Simply put, it’s our job to find the best beauty products out there for you. From the newest serum to the hottest lipstick color to the dry shampoo that will change your life, we will find it, test it, and let you know what we think. We’re not complaining. It’s a pretty fun gig, and we’ll volunteer to be beauty guinea pigs any day.
But one of the cool things to come out of this is finding out what products you’re loving and buying. It helps us figure out what you want to learn more about and what you’re into so we can bring even more personalized recs to you.
Because we share a lot of our favorites with you every single day, we recognize it might be hard to keep up. So we’ve decided to put together a handy weekly list of what we love and what you love—consider this a CliffsNotes, one-stop shop of what’s really trending and worth adding to your cart at this very moment.
This week, we’re talking about the products that really work to keep your skin youthful and healthy, all vouched for by our editors, their moms, and some celebrities. Take a look at what the Who What Wear universe (including editors, staffers, and readers) is obsessed with right now, and if you don’t see a new favorite on this list, we’d love to know. Send us a DM.
Erin Jahns’s 73-year-old mom keeps this product in her skincare rotation. Coenzyme Q10 is an antioxidant that promotes collagen and elastin production. The serum also contains Matrixyl 3000, which fights wrinkles, and hyaluronic acid, which locks in moisture.
If you’re looking for a potent eye cream, this one from IS Clinical fits the bill. It targets puffiness, wrinkles, dryness, and dark circles. Plus, it’s gentle on the eye area. Ingredients include antioxidants such as vitamin C, fruit acids, copper tripeptides, and hyaluronic acid.
Jahns’s mom uses this two to three times a week to promote cell turnover. The cream is made with 10% glycolic acid, 2% phytic acid, and 1% soothing complex to exfoliate, brighten, and hydrate.
Sometimes, retinol can irritate my dry skin, making it red and even drier. I like using this moisturizer, which helps me get the benefits of retinol but doesn’t freak out my skin. It’s got other ingredients like vitamin C and plant extracts to hydrate and smooth. This is my go-to night cream.
Associate beauty editor Courtney Higgs’s 62-year-old mom credits this drugstore classic for her wrinkle-free complexion. “It worked well all day on my combination skin, never caused irritation, and provided such great hydration that I’m sure has contributed to my skin’s current condition,” she says. “Plus, it’s always been inexpensive, which is a huge plus since I prefer to spend my money on shoes!”
While Higgs isn’t into the term “anti-aging,” she does appreciate what this cream does to her skin––leaves it soft, supple, and healthy. “I’m committed to retinol face creams like this one from Obagi Clinical,” she says. “Any skin expert will tell you that retinol is the key to youthful skin, and this one delivers a potent dose of that ingredient along with soothing tea extracts to stave off inflammation.”
I just started using this serum two months ago, and all I can say is yes—it really works and is worth the steep price. I felt a little reckless dropping $166 on a serum, but once I started using it, I realized that this is the epitome of an investment product. My skin looks and feels so much smoother and brighter. It leaves me glowing thanks to anti-aging and protecting ingredients like vitamin C, vitamin E, and antioxidant ferulic acid. I’m obsessed.
Senior news editor Erin Fitzpatrick’s 68-year-old mom counts Olay’s Regenerist Cream as one of her favorite anti-aging products. “As my face has started to sag, I have really appreciated this stiff, rich cream that is supposed to act as a sling of sorts, holding up your face!” she says. “This is a super-popular cream that literally firms and lifts. I like to use it under my jaw, and I apply it with quick, upward strokes from the base of my neck. It has a thick, smooth consistency and stays put (thus the lifting effect).”
Nicole Kidman always makes sure to use retinol at night, and she uses Neutrogena’s under-$20 option. The actress says it doesn’t leave her skin dry. Good for an Oscar winner, good for us.
Jahns’s mom says this is her go-to night cream: “It has a unique blend of multitasking ingredients like RES and glycolic acid, so you get some exfoliation benefits in addition to the hydrated glow you wake up with the next morning. Erin complimented my skin’s radiance and texture last time she visited, and I partly attribute that to using this cream regularly over the past few months.”
This highly rated eye cream works quickly to reduce the appearance of dark circles. It also targets puffiness, boosts elasticity, and prevents any other visible signs of aging. Ingredients include blueberry extract, flavonoids, peptides, and optical diffusers (to disperse light).
When Victoria Beckham’s facialist Melanie Grant dropped the fashion designer’s skincare routine, we paid close attention. One product she uses is Augustinus Bader’s The Cream––a favorite with celebs and editors alike. It’s formulated with aloe vera, antioxidants, retinol, amino acids, and vitamins A, B, C, and E to deeply hydrate skin and promote cell renewal.
Sarah Jessica Parker also appreciates a good drugstore find, like this daily moisturizer from La Roche-Posay. “It’s the only moisturizer I’ve used forever,” she says. “It’s amazing. It’s very thin, so you can use it to touch yourself up. It’s great.” Next up, women in their 50s say these 28 products are the gateway to youthful skin.
“I’ve noticed that vitamin C helps my skin look younger, reduces my wrinkles, and makes my face look more radiant,” 50-something Renata Jazdzyk shared with us. She uses the product both morning and night for brighter and healthier skin.
Aveeno’s night cream is another favorite of Fitzpatrick’s mom, who says Aveeno is one of the most soothing and nurturing brands for her skin. “This is affordable, really moisturizes my dry skin, and since it’s Aveeno, you know it’s hypoallergenic. It works on lines and wrinkles and really calms my skin if I’ve been out on a windy day or in the pool or ocean. So it ticks a lot of boxes!”
Senior editor Allyson Payer agrees $38 might seem like a lot for a face wash, but she says it’s totally worth it and has been using it for years. It exfoliates and doesn’t leave her skin dry. Exfoliation is key to promoting cell turnover and banishing dull skin.
There’s a reason this night cream has been an anti-aging staple for years––it really works. It contains powerful retinol and antioxidants like vitamin E to reduce fine lines and wrinkles without causing irritation. And at $17, the price really can’t be beat.
“I love this gentle polish from Tatcha for keeping my skin clean, soft, and congestion-free,” Jahns’s mom says. “Erin first introduced me to Tatcha a couple of years ago, and while everything from the brand is really beautiful, this has become one of my ride-or-die skincare products to help with aging. I use it a couple of times per week, and it’s really made a difference in the texture and brightness of my skin.”
