2 Skin-Firming Ingredients a Dermatologist Says Everyone Should Be Using by the Time They Hit 35

It’s a fact of life that as we age, our skin starts to change. And the time that this tends to happen in earnest is around when we hit 30. While the aging process happens differently for everyone, bigger, more noticeable shifts appear by the time most of us turn 35 years old, so building a skin-care routine that supports your complexion and its ever-changing structure is vital.

“You’re losing collagen, which gives skin its structure, the elastin that makes skin ‘bouncy’ starts to get softer, and your skin doesn’t exfoliate as quickly as it once did because cell turnover slows down,” says Sheila Farhang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Avant Dermatology in Arizona. “Because of this loss of tissue, the skin begins to look duller based on the way the light shines off of it.”

Derms are constantly singing the praises of retinol as a must-have in people’s routines because it stimulates cell turnover, but there are two alternative ingredients that Dr. Farhang suggests adding to your arsenal, instead: antioxidants for protection and peptides to boost collagen. The good news? You don’t have to spend serious bucks on a dozen products to give your skin what it needs, because VERSED, which is available at Target, just added two new formulas to its roster that will give you both for $50 flat.

Shop now: Autosave Advanced Restoring Serum ($25)

First up is the brand’s Autosave Advanced Restoring Serum ($25) acts as “the daytime equivalent of a retinol” to firm up skin and diminish fine lines and wrinkles. It’s made with microalgae, which Dr. Farhang says, “brightens and hydrates skin and provides proteins to build collagen.” It’s also packed with antioxidants, which should be a non-negotiable in anyone’s a.m. routine, regardless of their age. “Free radicals from the sun and pollution damage our cells, and you want to be able to protect those cells with antioxidants, which is where the phloretin and ferulic acid in the formula come into play,” she says. By using antioxidants on the reg, you’ll help keep the oxidative stress caused by free radicals at bay, which can help your body press “pause” on the formation of new wrinkles.

Shop now: Autosave Advanced Restoring Serum ($25)

Shop now: Recovery Mode Advanced Night Cream ($25)

Next comes the Recovery Mode Advanced Night Cream ($25), which helps your skin restore itself while you sleep. It’s made with the same microalgae as its daytime partner in crime, plus caffeine-packed green coffee and chlorogenic acid, all of which work to firm up your skin. “This is really your ‘aging well’ product,” says Dr. Farhang. Overall, the formula helps with cellular repair and has a one-up on retinol because it won’t cause irritation and is safe enough to use while pregnant. Just add SPF and you’re on your way to conquering the decade.

Shop now: Recovery Mode Advanced Night Cream ($25)

Curious about collagen? Check out the video below for what a derm has to say about it. 

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