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Last Updated on August 6, 2026 by Giorgia Guazzarotti

at what age should you start using antiaging products

At what age should you start using anti-aging products? I remember as a teen, I thought I had forever to jump on the anti-aging bandwagon. Until I looked in the mirror and saw those first fine lines creeping up around my eyes in my mid ’20s. I swear they came totally out of nowhere. Now’s the total opposite. Girls as young as 15 are begging their parents to use retinol creams and vitamin C serum and call me the grannie of the internet (I did start this blog all the way back in 2008 after all), that’s wayyyy too early. Here’s the right age to start adding anti-aging products to your skincare routine:

How Skin Ages

Did you know that everything that causes wrinkles falls into only two categories? Intrinsic factors and extrinsic factors. Ok, back to plain English.

Intrinsic factors are those things that happen naturally, as part of the aging process. Like loss of collagen. This is a BIG one. Collagen is the protein that keeps skin firm and elastic. When you’re young, your body produces it in spades. But, as you get older, it gets lazy and makes less and less collagen.

When I say “as you get older”, I don’t mean when you hit 50. I wish. Nope, you’ve barely made it out of puberty when that pesky collagen starts getting lazy. After you hit 21 – 21 ladies! – collagen production decreases around 1% every year! You don’t see this happening because 1% in a year is so little, you don’t even notice it. But multiply that 1% for 15 years and you’ll see a big difference.

Loss of collagen ain’t the only culprit. Extrinsic factors (anything from outside your body), like unprotected sun exposure, smoking, and a poor diet high in sugar and poor in veggies give it a helping hand and speed up the aging process. That’s why smokers or women who live near the tropics age faster than their friends who have never smoked a ciggie or avoid the sun like the plague.

Struggling to put together a skincare routine that minimises wrinkles, prevents premature aging, and gives your complexion a youthful glow? Download your FREE “Best Anti-Aging Skincare Routine” to get started (it features product recommendations + right application order):

What Anti-Aging Products Should You Use?

Once a wrinkle has appeared on your faces, there isn’t much you can do to make it go away for good. That’s  why it’s best to start early and prevent the damage in the first place. Here’s how:

1. Sunscreen

This is by far the best, most effective anti-aging weapon you have in your arsenal. Bar none. I’m not exaggerating. Nothing damages skin as much as UV rays do. They alone are responsible for up to 90% of premature aging. They make skin dry and sallow, speed up the loss of collagen, and cause fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots.

Even if you do nothing else, wearing sunscreen EVERY day, come rain or come shine, will make you age much more slowly. Of course, you need to apply enough (the recommended amount for the face is 1/3 teaspoon). A thin layer won’t do. If you apply half of it, for example, you don’t get half the SPF on the bottle. You get its square root! So, a SPF 50 becomes a SPF 7! Needless to say, you need to reapply it throughout the day, as well. At least, until the sun goes down.

When Should You Start Using Sunscreen?

At 6 months of age. I’m not kidding. The sooner you start the better. Before that, baby’s skin is too sensitive for sunscreen, but after they turn 6 you can slather on a gentle mineral sunscreen (that’s one with zinc oxide as UV filter).

Best Picks:

  • Drunk Elephant Umbra Tinte Physical Daily Defense Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 30 ($36.00): A tinted mineral sunscreen that provides broad spectrum protection. Most suitable for dry skin. Available at Cult Beauty, Look Fantastic, and SpaceNK
  • EltaMD UV Pure BroadSpectrum SPF 47 ($43.00): A wonderful, lightweight formula for oily skin that provides broad-spectrum protection without leaving a greasy, white mess. Available at Dermstore and Walmart
  • Paula’s Choice Super-Light Daily Wrinkle Defense SPF 30 ($39.00): My fave mineral sunscreen, it’s super lightweight and doesn’t leave a greasy residue behind. It’s suitable even for oily skin. Available at Cult Beauty, Dermstore and Paula’s Choice

Related: Why Mineral Sunscreens Are The Best For Sensitive Skin

epionce intense defense serum

2. Antioxidant Serum

Antioxidants are nice little molecules that fight free radicals, the main cause of aging. Pretty much anything creates them: sun exposure, smoking, eating too much sugar… even breathing! Of course, you can’t stop breathing! But if you want to neutralise free radical damage, you need to get your antioxidant fix every day. Good news: there are plenty of antioxidants that do the job well. Here are just a few that come to mind now:

  • Coenzyme Q-10
  • Ferulic Acid
  • Gluthianone
  • Green tea
  • Quercetin
  • Resveratrol
  • Superoxide dismutase
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin E

Which one is best?

*drumroll*

None!

