With new “miracle” skin care ingredients flooding store shelves (and your FYP), it can be hard to know if that gold-tinted endangered snail mucus is really going to do much for your epidermis. If you’re wondering about ingredients that might be worth a try, you might want to focus on one letter: C.That’s because the four hottest ingredients in skin care right now are collagen, creatine, vitamin C and ceramides. Each one has a unique role in stimulating and supporting healthy skin, which is why you so often see them as a key ingredient in your favorite products. This powerful foursome should be a top priority when you’re shopping for skin care, said dermatologist Dr. Regine J. Mathieu. “These ingredients are often talked about together because each one supports a core pillar of skin health,” she said. Each one of the C’s brings something beneficial to your skin, said nurse practitioner Mariana Vergara, owner of Beverly Hills medspa Beauty Villa Vergara. “They maintain skin structure, repair mechanisms and protect barrier integrity.” We talked to experts to find more about how these ingredients work, and followed up with advice on how and when to use them.Ceramides, collagen, creatine and vitamin C should be on your watchlist.Collagen (the topical kind)Some background: Dermatologist Dr. Geeta Yadav noted that people often get confused about topical collagen vs. collagen supplements. “Topical collagen does not meaningfully increase your skin’s own collagen levels, because the molecules are too large to penetrate the skin barrier,” she said. “Applying collagen to the skin doesn’t replace or rebuild dermal collagen. But it’s still popular for a reason, since skin can look plumper and softer, even though deeper collagen levels are unchanged.” What it is: “I tell my patients that collagen is the skin’s structural backbone,” said oculoplastic surgeon Dr. Kami Parsa. “It gives skin strength, thickness and resilience.” But starting at around age 30, he said, we lose about 1% of our total collagen every year, making skin thinner, looser and more prone to wrinkles.Why it works: “Topical collagen provides an immediate cosmetic benefit,” Parsa said. “It helps hold moisture, smooth the skin’s surface and temporarily soften the appearance of fine lines.” Most topical collagen is made from animal sources like cows, pigs and fish, so read labels carefully if you have concerns about non-vegan products. There are also plant-based alternative collagen products that use seaweed or plant protein hydrolysates, which are mixtures created by breaking down plant proteins like soy or wheat. As you’re reading labels, you may also find other ingredients that support collagen production, such as amino acids, vitamin E or botanical extracts. Who it’s for: “People with dry, sensitive or compromised skin tend to benefit most from topical collagen applications,” Parsa said. “Also, after procedures such as lasers, microneedling or chemical peels, the skin barrier is stressed. Topical collagen can help reduce moisture loss and support the recovery phase.”Try it in: Olay Regenerist Collagen Peptide Moisturizer, which provides the benefits of collagen peptide and 24 hours of intense hydration.CreatineWhat it is: You may know it as a bodybuilding supplement, but its benefits go beyond building muscle. “This compound helps regenerate ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which cells use as their main energy source,” Yadav said. “It’s starting to appear in skin care formulas because it’s thought that boosting cellular energy might help skin cells function more efficiently, especially under stress. Some brands also suggest it may support firmness or slow visible aging by helping cells maintain normal metabolic activity.”How it works: “Creatine helps skin cells better withstand stress from UV exposure and inflammation, Vergara said. “By improving energy availability at the cellular level, it helps promote collagen stimulation, skin renewal and overall resilience,” Mathieu added.Creatine is better known as an ingredient in supplement drinks, but it’s also contained in skin care products.Who it’s for: “If anyone might benefit, it would likely be people with stressed or environmentally exposed skin,” Yadav said. She noted that it can be used both preventatively and as a treatment for existing issues. Cautions: “The upside appears to be that it’s low risk when used topically,” Yadav said. “It’s generally well-tolerated and not known to cause irritation or sensitization. The main downside is not safety, but expectations. In reality, its benefits are unproven and are likely subtle at best.”Try it in:Nivea’s Q10 products combine creatine with the antioxidant Q10 to boost skin cell energy, reduce