Every Last Skin-Care Tip and Trick We Learned During Wrinkles Week
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Welcome to Wrinkles Week on the Strategist, where we’re deeply vetting skin-care solutions for anyone who’s looking to smooth fine lines and wrinkles (or prevent them showing up in the first place). For more, head to ourWrinkles Week hub.
It’s the end ofWrinkles Week, a whole week dedicated to treating the fine lines and chin pimples of middle age. It’s been five days of stories on everything from the differences between a$300 and a $1,000 LED face maskand a$100 and a $15 anti-aging moisturizerto theessentials for midlife skin issues(for someonewho’s on a GLP-1, someone who’s anew mom, and so on). And with the Strategist beauty team’s trademark vetting, we’ve answered questions like:Should I be doing face yoga? And:Is there anything we can do about our necks? As senior editor Crystal Martin, who led our coverage, says, “My goal for this week is for you to walk away feeling ready to pick your skin-care path — whether that’s a full-tilt, more-is-more approach or keeping it cute with a nice, simple moisturizer.” And with that in mind, we’ve put together a list of all the best anti-aging tips we’ve learned along the way. Think of it as a cheat sheet, if you haven’t yet caught up on your reading the Strategist site this week.
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Generally speaking, the bestmoisturizer for mature skinis a big tub of CeraVe.
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Anyone who has sun damage, but especially the “reformed sun worshipper,” should use EltaMD UV Daily Broad Spectrum SPF 40.
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The bestwrinkle creamis Skinbetter’s Science AlphaRet Overnight Cream.
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“With this, you get the brightening effects of lactic acid in addition to the anti-aging effect of retinol,” says dermatologist Dr. Samer Jaber.
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And the best drugstore wrinkle cream is the RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Anti-Aging Night Cream.
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You know those annoying under-eye creases? Apply a layer of RoC Multi Correxion Revive + Glow Eye Balm before your concealer, suggests makeup artist Erica Taylor.
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For afoundation that’s mature-skin-friendly, Giorgio Armani’s Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation is buildable (and makes your skin look like, well, skin).
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Don’t be afraid of a magnifying mirror.
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“I know it’s scary to look in a five-, seven-, ten-times magnifying mirror, but the scarier it is, the better your makeup will look. Because it shows every little mistake you may be making,” says Laura Geller. Half the price of ourBest in ClassSimplehuman Sensor Mirror Trio is the Simplehuman Sensor Mirror.
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Try La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios Melt-In Sunscreen Milk SPF 60, sunscreen-phobes.
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La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Sunscreen Milk SPF 60
It’s the formula dermatologistDr. Michelle Henryrecommends to patients who hate sunscreen. “It really blends beautifully on any skin type. It’s not very thick; it’s not chalky. It’s super-lightweight, not sticky and tacky,” Henry tells us.
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And Skinbetter Science Alto Advanced Defense and Repair Serum does the job of repairing hyperpigmentation that comes from sun-damaged skin.
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Take your retinoid routine up a notch with acompounded retinoid(basically a custom formula).Dermaticalets you do this without a dermatologist appointment.
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If you’re brand-new to retinol, dermatologist Dr. Karan Lal advises starting with a retinol (the weakest form of a retinoid) and using it for about six months to see how your skin adapts before moving on to a stronger one.
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Dr. Julian Sass’s favorite type of retinoid is retinaldehyde. He recommendsNaturium’s Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.10%as an affordable option.
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Mix a few pumps of your face retinoid in with your body moisturizer as an entry into body anti-aging, recommends dermatologistDr. Melanie Palm.
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If you’re sensitive to retinol, give bakuchiol a try.
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It takes more time to see results, but it’s much gentler. Experts we spoke to have recommended Herbivore’s serum on multiple occasions.
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And since we’re on the subject of retinols, you want to be careful about using them onneck skinat first (which shows signs of aging just as much as the hands do).
A good rule of thumb, according to our beauty writer, Tembe Denton-Hurst: “If you’re using a retinol four times a week on your face, you might use it twice on your neck.”
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Some more neck-specific advice: Peptides should help with collagen production.
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The easiest way to incorporate them into a skin-care routine might be in the form of a moisturizer like Allies of Skin’s Peptides & Antioxidants Advanced Firming Daily Treatment.
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Or, try protecting your neck with a UPF hoodie.
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Morgan Kennedy uses this Outdoor Research one even in the summer, because it’s cooling and comfortable.
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And treatment with red-light therapy might help with prevention — if you’re consistent. “You really have to do it five days a week, and few people will actually commit to that,” says dermatologistDr. Melanie Palm.
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Speaking of LED face masks, look for one in the $250 to $450 price range. Some Strategist-approved ones:
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Here’s a cheat sheet for the wavelengths your LED face mask should have, according to our contributor Katie Becker (who wrote ourguide to the best LED skin-care devices):
Red light:620–750 nanometers (to stimulate collagen production and repair and reduce inflammation)
Blue light:450–495 nanometers (for acne)
Near infrared:750–1,400 nanometers (for deep-tissue healing)
Far infrared:3,000 nanometers–1 millimeter (for detoxing and circulation)
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Microcurrent is like fitness for your face. The best results come from consistency, like going to the gym.
