PROACTIVE INGREDIENTS

Dermatologists share what to look for in your skin-care picks to avoid fine lines, age spots, and sun damage.

- MELANIE RUD AND HANA HONG

IN THE WORLD of skin-care routines, trendy new antiaging ingredients come and go at a rapid pace. (We've seen everything from breast milk to snail mucus touted as the newest wrinkle fighter.) And sure, the latest "game changer" grabs buzz and attention, but when it comes to effective anti-aging products-the heavy hitters that get the job done-it's a short list of options that actually work. As much as we want to (and do) hop on the latest skin-care trends, the most effective anti-aging ingredients tend to be tried-and-true and dermatologist-approved.

Every one of these star ingredients gives skin a youthful boost in a slightly different way; each has its own set of pros and, sometimes, cons. To help you pinpoint the ones that will do the most for you, we asked dermatologists to weigh in on the leading anti-aging ingredients and share exactly what we need to know to get the best benefits. Here are the ones to have on your radar, plus some highly rated antiaging products you might want to try.

THE NON-NEGOTIABLE ONE 
Broad-Spectrum Sunscreen

We know this technically is a product and not an ingredient, but stay with us here. If you're not using an SPF 30 or higher sunscreen every day, there's no point in wasting your time or money on any other anti-aging ingredients. It's a fact that sun exposure is one of the primary causes of all the signs of aging, from spots to wrinkles, and can lead to skin cancer. That makes adequate daily sun protection a must.

"A broad-spectrum sunscreen blocks both UVA rays, which cause aging, and UVB rays, which cause burning," explains dermatologist Rita V. Linkner, MD, of RVL Skincare in New York City. Look for at least SPF 30, and make sure you reapply it throughout the day.