Go ahead, get carded: These skin elixirs from CosRx, Dr. Brenner, Paula's Choice and Differin have transformed my 52-year-old face. (Amazon)
Last week, I was picking up a bottle of wine for dinner when I realized I'd forgotten my ID. It seemed ridiculous that I might need to prove I wasn't born in this century, but some places have strict rules, so I asked: "You don't need to see my ID, right? I'm turning 52 next week."
The 20-something cashier looked at me like I'd said I was from Mars. "No way!" she exclaimed. "No f***ing way!" I told her that I did, in fact, arrive on Earth in 1973. She kept staring with an expression suggesting she hadn't comprehended how humans grow to be so old. "I thought you were like 35," she said. We both blushed, and I walked out feeling flattered and happy. I hoped she was also happy, seeing that aging doesn't always look like what she may have imagined.
When I was younger, I also thought 52 would look and feel old. And maybe that would be the case if I hadn't started taking serious care of my skin in my 40s. After a Gen X youth spent smoking cigarettes, baking in the sun and washing my face with bar soap, I finally committed to reversing some of that damage. I started using quality skin care religiously and sunscreen every morning, no matter the season.
Now I test skin care for a living and, yes, I know that most of what's marketed to us older gals is bunk. But I've also had success with a few stellar products that make my skin look clearer, plumper, more radiant and, while not exactly 35, realistically youthful. The following are among the best items I've found for boosting my increasingly wizened visage. I use most of these every day and, if my encounter at the wine store is any indication, they work.
I haven't tried chemical lash serums due to my ultra-sensitive eyes, but I've tested several brow-growth products, and this one is my favorite by far. Within weeks of use, I sprouted seriously robust arches, the kind of Brooke Shields-level brows that harkened back to what I had as a (pre-90s waxing!) teen. I love it so much, I re-upped with a fresh purchase earlier this month.
This is the product I'd recommend to anyone with scant or thinning brows. It's a breeze to use (just swipe it on in the morning and at night), and it's nonirritating for most skin types. Few products meet my insanely high expectations, but this one is stellar and effective! No, it's not cheap, but if you feel self-conscious about balding brows, it's worth every penny.
I've tried literally dozens of products to reduce the appearance of my giant pores and eradicate my copious nose blackheads, and this is by far the most effective. Just a few drops of the watery formula shrank the dime-size pores on my upper cheeks and around my nose within a week.
It's easy to use, non-irritating and works unbelievably well to gently clear out skin grime. I apply it after splashing water on my face at night, about three times a week.
I started using vitamin C serums two years ago and, since then, I've noticed a serious reduction in brown spots and discoloration, along with an improvement in the texture and clarity of my skin.
Most dermatologists I've spoken with recommend daily use of a vitamin C serum, specifically Skinceuticals' award-winning C-E Ferulic. Unfortunately, it's a massive investment (1-ounce bottles start at $182). But I've found that this formula from Dr. Brenner's comes super close to Skinceuticals — it has a near-identical ingredient list without the hefty price.
It's packed with 20% expert-recommended L-ascorbic acid, a stabilized form of vitamin C, along with the antioxidants ferulic acid and vitamin E, which clinical studies have shown to work in tandem boosting the product's efficacy and helping repair skin's photoaging (i.e. dreaded sun damage).
I use this product more than any other — at least twice a day. Sometimes, if I happen to pass by and remember, I add a few drops on my face and neck in the afternoon too.
For years, I was a retinoid skeptic. It always seemed like too much of a hassle to get a prescription and, when I finally did, the products were always too harsh. But then two things happened: I started interviewing tons of dermatologists and, at 50, my face started wrinkling more seriously. Experts said retinoids would help. I was sold.
Diifferin's adapalene gel was the first prescription-strength retinoid to become available over the counter. It's dermatologist-recommended and clinically proven to tighten and brighten skin while reducing the appearance of fine lines.
It's also useful for building collagen, which, in turn, makes skin look brighter and bouncier. I've been testing Differin for the past three months and have noticed firmer skin overall, but especially in my cheeks, forehead and jaw. It's effective and satisfyingly affordable.
I came to the snail slime party years late and with more than a little skepticism. However, what I found after testing is that CosRx's popular snail mucin is a game-changer for soothing irritated skin and locking in moisture. It's also lightweight and ultra-gentle, ideal for layering over retinoids at night or under sunscreen during the day.
After just a few weeks of use, my skin looked plump, and my crow's feet and the fine lines on my cheeks appeared softened. I have combination skin and thick moisturizers often make me break out. I've found this to be a good hydrating alternative, as it moisturizes plenty without clogging my pores.
Snail slime may seem weird at first — it did for me. But this bestseller (with more than 60,000 five-star Amazon reviews!) is worth the hype.
I first started using this skin-transforming serum while working on a story on Botox alternatives earlier this month. It is now my favorite retinoid — I even like it more than prescription Tretinoin. Here's why: Within days of use, I actually saw a difference in my skin's texture and firmness, but without any of the irritation or skin molting I've experienced with other retinol products.
Maelove's formula is made with retinaldehyde (also known as retinal, with an "a"), which is the strongest retinoid you can buy over the counter. And at .11% retinal concentration, this balanced, award-winning serum is 10 times more potent than retinol (with an "o"), so it delivers prescription-level skin-firming and smoothing but without the harshness or breaking-in period.
This is now one of my "can't live without" products — 10/10, would buy again.
It pained me to name this Skinceuticals potion our top wrinkle-smoothing serum of 2025. No part of me wants to recommend that anyone lay out $148 on anything they slather on their cheeks. However, after a few months of daily use, I saw a true difference in the texture and brightness of my skin, a result that was noticeable and, frankly, superior to any other anti-wrinkle serums I've tried.
This was all thanks to P-Tiox's potent formula, which is rich in collagen- and elastin-building peptides. To be more specific: It's a proprietary peptide complex that includes hexapeptide and dipeptide, both of which are meant to "freeze" wrinkles in a similar (though less instantaneous) fashion as injectable neurotoxins like Botox.
As a bonus, P-Tiox includes complexion-evening niacinamide and polyhydroxy acid, which gently exfoliates skin and promotes cell turnover. In combination, these clinically proven ingredients smoothed my skin, shrank my giant menopausal pores and boosted my overall glow. They also softened the fine wrinkles under my eyes and the deeper lines on my forehead and around my mouth.
I've tested the best LED face masks for long enough to know that they do work to tighten skin, but I find them too cumbersome to use consistently. This isn't the case for LED red-light neck collars, which are more comfortable and portable enough to wear anywhere for 10 or more minutes a day. (I wear mine while writing or even washing the dishes.)
This LED collar uses clinically proven red light and near-infrared wavelengths to build collagen, reduce the appearance of lines and crepey skin and soothe neck pain and stiffness. It's my favorite beauty device and, though it takes a while to see results (two months of continued use for me), this is the first thing that's had any impact on my saggy neck. Since I've been wearing it, the texture has improved and there are for sure fewer lines. It all just looks less turkey wattle-like, which is obviously a boon.
