At some point, just about everyone has found themselves staring at a moisturizer bottle, trying to make sense of the ingredients list. As someone who cares about their skin, you may also have concerns about using harsh chemicals that could do more harm than good.

Fortunately, you can find quality skincare products for mature skin when you know which ingredients to look for. As you begin your search for the right cream for sagging skin to meet your needs, look out for these ingredients that signal quality.

1. Plump Your Skin With Peptides

Peptides are simply short chains of amino acids that send signals to your skin to make more elastin and collagen. You can think of them as cheerleaders that prompt your skin to do its best to promote overall good health, which could help stave off fine lines and wrinkles.

Products containing peptides can help promote more collagen production. You may find this especially beneficial for improving hydration and elasticity in delicate parts of your skin’s structure. For instance, gels and skin serums containing peptides can help gently improve the appearance of fine lines around your lips and eyes.

2. Help Your Skin Retain Moisture With Hyaluronic Acid

You might have seen this skincare product ingredient appearing on the labels of liquid makeup and moisturizers. This ingredient is gaining popularity due to its ability to ease dryness by helping the skin retain more moisture.

Hyaluronic acid is a type of naturally occurring sugar that exists throughout your body’s connective tissues. One of the things that makes this ingredient unique is that it is known for playing a huge role in keeping the skin plump and supple.

In fact, hyaluronic acid is recognized for being able to hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water. Including this ingredient in your skincare regimen helps your skin maintain its ideal moisture levels.

3. Try a Vitamin C Serum

This vital nutrient is contained within citrus fruits, bell peppers, and other natural foods that you can eat to nourish your skin from the inside out. You can also use a vitamin C serum to hydrate your skin from the top, and you’ll find that skincare products containing this ingredient are easy to work into your daily routine.

If you’re using a serum, apply it after cleansing your skin. Or, you can use a moisturizer containing vitamin C during your hydration step. Either way, you can enjoy knowing that vitamin C also works well with other ingredients you’ll find on this list that including hyaluronic acid and vitamin E.

4. Discover the Wonders of Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate

This ingredient might feel like a mouthful, but it’s not as complicated as it seems. When you see this ingredient listed on a skincare product label, you can feel confident that it’s not a potentially harmful chemical.

Instead, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate is a form of vitamin C that is oil-soluble and stable. Skincare product manufacturers include it in creams and moisturizers to help promote your body’s ability to stimulate collagen production.

Using products containing this ingredient can help you maintain firmer, more elastic skin. Improving your overall skin tone can help it retain moisture, plumping up areas with fine lines to make them less noticeable.

5. Boost Hydration With Ferulic Acid

Ferulic acid is a plant-derived ingredient that is found in the walls of many plants that you are familiar with, including apples, grapes, and spinach. This ingredient is generally considered safe for use in skincare products and is often added to help stabilize other ingredients.

On its own, this powerful antioxidant may also have a soothing effect on your skin. Looking for products that contain both ferulic acid and vitamin E can provide you with a skincare regimen that is packed with helpful antioxidants.

6. Look for Skincare Products With Squalane

Seeing a name that you might not recognize on a skincare product label might cause you to pause. But you can rest assured that squalene is an oil that helps to increase hydration naturally. Your skin naturally makes squalane, and it is also found in plants.

As you look for products that contain this ingredient, you’ll want to look for ones that specifically contain squalane versus squalene. Squalane is plant-based and more shelf-stable compared to the animal-derived form. Plus, squalene is recognized for being more eco-friendly, to give you a skincare product that you can feel good about using.

7. Choose Products With Vitamin E

Similar to vitamin C, this nutrient works as an antioxidant that helps protect your skin from potential damage. Vitamin E is found within your skin’s natural oils, and it works as a barrier that helps to seal in moisture.

As mature skin begins to slow down oil production, it’s beneficial to incorporate vitamin E into your skincare regimen to help your body retain as much hydration as possible. Using products containing this ingredient can help you maintain smoother skin that appears and feels more hydrated.

Explore Skincare Products That Contain Powerful Hydrating Ingredients

As your skin matures, it may require some assistance with staying hydrated, as natural oil production begins to slow down. Knowing which ingredients you see on a serum or moisturizer label actually work empowers you to make informed decisions about your skin’s appearance.

Now that you can recognize the ingredients that you prefer to use for plumping and hydration, it’s time to get started. Since skincare needs can vary from one person to another, it’s helpful to take a personalized approach to developing a hydrating regimen.