A Dermatologist’s Top Anti-Aging Skincare Picks, Most Are Under $25

With so many brands, products, and formulas competing for a spot in your skincare routine, it can be hard to differentiate gimmicks from what will actually help you achieve your anti-aging goals. 

That’s why we tapped a dermatologist to get to the bottom of the anti-aging skincare debate, and, no, according to board-certified dermatologist Dr. May Hall, you don’t need a “10-step skincare routine” or expensive products to achieve noticeable results. She recommends going back to basics with “science-backed” products packed with “ingredients that are worth spending money on.”

We rounded up Hall’s top recommendations below, including clinically proven actives like retinol, and most are under $25 at Amazon. 

Dermatologist-Recommended Anti-Aging Skincare at Amazon

Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Night Cream

“The gold standard anti-aging ingredient is retinol,” Hall explains. “This ingredient can help accelerate cell turnover, boost collagen production long term, regulate oil production on the skin, and help with the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.” You don’t need a prescription to incorporate this science-backed ingredient into your routine, as Hall notes that “there are a plethora of retinol-based skincare products that you can find over the counter.”

To keep your regimen as simple as possible, moisturize and target anti-aging with retinol all at once using a two-in-one night cream like this formula Hall recommends. To target specific concerns like crows feet, add a retinol-packed anti-aging eye cream to your routine. 

Innisfree Daily UV Defense Sunscreen

“Sunscreen is the foundation to any anti-aging skincare routine,” Hall explains. While it won’t reverse the effects of aging, it will protect against further damage that can cause new wrinkles and dark spots (not to mention other health considerations like skin cancer). 

“Your sunscreen doesn’t need to be fancy or expensive, any sunscreen that you will wear daily that is SPF 30 or higher and broad-spectrum coverage will do,” Hall shares. This pick from Innisfree offers broad spectrum SPF 36 protection and leaves a glowy finish, with no white cast. Hall recommends applying it daily, as the last step in your morning skincare routine. 

CeraVe Vitamin C Serum

Another ingredient “worth spending money on” in your anti-aging skincare routine? Vitamin C serums. “Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that can help combat environmental pollutants on your skin as well as free radicals from the sun,” Hall shares. This topical antioxidant targets dark spots and brightens the skin. 

The CeraVe formula is also packed with ceramids, another ingredient Hall recommends to incorporate when using strong actives to protect and strengthen the skin barrier, as well as hyaluronic acid to draw moisture into the skin. I use a vitmain C serum every morning, and this is one of my favorite formulas, because it doesn’t pill under makeup and the smart, opaque squeeze-tube packaging limits light and air exposure, which prevents it from oxidizing. 

Update your skincare routine with these dermatologist-backed products to achieve your anti-aging goals. Then keep scrolling to shop more of Dr. May Hall’s top picks at Amazon, all $50 or less.

RoC Retinol Correxion Under-Eye Cream

Avène Retrinal Intensive Multi-Corrective Cream

Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Renewal Serum

CeraVe Retinol Serum with Hyaluronic Acid

Olay Retinol Night Repairing Cream