I'm 31 and Have Never Felt the Need for Botox Thanks to These 8 Products

Hyaluronic acid is the hydrating ingredient everyone knows about, but silver ear mushroom actually provides five times the hydration of HA. This serum has both of those ingredients, plus anti-inflammatory reishi mushroom and vitamin E.

I like to layer this humectant serum in the morning alongside an active to make sure my skin's getting all the hydration it might need as I move through the day. Factors like the heater, air-conditioner, and sun attempt to zap the moisture right out, so I try to stay one step ahead. The hero ingredient here, provitamin B5, holds hydration within the cells to return the skin’s moisture level to normal after experiencing dehydration or imbalance.

This isn't like a regular toner—it's a cool toner. What I mean by that is it doesn't attempt to suck oil and moisture out of the skin, but rather, it drenches it with moisturizing phospholipids, vitamin C, and niacinamide for cell support, protection, and improved skin barrier function. It's also thicker in texture than typical toners, which is why I'm comfortable mentioning it among serums. I've been using it at night underneath The Ordinary's "Buffet" + Copper Peptides 1% ($28), and so far, it's a winning combination.

I love to use retinol creams that have the concentration of the ingredient explicitly stated on the packaging so I can more accurately track my progress and make smarter choices about when and how to gradually up the dosage. This is a great one I've used for a while and recommend to anyone who will listen.

This one combines retinyl palmitate with lactic acid and aloe vera to boost collagen, gently exfoliate, and soothe the skin all at once. My first go-round with this product was pretty successful in that my skin changed fast. Seriously, within the first couple of weeks, I could visibly see major improvements. I did find it quite sensitizing, though, as it was the first vitamin A derivative I ever tried. Now that I've spent so much time slowly getting used to retinol, I think I'd have a better shot at major skin improvements without any uncomfortable side effects.

I just started using this retinol eye cream, and so far, so good. I have some hereditary discoloration starting to appear under my eyes that I'm hoping this will handle. I like it because I tend to avoid the area immediately around my eyes when using all-over retinol, so using this ensures that that region is still getting the clock-stopping benefits of the ingredient. I only use it on nights when I'm not using retinol on the rest of my face to avoid irritation.

I'm no longer able to come up with words about this serum that properly convey the sentiment that you should just drop everything and buy it immediately. Seriously, everything you've heard is true.

I haven't tried this affordable serum for myself, but it's been on my radar ever since I started tracking the tens of thousands of positive Amazon reviews it's accumulated.

This viscous serum packs a powerful punch with 15% L-ascorbic acid, ferulic acid, and a 1% vitamin E concentration along with pumpkin ferment and pomegranate extract to dissolve dead skin cells and minimize the look of enlarged pores.

This moisturizer is smarter than me. I love each of U Beauty's expertly formulated products, but this moisturizer has been my go-to lately to keep winter dryness from stealing my glow. It's stacked with shea butter; argan, avocado, and grape-seed oils; and skin-building peptides to support cell turnover for improved collagen production, firmness, and circulation. 

Did I mention that peptide moisturizers are kind of my thing right now? It goes back to that plumping agenda I won't shut up about, but the moisture-barrier support is an added bonus. I love this one for daytime since it layers so nicely on top of serums without getting too oily for makeup on top if needed. Plus, it's cheap!

This is a nourishing cream to use after exfoliating, using retinol, or doing anything else that might cause any irritation or stress on the skin. It's lightweight but highly advanced, with anti-inflammatory sea whip extract, calming red marine algae, niacinamide, and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 for healing.

This SPF gel glides on beautifully on top of moisturizer without making things too slippery. It's oil-free and velvety, so it creates a lovely base for makeup.

This derm-approved formula might look white when you first pump it from the container, but it's actually clear upon application to the skin. No white cast here.

Here's another lightweight, noncomedogenic formula your derm would sign off on.

Every other week or so, I love doing this at-home treatment created by Halle Berry's longtime facialist. It's pretty intense and may not be appropriate for those with ultra-sensitive skin, but its potent mix of AHAs can help detox the skin and leave it visibly smoother after just one treatment. Seriously, the glow I get after every single use is unreal.

These cult-favorite peel pads are soaked in a solution containing multiple acids at lower concentrations as opposed to one acid at a high concentration, so the chances of harming the skin are way lower. They've got hydrating lactic acid and oil-dissolving salicylic acid along with glycolic acid, malic acid, chamomile extract, and green tea extract. I use these once a week and wipe any extra solution from each step onto the backs of my hands to give the paws a little love, too.

This exfoliating toner has been on my radar for years (seriously, there are hardcore fans out there who ride so hard for it), but I was finally inspired to try it once a friend of mine shared before-and-afters of her boyfriend's skin after swiping this over his acne-prone skin for 30 days. The photos were so compelling that I sought out a bottle the very next day. While I don't deal with breakouts too often anymore, the pore-clearing, skin tone evening, and texture-reducing benefits called to me. And don't worry—I'm actively trying to convince said gal pal to give me permission to share those photos with all of you because… wow.

If you associate oil with slippery, greasy skin and are not into that visual, then this is the oil for you. I'm relatively new to squalane but have always been intrigued by its reported similarity to the oils our skin naturally produces. Since it's so similar, it's actually able to help balance oil production. Whenever I use this, my skin feels soft and smooth and never greasy.

Here's another wish list item I haven't actually tried yet but desperately want to. The hype around this blend is real, but that price tag, though! A friend of mine got a bottle this past Christmas and has since reported a full-on obsession, so I think I'm finally ready to take the plunge.

This is technically a cleansing balm, but it's oil based, so I'm going to classify it among my other favorite oils. So yeah, this is my favorite cleanser of all time. It's minty and feels tingly on the skin as it grips makeup, sunscreen, and grime before melting into a gentle milk that rinses away with ease. It doesn't leave a gross film behind, but even so, I tend to go in with a lathering cleanser afterward to ensure that every stitch of gunk is washed away. Versed's Wash It Out Gel Cleanser ($13) serves as a great follow-up.

It took me a while to decide if I like this thing because it actually works or because I look like Iron Man while wearing it. I've concluded that, thankfully, the former is the true reason. You can set the mask to emit red light, blue light, or a combination of both to stimulate collagen production (plump me!), kill acne-causing bacteria on the face, or get both sets of benefits at once.

Whether or not this buzzing device is actually capable of jiggling out dirt from deep within my pores is irrelevant at this point because the pulsing massage it offers as I run it over my face is so satisfying. Sometimes, I just concentrate the device in small circles around my jaw or temples, and it helps to relieve muscle tension fast. My skin always feels smooth to the touch after using it, too.

This is like a pulsating squeegee for the skin that coaxes gunk out of the pores as it glides over the dermis. I do a fair amount of work to keep my pores clear in other ways, but in areas like my nose and forehead that tend to produce more oil, a pass with this thing can turn up some serious grime. It's so gross but so satisfying.
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