illustration of a wrinkled face emerging from an open anti-ageing cream jar on an orange background.

Illustration: Cristina Spanò

Jun 5th 2026|3 min read

A BIOCHEMISTRY textbook sometimes feels like essential reading when shopping for wrinkle-reducing products. Their labels list molecules like retinoids, antioxidants, peptides and exfoliating acids. The names might be familiar, but does anyone know what they do? Many of the claims that they will make skin appear more youthful rely on company-funded studies or consumer surveys rather than rigorous clinical evidence. Yet a handful of ingredients do have a solid scientific backing.

illustration of a green snake shaped like an infinity symbol, holding a white pill in its mouth, on a coral-pink background.

The chemicals that reduce wrinkles