When it comes to skin care, you have your hydrating ingredients in one corner and your anti-agers in the other. Both are great on their own, but put them together, and you end up with a truly perfect pairing—the peanut butter and jelly of skin care.
As far as hydrating goes, humectants such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid, which work by attracting water to and retaining it in the skin, are the best of the best, says Dr. Sheryl D. Clark, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. It’s worth noting that while the two terms are often used interchangeably, hydration and moisturization aren’t the same thing. “Hydration refers to water being added to the skin, whereas moisturization is about adding oils or lipids,” notes Dr. Clark. For the best end result, you need both. Hydration helps plump the skin, to minimize the look of fine lines and wrinkles, while moisturization smooths the skin and eliminates a patchy, flaky appearance, she explains. As far as moisturizing ingredients go, options such as ceramides, shea butter, and aloe are some of the best, she adds.
In the anti-aging realm, retinoids are the unequivocal gold standard, known for their proven ability to smooth fine lines, even out texture and tone, minimize the look of prominent pores, and more. Other tried-and-true classics include antioxidants, glycolic acid, and peptides, says Dr. Clark.
Why combine your hydrating ingredients and anti-agers?
The obvious convenience factor aside, there are notable benefits for your skin. Pairing anti-aging ingredients that are potentially irritating—we’re looking at you, retinoids—with hydrating and moisturizing ingredients makes them easier to tolerate, notes Dr. Clark. On top of that, it’s the simplest way to achieve your desired end result. While the anti-agers typically work on the deeper layers of the skin, the hydrators and moisturizers work more superficially, making for more visible results that become apparent much faster. “The anti-aging ingredients alone will be effective, but without hydration and moisture, you’re never going to be able to achieve that smooth, glowy skin everyone is after,” explains Dr. Clark.
The bottom line: it’s always a good idea to seek out products that offer both benefits. Here are six of the best medical-grade anti-aging hydrators.
Senté Dermal Repair Cream ($158)
This boasts both sodium hyaluronate, a derivative of hyaluronic acid, and the brand’s proprietary ingredient, heparan sulfate analog. The latter replenishes the heparan sulfate (a complex sugar) that’s naturally found in our skin but decreases with age. The ingredient straddles the anti-aging and hydrating line, locking in moisture while promoting collagen and elastin production. The formula also contains green tea extract, one of Dr. Clark’s top recommended antioxidants.
ClarityRx Call Me in the Morning Soothing Recovery Cream ($68)
Equally hydrating and moisturizing—thanks to the combination of hyaluronic acid and aloe vera—this cream still has a lightweight feel that makes it a nice option to use under makeup. It also touts alpha hydroxy acids and protective antioxidants as well as retinyl palmitate, a gentle yet effective retinoid, for additional youth-boosting benefits.
Related: How to Use Active Anti-Aging Ingredients If You Have Sensitive Skin
iS Clinical Moisturizing Complex ($89)
Hyaluronic acid is the star of the hydrating show here, plumping and smoothing fine lines almost instantly. This pick also contains dimethicone, another ingredient Dr. Clark lauds for its ability to create a seal on top of the skin and keep moisture from escaping. Vitamins A and E and green tea extract are just a few of the antioxidants in the formula, making this a good choice to layer under sunscreen for extra protection from the free radical damage caused by UV exposure.
SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore ($128)
This isn’t your average moisturizer. The lipid blend it relies on for mega-moisture was specially formulated at an optimal ratio of cholesterol to ceramides to fatty acids, perfect for softening even the driest of skin. In addition, vitamin E and other antioxidants from the essential oils in the formula offer additional protective and reparative benefits.
SkinMedica Replenish Hydrating Cream ($66)
On the hydrating and moisturizing end of the spectrum, this has hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and ceramides. On the anti-aging end, it has the standout antioxidant Dr. Clark loves, green tea, along with vitamin C, which acts as both an antioxidant and a collagen-production booster. This is also a choice pick for those with sensitive skin, thanks to the addition of soothing bisabolol, a chamomile derivative that calms irritation.
Alastin Ultra Nourishing Moisturizer ($70)
Oil-free and noncomedogenic, this moisturizer is for those who have oily or acne-prone skin. (It’s fragrance-free too, a bonus if you have easily irritated skin.) Relying on glycerin and moisturizing capric triglyceride plus a combination of peptides and other anti-aging ingredients, it works to clear out old, damaged collagen and elastin as well as stimulate the production of new and healthy collagen and elastin.
