My Friend Looks 10 Years Younger Than She Is, so I Did Her Skincare for 5 Months

Step 1: Wash face with Tata Harper Regenerating Exfoliating Cleanser.

This cleanser buffs and polishes the skin, in addition to cleansing, of course. The brand recommends massaging it onto a dry face first, which takes a little getting used to, but I love that this cleanser is doing more than just cleaning my face. The gentle exfoliation helps prep the skin so it’s prepared to absorb the ultra-important next step, vitamin C serum.

Step 2 (*crucial*): Apply SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic. 

C E Ferulic is an antioxidant cocktail that will 1000% make your skin look better. I will never let it run out, and my fiancé is now hooked, too. The star ingredient is vitamin C, which is known to help with fine lines and wrinkles and brighten the complexion. It is the second most powerful product I’ve ever used on my skin (more about the first below). It has 1832 five-star reviews and is patented for a reason. C E Ferulic is a bit of a splurge, but I justify it like a typical fashion girl by thinking about it in terms of cost per wear. Since I wear my face every day, keeping it looking its best is absolutely worth the investment. There are lower-priced vitamin C serums and others that try to imitate the formula, but I do feel that SkinCeuticals is that effective because of its specific combination of ingredients at powerful percentages and because the formulation keeps the vitamin C stable. (The ingredient can easily become unstable aka ineffective.)

Shayna shares, “I accidentally found SkinCeuticals when I was 30. I was using no moisturizer and no serum at the time. I went into this skin store 12 years ago, the shopkeeper told me about it, and I feel like my face has relatively stayed the same since then.”

Step 3: Apply Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream.

Shayna’s moisturizer of choice happens to have a cult following in the fashion community. Everyone from Amal Clooney and Amy Adams to Shanina Shaik and Zendaya is a fan. I’ve used this cream on and off over the years and always pull it out when I need a secret weapon against dry, flaking skin. In the winter, when my nose has about had it with frigid air and too much tissue use, this is the only thing that will save it. It’s definitely on the heavier side, but given one of Shayna’s star skincare ingredients is retinoid, which can be very drying, this cream helps keep the skin balanced. 

Step 4: Apply SkinCeuticals Eye Complex.

I used to think eye creams were extra, aka not necessary to a basic anti-aging skincare regimen. I assumed they were a waste of money when I could just as well spread my face cream all the way up to my eyes. But after using this one, I’m now all in on shelling out for eye cream. In the before-and-after pics below, you can see the difference on my eye area, specifically where my lines are less deeply etched, and the skintone under my eyes is more even.

Step 5 (*crucial*): Apply SkinCeuticals sunscreen.

Not wearing sunscreen is categorically the worst thing you can do to your skin. Sorry to be blunt, but this Sagittarius is going to shoot the skincare truth to you straight. Experts have said time and again that if you only do one thing to your skin, forget cleansers, creams, and serums; just go for sunscreen. 

Shayna adds, “Your skin naturally heals itself, so while you’re blocking sun, you’re giving your skin a better chance to regenerate.” Part of Shayna’s secret to youthful skin is that her mother was always a sunscreen advocate. “Growing up in the ’80s, she always put sunscreen all over us, and we’d get so annoyed. It wasn’t a thing as much back then, but I’m so glad that she did it,” she says. 

I found that Shayna’s SkinCeuticals sunscreen pick is reasonably priced, and it spreads well without leaving any white cast. I also like that it doesn’t have any of the red-flag toxic sunscreen ingredients such as oxybenzone. Lastly, I’m not sure who needs to hear this, but make sure you’re really spreading the sunscreen all the way to the very far edges of your face and on odd places like your eyelids. I’ve been noticing among my peers and myself that age spots have begun forming on the outer edges of the face, near the hairline, and on the cheeks an inch or so from the ears. It’s not too late to start protecting all those places! 

Step 1: Cleanse

Sometimes Shayna will use the SkinCeuticals Gentle Cleanser ($35) as an alternative to the Tata Harper cleanser, following with Klorane Micellar Water ($26) if there’s any makeup leftover.

Step 2 (*crucial*): Apply Adapalene Gel 0.3%.

Welcome to the previously promised section on the most powerful product I’ve ever used on my skin: adapalene gel, which is a retinoid. I’ve come to learn that basically everyone in their late 20s and up should be using some form of retinol or retinoid (if you want a results-oriented skincare routine, that is). Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC, confirms, “I personally feel that topical retinoids, aside from sunscreen, are the absolute most important part of a skincare routine. They stimulate collagen to strengthen the skin foundation, minimize the appearance of lines and wrinkles, and prevent new ones from becoming etched into the skin.”

You’ve probably heard of retinols, so here’s a quick lesson on retinoids versus retinols. They’re both vitamin A derivatives that get converted into retinoic acid, but retinoids are ultimately stronger because they have a higher concentration of the active ingredient. Differin gel is the first over-the-counter retinoid, and it’s only over the counter at 0.1% concentration. I had to haul myself to the dermatologist to get a prescription for Shayna’s preferred stronger 0.3%. The prescription ended up costing around $10 with my HMO insurance plus my copay to see the derm. 

Shayna elaborates, “Retinol kicks your skincare up a level, and I like the prescription kind because it’s pure, and I don’t have to wonder if it’s working. It’s the only proven ingredient that actually reverses aging. You’ve got to work up to that strength though. I won’t wear it if I know if I’m going on vacation, and I only wear it to bed.” Shayna doesn’t add anything after the retinoid, and while I love the simplicity of a two-step evening routine of cleansing and using a retinoid, I found that following with a simple moisturizer was necessary to not feeling too dry as I headed to bed.

Alt Step 2 (*crucial*): Shani Darden Texture Reform Gentle Resurfacing Serum

I begrudgingly had to quit my new favorite skincare product cold turkey, as I had more flights and summer sun on the horizon. As an alternative, I turned to retinol, which you’ll remember is less intense than a retinoid. I landed on Shani Darden’s Texture Reform Serum. Celebs like Laura Harrier, Chrissy Teigen, and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley are all fans of the product. Turns out the A-list set is on to something, as the product is a godsend for my skin. I can absolutely tell it’s working to make me my skin look younger, though the results are less dramatic and immediate than the retinoid. It’s seen me through more time in the sun and many flights without any issues. I also find it’s way more moisturizing than the prescription retinoid gel. 

Perhaps in my 40s, I’ll consider a retinoid again (this time starting at 0.1%!), but for now, retinol is serving my needs as the key component of my anti-aging skincare routine in my 30s. As Zeichner says, “Adjusting to a topical retinoid is a marathon, not a sprint.”

And now we finally arrive at the fun part, the before-and-afters. You can tell I put serious time into this experiment because my hair is a good bit longer!