These 4th of July Beauty Deals With Anti-Aging Options Will Save My 51-Year-Old Skin

Bottom line: if you have an aging face and want to look less aged, you need retinol. And if you’re new to the retinol game or have dry skin, CeraVe’s formula is an excellent place to start. It only contains a 0.3% concentration, which means it will be gentler and less drying than higher potency products. It also contains skin-soothing agents like niacinamide and moisturizing hyaluronic acid. Best of all, it’s now cheap enough to try without the guilt of a big skincare investment.

Let’s face it (no pun intended): When you’re a woman of a certain age traveling in a certain month, you’re going to feel like you’re cooking inside. Evian’s perfectly portable facial mists are quick-fix skin refreshers used by every old-school beauty editor I know. They not only provide instant cooling but also make her face look dewy and beautiful.

Caffeine was clinically proven to reduce wrinkles under the eyes and lighten dark circles. This serum contains a highly concentrated amount of caffeine, 5%, and the cooling metal sphere applicator helps bring additional blood flow to the area. It has over 4,000 five-star reviews (some including before-and-after photos) and for less than $15, it’s a solid skin-care deal.

The delicate skin under your eyes needs extra nourishment, so experts recommend treatments that you apply before going to bed and that work while you nap. This peptide-rich eye skin-fortifying cream has racked up more than 1,000 five-star reviews on Amazon.

Want other options? Check out more of the best eye creams of 2024.

While we’re on the subject of retinol, this Sarah Jessica Parker-favorite brand is a drugstore skin-care legend for a reason: It’s proven. In a clinical study, 97% of those who tried Retinol Correxion reported smoother skin after just one night. Users said their skin felt 63% more hydrated after a week and visibly firmer after a month. RoC’s retinol serum is recommended and tested by dermatologists. It’s also among the highest-rated skincare products on Amazon, with over 13,000 five-star reviews.

This affordable serum offers 2.5% encapsulated retinol, which is one of the highest concentrations you’ll find in any over-the-counter product. Encapsulation means a slower release, making it less aggressive and leading to fewer negative side effects. It also contains moisturizing hyaluronic acid and soothing aloe. The texture is thin, but not watery, and is quickly absorbed. If your skin can tolerate this level of potency, this is the best over-the-counter retinol serum I’ve tried at this price, rivaling the effectiveness of prescription Retin-A with less irritation and ramp-up time. Nearly 10,000 five-star Amazon reviewers also approve, claiming the product is a “gentle retinol serum that works.”

You might think not to need another gadget for your face, but I’m telling you: you to want an ice roller. These simple devices awaken your skin in a way that almost nothing else does. They are good for de-puffing the eyes, reducing redness and improving circulation in the face and neck. But more than anything, an ice roller just feelings good, like a refreshing popsicle for the skin.

These Jessica Alba-approved gold shades incorporate hyaluronic acid, amino acids, and sea moss to hydrate the delicate under-eye area, reducing dark circles and puffy bags and blurring fine lines as they go. They’re also paraben- and sulfate-free, vegan, and gentle enough for most skin types. The luxurious packaging makes them a great gift.

Our necks age faster than any part of the body, in part because the skin lacks the fat and essential oils that keep other parts of the face looking smooth and supple. While no product will fully transform the area (surgery is necessary to get a true lift), this silky, lightweight lotion is ultra-hydrating, non-irritating, and non-sticky—a plus if you’re familiar with neck creams—and, I can tell you for own experience, helps reduce fine lines and wrinkled skin with consistent use. It also has a pleasant scent and is quickly absorbed.

The key to keeping mature skin from looking dull and lifeless: finding an exfoliant or renewal mask that promotes cell renewal and sloughs off dead cells. This mascara from Peter Thomas Roth is a tried-and-true favorite—I’ve been using it for 20 years. It’s rare to find such a high quality product from a luxury brand with such huge discounts.

This is a solid deal on a fan-favorite facial serum that has over 94,000 five-star reviews. One enthusiastic user raved: “I was recommended by a beautician for my fine lines and emerging age spots (I’m 59 years old). I noticed that my skin is better and the age spot has disappeared significantly.”

Not quite what you’re looking for? Check out more of our best serums of 2024.

Dark spots are a strange and cruel indignity of growing old, as if we were some wrinkled cadet getting stripes on our faces. This Swedish brand’s Dark Spot Fix is ​​a skin-lightening treatment that contains retinol 8, a stabilized vitamin A complex that is intended to be eight times more effective than conventional retinol, but half as effective. There’s no data to support the company’s claim here, but I can tell you from experience: the formula is creamy, smooth, and lightened a stubborn brown spot on my cheek that had been bothering me for years in just three weeks.

While no result is as effective as a visit to the dermatologist, if you’re dealing with mild hyperpigmentation, this is an at-home skin care win — especially at this price.