I spent $500+ on anti-aging beauty products in May — here's what I'd buy again

For summer, I've been on the hunt for lightweight, effective moisturizers. This K-beauty "jelly" moisturizer, a fave of Meghan Markle, fits the bill. It's infused with niacinamide and collagen, and it has a similar texture to the famous (but much pricier) Tatcha Water Cream. When I tried it for a few days earlier this month, it left my skin hydrated, plump and gleaming without breaking me out. That's a true boon during the hottest months, especially at just $15.

I'm more than a little obsessed with the French pharmacy brand Embryolisse, so I was stoked to try this new-to-me eye treatment. The cooling stick is made with soothing ingredients like aloe vera to cool and depuff the under-eye area. It feels good on your skin and is hydrating enough to work as a primer under concealer, keeping makeup from settling into your fine lines. 

Another excellent Embryolisse pick! If you're more of a one-and-done gal, this extra-emollient French pharmacy moisturizer left my skin feeling soft and silky, like I'd bathed in a bowl of cream. Best of all, it works for any part of your body, including your face.   

After a few months of testing various thickening hairsprays and re-testing a handful of dry shampoos, my scalp was starting to feel a little caked. Enter this surprisingly refreshing detox shampoo, which worked in just one wash to remove product buildup and left my hair looking shiny and soft. The dermatologist-tested formula is meant to address any dry, itchy, flaky scalp issues, and the rosemary mint scent — an instant olfactory wakeup! — can't be beat. 

I started noticing new chest wrinkles earlier this year and worried I'd never feel comfortable wearing a V-neck shirt again. Luckily, I discovered silicone wrinkle patches. These suckers work. The thick, sturdy design and heavy-duty adhesive smooths and pulls your skin taut, preventing future creasing, while the medical-grade silicone increases blood flow and locks in moisture while you sleep. The overall effect disappears (or significantly softens) most existing lines. 

After a week of wearing these silky patches to bed, I no longer have visible lines on my chest — in fact, most were erased after just one night of wear. The patches are comfortable, non-irritating and stay put through several uses — the package says "up to 20" wears, though mine began sticking less well around night 15. 

The reason most wrinkle patches (like Frownies) only freeze wrinkles for a few minutes is because you start moving your face as soon as you take them off, reintroducing the lines. But because chest wrinkling mainly occurs at night through side sleeping, the effect of these patches truly lasts.

There are so many incredible, skin-nourishing pros to this lush body cream that I honestly don't know where to start. It's packed with olive-derived squalane and cupuaçu (a Brazilian fruit), both of which are clinically proven to naturally hydrate skin. The fast-absorbing texture is pillowy soft, like a fluffy whipped dessert. And the scent is luxurious and divine, like the toiletries you'd find in a five-star resort in the Italian Riviera. The one downside to this astonishingly stellar moisturizer (which is perfect for summer — it made my skin glow) is the cost. But if you're looking to treat yourself, this product is it.