wrinkles and smooth skin.Vitamin CWhat it is: “Vitamin C helps stimulate the skin’s own collagen production, helping collagen fibers form and stay strong,” Mathieu said. “When applied topically, it helps improve overall tone and supports long-term firmness.” How it works: “It’s considered a ‘gold standard ingredient’ because it does more than one important job at once, helping you make new collagen and protecting the collagen you already have,” Yadav said. “It’s best known for its antioxidant properties, helping to brighten the skin’s appearance and minimizing signs of skin aging like fine lines, wrinkles and uneven skin tone,” said dermatologist Dr. Corey L. Hartman.Who it’s for: “In my practice, vitamin C is the antioxidant I recommend to patients 99% of the time,” Hartman said. “It has so many benefits with little risk of side effects, so really everyone can use it. Serums made with vitamin C are ideal for anyone with sun-damaged skin, anyone withmature skin who is looking to reduce fine lines and wrinkles or those wishing to reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation.”Cautions: “Anyone with active eczema or rosacea flare-ups may not be able to use vitamin C, as it can further irritate the skin — but talk to your dermatologist about your interest, as there may be options when you don’t have active flare-ups,” Hartman said. In addition, Vergara noted that you should “avoid pairing strong acids like glycolic or salicylic acid with vitamin C, as these might cause irritation. When pairing vitamin C and niacinamide, the concentration of vitamin C can be reduced.”Hartman suggested that the best way to use vitamin C serum is as part of your morning routine. “Apply it to clean, dry skin. Five minutes after application, apply a moisturizer and then finish with sunscreen,” he said. Try it in: Dr. Loretta Anti-Aging Repair Serum, which contains vitamin C, lilac stem cells and marine algae extracts to boost hydration, reduce the appearance of fine lines and protect against the formation of future fine lines. Check out this list of vitamin C serums that dermatologists recommend.CeramidesWhat they are: “These are essential lipids that make up the skin’s barrier, crucial because without a healthy barrier, none of the other ingredients can perform optimally,” Vergara said. Mathieu added, “If skin cells are the bricks, ceramides are the mortar that holds everything together.”How they work: “They help create a healthy barrier and work to retain moisture in the skin,” said dermatologist Dr. Nada Elbuluk, professor of clinical dermatology at the University of Southern California. “They also keep out irritants like pollution, bacteria, allergens and chemicals.”Who they’re for: “Everyone can benefit from using them, but ceramides are especially helpful for people with dry, sensitive and eczema-prone skin,” Elbuluk said. “Most people benefit from using them daily, not just when skin is flaring,” Yadav added. “Because they’re constantly lost through normal skin shedding and cleansing, replenishing them regularly helps maintain barrier health and prevent problems before they start. Using ceramides only when skin feels dry is like only drinking water once you’re already dehydrated.”Cautions: None. “They can safely be used routinely, and shouldn’t cause any issues even with overuse,” Elbuluk said.Try them in: All CeraVe products contain a signature blend of three essential, skin-identical ceramides: ceramide 1 (EOS/EOP), which prevents water loss, ceramide 3 (NP), which promotes water retention, and ceramide 6-II (AP), which improves skin suppleness and strengthens the barrier.How to apply these four ingredients togetherAs a good rule of thumb, consider applying skin care ingredients based on their consistency, Mathieu said, “Apply products from thinner to thickest. And never forget to finish with sunscreen.” When it comes to specific ingredients, Vergara said, “Actives like vitamin C and creatine should be applied first, then apply ceramides to seal in hydration and barrier support. Collagen sometimes comes as a serum or moisturizer, and it can go on last.” And as fun as it is to try the hottest, coolest new products and ingredients, you need to see what works for you and stay with it, Mathieu concluded. “Skin care is most effective when it’s consistent and tailored to the individual. These ingredients are not quick fixes, so they work best as part of a long-term routine that supports skin health over time.” Related…Your Morning Commute Could Be Wreaking Havoc On Your SkinBoost Your Skin, Hair And Gut Health With This Protein-Packed PowderHuffPost Editors Have Levelled Up Their Skincare With These Products HuffPost UK – Athena2 – All Entries (Public) Read More