The Top 10 Anti-Aging Skincare Ingredients You Need to Know

Aging is a natural process that we all embrace, but that does not mean we cannot take proactive steps to nourish and protect our skin along the journey, to ensure it ages well and beautifully. Starting your anti-aging skincare routine is best when done as early as possible, thanks to its numerous benefits to your skin including increased hydration, improved skin tone and texture, protection against external environmental stressors and of course boosted confidence and self esteem when you feel and look great in your own skin.

As the Korean beauty industry continues to evolve with the presence of innovative products using the best skincare ingredients that promise to turn back the clock on skin aging, it gets difficult to determine which one delivers the best results based on their claims. But fret not, because we have compiled the top 10 anti-aging ingredients to help you achieve that coveted ‘timeless beauty’ status!

The Best Skincare Ingredients for Anti-Aging Properties

1. Retinoids

Retinoids are a class of compounds derived from Vitamin A that have gained popularity and recognition in skincare works for its remarkable effects on skin health. This gold standard ingredient is best known for its ability to unclog and refine pores, prevent breakouts, smooth out rough patches, diminish fine lines, wrinkles and give your skin a firmer, plumper and lifted appearance. At the same time, retinol boosts cell turnover and stimulates collagen production. Imagine looking years younger than your actual age!

SOME BY MI Retinol Intense Advanced Triple Action Eye Cream targets the delicate skin around your eyes, which is most prone to showing the first signs of ageing. It helps improve the appearance of dark circles, diminish eye bags and tighten skin to smooth out lines (talk about looking like you had 8+ hours of sleep last night). Thanks to its gentle, dermatologically-tested formulation, it is a product we recommend for those who are new to retinol regardless of your skin type.

On the other hand, if you are already a frequent user of retinol and need something stronger, COSRX The Retinol 0.5 Oil has got you covered! Packed with 0.5% pure retinol, this concentrated serum offers potent anti-wrinkle care with results you can see and feel.

With consistent use and proper precautions, retinoids make excellent additions to your skincare routine, helping you achieve smoother, clearer and younger-looking skin.

2. Vitamin C

Vitamin C in skincare is often called ascorbic acid, which is a potent antioxidant that plays a crucial role in skincare. It offers a range of benefits for all skin types including antioxidant protection against environmental damage, stimulation of collagen production for firmer skin, brightening and evening out skin tone by targeting dark spots, pigmentation and post-acne scars, as well as skin healing properties to combat breakouts and inflammation.

Unlock radiant skin with KLAIRS Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop! This all time favourite is a global best seller of the brand, with over 2 million units sold worldwide. Containing 5% Vitamin C which is enough to deliver visible skin improvement, this gentle facial serum is an excellent addition to your daily skincare routine even if you have sensitive skin.

Complete your Vitamin C beauty routine with LANEIGE Radian-C Cream is dark spots, pigmentation and uneven skin tone is your forever enemy. This potent face cream targets ultra-fine dark spots even before they become visible, while rebuilding skin barrier and illuminating dark, tired-looking skin.

To maximise the benefits of your Vitamin C skincare products, it is important to choose stable formulations and store it properly in a cool, dry place away from any light source. Regularly using Vitamin C products in your anti aging Korean skincare routine can lead to healthier, brighter skin and of course, this requires consistency and patience but definitely worth the effort!

3. Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic Acid is naturally found in the human body, particularly in our skin, joints and connective tissues. In skincare, it is an important and widely used ingredient to maintain optimal skin hydration, promote plumper, smoother complexion thanks to its moisture attracting properties. Hyaluronic acid is able to hold 1,000 times its weight in water, making it an exceptional ingredient when it comes to quenching your skin with hydration!

As we know, deeply hydrated skin means increased elasticity, smoother texture and supple, youthful complexion. Start your routine with KLAIRS Supple Preparation Facial Toner, rich in hyaluronic acids to not only soothe dry skin but also smooth out your skin and restoring water loss after cleansing. Pair any of your beauty staples with MIZON Hyaluronic Acid 100, a powerful yet ultra gentle ampoule that penetrates deep into your skin layers to lock in moisture for long durations.

By adding hyaluronic acid to your daily skincare routine, you can address different skin concerns all at once. And when combined with other anti aging ingredients, a synergistic effect is created to help keep your skin adequately moisturised and silky smooth.

