There’s no right age to start thinking about wrinkles—but there is a right strategy for every decade. Though you may start your anti-wrinkle routine in your 20s, that doesn’t mean it should necessarily be full of anti-aging ingredients. The anti-wrinkle products you should consider adding to your skin-care routine in your 20s are vastly different than the products you’ll likely be reaching for in you 60s. Why? While your 20s are all about prevention, your 30s may call for ingredients that support collagen production, and by your 40s and beyond, it’s common to layer multiple actives to address fine lines, loss of firmness and uneven texture.
“We lose about one percent of our collagen each year beginning in our mid-20s, and ultraviolet exposure accelerates that process even further,” says New York dermatologist Dr. Shereen Teymour. “By the time a wrinkle is permanently visible at rest, collagen loss has often been happening for years.” That doesn’t mean everyone in their 20s needs an extensive anti-aging routine, she notes, “But it does mean that establishing healthy habits early, especially daily sunscreen and a collagen-supportive skin-care routine, can have a meaningful impact on how the skin ages over time,” she adds. “Prevention is always easier than trying to reverse established changes.”
There are quite a few products out there, but there’s no need to feel overwhelmed: Today’s lineup of skin-care products offers more evidence-backed options than ever before. Ahead, with the help of multiple board-certified dermatologists, we’re breaking down the best anti-wrinkle products to incorporate into your routine based on your age and your skin’s needs.
Featured Experts
- Dr. Shereen Teymour is a board-certified dermatologist in New York
- Daniel Schlessinger, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in Omaha, NE
- Joel Schlessinger, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in Omaha, NE
The Best Anti-Wrinkle Ingredients
No matter your age, keep an eye out for these ingredients to boost your skin’s health and prevent wrinkles:
- Retinol and other retinoids: These “are the most extensively studied topical ingredients for the look of fine lines and wrinkles because they encourage cell turnover and support a smoother, more even surface, all while protecting against acne and lightening or improving pigmentation and sun damage,” says Omaha, NE dermatologist Daniel Schlessinger, MD.
- Vitamin C: Dr. Daniel Schlessinger recommends vitamin C ideally as L-ascorbic acid. It “is a potent antioxidant that helps defend against free radical damage and brightens the complexion,” he says.
- Growth factors and peptides: They “help support the skin’s own repair processes and the appearance of firmness,” says Dr. Daniel Schlessinger.
- Ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids: These ingredients “restore the moisture barrier, which keeps skin looking plump and smooth,” says Dr. Daniel Schlessinger.
- Niacinamide (vitamin B3): The popular ingredient “supports the barrier and helps improve the look of uneven tone,” says Dr. Daniel Schlessinger.
- Broad-spectrum SPF: This is a non-negotiable, according to Dr. Daniel Schlessinger (and every dermatologist). Wear it every day to protect against UVA and UVB damage.
The Best Anti-Wrinkle Products in Your 20s
In your 20s, it’s all about prevention, rather than correction. During this decade, “A daily broad-spectrum sunscreen, a vitamin C serum in the morning, a well-formulated moisturizer and an over-the-counter retinol a few nights per week are often all that’s needed,” says Dr. Teymour.
If you’re sensitive to retinol, it’s skippable at this age: “Not everyone in their 20s needs a retinol, but it’s a great time to introduce one if someone wants to begin supporting collagen production before visible signs of aging become more apparent,” Dr. Teymour adds.
Omaha, NE dermatologist Dr. Joel Schlessinger says to “start with a cleanser that does more than cleanse.” He recommends products like LovelySkin LUXE Clarifying Gel Cleanser ($45), SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic ($185) and EltaMD UV Clear Broad Spectrum SPF 46 Facial Sunscreen ($45).
