Common ingredients in anti-wrinkle creams

Moisturizing alone can improve the appearance of your skin. It temporarily plumps the skin, making lines and wrinkles less visible. Moisturizers are lotions, creams, gels and serums made of water, oils and other ingredients, such as proteins, waxes, glycerin, lactate and urea.

Wrinkle creams often are moisturizers with active ingredients that offer additional benefits. These added ingredients are intended to improve skin tone, texture, fine lines and wrinkles. How well these products work depends in part on your skin type and the active ingredient. Many of them are available in stronger formulations with a prescription from your doctor.

Here are common ingredients of moisturizing serums and creams that might improve the look of your skin. Whatever products you choose, read the label instructions.

• Retinols. This is a product made from vitamin A compounds. It is weaker than a retinoid, which is in many products that require a prescription. Examples are The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane and CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum. Retinols and retinoids are not safe to use while pregnant.

• Vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Vitamin C doesn't help much on its own but when added to a wrinkle serum and used regularly, it reduces damage from the sun and pollution and reduces skin discoloration. Vitamin C helps your skin produce collagen too.

  Examples of vitamin C serums are CeraVe Vitamin C Face Serum and La Roche-Posay Vitamin C Anti-Aging Serum. Look for the ingredient L-ascorbic acid. Store your vitamin C product away from air and sunlight to make it last longer.

• Niacinamide (NYE-a-sin-a-mide). This substance is related to vitamin B-3 (niacin). It's used in serums, masks, moisturizers and wrinkle creams. It may reduce signs of aging and skin discoloration. And it can have a calming effect on the skin, making your skin more able to benefit from other ingredients in your cream. Apply it two times a day.
• Bakuchiol (buh-KOO-chee-all). This substance is gentler than retinol and is safe to use while pregnant. It's used in serums and moisturizers. It reduces signs of aging and skin discoloration. Bakuchiol is from the ayurveda medicine tradition. Apply it two times a day.
• Tranexamic (TRAN-ex-AM-ik) acid. This substance is derived from the amino acid lysine. It brightens the skin and reduces discoloration and melasma. Apply it two times a day, with a sunscreen. Examples are La Roche-Posay Glycolic B5 10% Pure Glycolic Acid Serum and Paula's Choice Clinic Discoloration Repair Serum.
• Azelaic (a-zeh-LAY-ik) acid. This is a gentle substance that works well when combined with other ingredients in your wrinkle serum or moisturizer. And it's safe to use while pregnant. Azelaic acid is an antibacterial and skin-lightening agent. Apply it up to two times a day. Examples include The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Serum and The Inkey List Azelaic Acid Serum.