What 6 Over-50 Beauty Experts Do to Treat Their Own Skin

Celebrity aesthetician Tammy Fender

Significant Changes: “I certainly added in more protective moisturizing to my routine. I’m also very aware how much our internal state affects how we look. I make time to meditate every day. Dissolving stress and tension has so many benefits—for the physical body and for how you live your life—but just softening the expression, easing tension can change the way we appear.” 

Go-to Products: “I love my Quintessential Serum ($180), an ultra-nourishing blend crafted with rose, an incredible rejuvenator, and frankincense, which is known in so many cultures for its amazing preservative qualities. It’s great layered with the Celestial Rose Crème ($80). These two really seal in the skin’s moisture, protecting and nurturing the natural barrier function, rehydrating, restoring and nourishing the skin.”  

Favorite Treatments: “Manual lymphatic drainage helps the body detoxify, increasing circulation and removing impurities from the system.”

Best Advice: “Find ways to enjoy your life, to let go of stress, which diminishes our ability to live into the next moment.”

New York dermatologist Doris Day, MD

Significant Changes: “I increased hydration and added higher-grade peptides.” 

Go-to Products: “I am always testing products but ingredients I stick to include growth factors, antioxidants, resveratrol, retinol, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid. There are always new ingredients and formulas I’m working on, right now I’m looking at ones that help support and nourish a healthy skin biome.”

Favorite Treatments: “My go-to treatments include a Sofwave ultrasound skin tightening treatment twice a year, neuromodulator injections about three times a year and a little filler touch up once a year.”

Best Advice: “Sun protection every day. You’re never too old or too young to protect your skin. Also see a great dermatologist to make sure you have a plan to keep your skin healthy and beautiful. Finally, see a functional medicine doctor or gynecologist who specializes in hormone replacement. It will help preserve collagen in your skin, as well as reduce other risks of aging.”

Jeanine Lobell, beauty mogul and founder of Neen and Stila Cosmetics

Significant Changes: “I got more into home devices like the NuFace ($245) and Jillian Dempsey Gold Sculpting Bar ($195). I also began to exfoliate lightly every day. I use the AmorePacific Treatment Enzyme Peel ($68) as it’s not a sharp particle scrub but more melts dead skin cells off. This makes my skin glow more. Also upping the moisturizer game is key.”

Go-to Products: “My go to are the Retrouve Intensive Replenishing Facial Moisturizer ($200) and also their Revitalizing Eye Concentrate ($215) is a game changer. I also embraced neck cream with SkinMedica Neck Correct Cream ($135). I like the Eve Lom Cleanser ($80) and the super soft muslin cloth they make with it. To give my skin some radiance, I mix in a little Neen Pretty Shiny Shimmer ($28) into my moisturizer.” 

Favorite Treatments: “I don’t have any time really for treatments or facialists and luckily my skin-care routine and home devices enable me to avoid those.”

Best Advice: “I would recommend using a device and upping that hydration game by drinking water and moisturizing, moisturizing, moisturizing areas like the neck, chest, and the under-eye. And don’t be afraid to try new things.”

Celebrity Aesthetician Nerida Joy

Significant Changes: “The biggest change I made at 50 was upping my actives, like over-the-counter retinoids and alphahydroxy acid usage. I really started to notice jowling along my jawline and my overall skin was not feeling as tight and youthful. Actives work quickly when you are consistent and I was on a mission to get my collagen and elastin strong and healthy.”

Go-to Products: “I love a gentle non-foaming cleanser and a nourishing serum that feeds and supports my thinner skin, the Rejuvi g AHA Cream ($56) and Rejuvi i Nourishing Eye Gel ($44). I also use a great physical sunblock of at least a SPF 40.”

Favorite Treatments: “Massage stimulates muscle tone and brings oxygen to the blood. I tell my clients to massage in anything and everything they put on their skin. That can be done with your hands, gua sha or with cryo sticks.”

Best Advice: “Massage your skin daily, mostly in upward moves. Not everyone can tolerate actives in skin care, but everyone can massage a moisturizer or serum into the skin and that is a healthy, beautiful thing.”

Montclair, NJ, dermatologist Jeanine Downie, MD

Significant Changes: “As I approach fifty—which I barely want to admit, I started using more sunblock and reapplying it more frequently. I also started using retinols more consistently including the SkinMedica TNS Advanced+ serum. Finally, I made sure to start adding my neck to my overall facial care regimen consistently.”

Go-to Products: “Both the SkinMedica TNS Advanced+ serum ($295) and Total Defense + Repair SPF Sunscreen $70), the ISDIN Melatonik Restorative Night Serum ($165) and Obagi Professional-C 15% Serum ($110), the Cyspera by Scientis Intensive System ($299) for pigment correction and the Colorescience Brush On SPF Powder ($69).”

Favorite Treatments: “I get Botox every three months in my forehead and in between my eyes. I also do Botox in my masseter, jawline and armpits every six months, VI Peels every other month, LaseMD treatments for melasma, Keralase for my hair and a little filler when I need.”

Best Advice: “The one thing everybody should be doing in there 50s is exercising, reapplying sunblock, drinking water, and not smoking at all.”

Beverly Hills, CA dermatologist Ava Shamban, MD

Significant Changes: “Topically, I incorporated serum into my routine to maintain moisture and other specific functions. The smaller molecules and more intensive ingredient concentrations provide better penetration and longer-lasting hydration, brightening and fighting free radicals and environmental damage. I also started to layer in more enzymatic acids, brightening ingredients and stem cells by day in addition to my Tretinoin at night.”

Go-To Products: “For my face I’m using Tretinoin RX retinoid cream, Instytutum Flawless Peel Pads ($87), Bioeffect EGF Serum ($169), U.SK Advanced Defense Booster ($116) and Skinbetter Science’s Alto Defense ($220).”

Favorite Treatments: “Fraxel, Morpheus and Sofwave are a powerful trifecta and my go-to that truly works for women in their 50s—especially those on the precipice of menopause or post-menpopausal women.”

Best Advice: “A prescription retinoid like tretinoin, which has been a gold standard for years, is the best at-home product to maintain what we’ve got. Helping to thicken skin, it trains the cells to revert to acting and looking younger.”