The Wrinkle Cure Unlock the Power of Cosmeceuticals for Supple, Youthful Skin

"Plastic surgery isn't the only way to keep the aging process at bay.With the proper care you can have fabulous skin in your forties, fifties,sixties and beyond," promises author Nicholas Perricone, M.D., assistantclinical professor of dermatology at Yale University School of Medicine. In hisopening chapters, Perricone explains why skin wrinkles and sags--a combinationof factors including the passage of time, stress, poor nutrition, excess alcoholconsumption, sleep deprivation, and exposure to cigarette smoke, sunlight, andpollution. Ultimately, however, it all boils down to damage caused by thoserenegade free radicals.The bulk of his book is then devoted to a clearly presented skin care regimenthat involves oral and topical antioxidant therapy. On the oral front, heemphasizes eating antioxidant foods, such as cantaloupe and dark green leafyvegetables, and avoiding "bad carbohydrates" (high in the glycemic index) suchas pasta, sugar, and pancakes. And if you want to look good for a big eventwithin a few days he suggests eating "fish, fish and more fish."On the topical level, he recommends nutritional skin products such as his DMAE(dimethylaminoethanol) cream ("an instant anti-aging face-lift"), a product thatcan only be purchased at specific places, such as selected Nordstrom stores orwww.Sephora.com. Perricone's tie-in with his personal line of "cosmeceuticals"makes the book feel a tad self-serving. (He even includes an index of where tobuy his products.) However, most of his advice is based on solid research andcommon sense, which gives this celebrity doctor credibility as well as a hugefollowing. --Gail Hudson

Nicholas Perricone, M.D., is assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Yale University School of Medicine and has a private practice in Connecticut