Dermatologists spend their days teaching other people how to care for their skin. From proper sun protection to the serums that actually work, they know what’s good. And all that knowledge means they have a pretty solid handle on how to care for their own skin.
With that in mind, we asked five dermatologists over 50—all of whom have decades of experience—to share the one product that changed their skin for the better. Learn about (and shop for) their selections below.
The five products that these dermatologists over 50 can’t get enough of
Jeanine Downie, MD
“I love the Emepelle Night Cream,” says Dr. Downie. “It’s a great hydrating moisturizer and features an exclusive MEP Technology, which helps address the root cause of accelerated collagen loss and restore the natural function of estrogen-deficient skin (non-hormonally), which is common at perimenopause and menopause.”
Heidi A Waldorf, MD
“The reason I picked a sunscreen is that as a second-generation derm, I don’t have sun damage at 57, nearing 58, years old. My biggest concern is maintaining my skin—not wiping away old damage,” says Dr. Waldorf. “I love this sunscreen and use it as a daily moisturizer. It contains 11 percent zinc oxide and phytolase, a plant-based DNA repair enzyme that reduces the development of actinic keratoses and related skin cancers. The base is silky, absorbs quickly, and layers well over serums or heavier moisturizers and under makeup without pilling. Plus, it’s water resistant for 40 minutes, which is very helpful when sweating walking around town or running errands in warmer weather.”
Loretta Ciraldo, MD
“Our Dr. Loretta Anti-Aging Repair Serum, made with vitamin C, hyaluronic, botanical stem cells, and marine extracts, has visibly improved my skin, and maybe even better, boosted my self-confidence,” says Dr. Ciraldo. “Because I’ve lived in Miami for forty years I had some uneven pigment and a lot of smile lines on my cheeks. Now my skin tone is much more luminous and even, and both my smile lines and nasolabial creases have faded a lot. I massage it into my whole face and neck twice a day. The other day I was looking at some photos from five years back, and I realize that my skin now looks better than before I started this product.”
Dina Strachan, MD
“I am a big fan of Aveeno Positively Radiant with SPF,” says Dr. Strachan. “As a dermatologist, I am always trying different products. This one is one I come back to consistently. It has been part of my consistent sunscreen habit over the decades. It looks good on dark skin. It has soy that helps with dark marks. I like how it feels.”
Mary Lupo, MD
“I have used many products over the years. Some have been duds and some have been very good, but the latest one I am using is the most impactful I have used to date,” says Dr. Lupo. “It comes from Rion Aesthetics. They have licensed technology that was discovered at Mayo Clinic’s regenerative medicine research division. It is isolated and stabilized exosomes from platelets. Exosomes are sort of the messengers of cell communication. These exosomes have been identified as repair messengers and named ‘Repairsomes,’ They have been proven to stimulate collagen repair and have anti-inflammatory properties.”
Since incorporating this serum into her routine, Dr. Lupo has noticed a smoother, brighter, more even skin tone. “What is notable is that I saw improvement quickly since my skin was already in great shape. The better the baseline, the less noticeable is the improvement usually,” she says.
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