With innovative new skin care products launching left and right, it can be a challenge to know what active ingredients really deserve your attention. Luckily, there are a slew of skin care ingredients that rise to the top thanks to their skin-boosting benefits. Whether it's diminishing discoloration, smoothing fine lines or reducing breakouts, these actives have done more than enough to earn the status of skin care staples. Because everyone loves a good Top 10 list, we’ve rounded up the best skin care ingredients that deserve a spot in your routine, including:

• Vitamin C

• Retinol

• Hyaluronic acid

• afaLUXE

• Salicylic acid

• Glycolic acid

• Ceramides

• Peptides

• Niacinamide

• Benzoyl peroxide

1) Vitamin C

When it comes to anti-aging, vitamin C is one of the best skin care ingredients to add to your routine. Vitamin C helps protect your skin from environmental and natural aging factors that can cause skin discoloration, fine lines and wrinkles. It does this by boosting collagen production and acting as an antioxidant to help prevent damage from free radicals, which are unstable molecules that your body produces in response to UV rays, pollution, stress, cigarette smoke and other sources. Vitamin C serums are perhaps the most popular skin care product featuring this antioxidant powerhouse, but you can also find it in cleansers, moisturizers, toners and more.

Try Eminence Organics Rosehip Triple C+E Firming Oil, a vitamin C-rich facial oil with a non-greasy finish. In this formula, vitamin C pairs with vitamin E to help correct and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, brighten skin tone and improve overall texture. It also features milk thistle to help boost hydration as rosemary leaf extract works to smooth and nourish skin.

2) Retinol

Ready to learn about the many virtues of retinol? A derivative of vitamin A, this powerhouse is truly one of the best skin care ingredients thanks to its ability to improve acne and signs of aging, including uneven tone and texture as well as fine line and dark spots. “Retinol works in your body by essentially signaling to your skin cells how to act healthier and younger,” Dr. Schlessinger says. “It works to thicken the deeper layers of your skin for a smoother, more youthful look and feel.” Retinol is light-sensitive and also increases your skin’s sensitivity to the sun, so Dr. Schlessinger recommends using it as part of your evening skin care routine. You’ll typically find retinol in facial serums or night creams in varying concentrations going up to 1%. You can learn more about how to use retinol in the summer here.

Try Augustinus Bader The Retinol Serum, a facial serum formulated to address deep wrinkles with retinol and TFC8, a proprietary complex containing amino acids and high-grade vitamins. The formula contains 0.06% retinol, a concentration that was carefully chosen to complement and work in tandem with TFC8. In a twelve-week consumer study, 97% of users agreed that the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles were reduced while 100% reported that their skin looked lifted, tighter and firmer.

3) Hyaluronic acid

Hyaluronic acid’s impressive hydrating abilities have earned it a spot on our list of the best skin care ingredients. Hyaluronic acid, or HA, occurs naturally in the body and plays a role in keeping your skin feeling and looking smooth, plump and hydrated. “As you age, your body produces less hyaluronic acid, which can make fine lines look more noticeable,” Dr. Schlessinger says. “When you apply hyaluronic acid to your skin, it penetrates beyond the surface to draw water into your cells and improve your skin’s moisture content.” You’ll find hyaluronic acid in all sorts of skin care products, including sunscreen, body lotions, eye creams and who doesn’t love a good hyaluronic acid serum?

Try ISDIN Isdinceutics Hyaluronic Concentrate Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum, a water-gel facial serum that contains two kinds of hyaluronic acid to help maximize hydration benefits for your skin. Low-molecular weight HA penetrates deep into your skin to improve moisture levels while medium-molecular weight HA provides surface-level hydration. It also contains peptides and a BioMarine complex to help skin feel and look firmer.

4) afaLUXE

For gentle exfoliation without irritation, afaLUXE is one of the best skin care ingredients to try. afaLUXE is LovelySkin’s own dermatologist-developed, patented technology made from a blend of amino-based filaggrin antioxidants, Dead Sea minerals and vitamin C, and it powers many of the products in Dr. Schlessinger’s own line, LovelySkin LUXE. Whether used in a face cleanser, moisturizer or serum, afaLUXE encourages the natural process of cell renewal to help prevent breakouts, improve fine lines and brighten skin. It also helps improve your skin’s natural moisture balance and barrier functions.

Try LovelySkin LUXE Exfoliating Gel, a gentle yet effective facial treatment that addresses acne and anti-aging concerns. With regular use, it can help reduce the appearance of large pores, fine lines and discoloration from acne scarring as well. It comes in three different concentrations: Mild (11%), Plus (15%) and Max (19%). “I recommend my patients start with the lowest strength and work their way up when they run out of each bottle until they reach the Max, but only if they are not seeing signs of irritation. Some of my patients stay at the 11%, but most go to the 19% over time,” Dr. Schlessinger says.

