Stressed skin is not happy skin. And, if you've ever had a breakout before a big day, you definitely get what we mean. Chronic stress [1] can send your oil glands straight into overdrive . . . which means pores get more easily clogged with dead skin cells or bacteria. Or, if your skin is exposed to a harsh change — freezing temps [2], increased UV exposure, pollution, and the like — there's a very good chance it will stage its own revolt in the form of redness, extra flakes, or dullness.
Stress also triggers the production of cortisol, which leads to a loss of elasticity in your skin, thus causing it to age quicker [3]. So, even if you consider yourself too young to pick up something that's labeled "antiageing," [4] think of it more as a preventative measure [5] to help stressed skin and your own peace of mind.
Sephora has plenty of skincare products that can help with fine lines and wrinkles [6] and also soothe all types of distressed skin [7]. These products polish away dead cells [8] to bring back your glow as well as hydrate and plump skin [9] up (thus filling in fine lines), things that are pretty nice no matter how old you are.
Check out the antiageing products [10] that have earned the most hearts and stars from other Sephora shoppers ahead.
Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream
Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream [11] ($28-$74) includes a highly concentrated [12], one-percent vegan retinol to fight fine lines and wrinkles, and protect your face from damage from UV rays, pollution, and free radicals. This ingredient — along with fatty acid vitamin F — also helps even up skin's tone and enhances its suppleness.
The Ordinary "Buffet"
The Ordinary "Buffet" [13] ($15-$28) tackles multiple signs of ageing from dryness and dullness to fine lines and wrinkles — and has more than 133,000 loves on Sephora's site. This multi-peptide serum includes several different peptide complexes to get the job done or, dare we say, a whole buffet of them?
Olehenriksen Power Peel Transforming Facial System
You can tackle uneven texture and tone and give yourself an at-home peel with this Olehenriksen Power Peel Transforming Facial System [14] ($50). The top-rated kit includes three steps: An almond facial polish to buff away dead cells, a lemon facial peel to smooth skin with AHAs, and a clay detox mask that soothes skin (with camomile) when you're finished.
Peter Thomas Roth Vital-E Microbiome Age Defence Cream
Ageing doesn't just come from actually getting older — things like pollution, climate changes, and the blue light from computer screens can stress out skin and cause the same side effects. This top-rated Peter Thomas Roth Vital-E Microbiome Age Defence Cream [15] ($75) fights all of those things with vitamin E that strengthens your skin's barrier and helps prevent wrinkles from forming, too.
Sunday Riley Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment
Sunday Riley Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment [16] ($85-$122) exfoliates to reveal a fresher, younger-looking complexion underneath and also plumps in fine lines for smoother skin overall. The product — which earned 173,000 loves on Sephora's site — also includes licorice and lemongrass inside to brighten dark spots and prickly pear to soothe redness.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Stress Rescue Super Serum with Niacinamide
The new Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Stress Rescue Super Serum [17] ($74) features niacinamide, a natural vitamin that reduces the appearance of lines, redness, pimples, and large pores. This serum also includes superfoods and adaptogens — like goji berry which is both a superfood and an adaptogen — to brighten skin and protect it from stress-induced ageing.
Dr. Brandt Skincare Microdermabrasion Age Defying Exfoliator
The aluminium oxide crystals in Dr. Brandt Skincare Microdermabrasion Age Defying Exfoliator [18] ($79) help gently remove dead cells, aided by lactic acid which softens skin in the process. Your complexion looks smoother and brighter as plant extracts like aloe vera and chamomile refresh at the same time.
Saint Jane Beauty Luxury CBD Beauty Serum
The Saint Jane Beauty Luxury CBD Beauty Serum [19] ($38-$125) helps bring back a youthful glow to your skin with 500 mg of full-spectrum CBD [20], a blend of 20 different botanicals, and cold-pressed grapeseed oil. The CBD works to calm redness and detoxify pores, botanicals like sea buckthorn and rosehip work to smooth skin, and the vitamin-rich grapeseed oil helps even out skin tone.
