We all know that person. You know, the one who looks like they’re 20, but they’re actually 40 or 50. The person who looks youthfully preserved in time and doesn’t really seem to have changed in the years that you’ve known them. They probably get carded all the time. And all you want to ask them is for their exact beauty-and-skincare routine—and also maybe what kind of witchcraft and sorcery they’ve been doing to have such perfect skin.
Listen, I know getting older is just a part of life. There’s no stopping it, but there’s also no shame in aging, either. I always like to think of it as getting wiser and more comfortable with myself each year. But I also don’t think there’s anything wrong with wanting to protect your skin from some of the signs of aging: loss of elasticity, more sensitivity, fine lines, wrinkles, dryness, etc. You don’t really need to look far for products that will help in that department. There’s no shortage of lotions, serums, eye creams, and oils to preserve your skin. But the downside is a lot of them are expensive, and some might flat-out not work.
So if you’re looking for the products that those seemingly ageless people use (and that are actually effective), I did the research for you and rounded up the skincare buys of both editors and celebs alike. See my homework below.
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Victoria Beckham’s facialist, Melanie Grant, shared a breakdown of the fashion designer’s skincare routine, which included cult-favorite Augustinus Bader The Cream. The product hydrates and promotes skin renewal thanks to ingredients like aloe vera; antioxidants; amino acids; vitamins A, B, C, and E; and retinol.
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Senior editor Allyson Payer still gets carded even though she’s 35, so you know she’s doing something right with her skin. She uses Kate Somerville’s face cleanser daily. “I know the price seems high for a face wash, but I’ve been using this for years, and it’s worth it. It’s mildly exfoliating and never leaves my dry skin feeling tight,” she said.
Payer picked this cleanser as one she wished she started using in her 20s. “Given that you literally wash face cleanser down the drain, I never really cared to invest in quality ones that were well-suited for my sensitive skin,” she said. “I’m sure my skin would’ve been better off had I done a little more research and acknowledged that anything that touches your skin is affecting it, regardless of whether or not you’re rinsing it off immediately.”
“This is one of the first skincare products I invested in years ago, and I still use it to this day. It’s the perfect exfoliant, in my opinion. It really gets the job done without being harsh and drying,” Payer says.
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Jennifer Lopez told People she swears by glycolic acid to give her a healthy glow and clear skin. She’s been known to visit Beverly Hills dermatologist Harold Lancer, who has his own famous skincare line. We’re willing to bet she’s got this glycolic acid cream in her beauty stash. It exfoliates, reduces the appearance of lines and discoloration, and leaves skin extra glowy.
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Sofía Vergara used Charlotte Tilbury’s mask to prep her skin before the Oscars, so you know it’s good for any occasion, even if it’s not a Hollywood award show. The clay mask transforms your skin in 10 minutes, leaving it hydrated, smooth, and cleansed.
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I use this eye cream every night to moisturize, de-puff, firm, and lighten my dark circles. After a few uses, my eyes looked a lot brighter, which comes in handy when I’m running on little sleep.
This is another product in my nighttime routine. I love that it has both retinol to improve skin texture and firmness, and vitamin C to brighten. The best part is that it doesn’t leave my sensitive skin dry or irritated.
Sunscreen should be an essential part of your anti-aging skincare routine and any routine, in general. Supergoop!’s Glow Screen goes on so smoothly and leaves a nice illuminating finish. I love that it makes my skin look so healthy. Sometimes when I’m feeling lazy and don’t want to put on a full face of makeup, I put this product, some concealer, and mascara on and call it a day.
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Thandie Newton shared on her now-defunct website that she loves all Clarins products, especially its eye creams and lip balms. This particular eye treatment is meant for morning and night use. It works to smooth wrinkles and reduce puffiness and dark circles.
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Like The Cream, Augustinus Bader’s Rich version is hydrating and rejuvenating, but it also offers extra protection against dry climates. It’s formulated for nighttime use, but you can also apply it in the morning. Kate Bosworth is a big fan, saying, “I’m obsessed with this face cream. It’s incredibly results-driven—I’m a huge skincare fanatic, and this is a product that I’ve absolutely been loving. It’s great for the winter season or when you’re traveling a lot and feel super dry.”