5) Salicylic acid

If clearer skin is on your skin wish list, you’ll want to know more about salicylic acid. This acne-fighting acid is one of the best skin care ingredients for skin that’s prone to breakouts. Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid (BHA) that works to improve acne by dissolving the dead skin cells, dirt and oil that can block pores and lead to breakouts. It can also help balance oil production and lessen inflammation from acne as well. “Salicylic acid tends to be well-tolerated and it’s very effective when it comes to reducing breakouts,” Dr. Schlessinger says.

Try Obagi CLENZIderm MD Daily Care Foaming Cleanser, a facial cleanser for acne that lathers up to a refreshing foam to cleanse away dirt, excess oil and makeup. This formula contains 2% salicylic acid to help exfoliate away dead skin cells, remove debris and clear pores. It also contains menthol for a cooling, soothing effect and helps reduce redness and irritation.

6) Glycolic acid

Another powerful skin resurfacer and acne fighter, glycolic acid also deserves its place among the best skin care ingredients. An alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that’s typically derived from sugar cane, glycolic acid works to exfoliate skin by removing the dead skin cells on the top layer of your epidermis to reveal fresher, younger-looking skin beneath. In doing so, it can help prevent acne from forming and improve your skin’s overall texture by reducing roughness and uneven skin tone. Glycolic acid is often found in a variety of products for your face, including peels, and also in body washes, lotions and scrubs intended to help clear acne and soften rough texture.

Try Replenix Glycolic Acid Resurfacing Peel 20%, a facial peel that’s easy to do at home thanks to its pre-soaked pads. Medical-grade crystalline glycolic acid goes to work exfoliating your skin to help improve the appearance of acne, dark spots, rough texture and fine lines. It also contains vitamins C and E for antioxidant protection and witch hazel to help reduce oiliness.

7) Ceramides

A savior for dry or mature skin types, ceramides are another beneficial skin care ingredient to have on hand in your medicine cabinet. Ceramides are lipids that play a large role in keeping your skin barrier in working order. Because a healthy skin barrier helps keep moisture in and foreign contaminants such as dirt and germs out, ceramides are one of the best skin care ingredients out there. That’s especially the case for aging skin, as your skin’s natural ceramide level decreases with age.

Try SkinMedica TNS Ceramide Treatment Cream, a rich facial moisturizer that’s formulated especially for post-procedural skin. Packed with ceramides, peptides and SkinMedica’s patented TNS complex, it helps relieve redness, subdue irritation, minimize wrinkles and restore your skin’s moisture balance. It’s a great go-to product to reach for after chemical peels, microdermabrasion or laser treatments.

8) Peptides

Peptides are amino acids that perform an impressive task: boosting the production of elastin and collagen, which are two substances naturally occurring in your skin that help keep it looking smooth, soft and youthful. Because the production of collagen and elastin decreases with age, peptides are one of the best skin care ingredients to look for in anti-aging skincare products, including moisturizers, night creams, eye creams, lip treatments and neck creams.

Try Revision Skincare Nectifirm ADVANCED, a peptide-packed treatment for the neck and decolletage. A blend of peptides, proteins and sea algae work together to lift and firm sagging skin and smooth fine lines and wrinkles. If discoloration from sun damage is a concern for your neck area, you’ll want to know that this treatment can also help achieve a more even skin tone.

9) Niacinamide

Niacinamide (also called niacin) is a form of vitamin B3 that has antioxidant properties much like vitamins C and E. Another impressive multitasker, we are big fans of niacinamide for its ability to help fade acne scars and dark spots, reduce breakouts and diminish fine lines and wrinkles. “Niacinamide also acts as an anti-inflammatory to reduce irritation and redness, which is why it’s often included in skin care products that feature retinol or powerful exfoliants such as AHAs.”

Try La Roche-Posay Niacinamide 10 Anti-Aging Serum, a daily facial treatment that helps target discoloration, uneven skin tone and fine lines with 10% niacinamide. It also contains skin-plumping hyaluronic acid as well as radiance-boosting phenylethyl resorcinol.

10) Benzoyl peroxide

This potent ingredient has a singular job in skin care—to treat acne—and it does it well. Benzoyl peroxide is an antibacterial substance that is toxic to P. acnes, a type of bacteria found in acne. It also helps prevent acne by helping reduce dirt and excess oil that can contribute to the clogged pores that cause breakouts. Because benzoyl peroxides is one of the best skin care ingredients when it comes to acne treatment, you’ll find it in a variety of anti-acne face cleansers, body washes and spot treatments.

Try Dr. Zenovia Skincare 5% Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Spot Treatment, which combines the acne-zapping abilities of benzoyl peroxide with bakuchiol, an ingredient that can help improve discoloration from acne scarring. This unique spot treatment was created with hormonal acne in mind, making it a great go-to option if you struggle with adult acne.

While these top skin care ingredients have you covered when it comes to everything from acne care to anti-aging, you’ll also want to make sure your skin care routine includes broad-spectrum sunscreen. You can browse our deep selection of sunscreens to find the best fit for daily use.