Do you want to look as iconic as Jane Fonda when you're in your eighties? (The answer is yes.)
Honestly, I don't blame you. But that means you're going to want to start up a solid skin-care routine.... like now.
“An anti-aging routine should start in your mid to late twenties,” says dermatologist Lian Mack, M.D., founder of GlamDerm in New York City.
You don't want to shell out for just any old serum or magical-sounding "wrinkle-eraser" though.
These are the anti-aging products dermatologists say are actually worth adding to your routine. (Yes, this totally list involves lots of sunscreen.):
Aveeno Protect + Hydrate Lotion Sunscreen
BUY IT $8, amazon.com
“Everyone knows sunscreen is my thing, and I always tell my patients to use SPF 30 or above,” says Monclair, NJ-based dermatologist Jeanine Downie, M.D. She loves how this one comes in SPF 30, 50, and 70. “It feels great on my skin because it’s oil-free, it's noncomedeogenic, and it hydrates,” she says. Downie slathers this on before she runs outside.
Huxley Anti-Gravity Cream
BUY IT $44, urbanoutfitters.com
It's not your imagination—your skin is definitely drier than it used to be. “As we enter our thirties, the skin's antioxidant defenses and hydration levels begin to decline. This means dry, dull skin and the earliest signs of sagging,” explains New York City dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, M.D. He likes this cream for its antioxidant cactus extract that moisturizes and protects from free radicals.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Serum
BUY IT $20, ulta.com
Zeichner recommends this one if you’re starting to see early fine lines and dullness because it has hydrating hyaluronic acid. “It’s the ultimate skin plumper,” he says.
Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum
BUY IT $28, amazon.com
With vitamins C and E, plus hyaluronic acid and grapefruit, New York City dermatologist Debra Jaliman, M.D., likes this antioxidant-rich serum to help protect against sun damage. She also loves the added chamomile, which is calming to skin, as well as clary sage, an ingredient that balances sebum protection. “It’s good for anti-aging and as an overall brightener,” she says.
La Roche-Posay Anthelios 50 Tinted Mineral Ultra Fluid Sunscreen
BUY IT $34, laroche-posay.us
SPF wins again. Ava Shamban, M.D., Beverly Hills dermatologist and founder of SKINxFIVE, goes for this tinted water-resistant formula that’s filled with mineral UV protectors like titanium dioxide. Added antioxidants sop up wrinkle-causing free radicals. You’ll also love how this one soaks into skin and provides just enough tint to hide imperfections.
Elta UV Clear SPF 46
BUY IT $33, amazon.com
Notice a trend here? This is the go-to sunscreen of both Fishman and Estee Williams, M.D., clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital. “It’s moisturizing, it layers well under makeup without caking up, and it protects my skin from skin cancer, brown spots, and wrinkles,” says Williams. You’ll also get a dose of youth-promoting ingredients like plumping hyaluronic acid and brightening niacinamide.
Find out how to avoid the silly skin care mistake you're making every morning:
Skinceuticals Phloretin CF
BUY IT $166, skinceuticals.com
Phloretin is an antioxidant that revs cell turnover and helps even tone. “CF” stands for a combo of vitamin C and ferulic acid, the latter of which helps enhance the serum’s top-notch antioxidant benefits. And with a higher price tag, you expect a product to deliver—and happily, this one does, says dermatologist Lian Mack, M.D. She notes that even her acne-prone skin doesn’t break out when using it, something that can happen with other products.
Skinmedica Lytera 2.0 Pigment Correcting Serum
BUY IT $154, dermstore.com
Hydroquinone is the go-to skin brightener to tackle discolorations and even tone, but it can be irritating. This non-hydroquinone formula revs radiance with botanicals and is great if you’re dealing with light hyperpigmentation, says Marina Peredo, M.D., a dermatologist in Smith Town, New York, and an associate clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital.
Revision Skincare Nectifirm Advanced
BUY IT $133, amazon.com
People tend to focus on their faces with their anti-aging skin routines—and often ignore their necks, says Melissa Kanchanapoomi Levin, M.D., a board-certified NYC dermatologist and clinical instructor at NYU Langone and Mount Sinai Hospital. She likes this cream, which is packed with peptides, antioxidants, and hydrating ceramides to fight signs of aging in the neck and décolletage (like crepey skin, wrinkles, and discoloration).
