After churning out beauty features for a few years now, I've developed the bad habit of over-using certain expressions. One of those is "<strong>turn back the clock</strong>"—a rather clichéd turn of phrase I tend to employ when writing anti-aging or skincare stories.

But what if you actually COULD turn back the clock, really? That's the Next Big Thing happening in skincare right now—I kid you not.

The concept is called sirtuin technology, and in layman's terms, here's what it's about:<!--more-->

Our bodies naturally produce these tiny enzymes called sirtuins. When the sirtuins are stimulated—by particular skincare ingredients, such as resveratrol—the process can actually lengthen the lifespan of our skin cells.

Awesome, right?

Well, maybe. I wrote a feature on this a few months back, and according to one top Canadian derm I interviewed, the jury's still out on how deeply these products can penetrate. So, yes, sirtuin technology DOES inhibit the aging process in theory—but by how much isn't yet clear.

Beauty hype or beauty breakthrough? I'll let you be the judge. (And check out <a href="http://thebeautybrains.com/2008/03/01/is-avon-anew-ultimate-with-sirtuin-technology-an-antiaging-breakthrough/" target="_blank">this post</a> over at <a href="http://thebeautybrains.com/" target="_blank">The Beauty Brains</a>. The Brains aren't convinced of sirtuins' efficacy, but commenters report good results from these products.)

For your consideration, here are a few of the latest sirtuin-based skincare products:
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<td><a href="http://beautyeditor.ca/wp-content/uploads/estee_time-zone-eye.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3089" title="estee_time zone eye" src="http://beautyeditor.ca/wp-content/uploads/estee_time-zone-eye.jpg" alt="estee_time zone eye" width="311" height="311" /></a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.esteelauder.com/product/spp.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CAT987&amp;PRODUCT_ID=6504" target="_blank">Estée Lauder Time Zone Anti-Line/Wrinkle Eye Creme</a></td>
<td>$50 for 15 mL</td>
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<td><a href="http://beautyeditor.ca/wp-content/uploads/clinique_youth-surge-age-decelerating-moisturizer.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3090" title="clinique_youth surge age decelerating moisturizer" src="http://beautyeditor.ca/wp-content/uploads/clinique_youth-surge-age-decelerating-moisturizer.jpg" alt="clinique_youth surge age decelerating moisturizer" width="250" height="250" /></a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.clinique.ca/templates/products/sp_nonshaded.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CATEGORY4914&amp;PRODUCT_ID=PROD7096" target="_blank">Clinique Youth Surge SPF 15 Age Decelerating Moisturizer </a></td>
<td>$58.50 for 50 mL</td>
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<td><a href="http://beautyeditor.ca/wp-content/uploads/avon_ultimate-anew-night.gif"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3091" title="avon_ultimate anew night" src="http://beautyeditor.ca/wp-content/uploads/avon_ultimate-anew-night.gif" alt="avon_ultimate anew night" width="185" height="195" /></a></td>
<td><a href="http://shop.avon.ca/avonshop_en/default.asp?rep_phone=&amp;rep_email=&amp;newdept=&amp;s=EN_GGL_BR&amp;c=iProspect&amp;otc=avon_anew&amp;level1_id=1&amp;level2_id=6&amp;pdept_id=22" target="_blank">Avon Anew Ultimate Age Defying Night Cream</a></td>
<td>$39 for 50 mL</td>
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<td><a href="http://beautyeditor.ca/wp-content/uploads/ren_sirtuin-phytohormone.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3092" title="ren_sirtuin phytohormone" src="http://beautyeditor.ca/wp-content/uploads/ren_sirtuin-phytohormone.jpg" alt="ren_sirtuin phytohormone" width="106" height="360" /></a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.renskincare.com/product-REN-Sirtuin-Phytohormone-Replenishing-Cream-%E2%80%93-mature-skin-31131.htm" target="_blank">REN Sirtuin Phytohormone Replenishing Cream</a></td>
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