You might want to take a closer look at the formulas you’re using if you’re putting on a lot of anti-aging products but not seeing any results.
Anti-aging Skin Care Advice
Different skin problems come from different things so you should use different products to treat them (yes, even over-the-counter ones). For instance, you can’t just use anything to get rid of wrinkles and dark spots. We asked Robyn Gmyrek, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, for her advice on five anti-aging skin care products that people should stay away from and what to use instead. The best part? At Amazon, they all cost $55 or less.
Dr. Gmyrek says that lifestyle choices like wearing sunscreen, exercising, and eating well are very important, even though she says genetics may play a role in how we age.
“Prevention is everything,” she says to REAL SIMPLE. “The rest is trying to fix the damage and give the skin back its structural support which is a tough job.”
Dr. Gmyrek was on the faculty at Columbia University Medical Center before joining Union Derm in New York City. There, she was in charge of the cosmetic dermatology division and started the Cosmetic Skin and Laser Center.
She has given talks all over the country about laser surgery Botox injections, sclerotherapy to get rid of leg veins and filler injections to fix wrinkles. She has been a dermatologist for 25 years, focusing on cosmetic and general dermatology. She has treated more than 90,000 patients with mature skin.
Anti-aging products that dermatologists recommend
- RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Max Hydration Cream is now $25, down from $35.
- $15 for Paula’s Choice 6% Mandelic Acid + 2% Lactic Acid Liquid Exfoliant
- Tula Skin Care Clarifying Tonic Alcohol-Free Toner costs $28.
- $55 for La Roche-Posay Redermic R Anti-Aging Retinol Cream
- $16 for La Roche-Posay Toleriane Gentle Face Cleaner
Shoppers say this neck cream which costs less than $15 and is easy to use, “almost instantly erases” crepey skin.
Instead, try RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Max Hydration Cream
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Daily Hydration Anti-Aging Face Cream
$25 at Amazon, $35 at Amazon
Dr. Gmyrek says, “Many creams claim to contain ‘collagen’ as an anti-aging ingredient, but collagen molecules are too big to get through the skin.” And she says that while they can hydrate the surface, they won’t actually rebuild collagen in the deeper layers. “The biggest mistake people make is thinking that putting collagen on your skin will make it part of your skin structure.” It won’t.
Instead, she suggests using products that have active ingredients like retinoids, peptides, and vitamin C. She says that these can help the skin make more collagen, which can make fine lines and skin texture better over time. Dr. Gmyrek likes this RoC retinol night cream best for boosting collagen, making the skin look fuller, and making it more elastic. She also said that the formula is oil-free and won’t clog your pores. It contains vitamin C (an antioxidant that protects your skin), retinol (to smooth out wrinkles), and hyaluronic acid and glycerin (to keep it moist).
Don’t Use Harsh Physical Exfoliants
Instead, try Paula’s Choice 6% Mandelic Acid + 2% Lactic Acid Liquid Exfoliant.
Mandelic Acid + 2% Lactic Acid Exfoliant from Paula’s Choice on Amazon
Credit: Amazon $15 on Amazon
Dr. Gmyrek says that scrubs with walnut shells apricot pits, or sugar crystals can make microtears in the skin, which makes it more irritated and breaks down the skin barrier instead of making it look younger.
“A chemical exfoliant like glycolic acid lactic acid, or mandelic acid is a better choice because it gently dissolves dead cells, makes skin look brighter, and speeds up the turnover of new cells without hurting the skin.” She suggests Paula’s Choice exfoliant with lactic acid, which can help with discoloration and texture and is safe for sensitive skin.
Avoid Alcohol-Based Toners
Don’t use toners that have alcohol in them to “tighten” or “minimize” pores. Tula Skin Care Clarifying Tonic Alcohol-Free Toner is what you should use instead.
Amazon TULA Skin Care Clarifying Tonic Alcohol-Free Daily Toner costs $28 at both Amazon and Tula.com.
Dr. Gmyrek says that toners with a lot of alcohol can make the skin feel tighter for a short time, but over time, they can dry out and weaken the skin barrier, making wrinkles and dullness more noticeable. She says that hydrating toners with ingredients like glycerin or hyaluronic acid can make skin look fuller and smoother out fine lines.
“Not all alcohols are bad for your skin, but simple alcohols like ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, and denatured alcohol can dry it out too much and make it feel bad,” she says. On the other hand, fatty alcohols like cetyl, stearyl, and cetearyl alcohol are good for you and keep you hydrated.
She likes this Tula face toner because it gently removes dead skin cells and makes pores look smaller. Dr. Gmyrek says that it has witch hazel to calm the skin and niacinamide to protect the skin barrier.
Avoid Retinoids That Are Too Strong
Instead, try La Roche-Posay Redermic R Anti-Aging Retinol Cream.
La Roche-Posay Redermic R Anti-Aging Retinol Cream from Amazon
Thanks to Amazon, it’s $55.
Some people believe that if a product is stinging or burning, it means it’s working, but that’s not always the case. Dr. Gmyrek says that when it comes to retinoids, which can already be irritating, most people choose the strongest ones they can find to get results faster, but this doesn’t work.
“When your skin gets red and irritated, you can hurt the collagen and elastic tissue and the skin barrier,” she says. Dr. Gmyrek says you should start with a low-potency formula or use it less often and slowly work your way up to a level that your skin can handle.
Her choice? La Roche-Posay’s retinol cream is light and hydrating, so it works on most skin types. Dr. Gmyrek says that the product “stimulates collagen to improve fine lines, skin texture, and tone.”
Don’t Use Cleansers that Foam or Strip
Instead, use La Roche-Posay Toleriane Gentle Face Cleanser.
Be careful with cleansers that make your skin feel tight or “squeaky” clean. Dr. Gmyrek says that these are often high-foaming gels with sulfates or high-pH soaps that can “actually damage the skin barrier and speed up dryness and irritation.” She says that both of these make fine lines and dullness worse.
“A gentle, low-pH cleanser with hydrating ingredients like ceramides, glycerin, or hyaluronic acid that helps keep the barrier healthy while getting rid of dirt oil and sunscreen is a much better choice.” She recommends this La Roche-Posay cleanser that cleans the skin with niacinamide ceramides and thermal water while also keeping it moisturized. Dr. Gmyrek says, “Skin that is healthy and balanced is always better able to handle aging.”
