Melissa Zurenski wakes up every morning, washes her face, brushes her teeth and applies her Velocity moisturizer by Mary Kay.

But Zurenski (sophomore-elementary education) would never compromise her health for perfect-looking skin -- she sticks to what she knows works and what she thinks is safe.

Products including daily face cleansers, moisturizers and anti-wrinkle creams are present on the shelves of everything from cosmetic stores to convenience shops. They are widely advertised to produce healthy, younger-looking and vibrant skin.

"These products can be very effective," said Christina Boyd, an aesthetician for Heaven Spas.

Boyd said some products work better than others.

"It is all about which ingredients are in the product," she said.

There are a variety of anti-wrinkle products available today, made for both sensitive and normal skin types.

Some of these products are cream-based, while others are lotion-based, said Penn State physician Hattie Faison, who specializes in dermatology. Lotions are thinner because they are made of water, Faison said.

"Women should always use a cream-based product," Faison said. "The right one has to be chosen for you. Creams aren't like a one-size-fits-all sweater."

Boyd said that the goal of anti-wrinkle creams is to replace cells' elasticity. The key to finding a good product is to look for the right ingredients, she said.

Ingredients vary with products, but the main ones in these types of creams are petrolatum, mineral oil, glycerin, dimethicone, linoleic acid, vitamin A, and retinoic acid, Faison said.

Retinoic acid helps decrease wrinkles, makes skin smoother and increases dermal collagen if applied daily for several months.

Human placenta is also used as an active ingredient in some beauty products to aid elasticity, said Camille Brown, a licensed aesthitican for Designer's Denn Salon & Spa, 212 Calder Way.

Faison suggests checking the label of the product before it is purchased. Some creams contain steroids. Steroids should not be used as a moisturizer, she said.

"You can develop serious side effects -- like steroid acne -- from using steroid products," Faison said.

When using an anti-wrinkle cream, it takes time before there is a noticeable change in the skin, Faison said. Depending on the product, the expected results should start to show after about three weeks if it is used on a daily basis, she said.

Generally there are not any detrimental effects to using these products, unless the individual has an allergy to the product itself or an individual ingredient in the product, Boyd said.

"If somebody is using the product too often, it can cause damage," Camille Brown said. The product is supposed to help the skin, but using it too much isn't good for the skin, she said.

Facials can also be used to get healthy-looking skin.

A basic facial first analyzes the skin to see what type of skin the client has, Boyd said. After the skin is analyzed, it is cleansed, exfoliated, extracted and massaged. The next step is to apply a mask, cleanse the skin again and hydrate the skin, Boyd said.

"Facials renew and rejuvenate the skin. Ideally, you should get one once a week or so," said Marilyn Brown, instructor and certified massage therapist at Central Pennsylvania School of Massage.

Chemical peels are another way to get smoother skin, Camille Brown said. Although these peels are more drastic than using creams, they usually produce positive results, she said.

Chemical peels consist of neutralizing acids that break up the first layer of the skin, Marilyn Brown said. Before applying the peel, aestheticians analyze the skin to see what it can tolerate. They help brighten the complexion and diminish fine lines.

"They encourage new skin and cause the skin to glow," Marilyn Brown said. "They renew the skin every 28 days."

Chemical peels are not right for every skin type, Marilyn Brown said.

"If someone has cystic acne, then we can't do one on them," she said.

Botulinum Toxin Type A (Botox) is another way for women to get wrinkle-free skin. Injections last between four to six months. Botox is more expensive than the typical over-the-counter remedies and can only be administered by a certified physician.

"Botox is referred to as a 'safe poison,' " Marilyn Brown said. "Basically, Botox paralyzes the muscle so lines appear smooth," she said. "We don't know how safe it is yet."

Such drastic measures are not necessary, and Botox use is up to the consumer.

"It's everybody's discretion whether you choose to use Botox or not," Marilyn Brown said.

To keep skin looking healthy and younger longer, using basic cleansers should suffice.

"You should have a good cleanser with pH balance and you should use it night and day," Boyd said. "You should also wear a day lotion every day. At night you should use a night treatment cleanser to balance the skin."

Wearing sunscreen everyday is the best thing you can do for your skin to stay looking young longer, Faison said. "You should start doing this young and should wear at least SPF 15."