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Skincare innovations now come via sophisticated delivery systems and tweaks to gold-standard ingredients. In Dr. Dennis Gross Ferulic + Retinol Wrinkle Recovery Peel ($110), retinol meets ferulic acid, a plant-based antioxidant that boosts collagen and cell turnover without causing redness. NeoStrata All-in-One Night Serum ($86) encapsulates retinol “to allow for a faster penetration into the deeper layers of the epidermis,” says research chemist Nick Dat Ngo. “It doesn’t leave a [potentially irritating] accumulation of retinol on the surface.” Hyaluronic acid can visibly plump skin—but with a caveat. “Delivery systems are so advanced today,” says Brandon Truaxe, founder of Deciem, a company that owns several brands, including Hylamide. “Companies can make the particle sizes small enough to penetrate skin; the challenge is how to stop them at a certain level [to deliver benefits to the right places].” Cue Hylamide Booster Low-Molecular HA ($20), which has five different hyaluronic complexes to target varying skin depths. Rodan + Fields Redefine Acute Care Skincare for Expression Lines ($253 for 10 pairs of strips) pours hyaluronic acid into hundreds of wrinkle-smoothing microscopic “liquid cones.” In Philosophy The Microdelivery Overnight Anti-Aging Peel ($89), exfoliating glycolic, lactic and salicylic acids are tempered with an echinacea-infused night cream, while the brightening vitamin C in Neutrogena Triple Age Repair ($37) reduces the look of hyperpigmentation. For details, see Shopping Guide.