The 16 Best Skincare Products for Your 40s (FYI, We've Tested Hundreds)

Best Overall

NuFACE Trinity+ Starter Kit

$395 at Sephora $395 at Ulta $395 at Dermstore

Best for: Lifting muscles for a toned, contoured look | Frequency of Use: Five days a week

This handheld facial toning device is incredible—just ask Jennifer Aniston. It helps improve your facial contour and skin tone and may actually reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, even on your neck (as long as you use it a few minutes a day, at least five days a week).

Simply hold the microcurrent orbs to the skin and softly push upward around the neck, jaw, forehead, and cheekbones. And since this is the brand’s newest iteration, it has a boost button that superpowers the device, providing an additional 25% microcurrent for especially stubborn areas. According to the brand, real results are visible in two months (80% saw smoother, firmer skin). It is pricey though, so we only suggest getting it if you're really going to use it faithfully.

Best Face Mask

Hanacure The All-In-One Facial

$29 at Violet Grey $29 at Neiman Marcus View on Bergdorfgoodman.com

Best for: Lifting, firming | Frequency of Use: Weekly or every other week | Size: 0.23 oz | Active Ingredients: Lotus leaf and green tea extracts | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Hanacure's multi-action treatment mask is virtually legendary. “The philosophy is inspired by the lotus flower, which, according to the brand (and drawn from South Korean culture), freshly blooms each and every morning,” writes one Byrdie editor. “The premise for the mask: Your skin will mirror the lotus flower in that it will be 'reborn' with each use.” While she didn't love the tightening effect while the mas was on, her mother, who's in her 70s, couldn't stop inspecting and praising the results. Her skin felt insanely smooth, soft, and toned, and her newfound glow was virtually glass-like.

Best Eye Mask

111SKIN Sub Zero De-Puffing Eye Mask

View on 111skin.com $110 at Violet Grey

Best for: Swollen, dry under eyes | Frequency of Use: As needed | Size: 0.2 oz | Active Ingredients: Vitamin E, seaweed extracts, and peptide complex | Cruelty-Free: Yes 

Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Julie E. Russak, M.D., suggests using firming eye gels, like this de-puffing option from UK brand 111Skin, to help awaken eyes in the morning. “I like to use them first thing when I wake up and I’m having my morning coffee,” she adds.

You might recognize these periwinkle blue hydrogel eye masks from its celebrity clientele fanbase. The under-eye masks aren’t just Instagram-famous for their looks, though—they’re known to address puffiness, dryness, and discoloration, too, with seaweed and vitamin E. They also boast a peptide complex that helps strengthen the undereye area to help slow signs of aging.

Apply them before any big event (or just when you want to look well-rested) and let them sit for 20 minutes, then remove them and go about your makeup routine. You can even keep them in the fridge for an added cryo-like boost. We do wish a few more masks came in each package, considering the price tag.

Best Moisturizer

SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore

$155 at Dermstore $155 at Skinstore.com $155 at Skinceuticals.com

Best for: Addressing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles | Frequency of Use: Twice a day | Size: 1.6 oz | Active Ingredients: Vitamin E, ceramides, and lipids | Cruelty-Free: No

This rich cream is top of the list for Dr. Yadav and it’s one of Dr. Russak’s favorites, too. “It helps replenish the skin barrier with ceramides and other lipids to promote more nourished skin that can better retain moisture on its own,” Dr. Yadav explains. The patented moisturizer gets its 2:4:2 name from the ratio of 2% ceramide/4% natural cholesterol/and 2% fatty acids. Together, the unique trio helps to restore the skin’s barrier while also visibly addressing the appearance of skin texture, laxity, and dullness.

Unlike many similar rich creams, this formula feels lightweight and absorbs quickly. That said, some users reported it caused some irritation upon application, so if you have sensitive skin, it might be best to avoid this one.

