Wondering which skincare products to buy for wrinkles, saggy skin or dullness? From luxurious overnight masks and anti-ageing creams and serums for wrinkles, to a beauty supplement that promises to hydrate from the inside out, here are some of the best anti-ageing skincare products reviewed by the team.
Nordic Formula – Nightcream Advanced Repair – Retinol Cream, $349
This anti-ageing night cream lasts for a long time! I’ve been using it for about three months. It has the retinol ingredient called cyclosystem complex, which has a time release effect and especially helps with sun-damaged skin and prevents the formation of new pigment changes and dark spots. I do think that my pigmentation is definitely more balanced and even-toned.
This night cream contains hyaluronic acid, which hydrates the skin, and pro-collagen, which keeps in moisture, plumps the skin and helps smooth wrinkles and fine lines. The smell is really nice. It is relatively lightweight though so sometimes I alternate with a richer night cream because of sleeping in air-conditioning, which can be drying. I think it’s a great addition to my anti-ageing skincare routine.
– Rebecca Bisset
Beauty Closet – Frankincense Face Oil, $145
I started using this anti-ageing skincare product but it didn’t last long on my side of the bathroom. My husband was rather intrigued by it and decided he would try it out too! James is 50 and has dry skin. As a bloke, he’s someone who never really puts on any face cream; but we have seen major changes in his skin after using this face oil.
He suffers from a lot of skin redness, especially after playing tennis for two hours. It takes quite some time for his skin to calm down from the Singapore heat and sun. With Beauty Closet’s Frankincense Face Oil, the redness disappeared faster and his skin felt a lot smoother.
It’s been about three weeks since he started using it and we can already see improvements in his skin. It’s smoother, brighter and – especially when he uses it after shaving – gives him an overall fresh look. I would definitely recommend this product to those looking for a fuss-free skincare routine. It’s great!
– Susan Knudsen-Pickles
Allure Skincare – Dr.Belter Cosmetic Crème Jubilee, $188
The Dr.Belter Jubilee Expertise 40 moisturiser has a very creamy texture, but is still lightweight and wears a bit more like a face cream than a lotion. There are many great ingredients in this anti-ageing skincare product, combining organic plant extracts with high-tech skincare actives including niacinamide and hyaluronic acid. It is one of those anti-ageing creams that absorbs very quickly and has a soothing sensation on the skin, much like a comfort blanket.
I think this is a perfect everyday moisturiser and brilliant when the skin is feeling tired. It keeps my skin hydrated for a whole day. The one thing I wish was different about the anti-ageing cream is the packaging. It comes in a flat wide jar, which inevitably made me use a much larger amount of product than necessary.
– Karin Galley
Optimal – BEMA Naturys Vanity Routine Anti-Ageing Serum (10 x 3ml ampoule), $106
This is a great anti-ageing serum to try. It has a light and non-sticky texture with a really pleasant scent. It comes in 10 small vials – great for travelling, but most importantly it works really well on the skin. I have dry and sensitive skin so I’m always after an anti-ageing skincare product that has a hydrating formula and this one does a good job so I didn’t have to use any moisturiser over this. My skin is also a little bumpy and I can see that it’s visibly smoother after use so this may be something worth investing in on a regular basis.
– Anna Tserlingas
Philocali Liquid Masque, $129
I’m a fan of multi-function products and anything that reduces the time I need to spend in front of the mirror. This anti-ageing skincare product is a toner, essence and masque in one – and can also be used to set your makeup.
Overnight masks are wonderful – especially when you sleep in air-con – but they’re often quite heavy and rich. I used this clear spray on my face and decolletage every night for two weeks and it didn’t cause breakouts or flaking skin. It creates a kind of collagen barrier, so the skin feels protected and soft. The smell is a little vinegary but that fades after a while. I then started using it on my elbows and feet when they looked a bit dry. Sometimes at my desk, if I felt my skin was dehydrated, I’d spray it on over the regular skincare I had applied in the morning.
I think anything that hydrates, has collagen and super peptides and (most importantly) is easy enough to use frequently is great for looking after ageing skin.
– Danielle Rossetti
BECOS Age Pro Evolution Pearls of Youth, $218
These pearls are among my favourite anti-ageing skincare products of all time – each one is a single handy dose of cream with a beautiful silky texture to glide over the skin. I only wish they were slightly bigger as they soak into the skin so nicely; I felt sometimes I needed to use two at a time. I love the texture and the immediate effect it has on wrinkles, and the lavender smell is lovely too. A really nice anti-ageing cream.
– Jacqui Young
Filorga Global-Repair Intensive, $165
novela.com.sg/collections/filorga
I’m a big fan of anti-ageing serums and this one is a delight to wear. It brightens the skin and can be used during the day under a moisturiser and with a thicker layer for a repair cream at night. It contains three super nutrients (ceramides, omegas, vitamins) that help to restore suppleness and vitality. The cell boosters also zap any sign of skin ageing. The pump dispenser releases the right amount each time and the velvety texture soaks into the skin nicely.
– Jacqui Young
BSKIN – V Line range (Soft Bead Cleanser $53, Natural Balanced Essence $60, Intense PAF Concentrate $126, Active Day Cream $96, Regenerative Night Cream $109)
I tried the BSKIN V Line range and was pleasantly surprised by a couple of the products. The cleanser was good, very creamy and my skin felt moisturised afterwards and not dry – and that’s good when you have skin that’s getting on in life!
