11 Top Anti-Aging Ingredients We Can't Live Without In 2022

A new year brings the promise of new opportunities, new goals, and new routines — including for our skin care. And whether you’re in your twenties or your sixties, it’s never too late (or too early) to start introducing anti-aging elements into that skin care routine. While each year waves in some buzzy new ingredients that seem to be on everyone’s lips — and faces — there are also some staples that remain on our radar for their tried-and-true results. Check out 11 of the anti-aging ingredients that we’ll be keeping in our beauty arsenals for our best skin in 2022 and beyond.

1. Vitamin C

With oranges, strawberries, cucumbers, grapefruit and so many other accessible items packed with vitamin C, it’s so easy to incorporate it into your anti-aging skin care routine. As much as that list might make a tasty fruit salad, it also makes for a powerful free radical defense squad. For an easy and affordable routine try the L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives 10% Pure Vitamin C Serum in the morning and follow it up with the L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Triple Power Day Lotion SPF 30. Your skin will appear brighter and smoother in as little as one week.

2. Niacinamide

When it comes to preserving skin elasticity and holding moisture, this antioxidant is what it’s all about. It also helps improve the health of the skin barrier, which in turn improves skin color and reduces redness and hyperpigmentation. Opt for makeup that includes niacinamide, such as the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Radiant Serum Foundation with SPF 50, so you can care for your skin all day long. There’s nothing we love more than a hybrid product that offers coverage with care.

3. Retinol 

Let’s just agree that this tried-and-true vitamin A derivative is bound to make the list every year. It continues to be the top derm-recommended ingredient for reducing fine lines and wrinkles, and even helps to keep breakouts at bay. Try the L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Pressed Night Moisturizer with Retinol + Niacinamide if you’re just easing into this potent go-to ingredient. It’s formulated with the aforementioned niacinamide to brighten and a soothing complex to offset potential dryness that retinol can cause.

We also recommend L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives Night Serum, 0.3% Pure Retinol whether you’re a newbie or a savvy retinoid user. It smooths texture and reduces even deep wrinkles quickly due to its concentration of pure retinol.

4. Licorice Root

Known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects, licorice root aids in brightening skin while warding off pesky free radicals. Not only will your skin glow, if you suffer from post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or acne scarring, it will help reduce the appearance of those marks over time.

5. Collagen

We can’t talk about must-have skin care ingredients without talking about collagen. Always a list topper, collagen has reached peak popularity and is showing no signs of coming down — and for good reason. Whether you choose to ingest it or use it topically, collagen has many skin benefits, including improving skin firmness and warding off fine lines and wrinkles. Looking for an easy way to add collagen to your skin care routine? We’ve got you — reach for the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Collagen Expert Day Moisturizer with SPF 30 during your morning routine and the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Collagen Expert Night Moisturizer for Face as part of your nighttime skin care routine.

6. Resveratrol

You probably know this powerful antioxidant as a nutritional benefit of red wine. While some prefer to take it as a supplement, many have begun to see the positive effects of including resveratrol in their skin care routines. Mostly found in red grape skin and blueberries, it’s easy to incorporate into a DIY treatment.

7. Hyaluronic Acid

We’ll never get tired of soft, glowing, bouncy skin and that’s why this moisture miracle makes the list. Did you know that hyaluronic acid can be injected into the knees to alleviate joint pain? That’s because it’s naturally produced by the body and functions to hold water in order to keep tissues and joints lubricated. So when it’s infused into your moisturizer, serum, or eye cream, it continues to work its magic on your skin’s surface. We can’t get enough of the L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives 1.5% Hyaluronic Acid Serum for its hydrating and replumping effects that make the skin look younger.

8. Bifidus extract

We love this natural probiotic for its ability to repair damage to the skin’s moisture barrier. This is key if you have dull, dehydrated, or even naturally dry skin. While drinking plenty of water is always a must, this skin hydration sidekick will aid in keeping water inside the body while keeping pollutants out.

9. Azelaic Acid

If you have acne-prone skin, azelaic acid is especially beneficial for you as it removes bacteria from the pores to clear and prevent breakouts. It’s also a miracle worker fading scars, pigmentation and discoloration of the skin. Azelaic acid can be drying in high percentage doses, so if you already have dry skin make sure you don’t skip the moisturizer with SPF to prevent irritation. Reach for L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Rosy Tone Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen to stay glowing and rosy all day while improving your skin tone and protecting your complexion from damaging UV rays.

10. Aloe Vera

Reaching for aloe vera when you’re suffering from a sunburn may be the most you get up close and personal with this affordable hydrator, but aloe vera is also found in many of our beloved skin care products. For the same soothing properties, plus a variety of vitamins and antioxidant benefits, aloe vera has become a skin care must-have. It’s also found in our favorite makeup and body lotions to help keep the skin hydrated, smooth and shine free. Get your dose with the L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives 5% Glycolic Acid Peeling Toner, which helps exfoliate the complexion and prepare your skin for your go-to serum.   

11. Green tea

Whether drinking it or slathering it across your face in a creamy mask, green tea is an anti-aging hero. It not only helps to reduce inflammation and fight off bacteria that can cause breakouts, but it reduces redness for a more even and glowing skin tone.

Next: Our Best Eye Creams For Dark Circles

Written by: Shalwah Evans, Photo Credit: iStock