Best Budget-Friendly Face Cream

Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream

$37 at Ulta $28 at Target $25 at Walmart

Best for: Deep hydration and addressing the appearance of fine lines | Frequency of Use: Twice a day | Size: 1.7 oz | Active Ingredients: Peptides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide | Cruelty-Free: No 

Olay’s famous red jar is always a foolproof option (and typically available at your local drugstore). This updated, fragrance-free version includes niacinamide (aka vitamin B3), hyaluronic acid, and antioxidants for an even stronger and more focused approach. Niacinamide is especially beneficial: vitamin B3 has been shown in clinical studies to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, reduce hyperpigmentation, and improve skin elasticity.

This thick cream absorbs deeply into the skin’s surface, providing longer-lasting hydration than other creams twice its price tag. It's also fragrance-free, so it's perfect for our sensitive-skinned friends; it's not cruelty-free, which we don't love.

Best Overall Retinol

SkinCeuticals Retinol 1.0 Maximum Strength Refining Night Cream

$102 at Dermstore $102 at Bluemercury.com $102 at Skinstore.com

Best for: Moderate to experienced retinol users | Frequency of Use: 4 to 5 drops to clean, dry skin once a week, gradually increasing frequency to every other night, then every night as tolerated | Size: 1 oz | Active Ingredients: 1.0% retinol and chamomile | Cruelty-Free: No 

Retinol is the gold standard in anti-aging skincare and one of only a handful of products Dr. Russak recommends to her 40+-year-old patients—particularly for addressing early signs of aging.

“Retinol is FDA-approved for fine lines and wrinkles and helps with cell turnover,” she says. SkinCeuticals’ 1.0% version is one of the most potent formulas you can purchase without a prescription. Retinol has a long and impressive list of proven benefits, but it can (famously) be difficult to add to your regime at first. Good thing SkinCeuticals added a blend of soothing extracts, including chamomile and frankincense, to help ease any potential flare-ups. That said, if you have super sensitive skin, first apply to a small, less noticeable area and see how your skin handles it before using it all over your face. You may also have to start using it just a few times a week to build up a tolerance.

Best Sensitive-Skin Retinol

SkinBetter Science AlphaRet Overnight Cream

$135 at Skinbetter.com View on Skinlabusa.com

Best for: Sensitive skin and new retinol users | Frequency of Use: Suitable for nightly use (or every other night if you have irritation) | Size: 1 oz | Active Ingredients: Retinoid, alpha hydroxy acid, ceramides, squalane, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Dr. Yadav notes that the most beneficial retinol you can use is prescription strength under the guidance of your dermatologist. That said, prescription strength isn’t for everyone, and this award-winning SkinBetter option is a great first step for people with sensitive skin. The innovative formula combines retinoids with AHAs (gentle chemical exfoliants) for a treatment that’s designed to provide visible results but with less irritation.

Beyond the AHAs and retinoids, the AlphaRet Overnight Cream has a long list of calming and hydrating ingredients, including ceramides, squalane, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, allantoin, and green tea extract.

Best Hydrating Serum

Soho Skin Renewal Serum

View on Spacenk.com View on Sohoskin.com

Best for: Repair and brighten | Frequency of Use: Twice a day | Size: 1.7 oz | Active Ingredients: Plankton and pumpkin seed extracts, peptides, collagen, and probiotics | Cruelty-Free: Yes

You know see-and-be-seen hotspot Soho House? Well, the hotel group tapped one of the most progressive labs in the UK to develop a skincare line for its guests—and unsurprisingly, the results are very science-forward. Each product in the collection is focused on the mitochondria as well as the cell’s energy in the epidermis and dermis. Essentially, the brand’s patented complex, SohoSkin Concentrate, targets tired or aging cells and attempts to “power” them up to regulate the mitochondria.

What that means for your skin, the brand says, is less pigmentation, more stimulated collagen, and radiant and visibly even skin tone. The only downside is the consistency might feel too runny for some.

