The 9 Best Skin Care Ingredients To Look For For Skin Longevity*

We all have to grow older. It's just a beautiful part of life. And aging skin is not a bad thing—as it's so often made out to be—but having skin that ages in a healthy way is a goal worth going after. We call it skin longevity around here—you want to have healthy skin for life, no?

We tapped top dermatologists to get the scoop on must-have skin care ingredients to grab for healthy aging. But we wouldn't be mindbodygreen if we didn't talk about skin aging from a holistic perspective. So these ingredients aren't just topicals—although, we did include a fair share of those as well—it also includes several ingredients to ingest via supplementation.*

It's no surprise this skin care essential made it to the list of must-haves for healthy aging. And even with the vast amount of knowledge and studies that prove how important sun protection is, so many of us neglect to use it daily. If you didn't know, although the sun gives us a healthy dose of vitamin D, exposure to ultraviolet rays can be harmful. And the dangers of unprotected sun exposure don't vary by race or age. Bottom line: We all need to wear SPF every single day. 

Skin cancer is not the only possible consequence of neglecting sun protection. It wreaks havoc on our skin, too. "Sunscreen is one of the first and most important steps to take in an anti-aging routine, and you are never too young or too old to start," says NYC dermatologist Marisa Garshick, M.D. "UV exposure can lead to signs of skin aging including dark spots and a breakdown in collagen, which leads to fine lines and wrinkles."

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the sunscreen you use should include broad-spectrum protection (to protect against UVA and UVB rays), SPF of 30 or higher, and a water-resistant formula. And your go-to formula should be applied every day you go outside, this includes cold-weather months and days when the sun is not visible. "Upward of 80% of UV rays still penetrate the clouds and can impact your skin, so protecting your skin daily regardless of season, rain or shine, is important," notes holistic board-certified dermatologist Keira Barr, M.D.

If you're worried about the ingredients in a traditional sunscreen, or chemical sunscreen, you're not in the wrong. According to activist organization the Environmental Working Group and the Food and Drug Administration, 12 of the 16 active ingredients in sunscreen used in the U.S. do not have sufficient data to support their safety claims, including oxybenzone, octinoxate, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate, and avobenzone. Not only have they not been adequately tested for human safety, but many chemical sunscreens have been shown to be damaging to the oceans and oceanic wildlife, like coral reefs.

Louisiana-based dermatologist with a special interest in holistic medicine Mamina Turegano, M.D., FAAD, recommends reaching for a zinc-based sunscreen, as even those with sensitive skin can use it. "Zinc is considered to be a physical sunscreen ingredient," she explains, saying that it physically blocks the UV rays from damaging the skin cells, as well as turning the rays into heat which doesn't damage the skin cells. 

Antioxidants help to neutralize free radicals from oxidative stress, inflammatory processes, and UV rays. "Neutralizing free radicals with antioxidants improves the prevention of photodamage," says NYC dermatologist Hadley King, M.D. She encourages her patients to use an antioxidant serum every morning. A common go-to for skin experts is vitamin C since it helps build collagen in the skin, stabilizes the collagen you already have, and treats and prevents hyperpigmentation. Garshick seconds this choice and says environmental stressors like pollution can lead to oxidative damage, so applying topical antioxidants helps to prevent further damage like brown spots, fine lines, and wrinkles. A few other stellar topical antioxidants to consider are niacinimide and vitamin E.

Many experts agreed, retinoids can play a very important role in healthy aging. If you're unaware, retinoids are vitamin A derivatives and studies show that they play a significant part in a slew of topical skin care improvements1 including reducing lines and wrinkles and the appearance of dark spots. Board-certified dermatologist Tiffany Libby, M.D., FAAD, says retinoids are the holy grail for almost any dermatologist. "Retinoids increase cellular turnover to exfoliate clogged pores and reduce the appearance of fine lines and are fabulous treatments for acne."

Both AHAs and BHAs are considered to be topical exfoliants by chemically breaking down and sloughing off dead skin cells, dirt, debris, and excess oils. While exfoliating the skin, AHAs and BHAs help to promote the growth of new cells, allow for better product absorption, and restore hydration.

Hyaluronic acid is like gold when it comes to hydration.* It's a naturally occurring sugar that holds water to collagen. Not to mention it can hold up to a thousand times its weight in water and locks it in. HA gives dehydrated skin a burst of moisture, and it helps to plump skin and fill fine lines.*

Lecithin is a phospholipid, which are generally extracted from sunflower or soy (or egg yolks) as lecithin, but are also found in olive and hazelnut oils. Why is this ingredient so amazing? Its head is attracted to water while its tail repels it, meaning it makes a great moisturizer since it actively works with the skin, which also has water-loving and water-hating parts. The similarity in structure means lecithin helps moisturizing ingredients penetrate further into the skin.