Anti-aging skincare products are big business. In 2024, they pulled in more than $52 billion from sales around the world, according to one market analysis report. Within the next five years, the same report projects that sum will grow to nearly $81 billion, this remarkable growth fueled by “advancements in dermatological research, the widespread adoption of retinol, peptides, hyaluronic acid-based formulations, and the influence of social media and beauty influencers.”
In other words, an already dizzying array of products is about to grow even more vast. Which begs the question: Where to begin? Here’s some guidance, via the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA), to help with that decision – and the others that will inevitably follow.
Where to begin
If you haven’t already discovered it for yourself, you soon will: anti-aging skincare products can be expensive. That’s the bad news. The good news is that the two most effective anti-aging products you can buy also happen to be two of the cheapest options available: sunscreen and moisturizer.
“Using these every day can make a noticeable difference,” the AADA says.
So start there. They recommend using a water-resistant, broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 year-round. Aim to apply it 15 minutes before you head outside (to give it time to be absorbed by your skin) and then again every couple of hours if you’re going to be outside for a prolonged period.
It’s OK to use a moisturizer that contains sunscreen, but the sunscreen needs to meet the standards noted above (many don’t).
The next step
If you imagine sunscreen and moisturizer as the foundation of your anti-aging skincare regimen, the next step is pinpointing your biggest concern that they can’t address. The AADA recommends using only sunscreen and moisturizer on a daily basis for a few weeks. Then find a mirror and try to home in one concern, such as wrinkles or dark spots. That should help you decide whether you need another product, and if so, what kind.
The reason for this approach, the AADA says, is twofold. First, “no product can treat all signs of skin aging.” And second, “using more than one anti-aging product in a few days or weeks can irritate the skin, making you look older.”
Consider your skin type
Knowing what to include in your skincare regimen can be empowering, but it’s only part of the equation, because with skincare there are always options within options. As you begin to explore yours, make sure to consider only the products that are formulated for your skin type.
Then narrow that subset down even further by seeking out products labelled “hypoallergenic,” meaning the product can still cause an allergic reaction, but the risk is less, and “non-comedogenic” or “non-acnegenic,” meaning it won’t cause acne.
While we’re here, the AADA offers this handy tip: “’Clinically proven’ means that the product was given to consumers to try. It does not mean the product underwent clinical trials and received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration.”
Reframe your expectations
Finally, try to ignore all the marketing, including the price of a given product. In skincare, we’re led to believe that expensive products are more effective than cheaper ones, but this is rarely the case.
And as you’re reframing your expectations, keep in mind that no skincare product works overnight. Most require several weeks before you’ll begin to notice a difference. Even then, you shouldn’t expect a dramatic one. The best products can minimize the signs of aging, but they’ll never erase them altogether.
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