They claim to make you look younger by reducing, hiding, or preventing the signs of aging.

它們號稱能藉由減少、隱藏或預防老化跡象來使人看起來更年輕。

High-end anti-aging products are some of the most expensive single-use items in the world.

高級抗老保養品是世界上數一數二昂貴的一次性消耗品。

Just 1 fluid ounce of this rejuvenating serum will cost you $1,800. Making it one of the most expensive liquids on the planet.

僅僅 1 液量盎司的這款青春煥發精華液就要價 1,800 美元，是地球上最昂貴的液體之一。

But do anti-aging products actually work?

但是抗老保養品真的有效嗎？

And does this explain why they are so expensive?

而有效真的就是價格如此高昂的原因嗎？

In all honesty, a number of these creams are used as placebo effects.

老實說，有些乳液其實只有發揮安慰劑效應。

More expensive doesn't necessarily mean better or more effective.

比較昂貴並不一定代表比較好或是比較有效。

Most anti-aging cosmetics, even budget items, tend to include a standard set of ingredients: water, glycerin, acids, oils, and vitamins.

大部分的抗老美容品，甚至是低價產品，通常都會含有這些基本原料：水、甘油、酸、油和維他命。

However, the costliest creams contain an array of extravagant additions.

然而，最昂貴的乳液會含有一大堆奢華的額外添加物。

For example, Crème de la Mer includes a trademarked "Miracle Broth" comprised of hand-harvested giant sea kelp, which it claims has "self-regenerating" powers.

舉例來說，海洋拉娜乳霜包含了一種已註冊商標的「Miracle Broth ( 奇蹟水)」，它是由號稱具有「自我修護」功能的手摘深海巨藻所合成。

These forests are a source of concentrated energy we unleash for skin's benefit.

這些巨藻叢是我們為了肌膚修護而釋放的強大集中能量源。

We call it Miracle Broth.

我們稱之為 Miracle Broth (奇蹟水)。

But according to skin experts, these expensive ingredients aren't guaranteed or necessarily proven to be more effective.

但根據肌膚專家所言，這些昂貴的成分並不保證也沒被證實能夠更有效。

Often what companies will say is, "My product contains this really interesting botanical and natural ingredient.

我們時常聽到保養品公司說：「我們的產品含有非常有趣的植物性及天然成分。」

It's therefore 10 times better at moisturizing the skin than something else.

所以它比其他的產品來得保濕十倍。

However, they're under no obligation to prove that it's that ingredient itself that is causing the moisturizing properties, or something very basic as glycerin, which is found in most moisturizers.

然而，他們沒有任何義務要證明保濕功效是那個特定成分達成的，或其實是來自其他像甘油等非常基本且大部分保濕產品都有的成分。

Product claims don't necessarily have to stack up in such a necessarily rigorous way.

產品聲明不一定需要如此嚴謹地比較。

In the US, for example, anti-aging medications must have approval from the Food and Drug Administration for both safety and effectiveness, whereas anti-aging cosmetics, such as creams and serums, do not require FDA approval before they go on the market.

舉例來說，抗老藥品在美國必須由食藥署核准其安全及效用，然而像乳液和精華液的抗老美容品在上市前並不需要經過食藥署核准。

When it comes to anti-aging promises, it's a very gray area.

所以抗老保證是個非常模糊的灰色地帶。

A number of these companies promise people that they will actually reverse aging, they will actually make people look youthful again simply by just allowing a clinical population to test your product.

很多保養品公司只讓臨床受試者測試產品後，就向人們保證他們真的能夠反轉老化並真的能讓人們再次看起來青春有活力。

There's a great deal of smoke and mirrors at that stage, because, in reality, we can actually say with confidence that most of these clinical studies are not to be trusted.

在那個階段有非常多的障眼法，因為事實上我們能確信許多臨床研究是不可靠的。

And the price consumers pay for the most expensive products is significantly higher than the cost of production.

而且消費者購買為昂貴保養品所支付的價格比生產成本高非常多。

A 2010 investigation by the Daily Mail, found that recreating a 3.4-ounce pot of Crème de la Mer from readily available ingredients is estimated to cost roughly $35.

