“My top three basic products for prevention of aging throughout your whole life are: retinol at night, vitamin C in the morning, and sunscreen. These three are a must,” says Simpson. “All other products are an added benefit to your regular regimen.” Personally, Simpson is a fan of Alastin’s TriHex technology, which they use in some of their medical-grade products. “[It] helps your body break down old collagen and get rid of it easier in order to grow new, young collagen,” she explains.

Still aren’t entirely clear on what collagen is and does, watch this quick video: 

If you are ready to take your routine to the next level, in addition to products, treatments and procedures can also help with collagen production. Simpson recommends Sculptra, and says that everyone—even in your 20s—can be a candidate. “An easy and more visual way to think about it is to think of your skin like a piece of medical gauze. As we get older, that gauze starts to fall apart, separate, and thin. Sculptra is injected into that skin and helps that gauze (collagen) piece itself back together so it’s thick, strong, and not separated. Sculptra will thicken the skin, smoothing it out and making it more youthful,” she explains. (While it can take a few weeks to see noticeable results, I can confirm that it’s wholly worth it.)

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Above all, though, Simpson stresses that consistency is what leads to the best results. “I like to remind patients that there is never a ‘one and done’ when it comes to anti-aging,” Simpson says. “Good products, regular Botox, along with Sculptra and other fillers, as well as skin treatment such as micropenning and lasers are all going to work together and hit different areas of the skin to help improve and slow the aging process,” Simpson says.

The basic anti-aging products you need to get started with your routine

Retinol

Retinol, a vitamin A derivative, is the gold-standard when it comes to stimulating collagen production and speeding up cell turnover.

U Beauty Resurfacing Compound — $88.00

This serum has everything—antioxidants, stabilized vitamin C and E, peptides, hyaluronic acid, AHAs, and retinol. Don’t let all the skin-care actives intimidate you, thought, because the product is quite gentle, and has been dermatologically tested for sensitivity. I’m able to use it multiple days in a row without any irritation. It leaves skin plump and glowy, and has also helped get rid of the clogged pores that plague my chin.

Mara Algae Retinol Face Oil — $120.00

The formula of this nighttime product combines retinol with algae extracts and fermented green tea, so it simultaneously helps cell turnover, while also infusing skin with amino acids, antioxidants, and hydration.

SkinMedica Retinol Complex 0.5 — $78.00

This professional-grade, dermatologist-recommended skin-care brand offers retinol products in three different degrees of potency. This one falls in the middle; .25 and 1.0 versions are also available.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant, known for its brightening abilities. Antioxidants are an important component in skin care because they help protect skin against environmental stressors that can cause free-radical damage. And if you’re prone to sunscreen-induced breakouts, layering on a vitamin C serum can help prevent them.

Lancer Instant Brightening Booster — $125.00

Use this potent cream one to two times a week to brighten and smooth skin. It contains 30-percent stabilized vitamin C (see—potent!), plus antioxidant-rich turmeric and hydrating botanicals.

Renee Rouleau Vitamin C&E Treatment — $70.00

IMHO, Renee is incapable of making a bad product (which is why her line is the one I tend to recommend most when someone asks for a skin-care rec). I’ve been using this treatment in the morning for years because it straight-up works, giving me brighter skin and protecting it from damage-causing free radicals.

Wander Beauty Sight C-er Vitamin C Concentrate — $42.00

See results both over time and instantly with this multi-functional concentrate. It’s packed with radiance-boosting, plumping, hydrating ingredients like vitamin C, squalane, and hyaluronic acid—plus, it gives skin an immediate glow thanks to pearl light diffusers.

Sunscreen

Sunscreen should be a non-negotiable in every skin-care routine, but particularly in an anti-aging skincare routine. Over 95 percent of the signs of aging in skin come from the sun.

Kinship Self Reflect — $26.00

Please let me introduce you to a reef-safe sunscreen that was designed with blemish-prone skin in mind. In addition to UVA/UVB sun protection from zinc oxide, the formula also soothes skin with turmeric and helps keep skin clear with plant-based probiotics.

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