Plenty of over-the-counter anti-aging products make the enticing claim that they canย turn back the clock, for a brighter, smoother,ย younger-looking complexion. And many peopleย drop hard-earned cash on these seemingly magic serums, creams,ย and the like. But can these products really make 40 the new 20?

Probably not, according to the American Chemical Societyย (sigh).ย In this short clip, their expertsย breakย down the science behind the four key ingredients in anti-aging creamsโ€”retinoids, hyrdoxy acids, vitamins, and peptidesโ€”and what they can (and can’t) do for your skin.

The bottom line: There’s no such thing as a face lift in a bottle, alas.ย “Scientific evidence says theseย ingredients will have a modest effect at best,” the narrator explains.