That being said, these aesthetic changes do often reflect your skin’s internal health; so it’s important to approach skin aging by strengthening the skin’s integrity. With this method, you’ll use a chemical exfoliant one night, retinol the night after, then take a break from actives for the last two nights. (And repeat.) Working your retinol into a routine like this will help prevent excessive dryness, which can lead to even more fine lines. To learn the ins and outs of skin cycling and shop the best products, check out our full guide here. To mitigate a significant lack of collagen production, you’ll have to replenish your internal bank. Enter, collagen supplements! When shopping for collagen powders, make sure you look for hydrolyzed collagen peptides, as this form has been shown to help promote the body’s natural production of collagen1 and other molecules that make up the skin, like elastin and fibrillin. There are even more benefits to collagen supplementation for full-body aging, too—you can read about them here. And if you’re ready to invest, shop our curated list of the best collagen supplements, all backed by a nutrition Ph.D. Instead, plumping, humectant serums with hyaluronic acid keep the skin pillowy and taut by boosting hydration. The best part? It works immediately, making your skin look dewy in seconds. Pro tip: Apply your hyaluronic acid serum to damp skin. The humectant properties pull water into the skin (that’s how it “plumps” your complexion), so leave your face a bit damp post-cleanse for maximum benefit.
