Some common anti-aging ingredients are glycolic acid, salicylic acid, retinol, retinyl palmitate, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide. In a study by the American Academy of Dermatology, retinol and glycolic acid were found to have significant anti-aging effects. Both retinol and glycolic acid work by helping skin turnover new skin cells. Glycolic acid and other alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) help to exfoliate the outermost layer of dead skin cells to reveal fresh skin cells, while retinol and retinoids increase cell turnover.
However, both AHAs and retinoids can be irritating to skin, representing a significant disadvantage for people with sensitive skin. Niacinamide, a form of vitamin B3, and hyaluronic acid are generally well-tolerated by skin and have an anti-aging effect.