Best Overall Serum

Skin Medica TNS Advanced+ Serum

$266 at Amazon $295 at Dermstore $50 at Walmart

Best for: Addressing skin radiance and fine lines | Frequency of Use: Twice a day | Size: 1 oz | Active Ingredients: Peptides, marine extracts, and growth factors | Cruelty-Free: Yes

SkinMedica's TNS Advanced+ Serum bottle contains two chambers, each dispensing a different product in a single pump. One chamber includes the brand’s patented TNS-MR, a growth factor blend for “healthy skin functions,” as the brand notes. The other chamber contains a blend of botanicals, marine extracts, and peptides, which are designed to boost collagen production. In the brand’s third-party-reviewed clinical studies, patients reported looking up to six years younger after only 12 weeks of use. Patients also saw a “significant” improvement in the appearance of sagging skin after eight weeks and a “progressive” improvement in satisfaction with their skin’s appearance over 24 weeks.

Obviously, we love all these study-backed results, but some may not love the product's strong scent.

Best Vitamin C Serum For Hyperpigmentation

Dermalogica Biolumin-C Vitamin C Serum

$148 at Amazon $39 at Sephora $148 at Ulta

Best for: Hyperpigmentation | Frequency of Use: Just in the a.m. for sensitive skin; Twice a day for others | Size: 1 oz | Active Ingredients: Vitamin C, lactic acid, and chia seed oil | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If pigmentation, dark spots, or general skin dullness is your focus, try products rife with vitamin C. This Dermalogica vitamin C serum is a particularly effective option. The antioxidant has been scientifically shown to improve skin elasticity, radiance, and smoothness, and even significantly minimize the look of wrinkles.

The brand describes its vitamin C as “ultra-stable”—a major issue for run-of-the-mill vitamin C, where unstable formulas oxidize when exposed to air or light, rendering them ineffective. What’s more, the formula is paired with chia seed oil for a calming effect and lactic acid to accelerate skin turnover. That said, it might be a bit too much for those with sensitive skin, especially since it has a strong fragrance.

Best Eye Serum

Osea Ocean Eyes Age Defying Eye Serum

$58 at Amazon $58 at Ulta View on Nordstrom

Best for: Reducing puffiness and fine lines | Frequency of Use: Twice a day | Size: 0.58 oz | Active Ingredients: Seaweed extract, peptides, quinoa extract, and hyaluronic acid | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Under-eye swelling or puffiness tends to become more common as we age because the tissues around the eyes naturally weaken, including some of the muscles that support the eyelids. If you want to address the perfectly normal puffiness around the eyes, this rollerball eye serum from Osea Malibu offers a blend of seaweed and quinoa extracts, peptides, and hyaluronic acid to target the appearance of dark circles, puffiness, and fine lines. Bonus: the cooling rollerball applicator makes massaging the delicate area simple and relaxing. The only issue we've found with the product is the rollerball can get stuck occasionally.

Best Liquid Exfoliating Treatment

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

$35 at Amazon $35 at Sephora $32 at Dermstore

Best for: Boosting radiance, unclogging pores, and addressing fine lines | Frequency of Use: Apply two times a week at first, then increase the frequency if skin isn’t irritated  | Size: 4 oz | Active Ingredients: Salicylic acid and green tea extract | Cruelty-Free: Yes 

Internet famous for its amazing ability to unclog pores, this liquid exfoliant is also designed to address wrinkles, boost radiance, and even out skin tone. The exfoliant’s main ingredient is salicylic acid, the most commonly used beta-hydroxy acid. BHAs are oil soluble, so they work both on the skin’s surface and within pores, making them one of the most effective exfoliants on the market today.

This BHA-boosted formula works on two levels: first, by removing dead skin cells and buildup on the skin’s outermost surface, and second, by going a bit deeper into the dermis to unclog and clear out pores. Together, the ingredients should make the skin appear more radiant, even-toned, and smoother, with fine lines and wrinkles markedly diminished, according to the brand. There's nothing not to love except that some said the product felt a little sticky.

