Get The Most Out of Expensive Anti-Aging Skincare Products

In our previous post, we shared a strategy for adding anti-aging skincare products to your daily regimen. With a dizzying array of choices, knowing where to begin and what to focus on from there will help you achieve your desired results.

Not to be glossed over: A methodical approach should also save you time and money. Anti-aging products can be prohibitively expensive—which often seems to add to their hype. Many of us equate steep prices with effectiveness, even though it’s rarely the case. 

Still, on the occasion you find yourself paying more than you’re comfortable with for a product (or products) with a proven track record, here’s some advice for how to get the most out of it.

Start slow and give it time

Aside from not being able to tell which product is doing what, introducing multiple anti-aging products at once runs the risk of irritating your skin. And when your skin is irritated, the signs of aging become more noticeable. 

So, bring one new product into the fold at a time, and use it for several weeks before adding another. This should be enough time to clearly see results for most anti-aging products. Although some can take up to three months. A board-certified dermatologist can help you know what to expect. While you’re there, discuss other products you’re considering and if the combination could trigger a reaction.

It probably shouldn’t hurt

To be clear, irritation is more than red, inflamed skin. It can also take the form of sensations like tingling, stinging, and burning. If you begin feeling any of the above, or anything else that you perceive as abnormal, stop using the product and talk with a dermatologist about whether it’s safe to resume using it. 

If it’s happening because of a product prescribed by your dermatologist, ask if this should be happening before you stop using it. Some prescription-strength products will burn or sting.

To prevent this from happening, test a new product before applying it to your face or hands. Even hypoallergenic products can cause a skin reaction. Apply a small amount to your inner forearm twice a day for four or five days. If your skin’s free of redness, itch, and other reactions after that time, it should be safe to apply to your face and elsewhere.

Even then, make sure you follow the directions. Some products contain active ingredients that can cause problems if you apply more than directed. You could end up with clogged pores, blotchy skin, or excessively dry skin.

Use common sense

Finally, this may sound like common sense, but it’s worth stating anyway: If you begin to see results, continue using the product. They’ll likely disappear if you don’t continue using the product just as you have been.

Also, as noted in the previous post, moisturizer and sunscreen should be your first line of defense against the signs of skin aging. If you don’t protect your skin from the sun and moisturize it every day, you’re actively undoing the much more expensive product’s progress. The three of them should go hand-in-hand.