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

by Nicholas Perricone

Look Ten Years Younger in Days-Without Surgery! From Yale University's dermatological and anti-aging expert Nicholas Perricone, M.D., comes the all-natural program that has already helped thousands-including top Hollywood stars. This antioxidant plan revitalizes your skin from the outside and inside, reducing and effectively erasing wrinkles and blemishes, no matter your skin color or type, no matter your age! Find out Alpha Lipoic Acid-lines, wrinkles, under-eye puffiness, acne scars, and enlarged pores can disappear. The Three-Day Diet for Better Skin-special "face-changing" foods visibly alter the way you look, in just seventy-two hours. Vitamin C Ester-this miracle supplement can heal sun-damaged skin or inflammations by helping your body produce collagen-it firms up sagging skin as well! An Instant Face-Lift-DMAE tightens skin almost instantly and offers long-lasting results with continued use. And quickly plumps up lips, too! The Sugar Taboo-simple carbs ravage your skin and speed aging. Find out how to reverse the damage!

Genres: Health, Nonfiction, Self Help

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Sheila Mccaa-sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't expect to be cured but as a novice in skin care I did learn about what to expect from antioxidants used both internally and as a topical application. I found the diet advice credible and added the information to what I already have learned about the importance of nutrition. Overall I found the information well presented and easy to understand.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like most books of its type, the useful content could be put on a single page. Consume supplements and apply topically alpha lipoic acid, DMAE, and vitamin C Ester. Sure, there are a couple of other points, and anecdotes, but those are the main ones. As the authors speaks about his "research" and "studies," he doesn't cite any of those studies. In the literature, we call that anecdotal. If it's not a good enough piece of "research" to publish in a peer-reviewed journal, it can't be considered substantive or reliable. If we look in PubMed for published research, there is a "Perricone, NV," which might be our author who contributed to 13 articles at the time of this writing (Jan 2013). Not one of them addresses the benefits touted in the the book. But there is another author who certainly is this author who is listed as "Perricone, N," and it is a response to a letter to the editor, not a study. He cites his "two decades of research," but still there is no published research under his name with the relevant supplements under discussion. Does it work? Who knows? Scientists don't. Will it help or hurt? Again, no one knows for certain. But people with products to sell, which Mr. Perricone certainly does, will say it is a wrinkle cure.

[Annie ⚜️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated this book. It’s short, simple and concise (except for a few parts that got very science-y). A lot of common sense advice about taking care of your skin and why it ages including free radicals, inflammation and sugar, along with information that , at the time, was pretty cutting edge. He recommends vitamin C ester, alpha lipoic acid and DMAE along with alpha and beta hydroxy acids. CO-Q10 is everywhere now. The best part is he talks about what you put IN your body not just on your skin including vitamins, minerals, supplements and the best foods to eat for healthy skin. In a nutshell, fruits, veggies, lean meats and salmon, also green tea.

I’ve looked into his products and supplements and find them cost prohibitive but all these things can easily be found elsewhere, like the JASON line at health food stores. Overall, I found a lot of good advice.

[Lydia]

This book is a little bit weird and a little bit intoxicating. There are parts of it that sound really amazing, like the trials Perricone did with the creams that shrunk pores and gave people porcelain skin. there are also parts that seem totally bogus, like when he says that he feels vegetarians age faster than non-vegetarians. What? Also, his diet doesn't seem to include any whole grains, except for oatmeal. that's kind of weird. It's also a little hokey when he says "we'll be sure to see this in the future" about some enzyme.
The information about cell damage is pretty accessible and very helpful if you don't really know why you need antioxidants and supplements.
I guess this book seems a little outdated now that it's 9 years old but that's probably thanks to wikipedia and the fact that skin care progresses so fast.

[Kathleen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Although he's likely a brilliant doctor...you will not be rid of your wrinkles by reading this book. His products are alright, but again neither his or anyone else's REMOVE WRINKLES. Obviously if such a product existed...no woman would ever wrinkle so don't be misled by the deceptive title.

The only really helpful aspect of the book in my opinion was the helpful references & information about the ZONE diet.

The book is not going to help cure wrinkles, if that's what your're looking for! STAY OUT OF THE SUN...don't smoke, keep alcohol consumption to an absolute minimum & eat as healthy as possible, those are the things ANY dermatologist will tell you.

[Megzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit dated since it was published in 2005 but it was probably revolutionary at the time. I mean who would have thought in 2005 that vitamin C serums would become part of daily skin care routine in many homes. After all, it was Dr. Perricone who found out by adding palm oil to Ester C the product can get absorbed by the skin just like he has done many years later with Acyl-Glutathione. He opened the door to more research and now almost every cosmetic and medical grade skincare company offers products with vitamin C.

