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You Can Not Beat Nature for True Beauty

Nature provides everything you need to maintain smooth, young-looking skin. In South Africa, the women have absolutely gorgeous skin thanks to a mountain shrub called roobios. In the Andes, where women who are exposed to intense sun, they have remarkably smooth and supple skin. These women use a secret they learned from vineyard workers.I’ve brought many of these discoveries back with me to my practice. I’ve never been disappointed. And neither have the many patients who’ve benefited from these discoveries.

But it never fails … some people think they can improve on nature.

For example, marketers hype “galvanic skincare devices” that supposedly give you a non-surgical “facelift” with low-voltage electrical current.

And the latest fad – radio frequency (RF) “energy” – that supposedly heats the deeper layers of the skin. But that “energy” is radiation. Radiation that’s very similar to microwaves and X-rays.

The galvanic devices have been thoroughly debunked. And I’m not comfortable with unnecessary radiation at any level. So how do you get gorgeous skin without the risks? Look to nature.

Here are some of my favorite nutrients for your skin:

  • CoQ10 – By your 35th birthday, your body starts to lose the ability to make CoQ10. And CoQ10 is one of your skin’s major defenses. But applying CoQ10 directly to your skin has an amazing effect. It revives the activity of mitochondria1 – your cells’ “energy factories.” It boosts your body’s defenses against UV rays.2 And CoQ10 helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles, too.3 Take 30 mg per day, 60 mg if you’re over the age of 60.
  • Hyaluronic acid (HLA) – Don’t be fooled by the name. HLA is completely natural. In fact, it’s your body’s own natural moisturizer. One reason it’s so effective: It draws moisture from inside and outside your body. HLA also helps your body retain moisture and promotes skin healing.4 It’s like a mini-repair kit for aging skin. Look for facial toners and moisturizers that contain HLA.
  • Rose hip seed oil – When you think of rose hips, you might think of vitamin C. But rose hip seed oil is also naturally high in retinoic acid – a cousin to vitamin A. And it’s been proven to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and scars.5 Rose hips are also high in lycopene. Lycopene bolsters your body’s defenses against the aging effects of ultraviolet rays.6 Look for rose hips in your body cleansers.
  • Red tea (Rooibos) – This South-African shrub makes a delicious tea. But it’s also traditionally used as an antioxidant for skin care. In a recent human study, a red-tea preparation helped reduce the appearance of facial wrinkles by nearly 10 percent in just 30 days.7 Look for red tea – or roobios – in your body moisturizer and cleansers.
  • Alpha lipoic acid (ALA). The word “acid” may make you a little jumpy when we’re talking about skin care. But ALA isn’t that kind of acid. It’s a powerful antioxidant. It helps bolster your skin’s natural defenses against free-radical damage. And it promotes smoother skin. When Swedish doctors tested ALA on a group of women in their 50s, the results were dramatic. In just 12 weeks, the women’s skin was over 50 percent smoother.8 Take 100 mg per day.

To Your Good Health,
Dr. Sears Signature
Al Sears, MD

1. Prahl, S., et al, “Aging skin is functionally anaerobic: importance of coenzyme Q10 for anti aging skin care,” Biofactors 2008;32(1-4):245-55
2. Hoppe, U., et al, “Coenzyme Q{10}, a cutaneous antioxidant and energizer,” BioFactors 1999; 9( 2-4): 371-378
3. Inui, M., et al, “Mechanisms of inhibitory effects of CoQ10 on UVB-induced wrinkle formation in vitro and in vivo,” Biofactors 2008;32(1-4):237-43
4. King, S.R., et al, “Beneficial actions of exogenous hyaluronic acid on wound healing,” Surgery Jan. 1991;;109(1):76-84
5. Griffiths, C., et al, “Restoration of Collagen Formation in Photodamaged Human Skin by Tretinoin (Retinoic Acid),” NEJM Aug. 19, 1993; 329(8):530-535
6. Fazekas, Z., et al, “Protective effects of lycopene against ultraviolet B-induced photodamage,” Nutr. Cancer 2003;47(2):181-7
7. Chuarienthong, P., et al, “Clinical efficacy comparison of anti-wrinkle cosmetics containing herbal flavonoids,” Int. J. Cosmet. Sci. Apr. 2010;32(2):99-106
8. Beitner, H., “Randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind study on the clinical efficacy of a cream containing 5%a-lipoic acid related to photoaging of facial skin,” British Journal of Dermatology 149( 4):841- 849