英國每日郵報 2010 年的調查指出，使用現有材料仿製出一罐 3.4 盎司的海洋拉娜乳霜，花費大約為 35 美元。

Whereas Le Mer markets their products at $510.

然而海洋拉娜乳霜在市面上卻要價 510 美元。

We contacted La Mer about this investigation, and they responded, saying:

我們聯絡了海洋娜拉詢問這個調查結果，他們回覆道：

"The value of Crème de la Mer reflects the highest quality ingredients, the time intensive and complex processes needed to create it, and the powerful skincare benefits experienced by its thousands of loyal devotees around the world."

海洋娜拉乳霜的價值反映了最高品質的原料、複雜耗時的製程以及全世界愛用者所體驗到的強大肌膚保養功效。

When it comes to purchasing a very expensive product, most likely about 60% to 70% of the price that we might be paying is related to the cost of the manufacturer to produce and package the cream, rather than the actual product.

購買高價產品時，價格的 60% 到 70% 很可能和大量生產包裝產品有關，而非實際產品本身。

But the desire to retain youthful looks is nothing new.

想保持年輕樣貌的渴望從古至今都在。

Cleopatra is thought to have taken daily baths in donkey milk for its acidic properties, while women of the French court would pour aged wine on their faces, a process which is now recognized as having exfoliating benefits.

埃及豔后據說每天為了浸入酸性物質而泡驢奶浴，而法國宮廷的女子會在臉上倒陳年紅酒，現今公認那種做法可以去死皮。

But a blitz of beauty adverts in mid-20th-century magazines that demonized women for having so-called "middle-aged skin" was the catalyst for a now booming anti-aging industry.

但是二十世紀中期的大量雜誌廣告將擁有所謂「中年肌膚」的女人妖魔化後，促進了現今抗老產業的蓬勃發展。

The anti-aging market is expected to exceed $216 billion by the end of 2021, but a large part of that includes cosmetic procedures such as Botox and face-lifts, arguably an extreme answer to our natural aging process.

抗老產業市值預計在 2021 年就會超過 2160 億美元，但是很大一部份包含像是肉毒桿菌注射及拉皮等美容手術，這些可能是對抗自然老化的非常極端手法。

I feel like I'm seeing a lot of young women in their mid-20s that are worried about skin aging.

我覺得我遇到了很多 25、26 歲的年輕女生擔心皮膚老化。

We are currently living in a society that is so focused on outwards aesthetics.

現今的社會極度注重外在美。

So I think there is also a driving need for people more interested in things like laser surgery or injectables like Botox or filler from a much, much younger age than we've seen before.

所以我認為這使比從前年輕很多的族群中，對肉毒桿菌或填充物注射較有興趣的人有了更強而有力的需求。

So despite the lure of magical remedies and luxurious concoctions, avoiding skin damage and combating the signs of aging don't need to be so expensive.

儘管神奇療法及奢華配方相當吸引人，避免肌膚損傷以及對抗老化並不需要如此昂貴。

Budget products can be equally as effective as their more expensive counterparts.

低價產品也可以和相對應的高價產品一樣有效。

The focus shouldn't be on the cost of the product.

重點不應該放在產品的價位。

Wearing a good-quality sunscreen, SPF minimum 30, ideally 50, throughout the year.

整年都擦上品質好、防曬係數最低 30 最好 50 的防曬乳相當重要。

The reason for that is that 80% to 90% of the signs that we associate with skin aging occur directly because of sunlight.

因為和皮膚老化相關的跡象中，80% 到 90% 都是陽光造射直接造成的。

So we're talking fine lines, wrinkles, pigmentation.

包含皺紋和曬黑。

Number two is the use of a vitamin-A-based product or a retinoid.

第二點，使用維他命 A 為基底的產品或是 A 醇。

One doesn't need to spend a fortune, and, probably, once you're spending beyond more than 25, 30 pounds on a product, it's probably unnecessary.

不需要花太多錢，而且若是在一樣保養品上花費超過 25、30 英鎊，很可能一點也不必要。