Stem cells have been big talk in anti-aging treatments for a while now, but how active a lot of products that claim to draw on their powers are still remains to be seen. The latest to hit our shores is from American cosmeceutical brand DermaQuest, and if their other products are anything to go by, the Stem Cell 3D Complex should be pretty effective.

Using stem cells in beauty products might seem a little sci-fi, or potentially even grotesque, but stress not, the cells you'll find in your lotions and potions are of the botanical, not human-baby variety, although they have been proven to take your skin closer to its infant state. They do this by stimulating the production of collagen in the skin - the stuff that keeps it looking fresh and plump - and by slowing the breakdown of the collagen that's already there.

As your muscles start to weaken with age, there is little that will prevent the downward droop of your face, but there are several signs of ageing that show on the skin - rather than in the structure underneath - and these are the things that can be worked on. Skin which is fresh, hydrated and even in tone can seriously help boost your youth, and it's these areas Stem Cell 3D Complex promises to work on.

Because it is a  cosmeceutical product, the new DermaQuest offering can't be purchased from your standard chemist or department store - you'll have to go and talk to an esthetician before acquiring and applying it. While having to see a skin specialist before buying a new beauty product may seem like a lot of extra effort, it's generally worth it when it comes to these sorts of products, because they actually work. Products that require a consultation before purchase have a lot of active ingredients, and it is the active ingredients - things like antioxidants, vitamins, acids and so on - that result in marked change in skin condition. The reason why you have to talk to someone about using them first is to make sure that change will be in the right direction.

I say all this as a recent convert to cosmeceuticals, which up until two months ago I had never tried. Although my previous skin care products were obscenely expensive, they were all over-the-counter purchases, and the difference switching to something that is a little bit heavier on the active ingredients has made to the quality of my skin is astonishing. The interesting thing about cosmeceuticals is that, while the initial trip to the esthetician may smart the wallet, the products themselves are in the same price point as over the counter luxury skin care products. They're not cheap  by any means, but they are on-par with the department store floor,  yet in terms of ingredients, the two kinds of items live in different worlds.