A quick note: You'll see many references to collagen and elastin. These proteins are skin's BFFs. Collagen gives skin tautness and firmness, and elastin keeps skin cells together in happy harmony. If our bodies don't have enough, we develop the sagging, wrinkled skin associated with aging.

Pomegranates
Pomegranate oil, rich in omega 5 fatty acids, penetrates deep into your skin. It travels through all skin layers to hydrate thoroughly. While it travels, it protects the outer layer from sun and environmental damage, boosts new cell production in skin's inner layers, softens your skin and has a motivational talk with collagen and elastin to inspire increased production. A pomegranate's ability to do just about everything makes it one of the best skincare ingredients for a dewy complexion. Try our DERMAdoctor Photodynamic Therapy SPF 30 lotion, which uses pomegranate oil and innovative anti-aging red light technology to help improve hydration and elasticity of the skin.

Green Tea
Drink it, bathe in it or moisturize your skin with it. Green tea and oxidative stress, which those icky free radicals cause, have an antagonistic relationship. Fortunately, green tea wins when they have a confrontation. Green tea wins, oxidative stress runs away, and wrinkled, saggy skin stays on the sidelines for another day. As an anti-inflammatory, it also kicks inflammation, another skin ager, to the curb. Try our KP Duty calming body serum to reap the many benefits of green tea.

White Tea
Like it or not, our bodies host enzymes that live by nibbling on collagen and elastin. As we age, they multiply and develop ravenous appetites. White tea, however, places the enzymes on a strict diet by inhibiting their appetite. While one side of white tea discusses dietary issues, the other side lets loose its catechins, powerhouse antioxidants, to slow down the appearance of wrinkles by giving a lecture to free radicals. The free radicals get bored and run away before they damage skin. Try products containing white tea, such as DERMAdoctor's Wrinkle Revenge rescue and protect face cream.

Ubiquinone
You might better recognize ubiquinone by the name CoQ10. Our bodies produce this coenzyme, but its production, like many other proteins and enzymes, slows as we age. We want this naturally occurring antioxidant because it stops pesky free radicals and revives collagen and elastin production. It also feeds skin cells the energy they need to rejuvenate; it's calories for cells. It ranks as one of the best skincare ingredients for anti-aging. DERMAdoctor Photodynamic Therapy SPF 30 lotion not only contains ubiquinone, it also contains the green tea, white tea and pomegranate extract.

Vitamin E
One of nature’s superior antioxidants, vitamin E stops visible signs of skin-hungry free radicals ravaging our dermis. Our bodies don't produce this sublime moisturizer and anti-inflammatory, so we use capsules and lotions to invite it in. Triple bonus: Vitamin E doubles as a delivery system by helping our skin absorb other phenomenal ingredients.

Cucumber
Grandma was more right than she knew in touting veggies as good for you, so the next time you're at the grocers, load up on cucumbers. As eye pads, this delicious veggie refreshes puffy, tired eyes. Those eyes add years to your appearance, don't they? Cukes are rich in vitamin E and potassium which help in fighting fine lines and wrinkles, and their cleansing properties soften the skin and increase its suppleness.

Willow Bark
Willow bark exfoliates old, dead skin away, and it actually increases the production of new, skin cells by 24 percent. The regular birth of new cells gives your skin a younger, smoother appearance. Even in pure form, this magician doesn’t irritate your skin. Bonus feature: It can help preserve lotions and potions so they stay active longer. The DERMAdoctor KP Duty body scrub contains willow bark and is dual action with its chemical plus physical exfoliator to help remove dead cells, resurface and smooth the skin.

Vitamin C
The stimulating deliciousness of oranges works wonders on your skin. Who knew? Vitamin C is a great attacker of fine lines, wrinkles and scars on its own, but it also leads collagen, elastin and vitamin E to the charge. Vitamin E depletes during its battle with free radicals; vitamin C regenerates vitamin E's energy levels. Vitamin C also helps stimulate the cells that produce those lovely, anti-aging friends named collagen and elastin.

It isn't a coincidence that the best skincare ingredients for a glowy complexion have remarkable anti-aging properties: The signs of aging are notorious for veiling your beautiful internal and external glow. Sure, we all desire incredible skin, but the best skincare ingredients go beyond the face by enticing you to feel, not just look, beautiful. Get ready, get set, and glow!

By Jen Mathews
DERMAdoctor Staff Writer

This content is sponsored by DERMAdoctor. The author receives compensation for its creation. All content is the legal copyright of DERMAdoctor, Inc, and it may not be used, reprinted, or published without written consent.


The information provided is for entertainment purposes only and is not intended to provide medical, legal or other professional advice.