4. Peptides

Peptides are short chains of amino acids that signal your skin to produce barrier-enhancing proteins such as collagen, keratin and elastin which are crucial to maintain its structure, elasticity and overall health. Additionally, peptides help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles to promote youthful complexion. Their ability to repair, rejuvenate and enhance skin texture make them excellent additions to your daily skincare routines.

Discover the transformative and anti-aging powers of MIZON Peptide 500 Ampoule, that will give your skin bouncier, firmer and softer texture with just a few drops. Simply mix it with other serums of your choice or use it on its own before applying your moisturiser.

Apart from their repairing and collagen-boosting properties, peptides also have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that your skin can benefit from if you are prone to redness or irritation. THE FACE SHOP Dr. Belmeur Cica Peptide Ampoule harnesses the anti-inflammatory properties of peptides and combines it with the intensive soothing powers of Centella asiatica to calm irritated, sensitive, heated skin quickly. With fast absorbing texture, this calming ampoule can be used easily at any time of the day or night.

5. Niacinamide

If you have not tried this game changing anti-aging ingredient, you’re missing out! Niacinamide aka Vitamin B3 is a versatile beauty ingredient offering a myriad of skin-transforming benefits. It has been found to improve skin barrier function, regulate sebum production, making it beneficial for those with oily or acne-prone skin, help minimise the appearance of pores and reduce the frequency of breakouts. Niacinamide also has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help calm and soothe irritated skin, minimising redness and sensitivity.

If you have been watching viral ‘TikTok Made Me Buy It’ videos on your FYP, you need to try BEAUTY OF JOSEON Glow Serum: Propolis + Niacinamide. This product blew up on TikTok recently, promising that healthy, fresh glow in addition to stronger skin barrier and deeply moisturised skin from the propolis content.

A new kid on the (skincare) block that our fans instantly fell in love with is SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Tone Brightening Capsule Cream. This illuminating face cream wraps your skin in moisture, while its patented MadeWhite and Niacinamide ingredients do all the heavy lifting of improving skin texture, fighting dark spots and leaving your skin looking fresh and soft.

Regardless of your skin type, Niacinamide is a well-tolerated ingredient that can address a variety of skin concerns, making it one of the must-have ingredients to achieve your desired skin goals!

6. Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA)

Alpha Hydroxy Acid or AHA is a type of chemical exfoliator that can improve texture and appearance of the skin. They often come in the form of glycolic acid, lactic acid and mandelic acid. The way AHA works is that it sloughs away dead skin cells from the surface of the skin, thereby increasing cell turnover, collagen production for elastic and firmer skin. Moreover, AHAs attract moisture to the skin to plump tired, sagging, dehydrated skin.

You can easily incorporate AHAs into your beauty routine as they can be found in different types of skincare products. SOME BY MI AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner is a facial toner that is sold every few seconds in the world. With the perfect mix of gentle chemical exfoliants, this lightweight toner provides your skin with numerous benefits from exfoliation, oil control to acne prevention. If you are looking for a brightening facial essence and can tolerate higher concentrations of exfoliators, we recommend ISNTREE Chestnut AHA 8% Clear Essence that will exfoliate your skin for a beautiful, radiant finish! It is normal to feel a slight tingling sensation initially, and this will go away once your skin gets accustomed to it.

Overall, AHAs offer a gentle yet effective way to exfoliate and rejuvenate the skin, promoting brighter, smoother and fresh complexion!

7. Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA)

Who said BHA is only for acne-prone teenagers? Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) or sometimes called Salicylic Acid, is a type of chemical exfoliant that penetrates deep into the pores to exfoliate skin, fight blackheads and reduce oiliness. BHA is beneficial for those with oily, acne-prone skin as it can effectively target and treat blemishes while dissolving blockages that can lead to acne. In anti-aging skincare, BHA is used to stimulate collagen production in the upper layer of the skin and tighten pores to give the skin a soother and refined look.

Purify your skin with COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser, made with tea tree and salicylic acid to clarify skin with a refreshing finish. Then, follow with COSRX BHA Power Liquid to keep your skin mattified, decrease oiliness and promote silky smooth skin.

Just by adding BHA, it can smooth out skin texture, slough away dead skin cells to give a refined and lifted finish. You can think of it as though you have applied a mattifying skin filter to perfect your complexion!

