Fighting wrinkles, aging skin and skin damage is tough for many people. There’s hundreds of products out there promising to turn back the clock and be the fountain of youth for your skin. There is no foolproof way to prevent wrinkles, but you can make sure you fight them with the right ingredients.

Here’s what you should look for in an effective anti wrinkle cream:

1. Retinol
This is a vitamin A compound. It works by flipping surface skin cells over rapidly helping make way for new cell growth. This means collagen slows down as it breaks down keeping the skin firmer. The skin’s elasticity is minimized meaning wrinkles aren’t as apparent. Many non-prescription wrinkle creams sold over the counter have retinoids. Many times prescription anti wrinkle creams with retinol have higher concentrations of the compound.

2. Hydroxy acids
These replenish the skin removing the older top layers and stimulating the new pigment underneath. These properties allow the skin to get maximum moisture as well as look softer and smoother. A good anti-wrinkle cream will help the skin hold water maintaining a balanced amount of moisture. Moisture loss is what makes the skin lose firmness and the plumpness that gives it a youthful glow.

3. Coenzyme Q-10
This antioxidant is not in every anti-wrinkle cream because there’s debate on its effectiveness. Every cell in the human body contains Coenzyme Q-10. It is used to produce energy. The debate is because Coenzyme Q10 production breaks down with age leaving the skin more vulnerable towards free radicals and sun damage. This means the topical application of it might break down over time as well meaning it might not be of high value in the wrinkle fight, but it could also work well with other ingredients to combat aging.

4. Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant. It increases not only collagen, but dermal collagen. It helps fight discoloration and makes the skin glow. The skin barrier is strengthened with Vitamin C helping to repair cells faster.

5. Peptides
Elastin and collagen grow quicker with the use of peptides. These tiny protein fragments help skin relax meaning less facial tension is there to cause fine lines and improving skin elasticity. There are many different types of peptides found in anti wrinkle creams. One of the most popular is called Argireline which many people compare to Botox.

6. Antioxidants
There’s so many different kinds of antioxidants that might be used to fight aging skin in different creams. All of them aim to do the same thing. They work to prevent wrinkles and maintain skin health by working to neutralize free-radicals in the skin. This helps to keep the skin’s collagen from being damaged. The most popular antioxidants are vitamin C, vitamin E, grape extract and green tea.