10 Skincare Ingredients to Combat Premature Signs of Aging

These essential vitamins appear in multiple forms and complexes in skin-care products. Yet the function of all vitamin B derivatives is the same: to convert food into energy, notes Mount Sinai.

[1]

This fuels vital body processes, including those responsible for healthy, firm skin. “Vitamin B and all its derivatives are essential for healthy skin, hair, and nails,” says Joel Schlessinger, MD, a dermatologist in Omaha, Nebraska.

Coenzyme Q10 (vitamin Q) is a strong antioxidant that may help build the foundation needed for younger-looking skin, as some research has noted.

[2]

“Coenzyme Q10 helps protect the elastic tissue and collagen that shape your skin,” says Jessica Wu, MD, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

As we age, our natural coenzyme Q10 levels diminish, which may slow the skin’s ability to rejuvenate and protect itself from damage, according to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University.

[3]

To build levels of the coenzyme, a dietary supplement in addition to using topical creams may yield noticeable results. Other research concluded that topical application of CoQ10 effectively reduced free radicals (which cause aging) on the skin.

[4]

While another small study showed that the antioxidant has the potential to be beneficial in the management of photo damage, hyperpigmentation, and typical signs of aging.

[5]

You’re probably imagining pennies, but the copper we’re talking about is found in trace amounts in skin cells, where it binds proteins together, noted a research review.

[6]

 Essential for collagen formation, the anti-aging ingredient helps support the skin to prevent sagging and fill in wrinkles. Clinical studies have shown that copper contributes to the clearing and renewal of fractured collagen, making it an excellent ingredient for those who wish to improve the look of sun-damaged skin and scars. Specifically, sleeping on copper-infused pillowcases for about one or two months helped diminish the depth of crow’s-feet lines compared with control groups, according to the review. “Copper is nonirritating,” says Dr. Wu, “so it’s a good alternative for those with sensitive skin who may not be able to tolerate retinoids.”

You may sip a cup of warm green tea to relax, but the ancient plant from which the tea is brewed is replete with nutrients that recharge your skin. Specifically, those would be phytochemicals called polyphenols, as a review in Nutrients suggested.

[7]

The stimulant qualities of green tea can also have an energizing influence on aging skin. “Green tea has a wonderful effect on dark circles — which is especially striking when combined with caffeine in eye cream,” says Schlessinger. Those polyphenols are antioxidants, which prevent and repair the damage done by oxidation, which breaks down skin cells, per a research review. Along with using creams or serums containing green tea, sip on the brew for additional health benefits.

[8]

Because of the promising results of clinical research, peptides are becoming increasingly popular anti-aging skin-care ingredients.

[9]

Peptides are short chains of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, notes the National Human Genome Research Institute.

[10]

Most topical peptide creams are designed to stimulate collagen to improve the appearance of wrinkles, says Zeichner. But not all peptide creams are created equal, so stick to products that have gone through clinical testing, he recommends.

Vitamin E is a powerhouse when it comes to protecting against skin damage that may lead to fine lines and wrinkles. Why? The vitamin neutralizes cell-damaging free radicals, which are triggered by environmental factors like sun exposure, notes the Linus Pauling Institute.

[14]

“Vitamin E is a great antioxidant to look for in rejuvenating skin creams, and it can assist with wound healing as well by strengthening the skin barrier,” says Schlessinger. This is why pure vitamin E oil remains a popular (and inexpensive) salve for cracked cuticles and scars from cuts, burns, and surgery. Topically applying both vitamins C and E together exerts the biggest benefits, as the two antioxidant vitamins work together to preserve and build collagen, according to a research review.

[15]

Not only can broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 help prevent skin cancer, it’s also been shown to improve the cosmetic appearance of the face, even if used by itself, Zeichner says. In a study, sunscreen alone applied to the face for one year resulted in improvements of cosmetic measures like skin tone, texture, and wrinkles.

[16]

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that neutralizes damage from free radicals and helps complement the effect of your sunscreen, says Zeichner. “In the morning, I have my patients layer vitamin C underneath their sunscreen,” he says. Vitamin C interferes with abnormal pigment production, helping to lighten dark spots, he adds. What’s more, C-packed products preserve collagen fibers and prevent damage to your skin’s supportive structures, a review noted.

[17]

One thing to remember when purchasing a topical vitamin C, noted the review authors, is that it is a finicky, unstable ingredient, which will lose potency quickly if not formulated correctly. If exposed to high temperatures, it may also oxidize, rendering it ineffective.

[18]

If you’ve ever bought a C serum that’s gone amber, that’s exactly what’s happening. Be sure to purchase a vitamin C product from a company that conducts clinical tests on its products and keep your product in a temperature-controlled area. Some people like to buy mini-fridges to store skin-care products like these, as Today reported.

[19]

Along with applying a vitamin C serum, also load up on C-rich foods (such as strawberries and bell peppers), as consuming the vitamin also helps your body create new collagen, notes the National Institutes of Health.

[20]

Hydroxy acids like glycolic acid help exfoliate dead cells from the surface of the skin, according to the AAD.

[21]

“They’ve also been shown to stimulate collagen and improve the appearance of lines and wrinkles,” says Zeichner. Hydroxy acids come in varying strengths and can be found in peels, serums, and creams, so it’s important to check with a board-certified dermatologist to find out which one is right for you.