Most anti-aging products promise a veritable fountain of youth into which we toss enough spare change to make the dreams of at least 10 cosmetic companies come true.

The primary aging factors are sun, smoking and gravity . Since we can't walk around on our hands, the most important thing is to apply sunscreen. Use sunscreen on your face, hands and ears - and don't be skimpy. When shopping for a topical Vitamin C product, read labels: The product must contain L-ascorbic acid, the only form of Vitamin C that penetrates the skin.

We moisturize this, dab at that and still find plenty of lines to obsess over. It makes you wonder: Does any of this stuff actually work?

The anti-aging arsenal is comprised of just three things: Sunscreen, cleanser and exfoliate.

Sunscreen: You may be sick of hearing it, but a broad-spectrum sunscreen is your best anti-aging agent, according to dermatologists. "The daily use of sunscreen prevents further sun damage and even reduces previous sun damage. Don't leave home without it."

A broad-spectrum sunscreen includes both UVA and UVB protection. Select one with an SPF of 15 or higher that is right for your skin type: Oily skins can tolerate a gel-based formula and dry skin can benefit from a lotion.

Called Z-cote, zinc oxide blocks as much of the full spectrum of the sun's rays as possible. Ingredients titanium dioxide and zinc oxide offer the same level of protection: Both are physical, rather than chemical, sun blocks.

Cleansers: "People think their face is the floor, and everything has to do with dirt. They use all these abrasive agents on the face, but the skin is a protective organ and is not meant to be abraded off. Abrasion makes acne." Time to drop the deodorant soap and pick up a mild cleanser. We recommend Dove, Cetaphil and Aveeno non-soaps.

Exfoliates: These are products that cause the skin to regenerate. Dr. Sheri Feldman of Los Angeles says that Retin A, approved in 1971, remains the gold standard in this category. Feldman doesn't use it, however, because it can promote blood-vessel growth — something to which she is prone. Instead, she uses Kinerase, an anti-aging product with plant protein.