[T.L. Zalecki · Rating 4 out of 5]

My teacher in esthetics school recommended this and said every esthetician should have it on their shelf. However. a couple of caveats about the info...first, his theory on Vitamin C penetration may be biased towards his own skin care line, and secondly DMAE complex may not be as fabulous as it sounds. I have heard there is new info coming out on it and to stay tuned. Overall it is a great book though.

[BurgendyA · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. It is easy to read, very helpful, and informative. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a self-help book. This one was definitely useful & delightful. This is the first Nicholas Perricone book that I’ve read. Dr. Perricone is a dermatologist that specializes with the skin. He knows all there is to care for it properly. As well to reduce pudgy, saggy skin by changing the way you eat, taking vitamins & using certain products that help make the skin look younger & clearer. I admit that they are great anti-aging methods. Plenty of people use them, all females & males. In the book he mentions basic exercises to help ladies get healthier and looking slimmer. Also facial exercises the face wont appear saggy or too wrinkly.

As for the "cures" (at least the ones that I've tried) they do actually work, only slowly. You have to take the time to do those treatments, exercises, and reduce your greasy/junk food intake. As well, drink plenty of water, green/detox teas and very little caffeine. It contains information about the strengths and weaknesses of various types of skin, and how antioxidants can help your skin and body too. The author also gives the names of some skin care products that include antioxidants, retinol,hyaluronic acid, vitamin A,B,C &E, collagen, and elasticity etc.

I am so glad that my Aunt gave me this book for my birthday. I really learned a lot about skin and body care. It's really important for people to know these things for just overall well being and for just being healthy but to look & feel good. Not trying to sound vain here, but let's face it no one wants to look or feel ugly/terrible about themselves. So I would recommend anyone to read this book and rate it with 5 stars & two thumbs up.

[yours truly, jasmine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read this as a joke at work and had very very very low expectations. Initially it was better than I expected: avoiding botox, focus on prevention strategies (which warms the heart of my little public health brain), and I was most surprised by the inclusion of advice and common conditions of different skin tones and ethnic groups, which still today, Black people and other minorities are often overlooked for conditions as predominantly white doctors don’t look and aren’t taught to understand dark skin. A lot of the recommended ingredients such as vitamin C, retinols, AHAs and BHAs were very much similar to the more credible skincare influencers that are typically doctors and cosmetic chemists that this book almost seemed to be decent for something to combat the natural process of aging.

It was until I saw the doctor’s products at TJ maxx and the diet and supplements sections where things took a turn for the worse in my understanding of this book. Surprisingly the doctor did not plug in his products as much in this book which does come off as a way to sell the products in retrospect, but the studies he claims he does are seemingly non-existent from my search for it (I possibly did not look around enough though) and when the author claimed they did a study on an ingredient it was not in the references or one was not a study, but a presentation (which could have citations of its own, but the inaccessibility to find it makes the inclusion of this citation more sketchy to me). I did appreciate that in the resources, the author did include products not his and also affordable ones as well, which seemed so progressive when considering this is a book from 2000.

However what pissed me off the most was the diet and supplements section starting with chapter 9.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the simplicity of the explanation of how skin ages and uses of the vitamins that were recommended. I quite enjoyed the anecdotes of Dr. Perricone's patient, but that maybe due to me being a sucker for happy endings. However, I felt as though the patient's outcome of the skin after the treatment was way more hyped up then the reality of the actual skin. It is obvious that one of the main purposes for the book being written is to increase the author's credibility as a doctor and advertise his skin care line. Also, the amount of pills and supplemental vitamins being prescribed to patients and advised to readers in the book was an extremely concerning amount. It brings into question if it is actually healthy or even safe to ingest that many supplemental vitamins in a one day time frame, as recommended. Nevertheless, I really appreciated how clear and concise the information was. There was quite a few of repetition of already mentioned information in the book, but I think that it actually added to the reader's benefit by constantly being reminded of medical information that otherwise would have been forgotten if not mentioned multiple times. Overall a fast and easy read that included charts and diagrams to visually retain and fully comprehend the scope of our skin .

[Jody · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like 3.5 *. If you are considering plastic surgery, you need to get this book first. WHY? Well, for one thing, the price is a bargain compared to surgery. This author has the credentials to back up everything he says and a list of celebrity clients with glowing skin that bear witness to his results.
Although I was initially skeptical, the suggestions listed here sound realistic ..Drink more water, take the vitamins, use the products and you'll see a difference. Do more and I assume the results will be better.

