Editor Tip: As cosmetic chemist Ni’Kita Wilson previously explained, these ingredients also allow the moisturizer to “mimic normal, young skin as accurately as possible,” making this a great pick for those targeting fine lines and wrinkles.
^with the addition of Dr. Gohara’s quote, this is a bit repetitive. can we tweak?
Key Ingredients: Ceramides, cholesterol, fatty acids | Who It’s For: People with fine lines, dry skin | Fragrance-Free: Yes
Best Neck Cream: SkinCeuticals TriPeptide-R Neck Repair
Why It’s Worth It: It’s important to give the delicate skin on your neck just as much love as its upstairs neighbor (your face). We love the SkinCeuticals TriPeptide-R Neck Repair, a retinol cream formulated with 0.2% pure retinol, for its ability to target crepiness, wrinkles, and discoloration. As its name suggests, this neck treatment is also infused with a 2.5% tripeptide complex and 5% glaucine complex (derived from the yellow-horned poppy plant) to increase skin elasticity and firmness.
Editor Tip: Sure, this product is meant for your neck, but SkinCeuticals also recommends applying it to your décolleté and jawline and using an upward motion to massage this intensive treatment onto your skin.
Key Ingredients: Retinol, tripeptide | Who It’s For: People with delicate skin | Fragrance-Free: Yes
Best Hydrating Serum: SkinCeuticals Hyaluronic Acid Intensifier
Why It’s Worth It: No matter your skin concerns or skin type, hyaluronic acid serums are essential in any skin-care routine by boosting daily moisture levels (by 30%, according to the brand) and strengthening your skin barrier. How? Hyaluronic acid holds 1,000 times its weight in water—and despite this impressive stat, it won’t make your skin feel greasy. Along with its namesake ingredient, the Hyaluronic Acid Intensifier contains licorice root to brighten dark spots and hyperpigmentation.
Editor Tip: This HA serum gets two thumbs up from commerce writer Jennifer Hussein, who has sensitive skin. “I have easily irritable skin and pesky seasonal flaking, so a clinical-grade hydrator like the H.A. Intensifier is essential for my routine,” says Hussein. “Even during the driest months of the year, this serum protects my skin against the elements (as in, New York City’s pollution-filled air) and brings back its bouncy, baby-soft texture.”
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, licorice root extract | Who It’s For: Everyone | Fragrance-Free: Yes
Best Nighttime Serum: SkinCeuticals Resveratrol B E
Why It’s Worth It: SkinCeuticals’s Resveratrol B E is another powerful serum that addresses signs of aging, thanks to resveratrol, an antioxidant that protects and defends your skin against free radicals. This lightweight nighttime serum is also infused with anti-inflammatory and moisturizing vitamin E for a softer, smoother, and less puffy complexion, and baicalin (that’s the “B”), a potent antioxidant derived from the Baikal skullcap plant. One Allure tester previously noted that the product “goes on cool and wet and absorbs in seconds.”
