Skincare ingredients for wrinkles and firmness
Our research data links 32 ingredients to wrinkles and firmness. Strongest evidence comes first, each with the studies behind it.
A research list, not medical advice. If a skin condition worries you, see a dermatologist.
Which ingredients have the most evidence for wrinkles and firmness?
In our data, the strongest evidence for wrinkles and firmness is behind All-trans-Retinol, L-Ascorbic Acid, and Niacinamide.
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| Ingredient | Evidence | Studied at | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-trans-Retinol | 🧪 Clinical evidence | clinical 0.075%, 0.4%; Korean notice 0.075% equivalent | Moderate concern |
| L-Ascorbic Acid | 🧪 Clinical evidence | clinical 5%; photoprotection combination product 15% | Low concern |
| Niacinamide | 🧪 Clinical evidence | clinical 2-5%; Korean notice whitening 2-5% | Low concern |
| All-trans-Retinal (Retinaldehyde) | 🧪 Clinical evidence | clinical 0.05%, 0.1% | Moderate concern |
| Bakuchiol | 🧪 Clinical evidence | clinical 0.5% | Low concern |
- All-trans-RetinolModerate concern
Retinol
Studied at clinical 0.075%, 0.4%; Korean notice 0.075% equivalent
- Reference: Kafi et al., 2007
- Reference: Kikuchi et al., 2009
- Reference: Korea Ministry of Government Legislation, 2023
Pregnancy: advised to avoid · Listed in 586 products
- L-Ascorbic AcidLow concern
Ascorbic Acid
Studied at clinical 5%; photoprotection combination product 15%
- Reference: Humbert et al., 2003
- Reference: Espinal-Perez et al., 2004
- Reference: Murray et al., 2008
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 1,422 products
- NiacinamideLow concern
Studied at clinical 2-5%; Korean notice whitening 2-5%
- Reference: Bissett et al., 2004
- Reference: Draelos et al., 2006
- Reference: Kimball et al., 2010
- Reference: Korea Ministry of Government Legislation, 2023
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 8,542 products
- All-trans-Retinal (Retinaldehyde)Moderate concern
Retinal
Studied at clinical 0.05%, 0.1%
- Reference: Kwon et al., 2018
Pregnancy: advised to avoid · Listed in 135 products
- BakuchiolLow concern
Studied at clinical 0.5%
- Reference: Dhaliwal et al., 2019
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 353 products
- Palmitoyl pentapeptide-4Low concern
Studied at clinical 0.0003% = 3 ppm
- Reference: Robinson et al., 2005
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 1,094 products
- Sodium Acetylated HyaluronateLow concern
Studied at clinical 0.2% for 6 hours; 0.1% for 1-2 months
- Reference: Meunier et al., 2022
- Reference: CIR, 2023
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 2,228 products
- Hyaluronan 130 kDaLow concern
Studied at clinical 0.1%
Wrinkle depth improved in a 130 kDa study. This falls in the medium-molecular-weight range of this document.
- Reference: Pavicic et al., 2011
Not in our product list yet
- Hyaluronan 50 kDaLow concern
Studied at clinical 0.1%
Wrinkle depth around the eyes improved in a 50 kDa study. It does not mean removal of deep expression lines.
- Reference: Pavicic et al., 2011
Not in our product list yet
- AdenosineLow concern
Studied at Korean notice 0.04%
- Reference: Korea Ministry of Government Legislation, 2023
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 7,436 products
Studied at clinical, calculated 0.01% = 100 ppm
- Reference: Campiche et al., 2020
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 171 products
- Oxidized Glutathione (GSSG)Low concern
Oxidized Glutathione
Studied at clinical 2% w/w
- Reference: Watanabe et al., 2014
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 1 product
- MadecassosideLow concern
Studied at combination clinical 0.1% + LAA 5%; stand-alone N/A
- Reference: Haftek et al., 2008
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 2,284 products
- Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbateLow concern
Studied at stand-alone N/A; combination product 7% + LAA 10%
- Reference: Fitzpatrick and Rostan, 2002
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 280 products
- Acetyl hexapeptide-8Moderate concern
Studied at N/A; commercial raw-material solution % kept apart from pure content
- Reference: Wang et al., 2013
- Reference: Henseler, 2023
- Reference: FDA GSRS, 2026
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 1,606 products
Copper Tripeptide-1
Studied at N/A
Badenhorst 2016 (40 women aged 40-65, one side of the face against the other, twice a day for 8 weeks): a serum with GHK-Cu in a nano-carrier cut wrinkle volume 24-26% from the start, and the same serum without GHK-Cu cut it about 15% (the authors report a 55.8% relative difference). The amount of GHK-Cu in the serum is not stated in the paper, and the maker of the serum paid for the study. Wang 2026: 32 people used a cream with only 0.2% GHK-Cu and 5% ferment extract for 56 days; forehead lines fell 16.75%, but there was no comparison group and the share of each ingredient cannot be separated. Miller 2006 (13 people after laser treatment, with and without GHK-Cu) found no measurable difference in wrinkles.