Best Sunscreen

Tatcha The Silk Sunscreen

$64 at Sephora $62 at Kohls.com

Best for: Protection from UVA and UVB rays | Frequency of Use: Every morning | Size: 1.7 oz | Active Ingredients: Zinc oxide, red algae extract, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide | Cruelty-Free: Yes

“We know that unprotected sun exposure is one of the main causes of accelerated aging, so if you want to slow down the manifestation of fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots, and skin laxity, it's critical to protect your skin with SPF,” says Dr. Yadav. She suggests using a formula of 35 or higher daily, even when it's cloudy or you're only outside briefly. We love this lightweight Tatcha formula, SPF 50 protection, and hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to hydrate. However, some reviewers noted the packaging can be frustrating and messy.

Best Eye Cream for Discoloration

ISDIN K-Ox Eye Cream

$102 at Amazon View on Isdin.com

Best for: Addressing under-eye darkness | Frequency of Use: Twice a day | Size: 0.5 oz | Active Ingredients: Vitamin K and hyaluronic acid | Cruelty-Free: Yes 

Aging, genetics, allergies, lack of sleep, and dehydration can all cause dark circles under your eyes. The purple-ish hues can be stubborn to soothe, but by increasing circulation (via manual massage and circulation-boosting ingredients) and applying skincare packed with antioxidants, like darkness-reducing vitamin K, you can help improve their appearance.

The Barcelona-based brand ISDIN developed K-Ox Eyes specifically to ease dark circles and puffiness. According to the brand, visibly illuminated skin appears within 28 days of consistent use. It also tightens the skin with Haloxyl and improves elasticity with hyaluronic acid. That said, the results may not be super dramatic.

Best Face Oil

Furtuna Skin Biphase Moisturizing Oil

$225 at Amazon $225 at Dermstore $225 at Nordstrom

Best for: Plumping dehydrated skin | Frequency of Use: Twice a day | Size: 1 oz | Active Ingredients: Organic extra virgin olive oil, calendula, and olive leaf water | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Plant-based facial oils are especially vital for 40+ skin. According to a 2018 clinical study, oils provide anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects that heal and repair skin. The Furtuna Skin Biphase Moisturizing Oil harnesses the medicinal powers of botanicals grown on the brand’s private, organic farm in Sicily. The oil contains a plethora of healing ingredients, including extra virgin olive oil, the medicinal flower anchusa azurea (described as “nature’s Botox” by the brand), and soothing wild organic calendula—as well as a long list of other wild botanicals. A few drops of the oil dabbed onto the skin’s surface can visibly plump, soothe, and protect skin all day or all night long. 

Best Cleanser

U Beauty The Mantle Skin Conditioning Wash

$78 at Amazon $78 at Dermstore $78 at Nordstrom

Best for: Gently and effectively cleansing the skin | Frequency of Use: Nightly (plus morning, if you like to cleanse in the a.m.) | Size: 5 oz | Active Ingredients: Proprietary SIREN Capsule Technology, alpha hydroxy acids, enzymes, vitamins, and humectants | Cruelty-Free: Yes

U Beauty, the luxury skincare brand founded by Tina Craig, is known for its multipurpose, effective, and science-forward formulas. The celeb-beloved line recently launched its first cleanser, which took Craig five years to perfect. The balm-like face wash is designed to double cleanse in a single step by melting away water- and oil-soluble debris—including waterproof makeup, sunscreen, dirt, sweat, and excess oil—to ensure deep purification without stripping the skin. It also helps restore and bolster the skin's barrier with a blend of fruit AHAs, enzymes, vitamins C and E, and hyaluronic acid. We love how gentle this cleanser is on the skin, but some reviewers noted they didn't feel clean after using it.