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January Jones regularly posts about her skincare-and-beauty routine, so we’re lucky to get some inside intel on what she does to get her skin looking so amazing. One product she uses is Sisley Paris’s Black Rose Cream mask, which she shared as one of her favorites on rotation for exfoliation and moisture. “These change all the time depending on what my skin is needing, (factoring in weather, travel and stress),” the actress explained of her mask picks.
Tata Harper’s resurfacing mask is another Jones favorite. It contains BHA and enzymes to target dull skin and remove debris and dead skin cells.
Jones said she only washes her face at night and just splashes water or sprays rose water in the morning. Omorovicza’s gentle exfoliator is part of her nighttime routine. It’s both a mechanical and chemical exfoliant.
Jones says she reserves her face oils and balms for before bedtime, after applying active serum or retinol. She counts Sisley Paris’s face oil as one of her favorites. Ingredients like black rose extract and omegas-3 and -6 help to nourish and soothe skin. You can even use it before you prep your skin for other products, too.
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Who What Wear Editor in Chief Kat Collings tried her colleague and friend Shayna Kossove’s skincare routine because she’s got the best youthful skin in pretty much the whole office. Kossove uses Tata Harper’s exfoliating cleanser in the mornings, so Collings followed suit. “The brand recommends massaging it onto a dry face first, which takes a little getting used to, but I love that this cleanser is doing more than just cleaning my face. The gentle exfoliation helps prep the skin so it’s prepared to absorb the ultra-important next step, vitamin C serum,” she said.
Kossove’s moisturizer of choice is Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Cream, so Collings applied it every day, too. “I’ve used this cream on and off over the years and always pull it out when I need a secret weapon against dry, flaking skin,” Collings said. “In the winter, when my nose has about had it with frigid air and too much tissue use, this is the only thing that will save it. It’s definitely on the heavier side, but given one of Shayna’s star skincare ingredients is retinoid, which can be very drying, this cream helps keep the skin balanced.”
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Jennifer Aniston loves a good skincare gadget, including Ziip’s device, saying she had “never seen such a result from a little machine like that.” The tool uses nanocurrent and microcurrent technology to promote collagen and elastin production, increase circulation, and repair tissue.
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Drew Barrymore is a beauty enthusiast, and she’s even got her own brand, Flower Beauty. So we trust her skincare knowledge. She shared her favorite eye creams on Instagram, and Caudalie’s cream made the cut.
Estée Lauder’s eye serum was also featured on Barrymore’s post of favorite creams, of which she said, “These work! I’ve tried everything and will continue to find the holy grail for dark circles.” The product keeps your eyes moisturized for 24 hours thanks to hyaluronic acid.
Barrymore uses Sunday Riley’s Juno oil along with Now Solutions’ Vitamin E to keep her skin hydrated. The face oil is packed with good-for-the-skin ingredients like superfood seed oils; antioxidants; amino acids; omegas-3, -6, and -9; and vitamins A and C.
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Beauty editor Erin Jahns’s mom has the most amazing skin, and she’s in her 70s! Needless to say, we listen to every word she says when she talks skincare. “This essence-serum hybrid is definitely an investment,” she said of La Prairie’s Skin Caviar Essence-In Lotion. “However, it really helps hydrate and condition the skin, and I’ve also seen improvements in the firmness and how plump and youthful my skin looks since I added it to my normal routine. Essentially, it’s a treatment you apply after you cleanse and tone, and it acts kind of like a serum-primer—enhancing the benefits of whatever serum you use afterward—while also utilizing nutrient-rich caviar water to make your pores looks smooth and tiny.”
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You might have seen this Dr. Dennis Gross mask on Instagram and thought, “What IS that?!” Well, it may look a little crazy, but it really works. Jessica Alba, other celebrities, and my fellow editors think it’s worth the splurge and love the device. It’s powered by LED red-light and blue-light technology to target wrinkles, firm skin, and clear acne. Plus, with this set on-sale for the Nordstorm anniversary sale, it’s too tempting not to try.
Next up, Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale is Here—These Are the Beauty Steals I’d Grab First
This post was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated