You might want to look more closely at the formulas you’re using if you’re using a lot of anti aging products but not seeing any results.
Not all skin problems come from the same thing, so the products you use to fix them should be made for those problems (even those that you can buy without a prescription). You can’t just use anything to get rid of dark spots and wrinkles, for example. So 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. What I like best? At Amazon, they all cost less than $55.
Dr. Gmyrek says that lifestyle choices like wearing sunscreen exercising, and eating well are very important, even though she says that genetics may play a role in how we age.
She tells REAL SIMPLE, Prevention is everything. The rest is trying to fix the damage and give the skin back its structural support which is a hard task.
Before working at Union Derm in New York City, Dr. Gmyrek was a professor at Columbia University Medical Center, where she was in charge of the cosmetic dermatology division and started the Cosmetic Skin and Laser Center.
She has spoken at national conferences about laser surgery, Botox injections, sclerotherapy to get rid of leg veins, and filler injections to fix wrinkles. For 25 years, she has focused on cosmetic and general dermatology, and 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, $25 (was $35)
Liquid exfoliant with 6% mandelic acid and 2% lactic acid from Paula’s Choice, $15
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 Cleanser
Shoppers say this neck cream, which costs less than $15 and doesn’t require any fuss, almost instantly erases crepey skin.
RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Max Hydration Cream is a better choice.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Daily Hydration Anti-Aging Face Moisturizer costs $35 at Amazon and $25 at Amazon.
Dr. Gmyrek says, Many creams claim to have collagen as an anti-aging ingredient, but collagen molecules are too big to get through the skin. She also says that while they can add moisture to 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 vitamin C, retinoids, and peptides. She says that these can help the skin make new collagen, which can make fine lines and skin texture better over time. Dr. Gmyrek likes this RoC retinol night cream better than others for boosting collagen, making skin look fuller and more elastic. She also said that the formula is oil-free and won’t clog your pores. It has vitamin C, retinol, and hyaluronic acid and glycerin to keep it hydrated.
Don’t use harsh physical exfoliants
Use Paula’s Choice 6% Mandelic Acid + 2% Lactic Acid Liquid Exfoliant instead.
Amazon Paula’s Choice 6% Mandelic Acid + 2% Lactic Acid Exfoliant costs $15 on Amazon.
Dr. Gmyrek says that scrubs with walnut shells, apricot pits, or sugar crystals can make tiny tears in the skin, which makes irritation worse and breaks down the skin barrier instead of making it look younger over time.
A chemical exfoliant like glycolic acid, lactic acid, or mandelic acid is a better choice. It gently breaks down dead cells, boosts radiance and encourages new cell turnover without hurting the skin. She recommends Paula’s Choice exfoliant with lactic acid, which can help with discoloration and texture and is safe for sensitive skin.
Do not use toners with alcohol that claim to tighten or minimize pores
Tula Skin Care Clarifying Tonic Alcohol-Free Toner is a better choice.
Amazon has the TULA Skin Care Clarifying Tonic Alcohol-Free Daily Toner for $28. You can also get it at Tula.com for $28.
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 help fill in wrinkles and make skin feel softer.
She says, Not all alcohols are bad for your skin, but simple alcohols like ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, and denatured alcohol can be too drying and irritating. On the other hand, fatty alcohols like cetyl, stearyl, and cetearyl alcohol are good for you and keep your skin moist.
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 keep the skin barrier strong.
Don’t Use Retinoids That Are Too Strong for You
Instead, try La Roche-Posay Redermic R Anti-Aging Retinol Cream.
Some people believe that if a product stings or burns, it means it’s working, but that’s not always the case. Dr. Gmyrek says that most people choose the strongest retinoids they can find to get results faster, even though retinoids can already be irritating. This is not a good way to go about it.
When your skin gets red and irritated, you can hurt the collagen and elastic tissue as well as the skin barrier. Dr. Gmyrek says that you should start with a low-potency formula or use it less often and slowly work your way up.
La Roche-Posay’s retinol cream is light and moisturizing, so it can be used on most skin types. Dr. Gmyrek says that the product stimulates collagen to make fine lines, skin texture, and tone better.
Don’t Use Cleansers that foam or strip
Instead, try La Roche-Posay Toleriane Gentle Face Cleaner.
Be careful of cleansers that make your face 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 dehydration and irritation.
A gentle, low-pH cleanser with moisturizing 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 uses niacinamide, ceramides, and thermal water to clean the skin without drying it out.
Healthy, balanced skin is always more resistant to aging, Dr. Gmyrek says.
Dr. Gmyrek has more suggestions for anti-aging skin care products that you can buy on Amazon. Keep scrolling to see them.
