How to Choose Anti‐Aging Skin Care Products

Co-authored by Heather Richmond, MD

Anti-aging is a trending topic these days. Of course, you want to get the latest and best anti-aging cream; however, you should start by picking some basic products to add to your everyday skincare regimen. Once you do that, you can pick an anti-aging product with ingredients that may help reduce your chance of aging. Consider checking with a dermatologist before you begin a new skin care regimen, especially if you are known to have sensitive skin.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Picking Basic Products

1
Choose a sunscreen. One of the biggest causes of aging is the sun.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Heather Richmond, MD
Board Certified Dermatologist
Expert Interview. 15 September 2020.} Exposing your skin to the sun over time can make it look older; therefore, pick a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher. You can also pick a moisturizer with a sunscreen.^{[2]
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Research source}
- Make sure to pick a broad-spectrum sunscreen, meaning the sunscreen protects you from both UVA and UVB rays.^{[3]
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  Mayo Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  Go to source}
- Some experts recommend SPF 30 or higher. Also, try to pick one that is at least water resistant so it will stay on your skin.^{[4]
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  Trustworthy Source
  American Academy of Dermatology
  Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists
  Go to source}
2
Pick a moisturizer that's right for you skin. Moisturizing your skin every day can make a large difference in how your skin ages;^{[5]
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Trustworthy Source
American Academy of Dermatology
Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists
Go to source} however, it's important to pick one that's right for your skin.^{[6]
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Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
- For oily skin, pick something light that's water-based. You should look for one that's noncomedogenic (it will say it on the bottle) to help keep your pores from clogging. For dry skin, you need something with more weight. An oil-based moisturizer is preferable.^{[7]
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  Expert Source
  
  Heather Richmond, MD
  Board Certified Dermatologist
  Expert Interview. 15 September 2020.} If you're somewhere in the middle, you should probably stick with a something lighter that's water-based. Most moisturizers are labelled for skin type. As you get older, though, your skin will need more moisture, so pick an oil-based moisturizer no matter what your skin type as you age.^{[8]
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  Mayo Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  Go to source}
- If your skin is sensitive, pick a moisturizer that will soothe rather than irritate. Ingredients that may irritate include scents, dyes, and acids. Ingredients that will soothe include aloe and chamomile.^{[9]
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  Mayo Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  Go to source}
- To cut down on your routine, consider buying a moisturizer with a built-in sunscreen, so you don't need to apply two products.
3
Choose a sunless tanner. While a sunless tanner isn't anti-aging on its own, tanning in the sun or at tanning beds can age your skin faster; therefore, using a tanning cream instead can be safer for your skin.
- If you're new to sunless tanners, pick a lotion or gel, which are easier to apply than mousses. Also, stick with a lighter color, as you can always apply more if you need to do so, but you can't take it off as easily if your skin becomes too dark.^{[10]
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- Also, apply a tiny bit in a small area before applying it to your whole body. That way, you can see what the color looks like on you.^{[11]
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- Skip applying sunless tanners around your mouth, nose, and eyes. While sunless tanners are generally more safe than tanning in the sun, the FDA hasn't approved their use near these areas.^{[12]
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  Mayo Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  Go to source}
4
Add a mild cleanser. Washing the day off your face at the end of the day is important in keeping your skin healthy and young. Cleansers are often better than soaps.^{[13]
X
Trustworthy Source
American Academy of Dermatology
Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists
Go to source} They are better targeted to deal with various skin problems.
- When choosing a cleanser, look for one that's meant for your skin type. They should be labelled to help you choose.^{[14]
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  Expert Source
  
  Heather Richmond, MD
  Board Certified Dermatologist
  Expert Interview. 15 September 2020.}
- If you have a specific problem, like acne, pick a cleanser that helps deal with that issue. Once again, the bottles should be labelled for skin problems, too.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Finding Anti-Aging Creams With the Right Ingredients