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Tone the muscles around your eyes and lips (the area tends to droop with aging) with NuFace’s ELE attachment.
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Save on conductive gel (necessary for microcurrent tools to work their magic) by using 100 percentaloe vera gel.
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New moms need Peter Thomas Roth Peptide Skinjection Fill + Fix Under Eye Cream for its well-rested effects.
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It smooths under the eyes in a way that Kramer Kaye compares to egg whites: Imagine how they dry on your skin and tighten it.
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Anyone who is pressed for time, try another other new-mom rec: The exfoliating, toning, and brightening First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads.
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For postpartum eczema and psoriasis, there’s sensitive-skin-friendly Bioderma Atoderm Shower Oil.
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“Most people with these conditions know to moisturize, but cleansers are where they get in trouble and use too much oil-stripping detergent,” says dermatologist Dr. Dendy Engelman.
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Wash your face with CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser (starting with a few days a week), if you’re dealing withadult acne.
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The hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and peptides will help with how drying benzoyl peroxide can be.
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And use a pea-size drop of La Roche-Posay Effaclar Adapalene Gel 0.1%.
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It contains adapalene, an FDA-approved retinoid that you don’t need a prescription for.
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Blame declining estrogen levels for thoseperimenopauseskin changes. To restore some of that lost estrogen, there’sMusely’s The Aging Repair Cream.
What your skin needs during this phase is “moisture, moisture, moisture,” according to dermatologist Dr. Michelle Henry. Something like Lancôme Rénergie H.C.F. Triple Serum (its ingredients include hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, ferulic acid, and peptides).
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If you’re on both a topical estrogen and retinol, dermatologist Dr. Michelle Henry recommends using the estrogen in the a.m. and retinol in the p.m. (or alternating days).
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L’Oréal’s Revitalift Derm Intensives Hyaluronic Acid Serum is an inexpensive dupe of Barbara Strum or Skinceuticals HA serums.
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It has a similar technology that allows the humectant to penetrate to different lives of the skin (translating to more thorough hydration).
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We spoke to our beauty columnist’s mother, Cristina Viera-Newton, who alternates between theDr. Loretta’s Barrier Enhancing Milky Essenceand theHydroPeptide HydraFlora Probiotic Facial Essenceafter cleansing.
She learned about them from her facialist. “The Hydraflora feels more healing, while the Loretta is more moisturizing,” Viera-Newton says. “I pick depending on what my skin needs.”
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And theCurel Deep Moisture Sprayis the closest thing to a spray-on moisturizer (for convenience, especially on the go) Viera-Newton has found.
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“It’s genuinely hydrating enough to use on its own, but if my skin feels really dry, I’ll moisturize on top,” she explains.
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Are you taking aGLP-1? Dermatologist Dr.Doris Daysuggests theNeova Crème de la Copper, which “makes mature skin look more buoyant and elastic.”
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Frequent travelersshould take the Grace & Stella Rose Water Mist onboard for a convenient hydration top-up.
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Before bed, theHPPY Skin Calm Mask, which has calming centella flowers, can help with stressed-out skin. Apply it all over the face and neck, leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes, and rinse off with warm water.
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Kim Mitchell, creative director and author ofJ’adore Couture, swears by using a lip gloss with SPF.
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She likes the Cay SkinIsle Lip Balmand Coola’sLipux Tinted Lip Balmwith zinc oxide for the double benefit of softening dry lips and sun protection.
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Think of rest and recovery as a part of your beauty routine, suggests Octavia Morgan, founder of eponymous fragrance brand Octavia Morgan Los Angeles.
If she could go back in time, she would try “prioritizing sleep, mindful practices, and nutrition” in her 20s and 30s.
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And speaking of relaxation,face yogais a technique for relieving the tension found in overworked facial muscles.
The exercises and poses can also help improve circulation and lymphatic drainage, which can help de-puff the face, according to certified face yoga teacherTina Scholl.
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Face yoga will have more impact when you pair it with facial massage for regaining volume and facial cupping for releasing tension, says Scholl.
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We like thisstainless-steel gua sha tool, which has self-cooling capabilities.
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Look foranti-aging creamswith the “hero” ingredient being advertised — like retinol, vitamin C, or peptides — as the first few ingredients, says Hayes. That’s the marker of a well-formulated product.
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Don’t skimp when you’re buying avitamin-C serum, says our writer Dominique Pariso.
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The serums are hard to formulate and stabilize, so a good one will generally run you over $100. Our favorite is theSkinceuticals C E Ferulic.
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But you can save if you’re only buying a hydrating or moisturizing cream.
