10 Ingredients That Can Help Fight Signs of Premature Skin Aging

 You want to maintain your youthful glow, and you’re willing to spend time and money to help delay premature signs of aging on your skin.

And yet with so many products on the market, it can be difficult to suss out which ones will slow the effects of time on your face and which ones are smoke and mirrors, says Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research in the dermatology department at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. Some ingredients, such as retinol and sunscreen, do have proven benefits, he explains. Those aren’t the only ones to consider when building your healthy skin-care routine, though.

B Vitamins for Healthy Skin, Hair, and Nails

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. 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 board-certified dermatologist in Omaha, Nebraska.

B vitamins can be especially potent when used topically in moisturizers, Dr. Schlessinger says. When these vitamins are among the ingredients in your skin care, damaged cells will heal and regenerate more quickly.

Coenzyme Q10 to Protect Collagen

Coenzyme Q10 (vitamin Q) is a strong antioxidant that can help build the foundation needed for younger-looking skin, notes Paula’s Choice Skincare. "Coenzyme Q10 helps protect the elastic tissue and collagen that shape your skin," explains Jessica Wu, MD, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

As we get older, our natural coenzyme Q10 levels diminish, according to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, which may slow the skin's ability to rejuvenate and protect itself from damage. To build levels of the coenzyme, many find that taking a dietary supplement in addition to using topical creams yields optimal results. One randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study found that taking a specific CoQ10 supplement (the study was funded by the supplement's maker) daily for 12 weeks improved the appearance of wrinkles and led to smoother skin, per research in the August 2016 issue of BioFactors. Earlier research in November 2015, also in BioFactors, concluded that topical application of CoQ10 effectively reduced free radicals on skin, which cause aging.

Copper to Prevent Sagging and Fill Wrinkles

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, notes a paper published in August 2014 in Current Chemical Biology. Essential for collagen formation, the anti-aging ingredient helps support the skin to prevent sagging and to 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, notes a previous review. "Copper is nonirritating," explains Dr. Wu, "so it's a good alternative for those with sensitive skin who may not be able to tolerate retinoids."

Green Tea to Revitalize Your Skin

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, suggests a February 2019 review in Nutrients. 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, notes a prior review. Along with using creams or serums containing green tea, sip on the brew for additional health benefits, according to the aforementioned Nutrients review.

Peptides to Stimulate Collagen Production

Because of the promising results of clinical research, such as a study published in December 2018 in the International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics, peptides are becoming increasingly popular anti-aging skin-care ingredients. Peptides are short chains of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, notes the National Human Genome Research Institute. Most topical peptide creams are designed to stimulate collagen to improve the appearance of wrinkles, explains Zeichner. But not all peptide creams are created equal, so stick to products that have gone through clinical testing, he recommends.