagging skin.

Retinol was used as an acne treatment when it first came on the market, but within as few years it was learned that it also minimized fine lines and wrinkles. Many women found that retinol products were too harsh for regular use (or often, overuse) because the original product was meant to dry out oily skin, so manufacturers created moisturizing versions of retinol.

Retinol is available in many forms such as gels, serums, peels, creams and make-up removal products. Those wanting a moisturizing product to fight fine lines and wrinkles will probably find a retinol cream to be their best choice. Robanda Anti-Aging Hand Cream SPF 30 and T. LeClerc Wrinkle Control Cream are two good examples. Retinol eye care products have also gained popularity, as crow's feet are often one of the first signs of aging skin. Look for anti-aging eye care products such as Ultima Botolift Maximum Performance Eye Cream and Bobbi Brown Extra Eye Balm.