No matter how much attention a newly-discovered anti-aging remedy receives, there are only a few main ingredients that really get the job done. Each ingredient will work differently from the other and each will have its own pros and cons. You can benefit a lot and restore your skin’s youth just by educating yourself on the different types of anti-aging ingredients and products out there. However, just because a certain product contains an ingredient that you know is good for your skin doesn’t mean the product can actually reverse aging signs. These ingredients are found with varying percentages in skin-care products and you’ll have to test them if they’re actually good for your skin. Here are the top ingredients to look for when buying an anti-aging body lotion.

Ceramides

Our skin is covered with an external layer referred to as the skin barrier which is responsible for keeping hydration inside your skin while keeping all irritants outside. Ceramides are considered lipids that seal the moisture to keep the skin barrier healthy and strong. Hydration, in particular, has a lot of anti-aging properties. The more hydrated your skin is, the more youthful and prettier you will look. Ceramides are also great at keeping irritants out, so they’re a wonderful option if you want something to help with your eczema. They have no drawbacks and are effective for pretty much any skin type. So, if you’re looking for an anti-aging lotion, make sure it contains ceramides.

Sunscreen

While sunscreen is not an ingredient but rather a product, it is quite pointless to spend your money on any other anti-aging ingredients if you don’t use a broad-spectrum sunscreen. Sun exposure is one of the leading causes of most aging signs including wrinkles and spots, and this makes it essential to use sunscreen daily. Sunscreen does not just block UVB rays that cause your skin to burn, but it also protects it from harmful UVA rays that cause skin aging. It’s recommended to use SPF 30 daily before going out and to reapply whenever needed. Both chemical and mineral sunscreen can be used, as chemical ingredients are absorbed to prevent cell damage while mineral sunscreen ingredients cover it from the outside to deflect harmful sun rays.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is one of the most popular and effective ingredients in skin-care products. It works as a powerful antioxidant and helps in protecting your skin from free radical damage. Not to mention its notoriously famous use to brighten and control darker spots in the skin. Many benefits linked to Vitamin C have been discovered, that’s why it is one of the ingredients in some lotion for crepey skin. However, this ingredient can be a little tricky to use correctly for it to work. For example, it is sensitive to light which means that in order for you to benefit from it, you need to find Vitamin C products that come in airless, non-transparent packaging. This will protect the ingredient from degrading if you open the product or expose it to sunlight. However, Vitamin C also comes in different concentrations depending on the product you choose, this varies between 5% to 20%, meaning that the benefits and side effects can fluctuate significantly between different products.

Lactic Acid 

Lactic acid is a gentler type of AHA that works similarly to chemical exfoliants. This means that it works on removing dead skin cells and dirt while providing gentle treatment to sensitive skin. Lactic acid is proved to be one of the best options for dry skin that can get irritated easily by other exfoliants. This is why you’ll find many products that contain a combination of lactic acid with glycolic acid or lactic acid and salicylic acid. These are combined so that your skin can get the most benefits possible out of these ingredients without the risk of being irritated.

Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid is popularly known for being a humectant ingredient, which means that it can effectively capture water molecules and keep them in to provide a plumper look. It is also a natural compound that is found in our skin, so the chances of it causing any allergic reactions or irritation are low. Our skin looks fuller and plumper when it is properly moisturized and hydrated, this is why hyaluronic acid and glycerin are two of the most important ingredients in the skin-care industry. They don’t give permanent effects though, so you’ll have to keep reapplying in order to see consistent results.

Anti-aging ingredients can offer different effects depending on the products you choose for your skin. Go for lotions and moisturizers that contain a high SPF so that you can protect it from all harmful sun rays that jeopardize all of your skincare efforts. It’s also important to look for ceramides and lactic acid in the products you choose, as these ingredients hydrate, moisturize, and exfoliate your skin without causing damage or any type of irritation.