The Best Anti-Wrinkle Products in Your 30s
Once you enter your 30s, it’s normal for collagen production to naturally slow down. “This is often when patients become more consistent with collagen-stimulating ingredients,” says Dr. Teymour. “I typically recommend continuing sunscreen and vitamin C while using a retinol more regularly if the skin tolerates it.” At this stage, she also recommends peptides, though there’s no need for an extensive multi-step routine: “Peptides can also be a nice addition as skin begins to lose firmness,” she says. “The goal isn’t necessarily adding more products; it’s being more consistent with the products that have the strongest evidence behind them.”
Dr. Daniel Schlessinger recommends products like LovelySkin LUXE HA Peptide Serum ($130), Skinbetter Science AlphaRet Overnight Cream ($145) and La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Serum ($45).
The Best Anti-Wrinkle Products in Your 40s
Though this is a general guide, it’s important to see your dermatologist for individual recommendations at any age—in your 40s, this becomes increasingly vital, especially for women. “Some patients are entering perimenopause, while others won’t experience hormonal changes for years,” says Dr. Teymour. “That’s why I individualize recommendations rather than treating age alone.”
However, as a general rule, during this decade, “Many patients begin noticing increased dryness, slower skin turnover and more noticeable collagen loss,” she says. She recommends a high-quality over-the-counter retinol at this age. “It’s strong enough to stimulate collagen and improve fine lines while being gentle enough that patients can actually tolerate it consistently,” she explains. “This is also when I often recommend incorporating a peptide cream to further support collagen production and skin firmness while helping strengthen the skin barrier.”
As for one thing to cut back on in your 40s: exfoliation. “As skin turnover naturally slows and the barrier becomes more delicate, more exfoliation isn’t necessarily better,” Dr. Teymour says. “In many cases, exfoliating less frequently while prioritizing collagen-stimulating and barrier-supportive ingredients leads to healthier, more resilient skin.”
Dr. Joel Schlessinger recommends products including SkinMedica TNS Advanced+ Serum ($295), LovelySkin LUXE Exfoliating Gel Mild 11% ($90) and SkinMedica HA5 Hydra Collagen Replenish + Restore Hydrator ($192).
The Best Anti-Wrinkle Products in Your 50s
For many women, the 50s coincide with menopause. This is when “collagen loss accelerates and the skin often becomes noticeably drier and thinner,” says Dr. Teymour. “At this stage, I continue emphasizing sunscreen, antioxidants, retinol and a peptide cream, but I also place a much greater focus on maintaining the skin barrier.” To help promote a healthy skin barrier, reach for “Rich moisturizers containing ceramides, glycerin, hyaluronic acid and other barrier-repair ingredients to help support healthier skin and improve tolerance to active ingredients,” says Dr. Teymour. Like in your 40s, pull back on exfoliation, as overdoing it “can compromise an already fragile skin barrier, leading to irritation and dryness that can actually make skin appear older rather than younger,” she says.
Dr. Daniel Schlessinger recommends several products that include Skinbetter Science Intensive AlphaRet Overnight Cream ($145) or Revision Skincare Retinol Complete 1.0 ($138) and SkinCeuticals Tripeptide-R Retinol Neck Repair Cream ($136).
The Best Anti-Wrinkle Products in Your 60s and Beyond
In your 60s, 70s and beyond, continue focusing on maintaining skin quality. In your 60s, “Skin is thinner and drier, so emphasize nourishment,” says Dr. Joel Schlessinger. In your 70s, “Comfort, hydration and barrier health matter most,” adds Dr. Daniel Schlessinger.
Overall, like in previous decades, “I still recommend collagen-supportive ingredients like retinol if they’re well tolerated, along with a peptide cream to help support skin firmness and overall skin health,” says Dr. Teymour. “At this stage, consistency is far more important than having a complicated routine. A handful of products used every day will outperform an elaborate regimen that’s difficult to maintain.”
At this age, Drs. Schlessinger recommend continuing products like Skinbetter Science AlphaRet Overnight Cream ($145), SkinMedica TNS Advanced+ Serum ($295) and SkinMedica HA5 Hydra Collagen Replenish + Restore Hydrator ($192).