1
Look for the antioxidants. Creams with antioxidants can be beneficial. They help absorb free radicals that can cause damage to your skin.^{[15]
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Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source} Antioxidants to look for include vitamin C, vitamin B3, and vitamin E. These vitamins are particularly effective in a cream because they are able to be absorbed into the skin more readily than others.^{[16]
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PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source}
- A free radical is just oxygen that isn't stable.^{[17]
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  Mayo Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  Go to source}
- As an added bonus, vitamin B3 helps your skin retain moisture.^{[18]
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  Trustworthy Source
  Mayo Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  Go to source}
2
Choose one with vitamin A. Though vitamin A is also an antioxidant, it does more than just work on free radicals. It can also help increase production of collagen fibers in your skin. Collagen fibers affect elasticity, meaning it can cut down on wrinkles.^{[19]
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PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source}
- Retinol is a form of vitamin A, so look for that on the label.^{[20]
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  Mayo Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  Go to source}
3
Pick one with coenzyme Q10. This ingredient can also help reduce wrinkles. In addition, it may help protect your skin against the sun.^{[21]
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Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
4
Check for polypeptides or oligopeptides. These ingredients mimic peptides in your skin. Specifically, they can mimic collagen or elastin, the fibers the help regulate elasticity. They encourage your skin to produce more of these molecules, which in turn helps reduce wrinkles on your skin.^{[22]
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Trustworthy Source
PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source}
5
Read for extracts. Certain extracts also act as antioxidants. In addition, many of them are also anti-inflammatory, helping your skin be less puffy. Two to look for are green tea extract and grape seed extract. Grape seed extract also helps you heal from skin injuries.^{[23]
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Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Picking the Right One for You

1
Pick a single product. Using multiple anti-aging products, such as wrinkle creams, can actually work against you. Multiple products can irritate your skin, which does not help you with aging. Stick to one main product directly aimed at anti-aging.
2
Patch test new products. Before you slather a cream all over your face, it's best to test it on your skin. Put a small amount on the side of your neck. Leave it on for 24 hours, checking to see if you have a reaction to the cream, such as a rash. If you do, you don't want to use it on your face.^{[24]
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3
Don't be fooled by price. Just because a product is more expensive, that does not mean it's more effective. Some less-expensive products can have the same or similar ingredients.
4
Ask for professional help. You may think you are able to self-diagnose your skin, but a professional can help you decide what you actually need.^{[25]
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Expert Source

Heather Richmond, MD
Board Certified Dermatologist
Expert Interview. 15 September 2020.} Ask your dermatologist what's best for your skin. You may also consider talking to other skin care professionals.^{[26]
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Expert Q&A

Question

How much should I spend on anti-aging products?

Heather Richmond, MD
Board Certified Dermatologist
Dr. Heather Richmond, MD is a board certified Dermatologist at Dermatology and Laser Surgery Center in Houston, Texas. With over nine years of experience, Dr. Richmond specializes in comprehensive dermatology including medical, surgical, and cosmetic procedures. She graduated cum laude from Yale University with a BA in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. She earned her MD from the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, where she was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. She completed her Internal Medicine internship at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and her Dermatology residency at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Dr. Richmond is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and is a member of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, and the Texas and Houston Dermatological Societies.

Heather Richmond, MD

Board Certified Dermatologist

Expert Answer

That all depends on the type of product. In general, I would avoid very low-priced products which may be unreliable. I suggest you look for a reputable brand that's recommended by a medical professional.
Question

What is the best drugstore brand of anti-aging moisturizers?

Chris M. Matsko, MD
Family Medicine Physician
Dr. Chris M. Matsko is a retired physician based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With over 25 years of medical research experience, Dr. Matsko was awarded the Pittsburgh Cornell University Leadership Award for Excellence. He holds a BS in Nutritional Science from Cornell University and an MD from the Temple University School of Medicine in 2007. Dr. Matsko earned a Research Writing Certification from the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) in 2016 and a Medical Writing & Editing Certification from the University of Chicago in 2017.

Chris M. Matsko, MD

Family Medicine Physician

Expert Answer

Any brand is fine, just make sure that it has sunscreen with broad spectrum UVA and UVB coverage.