This may come as a surprise: Many drugstore beauty products contain the exact same ingredients as the precious pricey bottles in department stores. Even better, many of these brands put just as many years of research and development into each product. So what's the difference? Drugstore products tend to skip the exotic extras and the bottles and jars may not win any beauty contests. But their workhorse ingredients mean you could still walk away with the best skin of your life.)A sad fact of aging is the realization that wrinkles and pimples are not mutually exclusive. This cleanser tackles both with acne-fighting salicylic acid and skin-smoothing alpha hydroxy acid, which brightens dull skin by exfoliating away dead skin cells. Let's Stay In Touch Keep this field blank Enter your email address You may unsubscribe at any time. ))Peptides shift your skin’s collagen-repairing mechanism into high gearThis serum is also bolstered by ceramides, which mimic the natural fatty acids that serve as your skin’s defense against dry, crepe-y texture.
)Vitamin C should be at the top of your antioxidant shopping list. It helps reduce inflammation, evens out skin tone, and shields the skin from environmental threats like UV exposure and pollution, says Joshua Zeichner, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. This tube packs L-ascorbic acid, a form of vitamin C stable enough not to lose its potency before you use it.)This product’s mild retinol formula is ideal for the thin skin around the eyes, providing wrinkle relief without irritation, while hyaluronic acid and peptides hydrate and promote collagen repair.MORE: Are You Applying Your Eye Cream The Right Way? Don't Be Too Sure...)A minimum of SPF 30 should be a given in any good day cream, but this one also offers antioxidant-filled blueberry juice to protect skin cells from DNA-damaging free radicals floating around in the environment. According to the USDA, blueberries rank higher than all other fruits and veggies in total antioxidant capacity per serving.
)Vitamin B-3 (also known as niacinamide) is another super anti-aging ingredient to keep on your list. “It can help hydrate, reduce inflammation, and lighten dark spots,” Zeichncer says. This nighttime moisturizer also packs hyaluronic acid and ceramides, which keep your skin from losing water. You'll awake to hydrated, refreshed, more evenly-toned skin every morning.)OK, so you've got your face covered—now turn your attention to the rest of your skin. This lotion blends brightening vitamin C, antioxidant vitamin E, wrinkle-repairing vitamin A, and collagen-stimulating peptides with emollient shea butter for total-body renewal.)Retinol is the gold-standard wrinkle-reducing ingredient—its ability to increase collagen production and cell turnover makes it a dermatologist favorite. But there are different forms of the vitamin A precursor, and they have slightly different strengths. You’ll find it in one of its strongest over-the-counter forms, “retinol,” in this new nighttime treatment, along with skin-firming peptides.
Tip: Look for the words “retinol” or “retinaldehyde” on the label to get the most potent form of the ingredient, explains Zeichner. If you have sensitive skin, search for “retinal esters,” a more gentle form of the ingredient less likely to cause redness and irritation.MORE: 10 Smoothies For Pretty Skin The images represent actual product though color of the image and product may slightly differ.When it comes to beauty, you have to pick and choose where you spend your money. Maybe you’re all about that perfect complexion, so you splurge on foundation and concealer but save on liner and mascara. Or perhaps you can’t resist luxurious cleansers, so you spend less on other skin products, like moisturizer. If that’s you, shop the first half of this story. If you love a good night cream and are willing to pay for one that works, you’ll find your top picks in the second part of this story. Either way, there’s an anti-aging serum for every budget—scroll through for 10 of the best!
When it comes to beauty, you have to pick and choose where you spend your money. Burt’s Bees ($12)For drier skin types, Burt’s Bees’ oil-based treatment helps with all your skin’s aging woes. This all-natural serum contains pomegranate oil to fight free radical damage, while evening primrose and borage oils build up the skin’s moisture barrier. Olay ($18)Part of Olay’s iconic Regenerist line, this fast-acting anti-aging serum penetrates through 10 layers of skin to plump and smooth out fine lines and wrinkles. Neutrogena ($22)Say adios to stubborn wrinkles with Neutrogena’s accelerated retinol formula. This product will smooth fine lines and reduce deeper wrinkles like crow’s feet and worry lines. Hyaluronic acid plumps and rejuvenates the skin while retinol renews, tightens, and brightens the complexion. Mary Kay ($37)Goodbye, dark spots and skin discoloration: Mary Kay’s Lucentrix complex restores the skin’s natural and even tone. This fragrance-free and hypoallergenic formula is ideal for a range of skin tones, from ivory to bronze complexions.
Philosophy ($45)Perfect for those who prefer lightweight formulas, this oil-free serum hydrates stressed and aging skin. It delivers ingredients that improve elasticity and reduce under-eye bags, dark circles, and signs of environmental damage. Plus, chaparral extract minimizes unwanted facial hair (bonus!). Kiehl’s ($46)The skin is most receptive to cellular repair at night. This little blue bottle boosts that natural process by delivering naturally derived skin goodies like squalene and lavender to leave skin soft, supple, and well rested. Clinique ($50)Delivering wrinkle-reducing effects without the process of a laser treatment, this potent formula promises visible improvements in lines, wrinkles, and sun damage in 12 weeks. Use both morning and night for maximum effect. Origins Dr. Weil for Origins ($53)Technically this product is a little over $50, but it wouldn’t be right if this natural skin-relief serum wasn’t included. Perfect for those who struggle with redness and want anti-aging benefits, too, sea buckthorn and Origins’ mega-mushroom blend deliver anti-inflammatory properties while making skin more resilient.
Estée Lauder ($62)This advanced-repair serum fights all key signs of visible aging by maximizing the skin’s natural ability to renew itself overnight. With Estée Lauder’s exclusive ChronoluxCB technology (to get technical), the appearance of lines and wrinkles is reduced, and skin is left more hydrated, radiant, and even-toned. Murad ($75)If your skin feels dehydrated and a little lackluster, Murad’s Age-Diffusing Serum’s resurrection plant proteins improve skin elasticity, firmness, and suppleness while also decreasing the appearance of wrinkles and other visible signs of aging. Dr. Brandt ($86)For radiant skin and improved texture and tone, try Dr. Brandt’s Overnight Resurfacing Serum. Made with a time-released 2% retinol complex, this serum will reduce lines and wrinkles while softening enlarged pores and lessening the look of redness with its olive active ingredient. Algenist ($98)Two are better than one, especially when it comes to Algenist’s dual-action serum.
With Alguronic Acid + Retinol, one to two pumps of this cocktail will boost natural cell regeneration and leave skin smoother and tighter. Caudalíe ($99)Half oil and half serum, this elixir provides the powerful, targeted effects of a serum with the luxurious and nourishing benefits of an oil (and it smells like rose and oak). This dry oil hybrid lifts, firms, brightens, and nourishes all skin types while providing a perfect complement to whatever moisturizer you layer on after. Prescriptives ($111)This super elixir is just as powerful as its name suggests. Armed with Prescriptives’ super-antioxidant system, this formula defends against environmentally triggered free radicals both immediately after exposure and up to 72 hours after! Obagi ($113)If you’re looking to turn over a new leaf when it comes to your skin, look no further than Obagi’s advanced-formula serum that promises to restore skin to its healthy radiance. It supports the skin’s natural healing process while repairing damage with potent ingredients like kinetin and Swiss apple extract over a 12-hour period.