How Badly Do You Want To Look Young?

That's the question you may be asking yourself when you hear about the newest anti aging ingredient on the horizon: BULL FROG SKIN!

Yes, those slimy, dare I say horny toads at the bottom of your pond may actually hold the key to skin aging - at least according to a group of Korean researchers, who say they have not only found the fountain of youth, but are pretty certain what's swimming at the bottom!

According to a report published in Bioresource Technology , the key element in frog skin is a peptide with such strong antioxidant properties it can practically do away with wrinkle-causing free radicals- you know, the kind caused by pollution and the sun.

If it proves out in further studies, researchers say they'll use the peptide to replace synthetically produced vitamin E, which, though widely used in many skin care products, costs a lot and has a relatively high rate of allergic skin reaction.

Now why they seem to think that we'll be any less likely to have a response to frog skin, I dare not even guess - particularly since, as we all know, touching frogs can mean picking up that nasty finger wart virus.

That said, the Korean team of scientists developing the frog extract seem to think it's not going to be a problem. And in fact, animal-based ingredients are becoming quite the anti-aging rage. Most recently, snail slime extract and snake venom have both been incorporated into anti aging skin care ( and you thought it was all flowers and herbs, right? :)

The latest in the Noah's Ark approach to anti aging skin care: Donkey and Camel milk, both being hailed for their high vitamin and mineral content.

Me? I'd rather eat broccoli and use Prescriptives! :)