Philosophy The Microdelivery Resurfacing Peel
The Microdelivery Resurfacing Peel [21] by Philosophy ($72) comes with a polish made of vitamin C and peptides and a follow-up gel with lactic and salicylic acids. The crystals in the scrub help resurface skin while the gel adds another round of exfoliation to further reduce the appearance of wrinkles and pores — and there are over 1,500 5-star reviews attesting to this work.
Josie Maran 100 Percent Pure Argan Oil
This top-rated Josie Maran 100 Percent Pure Argan Oil [22] ($17-$96) can be used to nourish your whole body including your hair, nails, and (of course) your face. After all, hydrating argan oil works to firm skin all over and also shield you from environmental stressors and free radicals that can lead to visible signs of ageing.
Amorepacific Treatment Enzyme Peel Cleansing Powder
The Amorepacific Treatment Enzyme Peel Cleansing Powder [23] ($22-$60) uses papaya- and green tea-derived enzymes to gently remove dead skin cells and makeup, too. This powder-to-foam formula is not too harsh to still use daily (even on more sensitive skin) — and the 1,000+ 5-star reviews tend to agree.
Herbivore Prism 12% AHA + 3% BHA Exfoliating Glow Serum
Herbivore Prism 12% AHA + 3% BHA Exfoliating Glow Serum [24] ($54) includes fruit- and plant-based alpha-hydroxy and beta-hydroxy acids to target hyperpigmentation, acne, and fine lines. To do so, these acids (alongside other natural plant extracts) exfoliate skin and bring out a youthful glow.
Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream
This top-rated Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream [25] ($70) fights all sorts of problems in your under-eye area like crows' feet, lid creases, under-eye wrinkles and puffs, corner crinkles, and even frown lines between brows. It features the brand's trademark technology inside to help it work better over time, plus keeps your skin moisturised for up to 48 hours.
Sephora Collection Firming Sleeping Cream
Sephora Collection Firming Sleeping Cream [26] ($17) is a rich night cream that keeps skin hydrated while you're sleeping, and also features fruit acids to target lines and wrinkles. Several Sephora reviewers notice how thick and nurturing it feels (both when it goes on and the morning after), and praise the value for the price, too.
Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Moisturiser
The top-rated Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Moisturiser [27] ($19-$48) works to address early signs of ageing (or, in some cases, to help prevent them) with the potent, radiance-boosting lotus plant. There's also star fruit leaf extract and hyaluronic acid to plump skin and reduce wrinkles' appearance overall.
Kate Somerville RetAsphere Micro Peel
Leave this Kate Somerville RetAsphere Micro Peel [28] ($90) on overnight and wake up to smoother, younger-looking skin. It includes retinol (to tackle fine lines and dark spots) and a blend of glycolic and lactic acids (to resurface skin), all while you're sleeping.
Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum
The Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum [29] ($84) goes on right after you wash your face so whatever moisturiser comes next easily sinks in. It also helps nourish and visibly firm your skin, and 96 percent of people who reviewed this product would also recommend it to others to do those things.
Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream Rinse-Off Formula
The top-rated Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream Rinse-Off Formula [30] ($8-$23) is gentle enough to be used every day, but still effectively brushes away dead skin cells. As those flakes are removed, skin is left smoother and more receptive to moisture that can help plump up and fill in fine lines.
Farmacy Honeymoon Glow AHA Resurfacing Night Serum with Hydrating Honey + Gentle Flower Acids
The popular Farmacy Honeymoon Glow AHA Resurfacing Night Serum with Hydrating Honey + Gentle Flower Acids [31] ($58) takes on dull, dry skin overnight. It adds AHAs, BHAs, and flower acids to hydrating honey and hyaluronic acid to bring about moisturised, bright, resurfaced skin when the sun rises. That also includes reducing the appearance of large pores, wrinkles, or other signs of ageing.
Youth to the People Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream with Ashwagandha + Reishi
With nearly 1,000 5-star reviews from Sephora shoppers, this Youth to the People Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream with Ashwagandha + Reishi [32] ($58) is a popular anti-ageing choice. It gets the job done with plant extracts, including ashwagandha (to reduce signs of fatigue) and fermented reishi (to fight premature signs of ageing).