Have you looked at the ingredients list on the back of your anti-aging skincare products? These lists often contain a bunch of ingredients that may be hard to say or pronounce. Most labels use lists of chemicals that most of us have never heard of before. How can you make an informed decision when picking out products for your skin type when you don’t have a clue what each chemical or ingredient does?
We wanted to help you take the guesswork out of of picking the best anti-aging skincare products. Each of the skincare ingredients listed below are dermatologist recommended. If you’re unsure which ingredients you need to be using on your face, please schedule a consultation with a dermatologist to determine the best treatment for your skin type.
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Alpha-Lipoic Acid
Target fine lines and wrinkles with this power antioxidant. Alpha-lipoic acid contains anti-inflammatory properties to counteract redness and blotchiness, and can help transform your complexion. If you are looking for the fountain of youth in a bottle, this dermatologist recommended anti-aging skincare ingredient can help reduce fine lines and wrinkles, fight free radicals, reduce visible signs of dark circles, and shrink large pores. Paula’s Choice makes a very affordable product that has this ingredient as well as several of the other ingredients listed below.
Biotin
Have you noticed that your skin is dry or scaly? Biotin, frequently known as vitamin H, is a fatty acid that can help nourish and moisturize your skin. When you have symptoms of dry or scaly skin, your skin is trying to alert you that it is unbalanced and is in dire need of attention. Biotin can help restore fatty acids below the skin’s surface and encourages new nourished cell growth. It can improve healthy oil gland function. You’ve probably seen the many products on store shelves that contain biotin for healthy skin and hair. This ingredient is usually in pill/ingestible format rather than topical.
Ceramides
Do you struggle with dry skin and acne problems? Dry skin generally lacks moisture resulting in small cracks between skin cells. Bacteria, pollution, and microbes can invade the space between the small cracks and allow moisture to seep out of your skin. Over time, the bacteria, pollution, and microbes can cause skin blemishes.
The best way to prevent dry skin and blemishes is to apply anti-aging skincare products that contain ceramides. Ceramides are made up of lipids that help fill in the small cracks to prevent moisture loss and blemishes from occurring. Ceramides can be taken orally and/or can be applied to the skin.
Coenzyme Q10
Ladies if you are over 30, you may notice that your skin has started losing its elasticity. Without ample amounts of Coenzyme Q10, your skin isn’t able to produce ample amounts of collagen and elastin. Your skin needs both collagen and elastin to maintain its youthful appearance. Plus, it helps neutralize the harmful effects of free radicals.
Glycolic Acid
Glycolic acid is a common ingredient that is found in most anti-aging skincare products. It is a naturally occuring product that is closely related to the sugarcane family and belongs to the alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) family.
The main role of glycolic acid is to exfoliate your skin and unclog your pores. Clogged pores are one of the main contributors of acne. So if you suffer from acne, using glycolic acid can help break up sebum and proteins found deep within the hair follicle and prevent future breakouts.
Acne can cause your skin to lose its vibrant appearance. Using glycolic acid can help restore your skin to its vibrant appearance again. It can also help reduce pigmentation that is left when acne leaves an ugly scar, age spots, sun damage, or melasma that tends to be stored in the top layer of your skin.
Hyaluronic Acid
Does your skin need a serious boost of moisture? Hyaluronic acid is another popular ingredient that is often found in serums, sheet masks, and moisturizers to help add moisture to your skin. The molecules found in hyaluronic acid can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water. Water helps your skin look fuller, dewy, and it helps moisturize your skin.
Hydroquinone
Aging spots, acne scars, melsma, liver spots, or freckles can make you feel self conscious about your blemishes. If you have any of these ailments, you will want to start using anti aging skin care products that contain hydroquinone. Hydoquinone is a topical skin bleaching agent that can help lighten blemishes. In order to be effective, a higher percentage of the active ingredient is needed. This is available by prescription only.
Dermatologists recommend that you test this product on a small patch of skin prior to using on large areas. Most people tolerate it well, but a few people may have a reaction to it. The side effects are generally mild but it can cause dry skin, contact dermatitis, pruritus, irritation and erythema. When using hydroquinone, you must use sunscreen to protect your skin from further damage. Through the years I’ve heard some controversial information about this particular ingredient. It should be used for a limited amount of time.
Lactic Acid
If you are one of the few that is sensitive to glycolic acid, we suggest trying lactic acid. Lactic acid gently exfoliates your skin and speeds up cell turnover. It also helps stimulate collagen production, fades hyperpigmentation, and can soften fine lines. But don’t expect it to help fade deeper lines or wrinkles. Do make sure that you wear sunscreen and protect your skin from harmful UV rays.
Malic Acid
Malic acid is another alpha hydroxy acid that can also be used to gently exfoliate your skin if you are sensitive to glycolic or lactic acid. It can also be used to clean and rejuvenate your skin, balance your skin’s pH, diminish scarring, prevent acne, and protect against the damaging effects of aging.
Resveratrol
Resveratrol is a power antioxidant that helps minimize damage caused by free radicals. This power house antioxidant can erase fine lines and wrinkles. It also enhances the firmness of your skin. I’ve seen this ingredient in both topical and ingestible forms.
Retinol
Retinol is an over the counter additive that can help boost collagen, soften fine lines, increases cell turnover, dissolves oil to make pores smoother, prevents clogged pores, fade dark spots, and disperse melanin to even out your skin tone. It’s a powerhouse ingredient.
It is imperative that you wear sunscreen when you go outside even for short periods of time while using retinol. One should never use products containing retinol if pregnant or breastfeeding.
The chemicals used in your anti-aging products all serve a specific purpose and if you aren’t aware of their main purpose you could be potentially causing unnecessary irritation. We hope this dermatologist recommended skincare ingredients list helps you determine which products will work best for your skin.
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I’ve been taking some biotin hair pills and they have been making my hair look amazing. I think I should try the other ingredients on this list and see how they work. Thanks for the article!
Interesting article! Thank you for breaking this down so well. Honestly, I’m not paying much attention to the ingredients used in the skincare products I used — until a few months ago. Since then, I’m always checking the label and meticulously looking at the ingredients. Now, I’m using Dennis Gross Hyaluronic Marine Oil-Free Moisture Cushion and I’m loving it. Certainly, I’ll take a look at other ingredients you’ve mentioned here. Thanks a lot!