Recently we looked at the customer reviews for a popular anti aging skin care product sold on Home Shopping Network. The "collagen kit" as it is called was supposed to remove fine lines, lessen wrinkles, enhance the lips and soften crow's feet around the eyes.

We didn't find a single person that was satisfied with these anti aging skin care products. And, I believe I know why.

First of all, the Home Shopping Network is great for jewelry, clothing and similar items. But, when you are looking for an anti aging skin care product, you have to be able to read the fine print.

You should be able to answer these questions: What are the ingredients? What are the guarantees? What research do they have to back up their claims? Why does it cost so much?

If you skip the homework, you will end up dissatisfied and possibly with more skin problems than you had before.

Ingredients to Avoid

Purified water is often the primary ingredient in anti aging skin care products and cosmetics of all types. It's fine, but it doesn't "do" anything for you.

Alcohols of various types are usually listed. Ethanol, ethyl, methanol, benzyl and isopropyl are all forms of alcohol and they are all drying.

The collagen fiber that many companies list as an ingredient in their anti aging skin care product line is derived from cow skin and is ineffective. We all have collagen and elastin in our skin. As we age, we lose collagen due to the sun, the wind and other environmental factors.

Cow collagen can not replace what we have lost. It works in injections in sort of the same way that you would blow up a balloon. It does not work in creams.

Parabens are preservatives that a company may still use in anti aging skin care product, even though they have been banned in several countries, because they are believed to drive cancer tumor growth.

Diethanolamine, monoethanolamine and triethananolamine or the abbreviations DEA, MEA and TEA are sometimes used in anti aging skin care products to adjust pH levels, even though they too are believed to cause cancer and there use is restricted in Europe and many countries around the world.

Dioxane is another cancer causing ingredient that you may see. It is sometimes used to make harsh ingredients milder.

Ingredients to Look For in an Anti Aging Skin Care Product

Cynergy TK is a patented form of keratin which has been shown in clinical trials to stimulate collagen growth, regenerate elastin and increase production of new skin-cells.

Wakame is a type of sea kelp that is clinically proven to increase levels of hyaluronic acid to those of a much younger person, thus improving elasticity, reducing bags and healing dryness and irritation.

Nano-lipobelle H EQ10 is an emulsion of vitamin E and COQ10, which is used by skin-cells to counter the effects of the sun and oxidative stress.

Stearyl and cetearyl waxes keep moisture in and create a fine thin coating that protects your face from further damage.

Only the best anti aging skin care products contain all of these ingredients.

Cost and Guarantees

Anti aging skin care products that are highly advertised or have celebrity endorsements cost more, not because of the quality ingredients they contain, but because the majority of their budget goes to pay for commercials.

COQ-10 is an expensive ingredient, but if not properly combined with vitamin E, it cannot be absorbed through the pores.

If the company does not guarantee your satisfaction, look for one that will. The best anti aging skin care product that we have seen offers a full 90 day satisfaction guarantee. Take the time to read the ingredients and look for the best.

Now that you know this, it would be a good idea to start looking for an anti aging skin care product that uses scientifically proven ingredients that help promote a healthy and youthful appearance for you.