GABA - gamma aminobutyric acid

Natural Facial Wrinkle Relaxer

EWG Rating

Scientific Name: {Gamma aminobutyric acid}
Common Name: {GABA}

GABA is one of the body's most essential amino acids. Amino acids, in all their forms, act as building blocks for other cells. Sometimes, as in the case of GABA, as a neurotransmitter or blocker. GABA is specially produced in the brain to alleviate the symptoms of depression and even mitigate a seizure's likelihood.

In cosmetics, it works underneath the skin in muscles of the face to ease their contractions and smooth muscles on the skin's surface. They are the same properties it uses to inhibit neural relays in the brain.

It affects the muscles' ability to move, creating a Botox-like effect without an injection. (You have probably heard of Wrinkle Freeze or Freeze 24/7; the main ingredient is GABA.)

GABA is just one of many amino acids that have this effect. So, women who do not want to undergo such extreme measures should consider this product. This is because we have muscles in the face, especially around the eyes, forehead, and mouth, which, through use, become permanently contracted. But these contractions, over time, start to cause wrinkles in the skin.

Further Benefits

Having only been recently recognized for its ability to relax muscles, it is now often added to tea to provide a body-wide relaxation reaction. However, most still prefer to use it topically to relax tense muscles from the surface downward. In addition, skincare and beauty products widely use it as a natural wrinkle relaxer.

Crow's feet around the corners of the eyes, parentheses around the mouth, and worry lines on the forehead result from these tensed muscles.

Many women turn to Botox, to paralyze these muscles temporarily. The look of fine lines and wrinkles is significantly diminished as the skin and muscles begin to relax.

GABA produces these same results with no need for needles. In addition, the entire face looks younger by relaxing the skin and muscles, as these muscle-contraction lines are usually the first and most telling signs of age.

Because it is an amino acid, it also provides vital nutrients to the skin, accelerating cell turnover and rebuilding support structures. In addition, unlike Botox and other topical anti-aging ingredients, it fights, rather than causes, inflammation. Nourishing irritated skin with a skin-calming topical will help even discoloration and redness and shrink large pores' appearance.

About the Author
Kari Thomas wrote this article.