Just like your body doesn’t only need kale, your skin doesn’t only need vitamin C. The more antioxidants you use, the more damage you’ll prevent. In case you’re wondering, my favourite combo is vitamin C + vitamin E + ferulic acid. Science says this trio can:

When Should You Start Using An Antioxidant Serum?

In your LATE teens. Antioxidants can’t treat wrinkles. They only prevent them. While you should still use them all your life, the earlier you start, the less damage your skin will have.

Best Picks:

  • MaeLove Glow Booster ($27.95): The cheapest Vitamin C serum in this list, it does everything the others do, but it contains a citrus extract that may be irritating for sensitive skin. Available at Maelove.
  • Paula’s Choice C15 Booster ($46.75): It’s enriched with Hyaluronic Acid and glycerin to deeply hydrate skin. Available at Cult Beauty, Dermstore, Paula’s Choice, Sephora, and SpaceNK.
  • The Ordinary Resveratrol 3% + Ferulic Acid 3% (£9.90): It’s a great way to add these antioxidants to your skincare routine if you aren’t using them already. Available at Beauty Bay, Boots, Cult Beauty, Sephora, and The Ordinary.

Related: Common Antioxidants Found In Skincare Products

the ordinary glycolic acid toning solution

3. Glycolic Acid Exfoliants

Glycolic acid is my fave exfoliant. Why?

It’s the last bit that makes glycolic acid such an effective anti-aging weapon. At least, for those of you who have DRY skin (if yours is oily, salicylic acid is a better option – and nope, you’re not missing out. Your skin won’t reward you if you use the wrong anti-aging actives for your skin type). P.S. Glycolic acid can be irritating. For best results, use a small dose only 3 or 4 times a week.

When Should You Start Using Glycolic Acid?

In your early 20s. In your teens, your skin is still exfoliating well on its own, so it doesn’t need any helping hand. You get no benefits from exfoliating too early.

Best Picks:

  • Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum ($90.00): This exfoliant contains two exfoliants. Glycolic Acid to fade away dark spots and Salicylic Acid to unclog pores. Available at Cult Beauty, Sephora and SpaceNK
  • Paula’s Choice Resist Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% AHA ($33.00): A wonderful low strength Glycolic Acid exfoliant that makes skin softer, smoother, and brighter. Available at Paula’s Choice 
  • The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution (£6.80): A gentle, no-frills Glycolic Acid exfoliant for people on a budget. Available at Beauty Bay, Cult Beauty, The Ordinary, and Ulta

Related: The Complete Guide To Glycolic Acid

medik8 retinol 6 TR 01

4. A Retinol Serum

Retinol (and all other forms of vitamin A, for that matter) is the real deal. Like, the only thing scientifically proven to reduce wrinkles. Don’t get too excited. If you’ve got deep wrinkles, retinol won’t make them disappear overnight. Truth is, the sooner you start using it, the better. Retinol works in three ways:

A word of warning. Two, actually:

  1. Retinol can make skin more susceptible to sun damage (ironic, isn’t it?). Use it at night only.
  2. Retinol can be irritating at first. Start with low concentrations twice a week, and increase both dose and frequency gradually.

When Should You Start Using A Retinol Serum?

In your mid 20s. You can use it early, if you want, especially if you have acne. Otherwise, don’t sweat it. There’s no benefit to using retinol too early. Too much retinol can cause irritation and dryness, and that causes inflammation that actually lead to wrinkles. 25 is usually the sweet spot to incorporate it into your routine. Start with a small concentration a couple of times a week and build dose and frequency from there.

Best Picks:

  • Paula’s Choice Resist Wrinkle Repair Retinol Serum ($55.00): 0.1% retinol. A silly serum loaded with antioxidants. Available at Paula’s Choice
  • La Roche Posay Redermic Anti-Aging Dermatological Treatment ($56.99): 0.1% retinol in a silicone base. Available at Dermstore, Look Fantastic, and Ulta
  • The Ordinary Retinol 2% In Squalene: 2% retinol in a moisturising squalane base. Available at Beauty Bay, Sephora, The Ordinary and Ulta

Related: What Strength Of Retinol Should You Use?

Won’t Start Using Anti-Aging Products Too Early Ruin My Skin?

I hear this all the time. A lot of women think that if they start to soon, their skin will get used to these anti-aging superstars. Worse, they may even damage their skin! This is NOT true. I couldn’t find any proof in the scientific literature that confirms these fears.

What’s most likely to happen is that you could unnecessarily irritate your skin (especially if you don’t know what you’re doing and are just throwing everything at your skin because that’s your fave influencer is doing. Not to mention, all the money you’ll be wasting on stuff you don’t need when you could be using them for all the other things you want to do.

The Bottom Line

You know what they say. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Many anti-aging products can only prevent, rather than treat, wrinkles, so don’t wait too long before you start using them.