8 Anti-Aging Skincare Ingredients That Actually Work

The short answer: the anti-aging ingredients with the best research behind them are antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, CoQ10, green tea and alpha lipoic acid, plus hyaluronic acid for hydration. Together they protect your skin from daily damage, keep it hydrated and soften the look of fine lines. Add daily sunscreen and you’ve covered the basics.

There are hundreds of anti-aging ingredients on the market, but only a handful have real research showing they help with fine lines, wrinkles and loss of firmness. Here are 8 that do, what each one does for your skin, and which WENmedics products contain them.

1. Hyaluronic acid

Hyaluronic acid is famous for one thing: holding water. It pulls moisture into your skin and keeps it there, which is why you’ll find it in so many moisturizers and serums. As we get older, our skin holds less moisture, and that shows up as fine lines and a loss of firmness. Hyaluronic acid helps put that hydration back, so skin looks plumper and smoother. (Here’s our full guide to the benefits of hyaluronic acid.)

Find it in: Hyaluronic Acid Elixir With CoQ10, Vitamin C Serum With Hyaluronic Acid, Advanced Retinol Eye Cream, Dark Circles Under Eye Treatment

2. Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant. It fights free radicals, supports collagen production and brightens dull, uneven skin.

It comes in different forms, and each has its strengths. L-ascorbic acid is the most researched form and the most potent, but it’s acidic, it can sting sensitive skin, and it breaks down when exposed to air and light. Vitamin C esters are gentler and more stable, and because they’re oil-soluble, they absorb well into the skin. They have less research behind them, though, so if you want maximum results and your skin tolerates it, L-ascorbic acid is the gold standard. If your skin is sensitive, an ester is a great option.

Find L-ascorbic acid in: Vitamin C Serum With Hyaluronic Acid
Find vitamin C ester in: Puffiness & Dark Circles Eye Treatment, Microdermabrasion Exfoliating Face Scrub

3. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)

CoQ10 is an antioxidant your skin makes on its own, and levels drop as you age. Applied to the skin, it helps protect collagen and elastin from damage, and in one study, using it around the eyes reduced wrinkle depth.

Find it in: Hyaluronic Acid Elixir With CoQ10, Puffiness & Dark Circles Eye Treatment, Microdermabrasion Exfoliating Face Scrub

4. Grapeseed oil

Grapeseed oil is light and non-greasy, so it moisturizes without feeling heavy. It’s rich in linoleic acid and vitamin E, which help support your skin barrier and protect skin lipids from free radical damage.

Find it in: Vegan Face & Eye Cream

5. Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an antioxidant that helps protect your skin from free radical damage and keeps it moisturized, so it’s great for dry skin and fine lines. It also works as a team player: it’s even more effective alongside vitamin C, because each one helps protect the other.

Find it in: Dark Circles Under Eye Treatment, Puffiness & Dark Circles Eye Treatment, Advanced Retinol Eye Cream, Microdermabrasion Exfoliating Face Scrub

6. Green tea extract

Green tea is loaded with polyphenols, antioxidants that help prevent and repair oxidative damage and calm inflammation. It also has natural caffeine, which helps tired, puffy skin look more awake.

Find it in: Vegan Face & Eye Cream, Advance PM Moisturizer, Puffiness & Dark Circles Eye Treatment, Microdermabrasion Exfoliating Face Scrub

7. Vitamin B12

B vitamins support healthy skin, and vitamin B12 has an interesting extra: it calms irritation. In one study, a vitamin B12 cream significantly reduced redness, dryness and itching in people with eczema compared to a placebo. That makes it a nice addition for sensitive, easily irritated skin.

Find it in: Puffiness & Dark Circles Eye Treatment, Microdermabrasion Exfoliating Face Scrub

8. Alpha lipoic acid (ALA)

Alpha lipoic acid is a powerful antioxidant that fights free radicals and calms inflammation. It also helps recycle other antioxidants, like vitamins C and E, so they keep working longer. In a 12-week study, a cream with 5% alpha lipoic acid improved fine lines and other signs of sun damage on the face.

Find it in: Wrinkles Fade

3 more ingredients worth knowing

• Retinol speeds up cell turnover and supports collagen, and it’s one of the most proven anti-aging ingredients there is. Start slowly, use it at night and always wear sunscreen. Try our Advanced Retinol Eye Cream.
• Peptides are small proteins that signal your skin to support collagen. Our Wrinkles Fade has Argireline and Matrixyl 3000, and Advance PM Moisturizer has Syn-Coll.
• Niacinamide (vitamin B3) improves fine lines, uneven tone and texture, and it’s gentle enough for most skin types. Try our Rejuvenating Niacinamide Serum.

Frequently asked questions

Which anti-aging ingredient should I start with?

Start with sunscreen every morning, then add one active, like a vitamin C serum in the morning or retinol at night. Give each new product a few weeks before adding another.

Can I use several anti-aging ingredients together?

Yes. Antioxidants like vitamins C and E actually work better together, and hyaluronic acid pairs well with almost everything. If your skin gets irritated, cut back to one active at a time.

How long do anti-aging ingredients take to work?

Hydrating ingredients work right away. Changes in fine lines and firmness usually take 8 to 12 weeks of consistent use.

References

• Pullar JM, Carr AC, Vissers MCM. The roles of vitamin C in skin health. Nutrients, 2017. doi.org/10.3390/nu9080866
• Papakonstantinou E, Roth M, Karakiulakis G. Hyaluronic acid: a key molecule in skin aging. Dermato-Endocrinology, 2012. doi.org/10.4161/derm.21923
• Hoppe U, et al. Coenzyme Q10, a cutaneous antioxidant and energizer. BioFactors, 1999. doi.org/10.1002/biof.5520090238
• Stücker M, et al. Topical vitamin B12: a new therapeutic approach in atopic dermatitis. British Journal of Dermatology, 2004. doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2133.2004.05866.x
• Beitner H. Randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind study on the clinical efficacy of a cream containing 5% alpha-lipoic acid related to photoageing of facial skin. British Journal of Dermatology, 2003. doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2133.2003.05597.x
• Lin FH, et al. Ferulic acid stabilizes a solution of vitamins C and E and doubles its photoprotection of skin. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2005. doi.org/10.1111/j.0022-202X.2005.23768.x