15 Beauty Breakthroughs

If it's a flawless complexion you crave, you're in luck. Whatever your issue, these miracle workers contain innovative ingredients that will prevent, treat, smooth and soften even the most challenging skin conditions.

Age-Defying Sunblock
1. Helioplex in Neutrogena Age Shield Sunblock SPF 30 or 45 ($9.49, drugstores nationwide)

Benefits: Helps maintain a youthful appearance by providing the maximum protection against UVA sun rays. These rays contribute to the loss of collagen and elastin associated with premature signs of aging.

Super Exfoliator
2. Glycolic acid in Avon Anew Clinical Advanced Retexturizing Peel ($25, 800-FOR-AVON)

Benefits: Uses a highly effective blend of glycolic acid and natural soothing botanicals to remove dull surface skin in one step while improving texture, unevenness, dark spots, sun damage and clogged pores.

Skin Soother
3. Amento-Flavone in Esteé Lauder Advanced Night Repair Concentrate Recovery Boosting Treatment ($85, Esteé Lauder counters)

Benefits: Soothes visible skin irritation-redness, dryness, flaky patches-caused by prolonged exposure to sun and wind.

Free Radical Fighter
4. Fullerene C-60 in Zelens Fullerene C-60 Day Cream ($200, zelens.com)

Benefits: Neutralizes free radicals and protects against everyday environmental factors -- like cigarette smoke, pollution, sun exposure and alcohol -- that lead to premature aging and skin damage.

Complexion Corrector
5. Fiber-knit technology in BorbaAge Defying Fiber-Knit Concentrate ($45, select Nordstrom stores)

Benefits: This natural fiber-infused topical skin-care collection creates weblike protection for the skin. When used with the complete Borba system, it flatters the complexion and improves the appearance of imperfections.

Hydrating Healer
6. Poly vitamins in iS Clinical PolyVitamin Serum ($95, isclinical.com for availability)

Benefits: Contains powerful antioxidants that fight age and disease-causing free-radical damage. This reparative formula (vitamins B5, B3 and hyaluronic acid) hydrates skin and improves circulation in the cells to help heal skin conditions like eczema.

Cell Booster
7. Idebenone in Elizabeth Arden's Prevage Anti-Aging Treatment ($150, department and specialty stores nationwide)

Benefits: Contains a potent antioxidant that protects the skin against environmental factors and restores skin-cell vitality. Increases skin hydration, heals sun damage, and fades rosacea and discoloration.

Brighteners
These various formulations help to even skin tone, without hydroquinone (a chemical in many fade creams and/or lightening products that can irritate sensitive skin).

8. DDF Brightening Cleanser ($30, sephora.com)

9. AmorePacific Pigment Modifier ($200, select Neiman Marcus stores)

10. Black Opal Brightening Mask/Scrub ($8,95, blackopalbeauty.com)

11. Dermalogica Day Bright SPF15 ($46.50, 800-345-2761 for store locations)

Benefits: Can minimize uneven pigmentation or protect against future discoloration.

Skin Firmer
12. ProGlyco preventive complex in Prescriptives Anti-Age Advanced Protection Lotion SPF25 ($60, prescriptives.com)

Benefits: Helps tighten the skin and protect against loss of firmness,
sagging and fine lines, Guards against the damaging effects of excess
sugar in the body, which can cause collagen to break down.

Skin Regenerator
13. Skin nova technology in Juvena of Switzerland Juvedical Mask ($55, C.O. Bigelow stores nationwide)

Benefits: Provides a nourishing environment that helps generate
and renew skin cells in four weeks. Best for flaky, irritated, dry and
dull skin caused by such factors as stress, sunburn and climate
changes.

Skin Healer
14. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPi) technology
in Patricia Wexler M.D. Dermatology Skin Regenerating Serum ($55, Bath
and Body Works stores nationwide)

Benefits: Repairs and reverses scarring, fine lines, sagging
and spots. When used twice a day for 30 days, MMPi helps trigger the
skin's natural healing process, from the inside out.

Wrinkle Eraser
15. High-speed cooling technology in Ice Source High Speed Cooling Effect ($300, blissworld.com)

Benefits: Lifts lines and wrinkles and instantly tightens skin's
surface by 25 percent in under an hour. A patented high-speed container
cools the cream to 36 degrees in two minutes, causing one of the active
ingredients (arctic raspberry extract) to penetrate deeply into the
skin.

Although you can't stop the hands of time, with the right product and a great beauty regimen, you can at least slow them down.

Source: Essence. Powered by Yellowbrix.