The Intense PAF Concentrate is the brand’s vitamin C anti-ageing serum and I thought it was excellent. This anti-ageing skincare product quite strong smelling, and the marketing blurb says that it’s a power-packed elixir. It seems like it – the antioxidant component helps with dull, sagging skin, and I think there was an overall improvement in the texture and evenness of my skin tone after one bottle. It’s won quite a few awards, too, so is worth a try, even if it’s not cheap at $126.
The toner and the other anti-ageing creams in the range were average.
– Rebecca Bisset
Codex – Antü Brightening Serum, $102
This anti-ageing serum comes in a handy little tube and, despite the size, I’ve been using it for nearly two months now. A pump or two is sufficient to spread and gently massage the gel-like texture into the face once a day. The light, naturally derived citrusy scent doesn’t stay long, which fits those who prefer unscented skincare products. The serum settles into the skin quickly, leaving it firm and smooth for hours.
I’d recommend this product to those who are more prone to skin pigmentation or spend lots of time under the sun for its brightening properties, applying it before sunscreen or moisturiser. This Codex serum with healing properties is suitable for all skin types. The brand uses natural, organic ingredients and is eco-friendly, committed to a zero carbon footprint by 2025.
Oh, and did I mention one of the key ingredients is hibiscus, which acts as a natural Botox?
– Judit Lim
Miseico – The Miracle Pour Serum, $119
I was very excited to review this anti-ageing serum as I’ve heard so much about it. The founder is a mum like me who is always on the go, and who really wants something natural for the skin that will also work overtime to produce results at the same time.
This little bottle does all this for you: it helps combat signs of ageing, making your skin smoother and brighter; it moisturises and makes your skin plumper; and it refines the texture of your skin and restores radiance.
If you’re using this oil twice a day, I recommend putting just a tiny bit on in the day, as it can be quite difficult during the day in Singapore because of the hot weather. You can always add more in the evening when you go to bed; that’s what I did. I’m 44, so I was delighted to know that the key ingredient for this oil is bakuchiol, which is a natural plant-based alternative to retinol that helps to boost firmness and smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and skin tone. I’m looking forward to taking this oil to Denmark during my summer break to see what it can do for my skin!
– Susan Knudsen-Pickles
Simple Wellness – Neal’s Yard Frankincense Intense, $108
I’ve always been a huge fan of Neal’s Yard products and this anti-ageing serum is amazing. It’s a nice serum, gliding onto the skin and soaking in well. The aroma is gorgeous, and only a few drops are needed to cover the whole face. My skin felt instantly smoother and more even after using this product for a couple of weeks; it also gave me a smoother surface to apply my makeup. I love that it’s organic and very natural – and I love the beautiful blue packaging too!
– Jacqui Young
Clarins Double Serum, $175
Having tried the Clarins Double Eye Serum before, I was excited to try this anti-ageing product – Clarins’ International Number 1 best seller. I have sensitive skin and a lot of anti-ageing serums are too harsh for me and can even give me a rash. This is an oil and water based serum – when you pump it out, the two liquids blend and you can then massage it into your skin. It looks a little oily going on, but it then soaks in and your skin looks slightly dewy. It doesn’t feel oily and I didn’t get any breakouts, which I can do if there is too much oil blocking my pores.
It’s quite expensive, but it’s a big bottle and you can adjust the amount of product dispensed. The scent is quite strong, and it’s not a natural fragrance so it may be too much for some people; I like it though. There are 21 botanical ingredients, including turmeric, avocado and oat, but the main ingredients are non-botanical and are hydrating. This means you get the immediate effect of reducing fine lines and plumping the skin as the product is absorbed. I sometimes forgot to put on moisturiser afterwards and my skin still felt soft and hydrated just with this anti-ageing serum.
There’s only so much a topical product can do to reduce signs of ageing, but this does give an instant effect, which I like.
– Danielle Rossetti
The Honey Collection – Water Boosting Honey Day Shield, $84.90
This Day Shield anti-ageing cream is super nice. It’s basically New Zealand in a little pot: clean, natural and pretty! My skin feels hydrated, bouncy and smooth after using it. The website says it’s proven that elasticity increases by 52 percent when you use this product, and I think that sounds about right.
Among the ingredients are hyaluronic acid to boost your skin’s elasticity, Manuka honey and seaweed extract. I’ve been using this anti-ageing product twice a day, morning and night, for about a month, and I think it’s ideal for dryness, fine lines and wrinkles, environmental damage, and dullness.
– Susan Knudsen-Pickles
Kumuya – Rejuvenate Nutri-Serum Concentrate, $119
In my youth, I spent numerous weekends purposefully sun tanning – and the consequences can be seen in my areas of dehydrated and less-than-supple skin. I’d previously used Kumuya’s Illuminate NutriSerum Concentrate and loved it. So I was excited when I was given Rejuvenate to try.
I wasn’t disappointed! It easily melted into my skin and left it feeling soft. It has a subtle, refreshing fragrance that dissipates quickly, which appeals to me as I’m sensitive to artificial or overpowering fragrances.
I love it so much that I’ve been using it twice a day. One month on, my skin is looking healthier and more radiant – and friends have said that too; I’m attributing this to the active ingredients that promote cellular regeneration, stimulate collagen production and provide intense hydration. I’ll continue using it as a base before sunscreen and foundation on my face – it helps my foundation to stay on while keeping my face looking fresh.
My favourite thing about the anti-ageing serum is that the ingredients are plant-derived and it’s free of nasties like parabens and toxins. It’s been formulated for all skin types (dermatologist-tested, too!), ages and genders. I recommend it for anyone who wants to pamper their skin and keep it looking young.
– Patricea Chow
This article first appeared in Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe, so you never miss a copy!
Read more on anti-ageing beauty treatments