[Dora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great information on how cosmeceuticals work. Also discusses vitamin supplements and clean eating - dressing reducing sugar intake, and following a paleo/keto leaning diet. Ahead of his time as this was written back in 2000!

[Pop Oana-Meda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for a skincare novice.

[Jules Iavarone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all of Dr. Perricones books! Yes they are a little sciencey.. but they are easy to understand and full of useful information! I probably like his books more than his products!! If your interested is skin and anti-aging, just start with a Perricone Book!

[Saundy Sullivan]

I’m sure he is

[Teena · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's pretty easy to peruse this book and find the info you may seek without reading every word. Definitely has some good information about how diet and supplements can help skin stay youthful.

[Lisa (Harmonybites) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Once upon a time I collected diets--and diet books. I'm chucking this one. Because despite the M. D. after his name I smell quack and junk science--not solid research. Because I'm on to the key to fad diets is to make certain foods, even very healthy ones villains (like oranges, carrots, peas, pumpkin) and others the hero. (Salmon! Salmon! Salmon!) Also, beware the diet doctor who wants you to buy their special products. I felt like this book was one long commercial. It doesn't get an even lower rating because in terms of nutty diets, this probably won't do (much) harm--and even has some good suggestions. Certainly it is true that eating salmon with its heart-healthy Omega-3 fatty acids and berries with their cancer-fighting antioxidants are good things (if pricey--although not as pricey as his supplements and creams). But then, you know, oranges and pumpkins are superfoods too.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an informative read for anyone interested in taking better care of themselves. Dr. Perricone's whole concept is that taking certain vitamins and supplements, eating foods that get you the most vitamins and following a proper skin care plan, will help you fight signs of aging. The best part is he explains exactly what Vitamin C, or Alpha Lipioc Acid, or Selenium, etc. does for your body. I've always known I should take my vitamins, but understanding what each one does, makes me much more motived. And the truth is, I like that the knowledge has a bent toward vanity and looking young, b/c that motivates me too.

My friend Tanya is a trained esthetician and her teacher told her this should be on every esthetician's reference shelf.

[Liesl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Perricone is a skin genius. What I learned from this book is how to look at least 10 years younger than I am - and in this book, unlike his other books, he gives you enough information to be able to do it without spending a gazillion dollars on his own brand of "cosmeceuticals" -- which are quite expensive. I have no doubt if I wanted to spend a ton of money on his neuro-peptide line of products, I could probably have even greater results, but they are just awfully expensive and I am hapy with the results I achieved after reading this book and finding products with the same ingredients he uses in his regular line.

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am entering the time where my skin isn't looking quite as "new" as it used to, so I picked up The Wrinkle Cure to see how I can diminish and ward off wrinkles and droopy skin. I found this book to be a little too science orientated for me. I prefer shorter explanations with less facts. I know, I know, that's absurd, but I'm not a scientist, I just want good looking skin. :) I am going to try a few of Perricone's tips concerning which face moisturizers to buy and continue trying to eat right and exercise most days.

[Gina Weibel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book! Clearly (with a little science flavor) explains which ingredients are useful in cosmeceuticals (because now I'm old enough to really care). Now I know what to shop for, what to use, and most importantly what is worth paying for. Maybe I will give a copy to every girlfriend who turns 30.

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a Perricone junkie, and now that he has his his new book (which we now have, btw) "7 Secrets To Beauty, Health and Longevity" which I will be researching and using for our own family this year, I am even MORE excited about his product line.

New Years' resolution, btw....

[Laura K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good summary of the different types of substances that we've all heard about that help keep skin healthy. This book filled in some of the gaps in my knowledge about scientific research, and the reasons behind using certain vitamins and cosmetics.

[Brittney Traudt · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF - I started reading this for a project for work. Seems heavy on the med/science part, which isn’t really my style as much. The project went on pause so I wasn’t going to torture myself to finish, however, whenever the project picks back up, I may try to pick it back up.

[Alisia Packard · Rating 3 out of 5]

This had some interesting information about skincare, but then suggested that you buy products that are around $100 an ounce. Not too realistic for some of us.

[Devon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't think it's that well written, per se, but the information is fascinating (and supposedly, greatly supported by real scientific research).

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perricone is a dermatologist who has researched extensively the behavior of our skin. It was a fascinating read - should have read it 40 years ago!

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great resource guide for the 40+ age group. Includes information on vitamins, diet & skin products that will promote good health and youthful appearance.

[Fzap9 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my go to book for referencing supplements

[Ariel Paz]

some helpful advice