No magic ingredient exists that can remove wrinkles, lines and other signs of skin aging. You can achieve modest improvements in the look of your skin, however, with products containing active ingredients. At the same time you use anti-aging skin products, keep in mind that using sunscreen, moisturizing and avoiding cigarette smoke are equally important strategies for maintaining younger-looking skin.
Retinol
Retinol, or topical vitamin A, is often added to anti-aging products for its collagen-building qualities, according to the website Health-Cares.net. Retinol has antioxidant properties, allowing it to neutralize the free radicals that cause the skin to break down and wrinkle.
Hydroxy Acids
Alpha hydroxy acids, or AHAs, and beta-hydroxy acid, or salicylic acid, are synthetic versions of the acids found in fruit and milk sugars. They exfoliate old, dead skin and encourage the growth of new skin, resulting in improved skin tone, unblocked pores and a decrease in fine lines. Hydroxy acids have the effect of making you more vulnerable to sun damage, according to the Mayo Clinic, so use of sunscreen is recommended during and following treatment.
Coenzyme Q10
Like retinol, coenzyme Q10 is an antioxidant that neutralizes the free radicals that result in aging skin. Although CoQ10 is naturally produced by the body, levels decrease by the time you reach your 30s, making your skin less able to produce collagen and elastin. As a face cream ingredient, CoQ10 may encourage skin repair and regeneration, according to the website Smartskincare.
Copper Peptides
Studies have shown that copper peptides, small fragments of proteins combined with copper, enhance wound healing and skin regeneration. Copper peptides are included in anti-aging products for their ability to firm the skin, increase elasticity and make fine lines and wrinkles less noticeable.
Kinetin
Furfuryladenine, more commonly known as kinetin or kinerase, is a natural growth factor derived from plants. Although more research is required, early studies show that kinetin is equal or superior in effectiveness to tretinoin or Retin A, which is available only by prescription. Kinetin has the advantage of reducing wrinkles and other signs of aging with less irritation to the skin than with Retin A.
Green Tea
The antioxidant properties of green tea can be had not only from drinking it as a beverage, but also from the application of tea extract to the skin. Both human and animal studies have shown that a topical preparation of green tea helps to prevent sun damage by reducing inflammation from free radicals. It is also likely to slow down some signs of skin aging.
Vitamins C and E
Although Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is an antioxidant effective in reducing wrinkles, it quickly undergoes oxidation when exposed to the air. Vitamin E, a fat-soluble antioxidant, can help to stabilize and enhance the effectiveness of vitamin C when they are applied together to the skin. Studies have shown that vitamins C and E together provide better protection from ultraviolet damage to the skin than either one alone.
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