10 Anti-Aging Ingredients to Use for Brighter, Firmer, and More Youthful-Looking Skin

Updated 1/4/26. I’ve always said that growing older is a privilege, and I truly believe that. There are so many wonderful things that come with age, like wisdom, confidence, and experience. That said, there are other things that come with age that we aren’t always loving, like changes in the skin’s appearance.

Over time, signs of aging like lines, wrinkles, brown spots, and loss of tone can become apparent. And while these things are normal, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to slow down their progression and minimize their appearance. We all want to love the skin we’re in.

In this post, I’ll share 10 of the best anti-aging ingredients in skincare. As a product formulator and celebrity expert esthetician with almost four decades of experience, I can confidently say that these ingredients are capable of creating positive change in the skin. I’ve touched over 25,000 faces and they are what I recommend using to encourage and maintain a smoother, brighter texture.

10 Anti-Aging Ingredients in Skincare that I Love

1. Niacinamide

Niacinamide, also known as nicotinamide, is a form of niacin (vitamin B3). It’s a very effective anti-aging ingredient, as it can brighten the skin, minimize the appearance of pores, and boost collagen production. It can even stimulate microcirculation in the dermis in concentrations as low as 0.5% to address the dullness that can come with age. Most ingredients that boost circulation tend to have a high potential for irritation, but niacinamide is unique in that the risk for irritation is very low.

It even has antioxidant properties that help protect the skin from photoaging (AKA the breakdown of collagen caused by damaging UV rays). If you’re using this ingredient to address signs of aging, I suggest looking for products that contain niacinamide in concentrations closer to 5%. (Read more about the benefits of niacinamide.)

Renée Rouleau Products with Niacinamide: HyperFix Fading Toner, Skin Correcting Serum, Pore + Wrinkle Perfecting Serum

2. Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs)

AHAs, which include glycolic and lactic acids, are helpful in reducing fine lines and wrinkles, irregular pigmentation, and age spots. They’re able to do all of these things through exfoliation—AKA lowering the pH level of our skin to dissolve the bonds or “glue” that hold dead skin cells together. This allows for expired cells to be shed and fresh, live cells to be revealed. (Learn more about how exfoliating acids work).

The favored AHA is glycolic acid, because it has the smallest molecular structure, and can penetrate deepest into the skin. Lactic acid, on the other hand, can’t penetrate as deep but is gentler and more hydrating. Generally speaking, though, AHAs are more effective in higher concentrations, which is why I recommend using them in a serum format.

Note: Using exfoliating acids too often can lead to irritation, which then triggers an aging and inflammation response. Make sure you’re not overdoing it! Find out how often you should really be exfoliating.

Renée Rouleau Products with AHAs: Pro Results Power Serum and Ultra Gentle Smoothing Serum

3. Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate – Vitamin C

All experts believe using a vitamin C serum every morning under sunscreen is one of the best preventative aging ingredients out there, as it’s one of the most extensively researched antioxidants in skincare. Plus, it’s found to be extremely effective in interfering with damaging free radicals. Not only will it give your skin a daily dose of anti-aging power, but it can also help with discoloration and brown spots. It’s truly a win-win.

However, not all types of vitamin C are equal but these days, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate is in the lead and is now considered to be the gold standard.

What makes THD Ascorbate so uniquely different from other forms of vitamin C is that it’s an oil-soluble ester versus being water-soluble. When it’s oil-soluble, it means it won’t start to react and convert into L-ascorbic acid until it hits the oils in your skin, making it the most stable compared to other forms of vitamin C. Plus, since it’s solubilized by oil instead of water, it doesn’t require a low pH like the water-soluble versions do. Read all about tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate.

Check out the five most important things to look for in a vitamin C serum.

Renée Rouleau Products with Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate: Vitamin C&E Treatment and Vitamin C Eye Brightener

4. Sodium Hyaluronate

I always say that skin cells are like fish in that they need water to survive. Beyond that, water is essential for making the skin look plump and youthful. So, how can you boost water levels in your skin? It’s easy—try using sodium hyaluronate.

Sodium hyaluronate, which is the salt form of hyaluronic acid, helps recharge the skin’s moisture levels by attracting and binding water in the skin. It’s generally used more often than hyaluronic acid because of its heightened ability to penetrate the skin. And thanks to its salt form, it’s also less likely to oxidize, meaning it’s a more stable ingredient than hyaluronic acid.

The important thing with sodium hyaluronate and hyaluronic acid is that you apply an occlusive afterward to lock moisture into your skin. This will prevent something called transepidermal water loss (TEWL), which happens when the dry air pulls water from the skin. That’s why I always recommend following a hydrating serum with a moisturizer!