Look for an inexpensive drugstore formulation since many are still full of ingredients like hyaluronic acid, peptides, and ceramides.
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Kat Burki’s C20 Velocity Serum is worth it for dry-skin folks.
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It diminishes fine lines and wrinkles while also providing hydration.
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Go for at least SPF 30 daily. The subjects in ourroundup of skin-care regretswished they’d been more vigilant about sunscreen in their 20s.
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Wear yoursunglasses.
They’re an often-forgotten way to protect your eye area from sun damage, says dermatologistDr. Anna Karp.
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Niacinamide can help with softening wrinkles and improving uneven skin tone, according to dermatologistDr. Michelle Henry.
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We regularly hear from experts that consistency is the key with all skin-care products. So bottom line: Pick a product you can stick with.
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An easy thing to look for in your vitamin-C serum is the right packaging.
Hayes says it’s best if it comes in a dark or opaque bottle or in an airtight container since it’s a notoriously unstable ingredient.
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Medical-gradeis one of those confusing hard-to-pin-down skin-care terms.
All it really means is a product contains clinically tested ingredients and can guarantee a bit more efficacy over the counter, says Pariso.
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But it doesn’t necessarily mean a skin-care product will work for you. Generally, though, Hayes says you can expect those products, over time, “to create visible, measurable changes in the skin.”
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Yes, use body serum and definitely sunscreen: Care for the skin on your entire body with the same intention as your face, says skin-care-brand founder Indie Lee.
A trip to an infrared sauna might be just what you need to de-stress and refresh, according toMarina Larroudé, co-founder of shoe companyLarroudé, who uses one weekly.
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If you sleep on your side, consider apillow that has cutoutsto protect your facial skin.
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It helps prevent your face from being squished, which can lead to wrinkles, says dermatologist Dr. Jessie Cheung.
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You might think of melatonin as helping you fall asleep, but dermatologist Dr. Jessie Cheung takes melatonin every night because it has been shown to help repair damaged cells and minimize inflammation.
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She prefers liquid liposome formulas, likethis one.
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100 percent cold-pressed sweet almond oil is better than moisturizer for hands, says Divya Sethi, founder of Flawless Hand Models.
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Solawave’s red-light wand is best for spot treating rather than addressing the whole face, and it iswriter Diksha Basu’s secretto glowy evenness.
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Apply potent ingredients like retinols at night when the skin barrier is able to absorb more product, says aesthetician Katie Sobelman.
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A pH-balancing toner, like Marie Veronique Balancing HypoTonic, makes actives even more effective and helps hydrate the skin.
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Skin care that’s made with fermented minerals is more bioavailable, meaning easier for your skin to absorb.
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Luzern’s Creme Luxeincludes fermented peptides, enzymes, and antioxidants, so its vitamin C is more effective in the skin.
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Find brands that followEU’s standards for cosmeticsto build a clean anti-aging skin-care routine.
This ensures they don’t have any sulfates, parabens, silicones, phthalates, or synthetic fragrances.
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Cleansing oil is a non-stripping option for dry skin.
Koestline says they help maintain the skin barrier while removing makeup and dirt without drying you out.
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Use these Sun Patch Under Eye Patches to avoid constantly reapplying face sunscreen on days you’re very much outside.
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Look for UPF clothing with a rating of 50+ and made of synthetics like spandex and polyester for it to block most sun rays, says dermatologist Dr. Katie Beleznay.
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Make sure your sun hat has at least a three-inch-wide brim to cover your entire face and neck and is made with UV-protective fabric.
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Keep a pair of arm sleeves in your car to protect your skin from sun damage.
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We were tipped off tothese from Solbari.
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Hands are often neglected when it comes to sun protection, but are quick to show signs of aging.
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Apply SPF frequently and invest in somedriving gloves.
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Coolibar makesUV-blocking glovesthat are fingerless.
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Ideal for the person who needs to show off their nail-art manicures.
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An easy way to reapply sunscreen (on your hands and face): asunscreen stick.
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Beauty of Joseon Matte Sun Stick
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This is going to hurt some of you: Avoiding acrylics and tips will save your nails in the long run. Those manicures destroy nail beds over time.
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Skip the polish to let your nails breathe, and use a cuticle oil for promoting nail growth.
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Use your face routine on your hands, too. That includes vitamin C in the morning and retinoids at night.
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Keep your moisturizer by a sink.
So every time after you wash your hands, get in the habit of dabbing a little bit. Don’t forget to rub it into your cuticles.
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Glycerin is inexpensive and super-effective for moisturizing hands.
Two cheap options:Neutrogena Norwegian Hand CreamandO’Keeffe’s Working Hands.
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More From Wrinkles Week
- Plant-Placenta and Acne Gel: What Readers Bought During Wrinkles Week
- Welcome to Wrinkles Week
- The Products 10 Women Over 40 Can’t Live Without
- Three Sun-Protection Obsessives on the Gloves, Hats, and Wraps They Love
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