As we begin noticing signs of aging, we obsess over one thing: the fact that we are aging. We suddenly find ourselves on the hunt for a real-life “pause” button until we can find a way to make the wrinkles, sun damage, and loss of firmness and elasticity go away. We also find that the search for the “best anti-aging skincare products” can be an overload of information and may even lead to the use of hundreds of products that don’t even actually work. Before you throw in the towel, we got you, girl.

With so many cleansers, moisturizers, toners, serums, masks and treatments on the market, what products do you actually need? The answer isn’t as many as you might think-- you can actually combat signs of aging effectively using only 3 medical grade products. That’s right… 3! Now, go put on the song “If I Could Turn Back Time” by Cher and keep reading!

Introducing your anti-aging A-team: retinol, vitamin c and sunscreen. Separately, each product on their own is an incredible addition to any regimen, but together… these three are a force.

Sunscreen: Around 80% of facial aging is directly caused by sun exposure, so we are so serious when we tell you to slather yourself in sunscreen everyday. You can even catch those harmful rays in the winter or if you are inside sitting near the window! Yes, sunscreen prevents sunburn and skin cancer, but sunscreen also prevents collagen breakdown. You heard me! The sun breaks down collagen in your face leading to volume loss in certain areas of your face and loss of elasticity.

There are two different types of spf on the market: mineral and chemical sunscreens. For your face, we recommend a gentle mineral sunscreen as some chemical sunscreens can be a little too harsh for the delicate skin on your face, and kd’s mineral sunscreen is pregnancy-safe as well. 

We recommend: clean + sheer spf or eternal summer tinted spf

When to use: AM, after moisturizing and before applying makeup

Vitamin C: Again, there are hundreds if not thousands of vitamin C serums on the market. Why? Because everyone needs one. However, it’s SO important that you put your money into a medical-grade vitamin C if you want to see the best results.  It protects your skin from free radicals that break down collagen in your face that causes your skin to age, and it also works to brighten your skin, diminish dark spots, as well as provides hydration and aids in the penetration and absorption of your other products. A real MVP.

We recommend: glow up serum

When to use: AM, after cleansing + toning

Retinol: Retinol does the absolute most and that’s why we love it. A vitamin A derivative, retinol works to increase cellular skin turnover to repair skin damage and prevent future skin damage, which is why it’s used as not only a treatment for aging, but also a treatment for acne. Not all retinol is created equal, and if you are going to invest in two medical-grade skincare products it needs to be investing in retinol and vitamin C. There are different concentrations of retinol, so we always recommend starting on lower concentrations and working your way up based on how well your skin is tolerating the product. We also recommend incorporating this into your skincare routine gradually, working your way up to every night. Retinol can increase your sensitivity to the sun, so it’s critical that you use an spf (but we know you were going to anyway!).

We recommend: kd retinol serum in concentrations 5x or 10x

When to use: PM, before moisturizer.