Renée Rouleau Products with Sodium Hyaluronate: Skin Drink Concentrate and Moisture Infusion Toner

5. Peptides

Peptides help build and protect collagen and elastin, which are two major components of the skin that keep it firm and tight. Chemically speaking, peptides are part of larger protein molecules, and they work by communicating with and directing skin cells to thicken the support structure of the skin. Interestingly enough, different types of peptides influence different types of cells. That’s why I formulate my products with a mix of different peptides, such as dipeptide-2, palmitoyl oligopeptide, palmitoyl hexapeptide-12, and palmitoyl tripeptide-38.

Renée Rouleau Products with Peptides: Hydraboost Rescue Creme and Intensive Firming Neck Creme

6. Resveratrol

This anti-aging ingredient is extracted from the skin of red grapes, blueberries, cranberries, goji berries, and pomegranates. Research shows that these fruits have incredible antioxidant content, which is why consuming them on a regular basis can help your body defend against aging free radicals. When used topically in well-formulated products, these fruits offer powerful anti-aging benefits and skin protective properties.

7. Marine Algae Extracts

Researchers believe this ingredient to be an immune system enhancer. It’s also an exceptional moisturizer, offering soothing and strengthening benefits for environmentally-stressed skin. In nature, marine algae are constantly being exposed to extreme conditions. Over time, these plants have developed defense systems against the elements that can be beneficial when applied to the skin.

Clinical studies show using marine algae extracts can improve everything from hydration levels to skin firmness, strength, and elasticity. Not only that, but this anti-aging ingredient can offer long-lasting skin softness. It’s a true multitasking skincare ingredient, which is why I chose to formulate so many products in my skincare line with it.

Renée Rouleau Products with Marine Algae: Firm + Repair Overnight Serum and Hydraboost Rescue Creme

8. Tranexamic Acid*

With age comes unwanted discoloration in the form of dark spots and causes the skin to not look fresh and bright. Luckily, there have been a lot of advancements in skincare with ingredients that help to address this. One such ingredient is tranexamic acid.

Tranexamic acid is unique because it blocks the plasminogen pathway upstream, preventing both arachidonic acid formation AND also the tyrosinase activation. This means it works by stopping both major pigment pathways, unlike many traditional brighteners.

And because it has a neutral pH, it’s not irritating and it’s not toxic. Despite its name, it’s not an exfoliant. It specifically targets pigmentation but its chemical structure is an acid.

It’s effective for:

• Post-inflammatory discoloration (including red marks from acne)
  
• General hyperpigmentation (from inflammation)
• Melasma, freckles, and excess melanin spots (with the caveat that oral TXA can work faster for stubborn cases of melasma)

I recommend using it in a toner because if your skin is bare after cleansing and the toner is the first thing that you apply, the penetration is optimal. And since water acts as a carrier, we know that penetration works well when skin is damp. Bottom line, it works beautifully.

Renée Rouleau Product with Tranexamic Acid: HyperFix Fading Toner

9. Retinol

The purest form of vitamin A, retinol is a cell-communicating ingredient and antioxidant that stimulates collagen, activates cellular metabolism to encourage faster turnover, fades dark spots and discoloration, and improves skin firmness. While it’s certainly not a quick fix, when used long-term, it can give remarkable results. Simply put, it’s an anti-aging powerhouse.

Read the beginner’s guide to using retinol and retinoids

Renée Rouleau Product with Retinol: Advanced Resurfacing Serum

10. Astaxanthin

The final anti-aging ingredient I want to talk about is astaxanthin. This is the most powerful member of the carotenoid antioxidant family. It provides powerful protection against lipid peroxidation and oxidative damage from free radicals. On a visible level, it can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and encourage smoother, more youthful-looking skin.

Renée Rouleau Product with Astaxanthin: Firm + Repair Overnight Serum

There you have it. While there are many amazing anti-aging ingredients available on the skincare market today, these are 10 of my favorite ones that I have seen work. I hope this is helpful in educating you about specific ingredients and how they can create positive change in the skin.

*5% TXA cream vs 3% Hydroquinone significantly improved appearance of freckles on darker Fitzpatrick skin types over 12 weeks and prevented new ones from forming https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31057273/

5% TXA serum reduced post-inflammatory redness of acne lesions https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31589950/

2% TXA cream significantly reduces appearance of melasma over 12-week period https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27135282/

2% TXA + 2% Niacinamide reduces facial hyperpigmentation over 8 weeks https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24033822/