A lot of things go into the making of a beauty product; Vitamin C/E, green tea, various alpha hydroxy acids, and retinoids are just the tip of the iceberg. So how do you know which ingredients are most effective? We've done the work for you--we thought of every possible skin concern and asked dermatologists about the best active ingredients to address each one. Read on, choose wisely, and soon you’ll see real results.

Pick the right product for you by understanding which of the often-touted skin-saving key ingredients target your specific skin concern. Browse through the gallery to learn more and to find products to try.

(First published in the August 2011 issue of Good Housekeeping Philippines, Good Looks section as “Skin Care Ingredients, Explained”; model and skin care concern photos by Dix Perez; adapted for use in Female Network)