- Reference: Badenhorst et al., 2016
- Reference: Badenhorst et al., 2016
- Reference: Wang et al., 2026
- Reference: Miller et al., 2006
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 1,233 products
- Hydroxypinacolone 9-cis retinoateModerate concern
Studied at early clinical 0.03%
- Reference: Hu et al., 2026
Pregnancy: advised to avoid · Not in our product list yet
- Sodium DNA / PolydeoxyribonucleotideLow concern
Sodium DNA
Studied at salmon PDRN 0.1%, 28 days, crow's-feet wrinkles only; no plain-cream control
Ye 2026 (31 women aged 35-55, one side of the face against the other): an eye cream with 0.1% PDRN from salmon (molecule size up to 850 kDa) was applied twice a day for 28 days. Crow's-feet wrinkle area and number fell about 20-23%; the cream with 0.1% retinol on the other side fell about 6-7%. There was no group with a plain cream, and the maker supplied the test material. Other areas of the face, other kinds of PDRN (plant or microbe) and other strengths were not tested. Evidence from injected PDRN is left out.
- Reference: Ye et al., 2026
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 725 products
- Hydroxypinacolone retinoateModerate concern
Studied at N/A; only a ratio is known from the combination
- Reference: Wang et al., 2023
Pregnancy: advised to avoid · Listed in 104 products
- Palmitoyl tripeptide-1Low concern
Studied at N/A
- Reference: Li et al., 2023
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 1,060 products
- Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7Low concern
Studied at N/A
- Reference: Li et al., 2023
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 867 products
- Ascorbyl tetraisopalmitateLow concern
Studied at Korean notice 2%; stand-alone clinical N/A
- Reference: Korea Ministry of Government Legislation, 2023
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 259 products
- Hyaluronan 2000 kDaLow concern
Studied at clinical 0.1%
A supporting role through surface hydration. No significant improvement in wrinkle depth was confirmed for this MW.
- Reference: Pavicic et al., 2011
Not in our product list yet
- Hyaluronan 300 kDaLow concern
Studied at clinical 0.1%
Separate the study's moisturizing and elasticity measures from the wrinkle depth result. Improvement in wrinkle depth for this MW was not confirmed.
- Reference: Pavicic et al., 2011
Not in our product list yet
- Hyaluronan 800 kDaLow concern
Studied at clinical 0.1%
A moisturizing and elasticity study. No significant improvement in wrinkle depth was confirmed for this MW.
- Reference: Pavicic et al., 2011
Not in our product list yet
- Methoxy PEG-12 RetinamideModerate concern
Studied at Korean notice 0.05-0.2%
- Reference: Korea Ministry of Government Legislation, 2023
Pregnancy: advised to avoid · Listed in 9 products
- Retinyl palmitateModerate concern
Studied at Korean notice about 0.55% equivalent; stand-alone clinical N/A
- Reference: Korea Ministry of Government Legislation, 2023
Pregnancy: advised to avoid · Listed in 407 products
sh-Oligopeptide-1
Studied at N/A
- Reference: Shin et al., 2023
- Reference: Miller-Kobisher et al., 2021
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 718 products
- Retinyl acetateModerate concern
Studied at N/A
- Reference: Zasada and Budzisz, 2019
- Reference: Mukherjee et al., 2006
- Reference: Sorg et al., 2006
Pregnancy: advised to avoid · Listed in 19 products
- Retinyl propionateModerate concern
Studied at N/A; the 0.15% study showed no significant difference between groups
- Reference: Green et al., 1998
- Reference: Wang et al., 2023
Pregnancy: advised to avoid · Listed in 9 products
Which ingredients for wrinkles and firmness need a doctor?
2 ingredients here are prescription-only or for in-clinic use in the US. We list them so you can look them up; they never go into a PERBETE routine.
Retinoic Acid
Studied at clinical 0.025-0.1%; typical 0.05%
- Reference: Griffiths et al., 1995
Pregnancy: advised to avoid · Not in our product list yet
Studied at photoaging clinical 0.1%; comparison studies at other concentrations also exist
Wrinkles, pigment and texture improved in a 568-person 24-week vehicle-controlled study. The score is a qualitative comparison between papers, not a figure for direct superiority.
- Reference: Phillips et al., 2002
Pregnancy: advised to avoid · Not in our product list yet
Which ingredients for wrinkles and firmness are advised against in pregnancy?
In our data, pregnancy guidance advises avoiding All-trans-Retinoic Acid (Tretinoin), Tazarotene, All-trans-Retinol, All-trans-Retinal (Retinaldehyde), Hydroxypinacolone 9-cis retinoate, Hydroxypinacolone retinoate, Methoxy PEG-12 Retinamide, Retinyl palmitate, Retinyl acetate, and Retinyl propionate. Each ingredient page names the source.
Pregnant or breastfeeding? Check new products with your doctor or midwife.
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