Cosmopolitan × Prof. Dr. Steinkraus

For decades, beauty professionals have raved about vitamin A, known in the cosmetics industry as retinol, as the ultimate anti-aging product. Unlike most beauty ingredients, it improves the skin not just superficially and temporarily, but sustainably and structurally. "It's a true all-rounder, originally used to treat acne," explains Prof. Dr. Volker Steinkraus, a dermatologist and founder of the Dermatologikum Hamburg. "We now know that vitamin A can lighten pigmentation changes such as age spots and sun spots, promote cell cohesion, and promote collagen synthesis." In short: It helps make skin beautiful and firm.

– just like vitamin C, also known as L-ascorbic acid, a collagen stabilizer and effective antioxidant that protects the skin from harmful external influences. The third beauty star in the group is hyaluronic acid, or hyaluronic acid for short. It's now making waves not only as a filler, but also as a moisture booster in cosmetics, giving the complexion a plump appearance and even smoothing wrinkles caused by dryness. Provided (and this applies to all three substances): the active ingredient type, concentration, formulation, and application are correct. Prof. Dr. Steinkraus explains what you need to consider so that these three "miracle cures" can develop their full effectiveness.