8. Ceramides

Ceramides are a type of fat molecule that is naturally found in our skin. In skincare, it is widely used to support skin barrier function which retains adequate moisture, prevent irritation and skin damage. Did you know that as we age, we start losing ceramides resulting in compromised skin barrier and increased moisture loss which is why ceramides play an important role in reinforcing skin barrier and locking in moisture. It also helps plump up, firm and reduce the appearance of lines or wrinkles.

Protect your skin against dryness and premature aging with LANEIGE Cream Skin Cerapeptide Refiner. This hybrid toner and moisturiser has a watery texture with the moisture levels of a cream that feels comfortable and soothing when applied to the skin. You can easily pair this toner with any of your favourite beauty ingredients safely thanks to its non-irritating, dermatologically tested formula.

Heard of the cult-favourite DR. JART Ceramidin Cream? We know you have! It is hard to miss the bright yellow tube and cute penguins that pop up on your social media especially during winter when the weather starts to get cold. This skin-barrier enhancing cream is a favourite for a reason - the rich texture that wraps around your skin to form a protective barrier does not only deliver deep, long lasting moisture but it also reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles caused by dehydration. The smooth texture glides on easily, leaving a soothing, comfortable finish that you can use at any time of the day!

When we restore and increase the amount of ceramides found in the skin, the result is visibly smoother, calm and resilient skin that is free from dehydration, wrinkles or irritation.

9. Green Tea Extract

Love matcha and green tea? Turns out, your skin will love it too! Green tea or Camellia Sinensis is a beauty ingredient hailed for its powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, skin-soothing and anti-aging benefits thanks to the polyphenols and catechins found in it. The caffeine and tannins content in green tea can reduce water retention, puffiness and leave your skin with a refreshed feeling after use.

Awaken your skin with a gentle, energizing cleanse using BY WISHTREND Green Tea and Enzyme Powder Wash. This uniquely formulated face wash comes in powder form, that lathers easily to cleanse out clogged pores, melt away impurities and improve skin texture. Give yourself a reason to not skip caffeine for your skin, with DR. CEURACLE Vegan Kombucha Tea Essence! This bi-phased essence toner replenishes hydration after cleansing while invigorating your skin. The fast absorbing and moist texture of this essence soothes, calms and repairs skin while maintaining optimal oil-water balance.

Green tea extract is a great anti-aging ingredient that prevents oxidative stress and inflammation as well as sebum regulation for balanced skin. Whether you are looking to rejuvenate your skin, soothe irritation or simply amp up hydration, this is a versatile ingredient that can help you achieve clear, radiant skin.

10. Ginseng

Ginseng is a herbal ingredient known for its revitalizing and rejuvenating properties that has been used for centuries in traditional remedies to promote skin elasticity, reduce fine lines, wrinkles, tighten sagging skin as well as softening rough patches on the skin resulting in silky-smooth and supple finish.

Restore your youth from the very first step of your skincare routine with SULWHASOO First Care Activating Serum VI. The 6th generation of the brand’s most popular product is now enriched with Lymphanax which reignites the skin’s vitality from within; at the same time it helps improve absorption of remaining skincare products applied.

When your skin is in need of additional TLC, or maybe you are preparing for an event and your skin needs to look its best, take the time to indulge in the goodness of I’M FROM Ginseng Mask! Combining the benefits of ginseng with a comforting, warming sensation, this unique wash-off mask pack melts away stress and fatigue, leaving your skin nourished, vibrant and deeply moisturised.

With naturally occurring Vitamins and antioxidants, ginseng has been shown to help slow down the loss of collagen as the skin ages, hence retaining skin elasticity. So if you haven’t already added this to your daily beauty regimen, now is the best time to do so!

Shop Anti Aging Skincare Products at BONIIK

From powerful antioxidants to skin-replenishing ingredients, our list of best skincare ingredients work harmoniously together to help diminish fine lines, firm and lift sagging skin while restoring your natural, youthful glow. Whether you are in your 20s looking to take preventative measures or in your golden age and beyond, seeking to rejuvenate your skin, these powerhouse ingredients are here to support you on your anti-aging journey.

Remember, age is just a number and with the right combination of scientifically proven anti-aging products, you can enjoy vibrant, youthful and age-defying skin at any time. It is never too late or to early to start using anti-aging products. Let’s glow together and shop all your anti-aging skincare routine needs at BONIIK, your Korean beauty destination!